Starting school in Essex: Reception 2027

Apply by Friday 15 January 2027 · offers on Friday 16 April 2027 · 411 primary schools

How likely is a first choice here?

For September 2026 entry, 90.3% of families living in Essex were offered their first-choice primary school, against 92.4% across England. 289 families (1.8%) were offered none of the schools they named. Essex ranks 41 of 150 councils in England, hardest first (see every council).

118 of its 411 primary schools had more first-choice applications than places.

The most sought-after, by first-choice applications per place offered: Stisted Church of England Primary Academy (2.2 per place), Westwood Academy (2.0 per place), Kendall Church of England Primary School (1.9 per place), St Peter's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, South Weald (1.8 per place), Maylandsea Primary School (1.8 per place).

Before you apply

Apply to Essex if you live here, even for a school in another council. You apply to your home council, online, by Friday 15 January 2027. Children born between 1 September 2022 and 31 August 2023 start Reception in September 2027.
Use every preference you're given. A council can only offer a school you named. If none of them has room, it offers a place at a school that does, which may be one you would never have picked.
Rank schools in your true order. Schools rank applicants by their own rules without seeing where you placed them, and you are offered the highest school on your list that can take your child. Putting a popular school first does not cost you a place at your second.
Name at least one school you are likely to get. The table below shows how many families put each school first.
Check for a supplementary form. Many faith schools and some academies ask for one as well as the council application. Without it a child can't be ranked on faith grounds.
Apply on time. Late applications are usually looked at only after every on-time one.

Summer-born children (born 1 April to 31 August) can ask to start Reception a year later instead of joining Year 1; the admission authority decides. Ask Essex before the deadline.

How Essex decides places

'Priority admission area' (catchment) is an explicit oversubscription criterion before the distance tiebreaker; Essex publishes an online catchment-area finder.

This covers the schools Essex sets the rules for. Academies, free schools and faith schools set their own; check each school's admission arrangements. Essex admissions.

Every primary school: demand for 2026 entry

Sorted by first-choice applications per place, the most contested first.

