DEMAND is outstripping supply at Colchester’s high-flying secondary schools.

Students can apply for up to six schools with the most popular schools being oversubscribed.

The Consortium Of Selective Schools In Essex said 612 pupils hoping to get into Colchester County High School for Girls sat the 11+ entry exam and 539 children sat the exam for Colchester Royal Grammar School.

Oxford House School in Colchester is celebrating as 11 pupils received offers at grammar schools.

Essex County Council’s figures show:

  •  The Gilberd School, Colchester - 375 parents picked as a first choice with only 312 places
  •  Stanway School, Colchester - 311 parents picked as a first choice, with only 280 places
  •  Colchester County High School for Girls - 308 parents picked as a first choice with only 160 places
  •  Colchester Royal Grammar School - 249 parents picked as a first choice, with only 128 places
  • Philip Morant School, Colchester - 236 parents picked as a first choice with 340 places available
  • Thurstable School, Tiptree - 193 parents picked as a first choice, with 210 places available
  •  St Helena School, Colchester - 184 parents picked as a first choice, with 200 places available
  •  Thomas Lord Audley School, Colchester - 177 parents picked as a first choice with only 168 places
  •  St Benedict’s Catholic College, Colchester - 166 parents picked as a first choice with 180 places available
  •  Colchester Academy - 95 parents picked as a first choice with 240 places available
  •  Colne Community School and College, Brightlingsea - 203 parents picked as a first choice, with 248 places available

The number of parents applying to Colne dropped by 114 since the previous year.

Last summer the school, previously rated as outstanding by Ofsted, underwent a snap inspection after it had been thrown into turmoil by the suspension of chief executive Nardeep Sharma and executive principal Catherine Hutley. The latest Ofsted report rated the school inadequate.

The number of parents applying to Philip Morant School also dropped by 224 since the previous year.

There has been 225 applications for places at Paxman Academy.  Paxman Academy in Shrub End, Colchester, is due to open in September.