The 18 Essex secondary schools that still have spaces for children next year
As we move into the new academic year, Year 7s still looking for a place in a brand new secondary school may have a limited number of schools to apply to which still have places available. Applications to join a new secondary school for this academic year began last September, with students ranking their preferences and submitting them to the council by January 1. Most students learned where they had a place in March, earlier this year, however this is not always the case.
Students who do not receive a place at any of the schools on their preference list will be allocated to a nearby school which still has places available for the coming academic year. Any child who wishes to appeal for a place has the right to do so. For September 2024, nearly 93 per cent of children were allocated their first or second choice of secondary school with 17,039 applications, the highest recorded by Essex County Council, made in preparation for this academic year.
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Secondary school places may still be available for some students who are still looking to move to a different school, or who are new to the area. Any child moving into Year 7 this academic year has until October 31 to finalise their place.
Essex County Council have released figures to EssexLive which records the number of places which were still available at secondary schools across the county. These numbers were recorded at the end of August in the last academic year, and may be subject to change as prospective students fill places after appeals have been made.
As of August 31, 18 secondary schools had spaces still available. Schools still accepting applications included Basildon Lower Academy, which had the highest availability with 145 places, and The Bromfords School in Wickford, with only four spaces left. Applications to join a secondary school for the academic year formally close on October 31.
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