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Secondary Educationin Essex 2021/2022A guide to transferring fromprimary to secondary schoolClosing date for applications 31 October 2020Apply online atwww.essex.gov.uk/admissions
Page 2Online admissionsParents and carers who live in the EssexCounty Council area (excluding thoseliving in the Borough of Southend-on-Seaor in Thurrock) can apply for their child’sschool place online using the EssexOnline Admissions Service at:www.essex.gov.uk/admissionsThe online application system has a number ofbenefits for parents and carers: you can access related information throughlinks on the website to find out more aboutindividual schools, home to school transportor inspection reports; when you have submitted your applicationyou will receive an email confirming this; you will be told the outcome of your onlineapplication by email on offer day if yourequested this when you applied.You will be able to make your applicationonline from 11 September 2020.The closing date for secondary applications is31 October 2020. This is the statutory nationalclosing date set by the Government.Key Points to Remember APPLY ON TIME - closing date 31 October 2020. Use all 6 preferences. Tell us immediately in writing (email or by letter) about any address change. Make sure you read and understand the Education Transport Policyinformation on pages 24-26 if entitlement to school transport is importantto you. School priority admission (catchment) areas are not relevant totransport eligibility. Transport is generally only provided to the nearestavailable school where the distance criteria is met. The ‘catchment’ schoolfor an address may not be the nearest school. It is vital you carefullyconsider the transport implications before you make your application for aschool place. Please contact us if you need advice (see pages 24-26).
Page 3ContentsOnline admissions2Key points to remember2Introduction4Primary to secondary transfer timetable5Co-ordinated admission arrangements andwhat they mean6The application process explained7Essential information for parents8-18 Common Application Form (CAFs)8 Who has parental responsibility8 Shared parental responsibility8 Shared custody9 Supplementary Information Forms (SIFs)9 Schools with a specialist aptitude/abilitycriterion9 Applying to schools outside Essex9 Closing date for applications9 No application for a school placeis submitted10 Priority admission areas10 Types of schools10 School preference order11 Using all your preferences11 Selective/Grammar schools11 Children with an Education, Health and11Care Plan applying for grammar schools Changing preferences12 Home address12 Applications from members of the ArmedForces and Crown Servants12 Address checking12 Fraudulent/Misleading applications13 Moving house/changing address details13 Distance tie-breaker13 Siblings14 Will my child’s brothers and sisters14be able to go to the same school? Twins, triplets etc.14 Children who are cared for by a local14authority (Looked After Children) Medical circumstances15 Feeder primary schools15 Admission of children from overseas15 How decisions are made15 Withdrawal of offers15 Late applications15 None of your preferences can be met16 If your child is not offered a place16 Non-Essex Schools16 Waiting lists16 I’ve decided that I would prefer a lower16-17preference school than the one I have been offeredContinued interest in a school after theend of the autumn termI want to change secondary schools (mid-year)Fair Access ProtocolWhat happens post 16?Post 16 applications from outsideof the county1717171818Appeals against admission decisions Making an appeal After you have made your appeal At your hearing Grouped appeal hearings The decision19-201919191920Special Educational Needs and Essex specialschools SEN Local Offer SEN transport arrangements Special schools in Essex21-23212223Home to school transport Mainstream secondary schools What is the nearest school for transportpurposes? Faith schools Selective/Grammar schools Points to remember Sustainable modes of travel Scholars’ tickets Post 16 transport24-262424252525252525-26Financial assistance for parentsand students Uniform grants Free school meals2626Secondary schools in Essex School information explained2728Secondary school policiesA guide to information sourcesUseful addresses and telephonenumbersAlphabetical Index of schools2629-127128129-130135Inside the back cover –The Essex Common Application Form,notes of guidance and application checklist.The information contained in this booklet is correct asat the time of printing. Policies may changes in thelight of decisions made by the Schools’ Adjudicator,the Education Skills and Funding Agency or anychange in the law. An addendum will be available onrequest.