School	Places offered	First choices per place	First choices offered
Stisted Church of England Primary Academy Braintree	15	2.2	45%
Westwood Academy Benfleet	28	2.0	49%
Kendall Church of England Primary School Colchester	30	1.9	53%
St Peter's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, South Weald Brentwood	60	1.8	54%
Maylandsea Primary School Chelmsford	30	1.8	56%
Hare Street Community Primary School and Nursery Harlow	60	1.6	60%
Chipping Hill Primary School Witham	60	1.6	62%
Baynards Primary School Colchester	14	1.6	55%
Quilters Infant School Billericay	60	1.6	64%
Beehive Lane Community Primary School Chelmsford	29	1.6	62%
Holy Trinity Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Halstead Halstead	29	1.6	58%
Maltese Road Primary School Chelmsford	30	1.5	59%
White Notley Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School Witham	15	1.5	61%
Mountnessing Church of England Primary School Brentwood	30	1.5	67%
Perryfields Infant School Chelmsford	60	1.5	66%
Shenfield St. Mary's Church of England Primary School Brentwood	59	1.5	69%
Chipping Ongar Primary School Ongar	30	1.4	67%
Pemberley Academy Harlow	30	1.4	65%
St Mary's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, Burnham-on-Crouch Burnham-on-Crouch	30	1.4	67%
Newhall Primary Academy Harlow	60	1.4	69%
All Saints Maldon Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School Maldon	45	1.4	70%
Elm Hall Primary School Witham	30	1.4	69%
Hatfield Heath Primary School Bishop's Stortford	30	1.4	71%
Boreham Primary School Chelmsford	29	1.4	72%
Steeple Bumpstead Primary School Haverhill	29	1.4	72%
Bocking Primary School Braintree	30	1.4	71%
Danbury Park Community Primary School Danbury	30	1.4	71%
Holland Haven Primary School Clacton-on-Sea	60	1.4	72%
Kingsmoor Academy Harlow	30	1.4	73%
St Teresa's Catholic Primary School, Colchester Colchester	30	1.4	71%
The Beaulieu Park School Chelmsford	120	1.4	72%
Great Easton Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School Dunmow	20	1.4	74%
Lift Westerings Hockley	60	1.4	73%
Beckers Green Primary School Braintree	44	1.3	75%
Woodham Ley Primary School Benfleet	29	1.3	74%
Ivy Chimneys Primary School Epping	45	1.3	75%
Lift Hockley Hockley	45	1.3	75%
The Cathedral Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, Chelmsford Chelmsford	45	1.3	66%
Our Lady Immaculate Catholic Primary School Chelmsford	30	1.3	77%
St Peter's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Sible Hedingham Halstead	30	1.3	77%
Highfields Primary School Manningtree	45	1.3	78%
Lee Chapel Primary School Basildon	119	1.3	76%
Myland Community Primary School Colchester	45	1.3	76%
Chancellor Park Primary School, Chelmsford Chelmsford	29	1.3	76%
Kelvedon St Mary's Church of England Primary Academy Colchester	60	1.3	75%
Lexden Primary School with Unit for Hearing Impaired Pupils Colchester	29	1.3	76%
Great Dunmow Primary School Great Dunmow	60	1.3	79%
Kelvedon Hatch Community Primary School Brentwood	15	1.3	68%
Tendring Primary School Clacton-on-Sea	30	1.3	74%
Theydon Bois Primary School Epping	44	1.3	73%
St Thomas More's Catholic Primary School, Colchester Colchester	31	1.3	74%
Chapel Hill Primary School & Nursery Basildon	60	1.2	78%
Frinton-on-Sea Primary School Frinton-on-Sea	30	1.2	78%
Kingston Primary School Thundersley	30	1.2	73%
St Andrew's Church of England Primary School, Great Yeldham Halstead	22	1.2	81%
St John's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Buckhurst Hill Buckhurst Hill	60	1.2	77%
Burnham-on-Crouch Primary School Burnham-on-Crouch	60	1.2	79%
Doddinghurst Infant School Brentwood	60	1.2	82%
Grange Primary School Wickford	45	1.2	82%
Greensted Primary School & Nursery Basildon	60	1.2	77%
Our Lady of Ransom Catholic Primary School Rayleigh	59	1.2	82%
Matching Green Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School Harlow	14	1.2	76%
Canvey Island Infant School and Nursery Canvey Island	59	1.2	80%
Copford Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School Colchester	30	1.2	83%
Great Bardfield Primary School Braintree	20	1.2	79%
Henham and Ugley Primary and Nursery School Bishop's Stortford	30	1.2	83%
Home Farm Primary School Colchester	59	1.2	80%
St Andrew's Bulmer Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School Sudbury	15	1.2	83%
