RESIDENTS can now apply online for their children’s Year 7 places for September 2026.

Parents and carers of Year 6 pupils are being encouraged to apply for their child’s secondary school place for September 2026.

The window for secondary school applications opens today (Friday 12 September) and runs until the national closing date of 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 31 October 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: “Parents of Year 6 students across Essex are now able to submit their applications for secondary school places and I would urge them to do so before the national closing date of 31 October.

“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.”

ENDS