Data from Essex County Council shows which schools across Basildon, Castle Point and Rochford received the most applications. Picture: PA THE most in-demand south Essex primary schools for the next academic year have been revealed. Data from Essex County Council shows which schools across Basildon, Castle Point and Rochford received the most applications from parents and carers with children due to start reception in September. Out of 15,779 applications Essex County Council received on time, 14,161 pupils who are due to start in reception year this September have been offered their parent or carer’s first preference of primary school. This equates to 89.75 per cent of the total eligible cohort and represents a slight increase on last year which saw 89.38 per cent.