On 30 September 2014, Education Secretary Nicky Morgan MP announced that The Ongar Academy had been approved to enter the pre-opening phase, one of 35 new free school applications approved that day, forming part of Wave 7 of the Free Schools programme. The Ongar Academy was one of five schools highlighted in press announcements. An editor's comment in the self-published local community run newspaper, Ongar News, stated in October 2014 that The Ongar Academy had "the backing, and more importantly the trust, of the majority of townsfolk". The Ongar Academy entered the pre-opening phase, announcing the appointment of David Grant as the school's first Headteacher on 29 October 2014 and opening for admissions in November 2014.