Terling Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School Chelmsford	15	1.2	72%
Engaines Primary School and Nursery Clacton-on-Sea	38	1.2	80%
Great Wakering Primary Academy Southend-on-Sea	60	1.2	82%
Writtle Infant School Chelmsford	60	1.2	85%
Alresford Primary School Colchester	30	1.2	86%
Boxted St Peter's Church of England School Colchester	30	1.2	83%
Highwoods Community Primary School Colchester	60	1.2	84%
Lubbins Park Primary Academy Canvey Island	29	1.2	79%
Ingatestone Infant School Ingatestone	44	1.2	82%
Bentley St Paul's Church of England Primary School Brentwood	28	1.1	69%
Fawbert and Barnard's Primary School Old Harlow	30	1.1	82%
Fingringhoe Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School Colchester	15	1.1	88%
Langenhoe Community Primary School Colchester	15	1.1	88%
Purford Green Primary School Harlow	30	1.1	88%
Rochford Primary and Nursery School Rochford	30	1.1	82%
Wentworth Primary School Maldon	60	1.1	79%
Blackmore Primary School Ingatestone	25	1.1	79%
Wix and Wrabness Primary School Manningtree	17	1.1	89%
Hutton All Saints' Church of England Primary School Brentwood	30	1.1	82%
St Anne Line Catholic Infant School Basildon	60	1.1	88%
St Teresa's Catholic Primary School Rochford	30	1.1	88%
West Horndon Primary School Brentwood	30	1.1	88%
Chigwell Primary Academy Chigwell	30	1.1	91%
Hatfield Peverel Infant and Nursery School Chelmsford	60	1.1	89%
High Beech CofE Primary School Loughton	15	1.1	81%
St Francis Catholic Primary School, Maldon Maldon	30	1.1	84%
Tiptree Heath Primary School Colchester	30	1.1	88%
Willowbrook Primary School Brentwood	30	1.1	84%
Northlands Primary School and Nursery Basildon	90	1.1	91%
Great Totham Primary School Maldon	59	1.1	84%
Priory Primary School, Bicknacre Chelmsford	20	1.1	90%
St Helen's Catholic Infant & Nursery School Brentwood	60	1.1	75%
St Peter's Catholic Primary School Billericay	60	1.1	90%
The Phoenix Primary School Basildon	88	1.1	92%
Cold Norton Primary School Chelmsford	23	1.0	83%
The Robert Drake Primary School Benfleet	45	1.0	91%
Cann Hall Primary School Clacton-on-Sea	58	1.0	95%
Clavering Primary School Saffron Walden	30	1.0	97%
Collingwood Primary School CHELMSFORD	30	1.0	97%
Grove Wood Primary School Rayleigh	90	1.0	95%
Harwich Community Primary School and Nursery Harwich	30	1.0	97%
Kirby Primary Academy Frinton-on-Sea	30	1.0	90%
St John's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Colchester COLCHESTER	30	1.0	94%
Thomas Willingale Primary School and Nursery Loughton	60	1.0	95%
White Court School Braintree	90	1.0	92%
William Read Primary Academy Canvey Island	30	1.0	81%
Notley Green Primary School Braintree	60	1.0	93%
St Luke's Church of England Controlled Primary School Colchester	45	1.0	83%
The Alderton Infant School and Nursery Loughton	60	1.0	98%
Brightlingsea Primary School and Nursery Colchester	75	1.0	99%
Abacus Primary School Wickford	59	1.0	100%
All Saints Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, Great Oakley Harwich	18	1.0	100%
Ardleigh St Mary's Church of England Primary Academy Colchester	4	1.0	100%
Ashdon Primary School Saffron Walden	7	1.0	100%
Birchanger Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School Bishop's Stortford	10	1.0	100%
Chappel CofE Controlled Primary School Colchester	13	1.0	100%
Chase Lane Primary School and Nursery Harwich	48	1.0	100%
Chrishall Holy Trinity and St Nicholas CofE (Aided) Primary School and Pre-School Royston	15	1.0	100%
Crays Hill Primary School Billericay	1	1.0	100%
Debden Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary Academy Saffron Walden	14	1.0	100%
Finchingfield St John the Baptist CofE Primary Academy Braintree	13	1.0	100%
Ford End Church of England Primary School Chelmsford	8	1.0	100%
Fordham All Saints CofE Voluntary Controlled Primary School Colchester	14	1.0	100%
Gosbecks Primary School Colchester	22	1.0	100%
Great Sampford Community Primary School Saffron Walden	13	1.0	100%
Great Tey Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School Colchester	8	1.0	100%
Hilltop Infant School Wickford	57	1.0	100%
Holy Trinity CofE Primary School, Eight Ash Green and Aldham Colchester	7	1.0	100%
Katherine Semar Infant School Saffron Walden	59	1.0	100%
King's Ford Infant School and Nursery Colchester	25	1.0	100%