Page 4IntroductionWelcome to Secondary Education in Essex2021/2022. This booklet is for parents and carersliving in Essex2 whose children will be startingsecondary education in the school year thatbegins in September 2021.Please take the time to read this booklet carefullyas it will help you through the application process.It gives you the information you need to help youmake an informed application for your child’ssecondary education. It also explains how placesare allocated and how to appeal if you are refuseda place at your preferred school(s). Essentialinformation is included to help you through theco-ordinated admissions process. Please makeuse of all your preferences.We have an online applications system throughwhich 99% of applications were submitted lastyear. Alternatively an application form can befound on our website or you can request a form bycalling 0345 603 2200 or use the one at the end ofthis booklet if you would prefer to apply on paper.Please do not do both.The Local Authority (LA) has responsibility for theprovision of school places across the county.The LA’s School Admissions team provides help toparents applying for primary or secondary placesin Essex and is responsible for the co-ordination ofadmissions to all Essex maintained schools andAcademies. If you require any assistance with yourapplication School Admissions will do its very bestto help you.I hope that your child has an enjoyable and fruitfulsecondary education, and I wish them everysuccess for the future.Councillor Ray GoodingCabinet Member for Education and Skills
Page 5Primary to secondary school transfer timetableKeeping track of your applicationAs deadlines are a critical part of the process of applying for a child’s secondary school place, a step-bystep timetable is here to assist parents. You can use it to check that you have done what you need to andreceived the necessary information and correspondence. The LA sends all correspondence “in good faith”that it will be received on time. If you do not receive an acknowledgement of your application, includingthe offer letter or an email which confirms you have submitted it, then please contact School Admissionsimmediately.Due to the national Covid-19 situation, the testing arrangements for 2021 admission are subject tochange. Please ensure you have read the latest information for the CSSE selective schools on the CSSEwebsite (www.csse.org.uk) and the individual school websites for all grammar and partially selectiveschools.DATEPROCEDUREACTION BY11 September 2020Online applications can be made.LA/ParentsSeptember/October 2020Visit the admissions website and read through this booklet, find outabout and visit schools. It is important to consider how your child will getto school.Parents7 and 9 November 2020*11 test for CSSE selective schools sat at parent’s nominated school.Selective schoolsAutumn Term 2020Tests for specialist places at some schools (various dates) are takenby all pupils where parents have requested this on the school’sSupplementary Information Form. Please ensure you read each school’sindividual website for the latest information on testing dates.Schools selectingby aptitude/abilityand parents31 October 2020LAST DAY FOR RECEIPT OF COMMON APPLICATION FORM EITHER PAPEROR ONLINE. Applications received after this date will normally betreated as late. You cannot apply online after this date.ParentsBetween 19 October andThursday 23 October2020*Chelmsford County High School for Girls (CCHS) Entrance test.CCHS27 November 2020The last date that evidence of changes of address can be accepted to beincluded in the first round of offers on 1 March 2021.Parents/LANovember/December 2020Admission policies for schools are applied to relevant applications – seepage 7 for an explanation of the process.Schools and LABy 3 December 2020*CSSE and CCHS will send results of 11 test/entrance test.CSSE and CCHSJanuary – February 2021Information exchanged with other authorities and preferences sorted toidentify the highest that can be met – see examples on page 6.LA1 March 2021NATIONAL OFFER DAY. Offer notification sent to all Essex residentapplicants.LA/Parents29 March 2021The latest date to lodge an appeal against a refusal of a place if youdefinitely want it heard before the end of the summer term.ParentsMarch – 31 August 2021Waiting lists are maintained for all oversubscribed schools and anyplaces that become available are allocated from these lists.LAApril – July 2021Appeals held.Schools and LA* You must always check the arrangements on the CSSE or Chelmsford County High School for Girlswebsites for the latest information regarding their tests.
