Admissions

For guidance on applying for a school place for a child with special educational needs can be found via the following link:

https://www.essex.gov.uk/schools-and-learning/schools/admissions/school-places-children-send#

If your child is due to start primary school and has an EHCP they will be allocated a school place by the Statutory Assessment Service. Visit Essex Local Offer for more information about the service.

If your child is being assessed for an EHCP, you should still apply through the normal round of admissions.

Primary school applications for children due to start school in September 2025 are to be made online (for children who were born between 1st September 2020 and 31st August 2021) (www.essex.gov.uk/admissions) between 4th November 2024 and the closing date of 15th January 2025.

On time Applications – when will I receive my child’s school offer?

National offer day is 16th April 2025

If you made an online application during the published timescales, you will receive an email during 16 April 2025 confirming your school offer from ECC. Emails may arrive throughout the day and we will not respond to requests chasing offer emails on 16 April 2025. You can also check online from 17 April 2025 by logging into your Essex Education Portal account.

If you applied to ECC using a paper application form (or selected to not receive an email when you applied online), a letter will be posted in 17 April. Once the letter has been posted, the Council is not responsible for how long it takes to be delivered, as this is dependent on Royal Mail.

Places are allocated in accordance with the school's Admission Policy.

Late applications – when will I receive my child’s school offer?

Late applications and changes to applications are processed after 16 April 2025 and a letter will be sent by ECC with your outcome. If your letter has not arrived by 8 May, please contact ECC with your child’s details and ECC will assist you further. They will not respond to enquiries concerning late application before that date.

Waiting Lists – May

You can view your child’s position on the waiting lists from 8 May via https://www.essex.gov.uk/after-your-school-offer. Please note ECC do not reply to requests for Reception waiting list positions as this can be found online. If you are having difficulties accessing the waiting list, please contact ECC with a screenshot and your child’s details and they will assist you further. (D'Arcy Academy is not provided with a list of children on the waiting list until this date. A place can only be offered to a child on the waiting list if a previous offer has been declined. The order of the list will be strictly based on the criteria explained in the school’s Admission Policy.)

Appeals Timetable for children starting primary school from September 2025

16 April 2025

National Offer day- parents are informed of the outcome of application by Essex County Council.

(Places are offered to all applicants in accordance with the schools Admission Policy.) (Please see above policy and school catchments area map.)

15 May 2025

Deadline for submitting appeals.

(INFANT CLASS SIZES APPEALS: This applies to YrR, 1 & 2 classes where classes are limited to 30 children. If you are appealing an infant class size class limit, your chance of a successful appeal is very limited.

An appeal can only succeed if;

1. Admitting an extra child would breach the class size limit.

2. Your child would have been offered a place if the admission arrangements had compiled with the admissions law or were correctly and impartially applied.

3. The admission authority’s decision to refuse a place was not one which a reasonable admission authority would have made in the circumstances of the case.

(Deadline for submission of additional evidence by all parties, and by clear to end appeal papers will be confirmed by ECC Appeals Clerk on acknowledgement of appeal.)

May 2025 – August 2025

Waiting lists maintained by the LA and vacant places allocated

June to July 2025

Appeals heard for those submitted by the deadline and where possible, for late appeals.

(Those that make an appeal will receive at least 10 days’ notice of their appeal hearing.) (Decisions letters are sent by Essex County Council within 5 days of the appeal hearing wherever possible.)

September 2025 onward

Appeals heard for any appeals not heard before July 2025

If your child is not offered a place at your preferred school, you can lodge an appeal to Essex County Council against the decision. Further details on this process can be found online at https:www.essex.gov.uk/after-your-school-offer/appeals. Get in touch if you need to cancel your appeal, amend any contact details already given or submit any supplementary paperwork by post. Email: statutoryappeals@essex.gov.uk Postal address: Statutory Appeals Team, PO Box 11, Chelmsford, Essex, CM1 1LX

Please use links below for further information on Primary School applications. If you have any questions regarding admission to St Andrew's Marks Tey Academy, please email admin@st-andrews.academy or admin@canonium.org

Use the following link to see which school's catchment area your home is in: https://secureapps.essex.gov.uk/cas/Priority-Admissions-(Catchment)-Area.aspx 

St Andrew's Marks Tey Academy Admissions Policy 2024/25

St Andrew's Marks Tey Academy Admissions Policy 2025/26

ECC Primary Schools Brochure 2024/25