Lambourne Primary School Romford	30	1.0	87%
Manuden Primary School Bishop's Stortford	10	1.0	100%
Maple Grove Primary School Basildon	29	1.0	100%
Mersea Island School Colchester	41	1.0	100%
Messing Primary School Colchester	12	1.0	83%
Parkwood Academy Chelmsford	19	1.0	100%
Parsons Heath Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School Colchester	29	1.0	100%
R A Butler Infant School Saffron Walden	87	1.0	100%
Rettendon Primary School Chelmsford	11	1.0	100%
Roseacres Primary School Bishop's Stortford	25	1.0	100%
Roxwell Church of England Primary School Chelmsford	13	1.0	100%
Spring Meadow Primary School & Nursery Harwich	33	1.0	100%
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School	15	1.0	100%
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, SWF Chelmsford	16	1.0	100%
St Luke's Park Primary School Wickford	26	1.0	96%
St Mary's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School Saffron Walden	25	1.0	100%
St Mary's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, Hatfield Broad Oak Bishop's Stortford	5	1.0	100%
St Michael's CofE Primary Academy, Ramsey Harwich	18	1.0	100%
St Michael's Primary School and Nursery, Colchester Colchester	20	1.0	100%
St Osyth Church of England Primary School Clacton-on-Sea	36	1.0	100%
St Peter's Church of England Primary Academy, West Hanningfield Chelmsford	11	1.0	100%
St Thomas More Catholic Primary School, Saffron Walden Saffron Walden	23	1.0	100%
The Mayflower Primary School Harwich	43	1.0	100%
Trinity St Mary's CofE Voluntary Aided Primary School, South Woodham Ferrers Chelmsford	10	1.0	100%
Vange Primary School and Nursery Basildon	6	1.0	100%
Willow Brook Primary School and Nursery Colchester	9	1.0	100%
John Ray Infant School Braintree	90	1.0	99%
Montgomery Primary School, Colchester Colchester	71	1.0	100%
Brinkley Grove Primary School Colchester	41	1.0	100%
Briscoe Primary School & Nursery Basildon	43	1.0	100%
Burrsville Infant Academy Clacton-on-Sea	60	1.0	90%
Cherry Tree Primary School Basildon	42	1.0	100%
Church Langley Community Primary School Harlow	60	1.0	86%
Edward Francis Primary School Rayleigh	60	1.0	95%
Elmwood Primary School Chelmsford	52	1.0	100%
Hillhouse CofE Primary School Waltham Abbey	49	1.0	100%
Kents Hill Infant Academy Benfleet	59	1.0	97%
Leverton Primary School Waltham Abbey	43	1.0	100%
Lincewood Primary Academy Basildon	43	1.0	100%
Waltham Holy Cross Primary Academy Waltham Abbey	81	1.0	100%
Woodville Primary School Chelmsford	43	1.0	100%
Dunmow St Mary's Primary School Dunmow	60	1.0	93%
Elsenham Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School Bishop's Stortford	58	1.0	100%
Hazelmere Infant School and Nursery Colchester	36	1.0	100%
Hereward Primary School Loughton	60	1.0	97%
Layer-de-la-Haye Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School Colchester	29	1.0	100%
Lift Plumberow Hockley	88	1.0	84%
Millfields Primary School Colchester	30	1.0	100%
Milwards Primary School and Nursery Harlow	29	1.0	100%
Moreton Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School Ongar	30	1.0	97%
Oakfield Primary School Wickford	60	1.0	100%
Radwinter Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School Saffron Walden	30	1.0	100%
Runwell Community Primary School Wickford	30	1.0	100%
South Benfleet Primary School Benfleet	59	1.0	98%
St Luke's Catholic Academy Harlow	30	1.0	93%
William Martin Church of England Infant and Nursery School Harlow	36	1.0	100%
Downham Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School Billericay	25	1.0	100%
Earls Colne Primary School and Nursery Colchester	47	1.0	100%
Ghyllgrove Primary School Basildon	53	1.0	100%
Great Chesterford Church of England Primary Academy Saffron Walden	27	1.0	100%
Northwick Park Primary and Nursery Academy Canvey Island	53	1.0	100%
Pear Tree Mead Academy Harlow	45	1.0	100%
Rayne Primary and Nursery School Braintree	28	1.0	100%
St Lawrence Church of England Primary School, Rowhedge Colchester	47	1.0	100%
St Mary's CofE Foundation Primary School Stansted	27	1.0	100%
St Peter's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Coggeshall Colchester	45	1.0	100%
Stanway Fiveways Primary School Colchester	48	1.0	100%
Tollesbury School Maldon	23	1.0	100%
Upshire Primary Foundation School WALTHAM ABBEY	26	1.0	100%
