Reminder to apply for 2026 secondary school place

Reminder to apply for 2026 secondary school place

There are only a few days left to apply for a secondary school place for September 2026. The window for applications closes on 31 October 2025.

Parents and carers can submit their applications at www.essex.gov.uk/admissions

The website includes information on different schools and their admissions criteria.

The deadline for applications is a national deadline. Applications made after this date will be considered once all on-time applications have been determined.

This means applying late could reduce the chance of a child being offered a place at their preferred school.

When submitting their applications, parents are encouraged to:

• visit their preferred school
• carefully consider each school’s admissions criteria
• consider how their child will get to and from school
• use all six preferences on their application

Councillor Tony Ball, Cabinet Member for Education Excellence, Lifelong Learning and Employability at Essex County Council, said: “There are only a few days left before the deadline to apply for secondary school places for September 2026.  I urge parents and carers of Year 6 pupils to do so if they haven’t already.

“We’re keen to maintain our excellent record of securing preferred places for Year 7 pupils in Essex, but we can only do this if parents complete their child’s secondary school place application correctly and by the deadline.”