Stisted CofE Primary Academy has been identified this year as the most sought after primary school in Essex for the September 2026 Reception intake, highlighting the growing demand for places at our successful small rural school. The academy, which has just 15 Reception places, received 33 first-choice preferences, making it the most oversubscribed primary school in Essex when measured by the percentage of first-choice applications against available places. Stisted remains, first and foremost, a school serving the Stisted community. Importantly, every child living within the school’s catchment area who applied was offered a place. The additional demand has come from families outside the village catchment choosing to travel to Stisted, reflecting the school’s strong reputation and the confidence families have in its provision. The level of interest is seen as a reflection of the school’s strong reputation, although Canonium Learning Trust, which the school is part of, acknowledged that...

Canonium Learning Trust has successfully delivered a whole-trust cricket training programme for staff, bringing together colleagues from all 12 schools to strengthen teaching and create new opportunities for pupils. Delivered during the week commencing 20 April 2026, the programme saw 55 teachers take part in three hub-based training sessions, focused on improving confidence and consistency in the teaching of cricket across the Trust. The training was led by Essex Cricket, with specialist delivery from Karen Hussain, Education, Training and Competition Officer. Sessions focused on bowling, striking and fielding skills, alongside practical approaches to delivering high-quality PE lessons. As a direct result of the training, pupils from across the Trust will come together for a Year 3/4 Cricket Festival on 11 June 2026 at Kelvedon & Feering Cricket Club, ensuring that professional development translates into meaningful enrichment opportunities and giving pupils the chance to apply th...