Elmstead Primary School Colchester	20	0.9	100%
Latton Green Primary Academy Harlow	21	0.9	100%
Lawford Mead Primary & Nursery Chelmsford	44	0.9	100%
Magna Carta Primary Academy Stansted Mountfitchet	21	0.9	100%
Merrylands Primary School Basildon	57	0.9	100%
Moulsham Infant School Chelmsford	83	0.9	100%
Roach Vale Primary School Colchester	21	0.9	100%
St Michael's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School Braintree	43	0.9	100%
The Willows Primary School Basildon	82	0.9	100%
Thundersley Primary School Benfleet	59	0.9	86%
Walton on the Naze Primary School Walton on the Naze	22	0.9	100%
White Hall Academy and Nursery Clacton-on-Sea	75	0.9	100%
All Saints' Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, Dovercourt Harwich	18	0.9	100%
Bentfield Primary School and Nursery Stansted	18	0.9	100%
Howbridge Infant School Witham	89	0.9	88%
Monkwick Infant and Nursery School Colchester	36	0.9	100%
Oakwood Infant and Nursery School Clacton-on-Sea	63	0.9	100%
St Margaret's Church of England Academy, Bowers Gifford Basildon	18	0.9	100%
St Nicholas Church of England Primary School RAYLEIGH	18	0.9	94%
Staples Road Primary School Loughton	90	0.9	99%
The Flitch Green Academy Dunmow	33	0.9	100%
Wickford Primary School Wickford	51	0.9	100%
Cherry Tree Academy Colchester	15	0.9	100%
Cooks Spinney Primary Academy and Nursery Harlow	59	0.9	100%
Cressing Primary School Braintree	30	0.9	93%
Dedham Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School Colchester	29	0.9	100%
Galleywood Infant School CHELMSFORD	45	0.9	100%
Great Waltham Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School Chelmsford	27	0.9	100%
Hamilton Primary School Colchester	57	0.9	100%
Heathlands Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, West Bergholt Colchester	59	0.9	98%
Jotmans Hall Primary School Benfleet	30	0.9	100%
Katherines Primary Academy and Nursery Harlow	28	0.9	100%
Limebrook Primary School and Nursery Maldon	30	0.9	89%
Limes Farm Infant School and Nursery Chigwell	41	0.9	100%
Little Waltham Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School Chelmsford	30	0.9	89%
Longwood Primary Academy Harlow	58	0.9	100%
Newport Primary School Newport	15	0.9	100%
South Green Infant School Billericay	27	0.9	100%
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School and Nursery Canvey Island	30	0.9	100%
Stebbing Primary School Dunmow	30	0.9	96%
Winter Gardens Academy Canvey Island	44	0.9	100%
Epping Primary School Epping	60	0.9	95%
Great Berry Primary School Basildon	60	0.9	100%
Holly Trees Primary School Brentwood	60	0.9	93%
Kingswood Primary School and Nursery Basildon	60	0.9	100%
Newlands Spring Primary and Nursery School Chelmsford	48	0.9	100%
Queen Boudica Primary School Colchester	53	0.9	100%
Rayleigh Primary School Rayleigh	52	0.9	100%
Rickling Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School Saffron Walden	13	0.9	100%
Ridgewell Church of England Primary School Halstead	13	0.9	100%
Shalford Primary School Braintree	12	0.9	100%
Sir Martin Frobisher Academy Clacton-on-Sea	26	0.9	100%
St John's Green Primary School Colchester	60	0.9	100%
White Bridge Primary School Loughton	60	0.9	100%
Bardfield Academy Basildon	32	0.9	100%
Braiswick Primary School Colchester	58	0.9	100%
Broomgrove Infant School Colchester	32	0.9	100%
Glebe Primary School Rayleigh	46	0.9	100%
Great Bentley Primary School Colchester	55	0.9	100%
Janet Duke Primary School Basildon	57	0.9	100%
Mildmay Primary School Chelmsford	68	0.9	100%
Millhouse Primary School Basildon	70	0.9	100%
Nazeing Primary School Waltham Abbey	45	0.9	100%
North Primary School and Nursery Colchester	57	0.9	100%
Riverside Primary School Hullbridge	56	0.9	100%
Stock Church of England Primary School Ingatestone	23	0.9	100%
Unity Primary Academy Colchester	34	0.9	100%
Whitmore Primary School and Nursery Basildon	76	0.9	100%
Buckhurst Hill Community Primary School Buckhurst Hill	59	0.9	96%
Coopersale and Theydon Garnon Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School Epping	30	0.9	96%
Epping Upland CofE Primary School Epping	30	0.9	100%
Henry Moore Primary School Harlow	82	0.9	100%
Holy Cross Catholic Primary School, Harlow Harlow	50	0.9	100%
Ingrave Johnstone Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School Brentwood	29	0.9	100%