Page 6Co-ordinated admission arrangementsand what they meanThe law requires a LA to co-ordinate admissions to all secondary schools (except independent (feepaying) or special schools) in their area.Essex parents must apply for secondary school places by completing the Common Application Form. Thiscan either be completed online at www.essex.gov.uk/admissions, or you can use a paper applicationform. Please do not do both. Parents can express preferences for up to six schools, both in and out ofEssex, in the order in which they would like them considered.On 1 March 2021, parents will be sent one offer of a place at the highest preference school that can bemet. If none of the preferences can be met, a place will be offered at the nearest Essex school to thehome address with a space available. Here are some examples of this process:Example 1 – Parent has applied for four schools and the first preference can be met:Preference 1 – OfferedPreference 2 – Not offered – right to appeal given*Preference 3 – Not offered – right to appeal given*Preference 4 – Not offered – right to appeal given*Example 2 – Parent has applied for five schools and the third preference can be met:Preference 1 – Not offered – on waiting list and right to appeal givenPreference 2 – Not offered – on waiting list and right to appeal givenPreference 3 – OfferedPreference 4 – Not offered – right to appeal given*Preference 5 – Not offered – right to appeal given*Example 3 – Parent has applied for six schools and no preference can be met:Preference 1 – Not offered – on waiting list and right to appeal givenPreference 2 – Not offered – on waiting list and right to appeal givenPreference 3 – Not offered – on waiting list and right to appeal givenPreference 4 – Not offered – on waiting list and right to appeal givenPreference 5 – Not offered – on waiting list and right to appeal givenPreference 6 – Not offered – on waiting list and right to appeal givenChild will be offered a place at the nearest Essex school to their home address with a space available.*You will note from examples 1 and 2 that children are only held on waiting lists for preferences higherthan the one that can be met.On 1 March 2021 (National offer day) Essex resident families will be sent a notification of the schooloffer being made. This will either be an email (for those that applied online) or a letter for all otherapplications.
Page 7The application process explainedStage 1PaperApplicationApplication formreceived.Details entered ontoLA database.Application acknowledgedby letter within 10 days.Application made usingonline admissions system.Submitted applicationacknowledged by email.Details will be transferredinto LA database.OROnlineApplicationCLOSING DATE FOR RECEIPT OF APPLICATIONS IS 31 OCTOBER 2020Stage 2Schools’ admissionpolicies are appliedto all applications.Results are collated bySchool Admissions.LA database is updatedand information isexchanged with other LAs.Stage 3Preferences that can beoffered are identified.Information from otherLAs added to database.The highest preferenceoffer is decided and thechild’s record updated.Stage 41 MARCH 2021 – NATIONAL OFFER DAYOffer notifications sent to all Essex resident families who have made on-time application advisingschool offer being made. This will either be an email (for those who applied online) or a letter for allother applicationsChildren’s details will be held on a waiting list for any schools of higher preference than that offered,unless parents inform School Admissions that they no longer wish to be considered for a place. Waitinglists will be maintained by the LA for all schools until the end of August 2021.If a place becomesavailable then the childat the top of the waiting listwill be offered the place.If none of your preferences can be met you willbe offered a place at the nearest Essex schoolto the home address with a space available.Parents are given the rightto appeal against allpreferences not offered.If you have applied for a non-Essex schoolyou should find out how that LA processesapplications. This includes what happenswhen an offer is made from a waiting list.
