FAMILIES across Thurrock have either been celebrating, plotting an appeal or expressing disappointment today after they were informed which secondary schools their children have been allocated to for the coming academic year.

And nowhere does the anger and frustration appear to have been more heartfelt than in East Tilbury where many families - including those with students already in place at the school - have been denied a place at St Clere's School.

The Stanford-le-Hope secondary has been a popular choice for decades but this year, with many new homes in the area the pressures have been extreme – with a staggering 739 applications for 240 places.

Inevitably that has meant huge disappointment for many and though St Clere's, which is part of the Osborne Co-operative Academy Trust can offer secondary places at the new Thames Park school (temporarily housed in the heart of Grays) and places at Brentwood County High, that appears a poor second option for some families who see the St Clere's school bus pull up outside their homes! And one member of the family gets on to it…while others have to head elsewhere, split not just from family - but primary school friends.

Head of St Clere's is Mrs Ashlie Hughes who told Thurrock Nub News: "St Clere's School is part of the local authority's co-ordinated admissions arrangement. This year there have been 739 applications for 240 places which will leave a number of families potentially very disappointed.

"It is always challenging when parents are unable to get their first choice place but parents do have the right to appeal if they wish.

"This year the Trust does have three secondary schools to consider with Thames Park in its second year and Brentwood County High Schools available if parents wish to be part of the Osborne Co-operative Academy Trust."

St Clere's has done its best to meet borough demand, stepping in to rescue the council's failed school places strategy in 208 when it agreed to take an additional bulger year seven intake of an additional 120 pupils.

In following years it has also taken additional pupils and built new classrooms but it is operating at capacity - indeed many parents have expressed the view that is is operating beyond capacity.

Only last week Thurrock Nub News reported on the school seeking to hand on to a 'temporary classroom' because of the demand for places.

Cllr Fraser Massey is ward councillor in East Tilbury and he says he has been inundated with upset parents and residents in the village. He said: "I have received a large amount of enquiries relating to children at East Tilbury school not getting a St Clere's admission.

"It is day one so I don't have any answer from the council as yet but will be following this up.

"St Clere's has a long history of placing children from in and around East Tilbury I hope this continues as we have never had a school built more locally. This has always been seen as the area's local school."

William Edwards also has a year seven expansion block available in its new building at Thurrock Rugby Club and the new Harris Riverside Academy in Purfleet opened in September 2019, though it largely took pupils from its overstretched sister school in Chafford Hundred.

However, it remains clear that capacity does not meet demand across the borough and a running sore in borough education that has been bubbling along for several years looks set to continue with no immediate solution in sight and delays and procrastination prevalent. The South West Essex Community Education Trust's plans for a sister secondary to William Edwards' remain on ice aside from the block at the rugby club.

Thurrock Council has now issued a statement on this year's school admissions.