Jerounds Primary Academy Harlow	41	0.9	100%
Lakelands Primary School Colchester	48	0.9	100%
Larkrise Primary School Chelmsford	21	0.9	100%
Lawford Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School Manningtree	41	0.9	100%
Meadgate Primary School Chelmsford	29	0.9	100%
North Crescent Primary School Wickford	21	0.9	100%
Old Heath Community Primary School Colchester	21	0.9	100%
Ravens Academy Clacton-on-Sea	20	0.9	100%
Rivenhall Church of England Primary School Witham	20	0.9	89%
St James Church of England Primary School Harlow	21	0.9	100%
St John Fisher Catholic Primary School Loughton	29	0.9	100%
St Mary's Church of England Primary School Chelmsford	10	0.9	100%
The Downs Primary School and Nursery Harlow	39	0.9	100%
Buttsbury Primary School Billericay	119	0.9	94%
Eversley Primary School Basildon	46	0.9	100%
Prettygate Infant School Colchester	55	0.9	100%
Stanway Primary School Colchester	44	0.9	100%
The Bishop William Ward Church of England Primary School Colchester	18	0.9	100%
Weeley St Andrew's CofE Primary School Clacton-On-Sea	18	0.9	100%
Belchamp St Paul Church of England Primary School Sudbury	8	0.9	100%
Brightside Primary School Billericay	89	0.9	100%
Feering Church of England Primary School Colchester	25	0.9	91%
Great Bradfords Infant and Nursery School Braintree	59	0.9	100%
St Clare's Catholic Primary School Clacton-on-Sea	42	0.9	100%
Broomfield Primary School Chelmsford	60	0.9	100%
Churchgate Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, Harlow Harlow	30	0.9	85%
Felsted Primary School Dunmow	30	0.9	100%
Hogarth Primary School Brentwood	30	0.9	100%
Holland Park Primary School Clacton-on-Sea	60	0.9	100%
Noak Bridge Primary School Basildon	30	0.9	96%
Purleigh Community Primary School Chelmsford	30	0.9	92%
St Alban's Catholic Academy Harlow	30	0.9	100%
St Andrew's Church of England Primary School, Halstead Halstead	30	0.9	96%
St John Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School Danbury Chelmsford	30	0.9	100%
St John the Baptist Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School Pebmarsh Halstead	15	0.9	92%
Water Lane Primary Academy Harlow	23	0.9	100%
de Vere Primary School Halstead	30	0.9	96%
Abbotsweld Primary Academy Harlow	37	0.9	100%
Felmore Primary School Basildon	37	0.9	100%
John Bunyan Primary School and Nursery Braintree	74	0.9	100%
Langham Primary Academy Colchester	14	0.9	100%
Potter Street Academy Harlow	21	0.9	100%
Roydon Primary Academy Harlow	29	0.9	100%
Silver End Academy Witham	58	0.9	100%
Takeley Primary School Dunmow	37	0.9	100%
Tany's Dell Primary School and Nursery Harlow	50	0.9	100%
Wyburns Primary School Rayleigh	22	0.9	100%
Birch Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School Colchester	20	0.8	94%
Canewdon Church of England Primary School Rochford	13	0.8	100%
Leigh Beck Infant School and Nursery Academy Canvey Island	74	0.8	100%
Ryedene Primary and Nursery School Basildon	47	0.8	100%
St Katherine's Church of England Primary School Canvey Island	26	0.8	100%
The Tyrrells School Chelmsford	59	0.8	88%
Freshwaters Primary Academy Harlow	57	0.8	100%
Friars Grove Primary School Colchester	43	0.8	100%
Great Leighs Primary School Chelmsford	25	0.8	100%
Lyons Hall School Braintree	87	0.8	100%
Richard de Clare Community Academy Halstead	50	0.8	100%
St James the Great Church of England Primary School Colchester	57	0.8	100%
St. George's School Colchester	55	0.8	100%
Camulos Academy Colchester	58	0.8	100%
Fairhouse Community Primary School Basildon	29	0.8	100%
Lift Ashingdon Rochford	30	0.8	88%
St Pius X Catholic Primary School Chelmsford	24	0.8	100%
Woodham Walter Church of England Primary Academy Maldon	12	0.8	100%
Baddow Hall Infant School Chelmsford	56	0.8	100%
Rolph Church of England Primary School and Nursery Clacton-on-Sea	28	0.8	100%
St Francis Catholic Primary School, Braintree Braintree	28	0.8	100%
St George's Church of England Primary School, Great Bromley Colchester	17	0.8	100%
Sunnymede Primary School Billericay	28	0.8	100%
Barnes Farm Primary School Chelmsford	53	0.8	100%
Down Hall Primary School Rayleigh	31	0.8	100%
Lift Hamford Walton on the Naze	47	0.8	100%
Maldon Primary School Maldon	21	0.8	100%
St Andrew's CofE Primary School Epping	37	0.8	100%