Page 8Essential information for parentsThis booklet contains the arrangements foradmissions to schools as carried out by EssexCounty Council, in accordance with statutoryregulations and guidance from the Department forEducation and the statutory instruments.Common Application Forms (CAFs)Parents1 living in Essex2 must apply to EssexCounty Council (ECC) for their preferred secondaryschools. The Essex Common Application Form(CAF) is the only way you can apply for a secondaryschool place for your child. The CAF can either becompleted and submitted online at www.essex.gov.uk/admissions or you can complete and returnthe form at the back of this booklet. Please do notdo both. If more than one application is receivedthe authority will process the last one to besubmitted. You must submit your CAF by 31October 2020.Once you have submitted your online applicationyou will receive an email to confirm this. Paperapplications will be acknowledged within 10working days by letter only. Please contact SchoolAdmissions if you do not receive anacknowledgement letter or an email confirmingyour application is submitted.Parents seeking information should note that theLA will only discuss specific details about yourchild’s application with the person who completesthe form (referred to as the applicant).Who has parental responsibilityMore than 2 people can have parental responsibilityfor the same child.A mother automatically has parental responsibilityfor her child from birth, unless the child has beenadopted.father will retain parental responsibility; listed on the birth certificate (after a certaindate, depending on which part of the UK thechild was born in).Shared parental responsibilityWhere more than one adult shares parentalresponsibility and they live at different addresses(see page 12 ‘Home address’), it is important thatagreement be reached, prior to making theapplication, on which schools to apply for, and foronly one application to be submitted for eachchild. If different applications are received, or theAdmissions Team is made aware of a disputebetween two parents1, these applications will beplaced on hold and will not be processed untilsuch time that: written agreement is provided from bothparents stating which application to takeforward for processing; or a court order is obtained confirming whichparents’ application carries precedence or thecourt decides which parent can make decisionsabout school preferences.Failure to reach an agreement about whichapplication to take forward can affect whetheror not your child is considered for a place at theschools you want, especially if they are not inEssex2.Please ensure that only one application issubmitted by 31 October 2020. If multipleapplications are received at any stage in theprocess you risk your child being without a schoolplace.A father usually has parental responsibility if he iseither: married to the child’s mother at the time ofbirth or any time afterwards. If divorced, the1A “parent” as described under section 576 of the Education Act 1996 (EA 1996) in relation to a child or young person isdefined as: The natural parents of a child, whether they are married or not. Anyone who although not a natural parent hasparental responsibility for a child. Any person, who although not a natural parent, has care of a child.2If you live in Essex your council tax will be payable to one of the following District Councils: Basildon, Braintree, Brentwood,Castle Point, Chelmsford, Colchester, Epping Forest, Harlow, Maldon, Rochford, Tendring or Uttlesford. ECC accepts noresponsibility for applications submitted in error to it by parents resident in another council area.
Page 9Essential information for parentsthe school. Your child will be invited to attend aselection test at the school and you will be notifiedIf parents1 are separated and share custody, theof the result by the school before the closing dateparent with whom the child spends most of thefor applications. Please note that achieving theschool week with should make the application.pass mark does not guarantee a place at the(see page 12 ‘Home address’)school but it should make it clear whether or not itAn application can only be made from a singleis worth applying under the aptitude criterion foraddress and only one application can be made for the school in question.each child3.Shared custodyCustody issues cannot be resolved by the localauthority and it will not enter into discussionsabout this.Supplementary Information Forms (SIFs)Some schools will need extra information to rankyour application against their admission criteria.These schools will ask you to complete aSupplementary Information Form (SIF). Mostschools of a religious character will ask you tocomplete a SIF, as will those schools that havepartial selection by aptitude or ability.Where a SIF is required this is made clear in theschool’s admissions policy which you can find onour website www.essex.gov.uk/admissions or inthis booklet (pages 29–127). SIFs must bereturned directly to schools.Applying to schools outside EssexSecondary school admissions are fullyco-ordinated across the country. This means that ifyou are resident in Essex you only need to fill outone form, the CAF, even if some, or all, of yourpreferred secondary schools are outside Essex.You can either apply online at www.essex.gov.uk/admissions or complete and return the form at theend of this booklet. Please do not do both.Closing date for applicationsThe statutory national closing date for allapplications whether online or paper is 31 October2020. It is vital that you apply on time.Applications received after this date will normallybe treated as late and will receive a lower priority.Please remember that completing a SIF on its ownis not an application – you must complete theCommon Application Form and send it to us.Schools with a specialist aptitude/abilitycriterionDue to the national Covid-19 situation, the testingarrangements for 2021 admission are subject tochange. Please ensure you have read the latestinformation on the individual school websites.Some schools have an aptitude/ability criterion intheir admissions criteria for a proportion of theirintake.If you wish to apply for a place at a school underits specialist aptitude/ability criterion you shouldcomplete their SIF and return it by the date set by3Please ensure that only one application is submitted by 31 October 2020. If multiple applications are received at any stagein the process you risk your child being without a school place.
