Browse Essex schools by age

 Alleyn Court Prep School is a co-educational prep school for children aged 2-11. The school aims to provide every child with a wonderful childhood, and support them to be happy and thrive in a rewarding educational environment. Children are taught in small classes with high staff ratios and their progress is supported by small transitions so they are constantly progressing. Pupils study a range of subjects including languages, computing and forest school, as well as dedicated 11+ preparation. Pupils succeed at the 11+ and progress to both grammar schools and independent senior schools.  

 Apex Primary School is an Islamic primary school for children aged 3-11 located in Ilford. They strive to deliver excellent teaching in a warm and safe environment, where every child feels known and supported. The school motto is ‘Helping little feet climb mountains’, reflecting their goal of supporting each child to achieve. Islamic values underpin the school’s ethos, and they say: “The bedrock of our values is to nourish the spiritual foundation and God consciousness which, we believe, naturally lies in the heart of every child.” They aim to equip each child with the necessary knowledge, skills and understanding to live as confident, healthy and autonomous individuals, and to have confidence in their faith.  

 Elm green is a co-educational prep school located in Chelmsford. The school prides itself on being a thriving, friendly and happy community where children are valued for their individuality, and they aim to maintain their original family school atmosphere. The school’s values are: “To treat others as you would be treated, to be our best and do our best in all things”, encouraging children to be considerate, hard-working and proud of their work. The school offers a range of clubs both during and around the school day, to support the strong curriculum throughout the school. 

 Gidea Park is a co-educational prep school and nursery for children aged 2-11. They aim to be “a happy community, fiercely curious, and proud of our learning” and hope all their pupils will become happy, independent and curious learners beyond their time at the school. The curriculum is well-rounded and includes use of personal iPads, to develop key tech skills and independence. There is also learning support and programmes to support all pupils to achieve to the best of their ability.  

 Heathcote is a nursery and prep school for children aged 2-11. Heathcote aims to embrace the whole child, through excellent academic provision and a wide range of co-curricular opportunities from Taekwondo to Chess Club. The school’s values are “respect, positivity, humility, resilience, aspiration” and these are embedded and taught throughout school life and in dedicated PSHRE lessons. Heathcote was named Junior School of the Year in 2021 by the Independent Schools Association. Pupils go on to a range of senior schools including Chelmsford County High School for Girls, King Edward VI Grammar School and Colchester Royal Grammar School, as well as independent schools including Colchester High School and Felsted.  

 Loyola is an all-boys’ Catholic day school for pupils aged 3-11. With a high teacher to pupil ratio, the school focuses its teaching techniques to focus on how boys learn best, equipping them with the skills to be lifelong learners and face any challenge. The school’s motto is Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam (To the Greater Glory of God), which they aim to promote through fully developing pupils’ natural talent in order to give service to others. The most popular destination schools after Loyola include Bancroft’s, Chigwell and City of London.  

 Maldon Court Prep School is a co-educational school for children aged 1-11. The school describe themselves as a small, happy and caring community. They have high expectations and standards and create a caring atmosphere to ensure each child is supported to succeed. Pupils achieve above national average, meeting the high standards set for them, with many achieving scholarships to independent senior schools at 11+. 

 Oakfields Prep School is a co-educational day school for children aged 2 ½-11. They prioritise small classes and providing a nurturing and stimulating environment, delivering a bespoke and enriched curriculum tailored to each child's needs. The school community is close and children are encouraged to participate in a range of activities. Progress tests are a key part of tracking and supporting pupils’ abilities and allow for clear support, resulting in progress above the national average across the board. The school also has a 1:1 device programme, providing every pupil in years 4-6 with a personal laptop to use throughout their education, building key technology skills and independence. Pupils achieve highly here, progressing to top grammar and independent schools including Benenden, Cheltenham Ladies’ College and Christ’s Hospital School.  

 Oxford House School is a co-educational prep school for children aged 2-11. The school’s motto is Labore Confecto Gaudentes, which translates to Joy in Achievement. The school believes that education should not just be about achieving excellent exam results, but also about finding joy in learning itself, to create life-long learners. Pupils at Oxford House excel at 11+, progressing to such senior schools as St Mary's and The Trinity School, as well as Colchester Royal Grammar and Colchester County High School for Girls 

 Saint Pierre School is a co-educational prep school for children aged 2 ½-11. They aim to create a nurturing environment where high expectations are balanced with personal care to produce well-rounded, inspired and high-achieving pupils. Pupils and parents are supported throughout, especially on their senior school journey, to ensure children achieve their full potential and go to the school that’s the best fit for them 

 St Anne's Preparatory School is a co-educational school for boys and girls aged 3-11. The school remains small, creating a friendly, family atmosphere and ensuring every child is known and personally cared for. St Anne’s offers a wide range of co-curricular activities, with multiple clubs available before school, during lunch breaks and after school every day, from mindful colouring to cross country, as well as holiday schools, music lessons, LAMDA and sports fixtures. The school’s motto is ‘fortiter, fideliter, feliciter’ meaning ‘bravely, faithfully, cheerfully’.  