St Teresa's Catholic Primary School, Basildon Basildon	26	0.8	100%
Thaxted Primary School Dunmow	16	0.8	100%
Colne Engaine Church of England Primary School	10	0.8	100%
Dr Walker's CofE Primary School Ongar	5	0.8	100%
Heybridge Primary School Maldon	55	0.8	100%
High Ongar Primary School Ongar	20	0.8	94%
Laindon Park Primary School & Nursery Basildon	30	0.8	100%
Larchwood Primary School Brentwood	60	0.8	96%
Rodings Primary School Dunmow	30	0.8	100%
Stourview Church of England Primary Academy Mistley	5	0.8	100%
Tolleshunt D'Arcy St Nicholas Primary Academy Maldon	25	0.8	100%
St Andrew's Church of England Primary Academy, Marks Tey Colchester	29	0.8	100%
Gosfield Community Primary School Halstead	18	0.8	100%
East Hanningfield Church of England Primary Academy Chelmsford	17	0.8	100%
Hadleigh Infant and Nursery School Benfleet	72	0.8	100%
Helena Romanes School Great Dunmow	17	0.8	100%
Holy Family Catholic Primary School Benfleet	25	0.8	100%
The Wickford Church of England School Wickford	42	0.8	100%
Westlands Community Primary School Chelmsford	80	0.8	100%
St Cedd's Church of England Primary School Southminster	16	0.8	100%
Stapleford Abbotts Primary Academy Romford	16	0.8	100%
Waterman Primary School Rochford	12	0.8	100%
Oaklands Infant School Chelmsford	54	0.7	100%
Trinity Road Primary School Chelmsford	39	0.7	100%
Harlowbury Primary School Harlow	30	0.7	100%
Little Parndon Primary Academy Harlow	48	0.7	100%
Margaretting Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School Ingatestone	11	0.7	100%
Montgomerie Primary School Benfleet	30	0.7	95%
St Joseph the Worker Catholic Primary School Hutton	30	0.7	95%
Warley Primary School Brentwood	60	0.7	98%
The Bishops' Church of England and Roman Catholic Primary School Chelmsford	56	0.7	100%
Holy Family Catholic Primary School Witham	30	0.7	90%
Kings Road Primary School Chelmsford	39	0.7	100%
Little Hallingbury Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School Bishop's Stortford	13	0.7	100%
St Nicholas Church of England Primary School, Tillingham Southminster	16	0.7	100%
Long Ridings Primary School Brentwood	60	0.7	95%
Holt Farm Infant School Rochford	63	0.7	100%
Wethersfield CofE VC Primary School Braintree	3	0.7	100%
St Giles' Church of England Primary School Halstead	11	0.6	100%
Templars Academy Witham	47	0.6	100%
Springfield Primary School Chelmsford	49	0.6	100%
Bradfield Primary School Manningtree	13	0.6	100%
Acorn Infant Academy Witham	68	0.6	100%
St Margaret's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School Toppesfield Halstead	10	0.6	100%
Wimbish Primary Academy Saffron Walden	5	0.6	100%
Ongar Primary School Ongar	27	0.6	100%
Stambridge Primary School Rochford	12	0.6	100%
Barling Magna Primary Academy Southend-on-Sea	18	0.6	100%
Chigwell Row Infant School Chigwell	11	0.6	100%
Christchurch Church of England Primary School Chelmsford	19	0.5	100%
St Thomas of Canterbury Church of England Aided Primary School, Brentwood Brentwood	75	0.5	100%
Milldene Primary School Colchester	26	0.5	100%
St Leonard's Church of England Primary School Southminster	57	0.4	100%
Highwood Primary School Chelmsford	8	0.4	100%
Sheering Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School Bishop's Stortford	7	0.3	100%

Places offered is the number of offers made on national offer day, and first choices offered the share of families who put the school first and got it (Department for Education, September 2026 entry).

Appeals in Essex

Most Reception appeals are infant class size appeals. Classes of five- to seven-year-olds are limited to 30 by law, so a panel can uphold one only if the admission rules were unlawful or wrongly applied, or the refusal was one no reasonable authority would make. That is why so few succeed.

Year	Appeals lodged	Heard by a panel	Upheld	Share of heard appeals upheld
2025/26	375	241	31	12.9%
2024/25	371	225	35	15.6%
2023/24	431	298	32	10.7%

Primary school appeals across all of Essex, from the Department for Education. Appeals are not published school by school. Across England in 2025/26, 15.0% of 7,627 primary appeals heard were upheld. How appeal odds differ between councils.

More for Essex

Every school in Essex, with catchment areas and Ofsted
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