Page 10Essential information for parentsNo application for a school place issubmittedIt is the responsibility of the parent or carer toensure that their application is submitted to theCouncil by 31 October 2020. If you fail to submitan application you will not be offered a schoolplace.If you do not intend to apply because you will besending your child to an independent (fee-paying)school, or other reason, please inform SchoolAdmissions.Priority admission areasAlthough schools no longer guarantee places tochildren living in their priority admission(catchment) area, many include living in thepriority admission area as one of theiroversubscription criteria.Confirmation of your priority admission areaschool is available by using our ‘Catchment AreaFinder’ tool on our website www.essex.gov.uk/admissions.Attendance at a priority admission area(catchment) school does not guaranteeentitlement to free home to school transport (seepage 24), as the ‘catchment’ school may not bethe nearest school.Types of schoolsAll schools in Essex (except independent feepaying schools) are known as maintained schoolsor Academies. There are several types of schooloutlined below. The list of schools in this bookletshows which type of school each one is. Thedifferences relating to pupil admissions are: foundation schools – the school’s governingbody is the admission authority4 and sets theoversubscription criteria; voluntary aided schools (VA) – these schoolshave a religious character often Church ofEngland, Roman Catholic or Jewish. Theschool’s governing body is the admissionauthority4 and sets the oversubscriptioncriteria; Academies – these are independent schools inthe maintained sector. The Academy’sadmission policy and arrangements must beconsistent with admissions law and the SchoolAdmissions Code and the Academy Trust is theadmission authority4 and sets theoversubscription criteria; Free Schools – these are Academy schools setup in response to parental demand. TheAcademy Trust is the admission authority4 andsets the oversubscription criteria; Studio Schools – these are Academy schoolsfor 14-19 year-olds which offer academic andvocational qualifications, taught in a projectbased way. Children are admitted for the firsttime in Year 10. The Academy Trust is theadmission authority4 and sets theoversubscription criteria; University Technology Colleges – these areAcademy schools for 14-19 year-olds whichspecialise in subjects such as engineering andconstruction, along with a broad, generaleducation. The Academy Trust is the admissionauthority4 and sets the oversubscription criteria. community schools – the Local Authority (LA) isthe admission authority4 and sets theoversubscription criteria; voluntary controlled schools (VC) – theseschools often have a religious character,normally Church of England. The LA is theadmission authority4 and sets theoversubscription criteria;4An admission authority is responsible for all aspects of pupil admissions and appeals.
Page 11Essential information for parentsSchool preference orderSelective/Grammar schoolsYou should put your school preferences in theorder you really want them, but remember to takeinto account transport implications (see page 24).Due to the national Covid-19 situation, the testingarrangements for 2021 admission are subject tochange. Please ensure you have read the latestinformation for the CSSE selective schools on theCSSE website (www.csse.org.uk) and the individualschool websites for all grammar schools.The ranked order of your preferences isconfidential to the relevant LAs and will only beshared with schools in the event of appeals. Inaccordance with the statutory School AdmissionsCode, schools must not use admissions criteriathat require you to put them as first preference togain a higher priority.No Essex schools use such criteria. If yourpreferred schools are not in Essex you shouldcheck their admissions criteria carefully. Contactdetails for local authorities bordering Essex can befound on page 130.It is important that, when selecting yourpreferences, you take into account how you willtransport your child to school. Pages 24-26 explainthe Council’s Education Transport Policy.The following websites may give you usefulinformation about alternatives if your child will notqualify for home to school transport:www.essex.gov.uk/publictransport orwww.travelinesoutheast.org.ukUsing all your preferencesWe strongly recommend that you use all of your 6preferences.Applying for more than one school does not in anyway reduce your chances of being offered yourhighest preference so please aim to use all of yourpreferences. Your local school must be one of yourpreferences in order for it to be considered; thiswill not be done automatically.If none of your preferences can be offered, you willbe allocated a place at the nearest Essex school tothe home address with a place available after allthe other on time applications have been dealtwith. This could mean your child being allocated aschool several miles away from your homeaddress which is why we advise you to use all 6preferences.You should put your preferred schools on theapplication form in the order that you want them,and this should include grammar schools if you sowish. You will need to consider the order of schoolscarefully. School Admissions will offer placesaccording to the highest of your preferences thatcan be met. Entry to all grammar schools in Essex isbased on the results of selection tests. If yourchild’s selection test score is high enough for him/her to be offered a grammar school place but youhave expressed a higher preference for anotherschool that can be met, your single offer of a placewill be at your higher preference school, not thegrammar school.Children with an Education,Health and Care Plan applying forgrammar schoolsWhere a child has an Education, Health and CarePlan (EHCP), in most cases your child’s secondaryschool place will be decided through aconsultation process with the StatutoryAssessment Service. However there are a smallnumber of parents who wish their child to take theentry test for grammar schools. In these cases theparent should also complete a CommonApplication Form. If your child is ranked highenough to be offered a place, we will inform theSEN caseworker involved who will be able to namethe school in your child’s EHCP.