 St Aubyn's School is a co-educational preparatory school for pupils aged 3-11. They say: “Our aim is that each boy and girl enjoys the present while preparing for their future.” Pupils are taught a strong academic curriculum, slowly increasing in independence and building their confidence to prepare them for senior school for further life. Pupils progress to selective grammar schools and independent senior schools such as Bancroft’s, Chigwell and Brentwood, including with a range of scholarships and awards. 

 St Cedd's is a co-educational school in Chelmsford, for pupils aged 3-11. The school aims to provide students not only with strong exam results, but also to develop a sense of community and key collaborative skills to equip young learners for the demands of the 21st Century. This is enriched by the many extracurricular activities on offer, from eco club and mindfulness, to fencing and invitational music clubs. 

 St Margaret's is a co-educational prep school for children aged 2-11. The school embraces their countryside setting, encouraging pupils to explore and thrive in nature. They describe their pupils as “happy, curious and kind.” On top of this, St Margaret’s is passionate about ‘value added’, supporting each child to improve and out-perform their abilities. Pupils achieve above the national average in most areas and many are awarded scholarships to senior schools at 11+.  

 St Michael's School is a co-educational school for pupils aged 3-11. The school motto is ‘non quis, sed quid’ (‘not who you are but what you are’) and they encourage all students to be confident and aspire to achieve highly. The school’s mission and ethos is underpinned by Christian values, especially in their motto and belief that personal, social, moral and spiritual development is just as important as academic success.  

 St Philomena's is a co-educational Catholic prep school for children aged 2-11. They describe themselves as “a small and nurturing school with high academic standards.” The school challenges and encourages pupils to develop and grow in a trusting and tolerant setting. The school’s founding ethos is Catholic, however, they welcome pupils of all faiths and none. The school offers many opportunities for pupils to get involved in activities outside of the classroom, including their dedicated Green Team, School Council and Choir, as well as clubs, activities and visits. 

 The Daiglen School is a co-educational preparatory school for girls and boys aged 3-11 years. They describe themselves as a small and friendly school: “Which provides a happy and secure environment for all pupils.” Their personal and child-centred approach supports each child to face their challenges and make the best progress possible. Scholarships and bursaries are available at various points throughout the school. After The Daiglen, pupils go on to such senior schools as Bancroft’s, Chigwell and Haileybury.  

 Ursuline Preparatory School is a co-educational Catholic day preparatory school for pupils aged 3-11 located in Brentwood. They describe themselves as: “A caring school with Christ at its centre”. The Catholic faith is embedded throughout school life and pupils are encouraged to take part in prayer, mass and religious festivals. Pupils achieve above the national standard and go on to top senior schools including City of London School for Girls, St Paul’s and Benenden. 

 Widford Lodge is a co-educational prep school for children aged 2 ½-11. The school is family owned and they maintain traditional values whilst remaining conscious of the need to prepare pupils for a fast-changing modern world. They say: “We feel that children who are happy and secure in their learning environment are children who are more likely to achieve their potential.” Once a week, prep pupils go ‘off timetable’ and take part in a range of activities from cooking and gardening to swimming and philosophy. This not only enriches their school experience and encourages them to develop new skills, but also creates the fun atmosphere which the school believes enables children to thrive. 

 Woodford Green Prep School is a co-educational christian prep school for children from nursery to Year 6. Pupils are supported and their progress monitored throughout their time at the school, allowing for appropriate support to be given to enable them to succeed. Pupils are also encouraged to take part in the wide range of clubs and activities on offer, including tennis, cookery, computer club, debate and many more.  

 Woodlands Schools consist of Great Warley (for pupils aged 2-11) and Hutton Manor (3-11), as well as the Little Acorns and Lower Kindergarten for children from 3 months. Woodlands Schools aim to combine the best of tradition with progressive and forward-thinking ideas to enable pupils to become socially responsible citizens and life-long learners. They seek to foster curiosity, independence and a life-long love of learning, in a happy and safe environment. 

 Bancroft's School is a co-educational day school for pupils aged 7-18. Located on a greenfield site, the school benefits from plenty of space and facilities, whilst remaining connected to London. The school has high expectations and works consciously to maintain a close and confident community in the school, where all pupils are supported to succeed. Bancroft’s is proud of their diverse and multi-faith community, and many societies and religious and cultural events are held. Alongside academics, pupils undertake a ‘Learning for Life’ programme, equipping them with the personal, social and life skills to succeed beyond education. Pupils achieve highly at all stages and progress to top Russell Group universities. 

 Brentwood School is a day and boarding school for boys and girls aged 3-18. The school’s motto ‘Virtue, Learning, