Ormiston Rivers Academy has spoken out to welcome news that it will be able to take up to 30 extra students this September so that children from the Dengie won't have to travel out of the area for school.

Essex County Council revealed today (Tuesday, 9 March) that the decision to offer some children from the Dengie secondary school places as far away as Brightlingsea has been changed - with extra capacity for September 2021 found at Ormiston Rivers and William de Ferrers.

A spokesperson for Ormiston Rivers Academy said: "We are very proud to be an academy of choice for so many parents and we always do our level best to take as many children as possible. As with all schools, though, there is a limited number of places available and we know that that can mean disappointment for some.

"So we have been working hard with the council on how we can help and we are really pleased that the council has today agreed that we will be able to take a further 30 children into Year 7 for this September. This is through creative use of space and will not impact on the high quality of education we provide our students."

The popular secondary school in Southminster Road, Burnham-on-Crouch, also revealed that it hopes to be able to take more students on a permanent basis, with plans for new buildings ahead.

The spokesperson added: "Further ahead, we have proposed that we increase the number of students per year from 180 to 210. This change will mean that we do need to create extra space and new buildings to accommodate the extra numbers, so would come in from 2023 if agreed."