Page 12Essential information for parentsChanging preferencesYou can change your preferences on your onlineapplication by logging into your account,amending your existing application andresubmitting it.You must ensure you resubmit your amendedapplication by the closing date or your changeswill not be taken into account when yourapplication is processed.If you applied on paper you will need to write toSchool Admissions before the closing date so yourletter/email is received by 31 October 2020.After the closing date a change request will not beaccepted, unless this is for an address change5.Evidence of any address change must be suppliedby the specified deadlines.Any requests must be submitted to SchoolAdmissions in writing, whether you applied onlineor by paper. You can email admissions@essex.gov.ukHome addressApplications will normally be processed on thebasis of the home address for the child at the timeof application and determination, unless, wherethere is a new home address, proof of an exchangeof contracts or copy of a signed tenancy agreementcan be provided by 27 November 2020. The homeaddress is considered to be the address at whichthe child resides on a permanent basis or is‘ordinarily resident’. This is generally the addressof the parent/carer. In some cases, children maybe ‘ordinarily resident’ for the majority of theschool week, including overnight, with anotherrelative or carer, such as a grandparent. This mayalso be the case where a child resides betweentwo parents at different addresses following thebreakdown of the parental relationship. Where thisis the case, the application may be processed onthe basis of that address (where the child residesfor the majority of the school week) and proof ofaddress and residence arrangement will be5required with the application. The child must beliving with the parent, relative or carer 24 hoursper day, for the majority of the school week.Arrangements where parents can leave and collectchildren from another relative or carer on a dailybasis will be regarded as childcare arrangements,and the child will not be deemed to be ‘ordinarilyresident’ with that person. In all cases we expectthat the adult with whom the child is ‘ordinarilyresident’ receives the child benefit for the child(where eligible).Some Foundation, VA schools and Academieshave different rules on home address. You shouldcheck each school’s policy.Applications from members of the ArmedForces and Crown ServantsMembers of the Armed Forces and Crown Servantswith automatic right of entry to the UK who areable to provide evidence of their relocation canapply for a school place ahead of a move. Anapplication can be made as soon as confirmationof the relocation is available.For Armed Forces applications we will use the unitposting address when considering the application,until such time as a confirmed home address canbe provided. For Crown Servants an address canonly be used if there is evidence of the address thechild is returning to.There is no guarantee that a place will be availableat a preferred school; each application will beconsidered in accordance with the school’sadmissions criteria.Address checkingThe LA may ask a random sample of applicants toprovide proof of their home address. This must bea copy of one of the following: UK driving licence; council tax notification; two utility bills dated within the last six months(gas, electricity, water or landline phone).Any applications or change request
Secondary schools in Essex 27 School information explained 28 Secondary school policies 29-127 A guide to information sources 128 Useful addresses and telephone 129-130 numbers Alphabetical Index of schools 135 Inside the back cover - The Essex Common Application Form, notes of guidance and application checklist.
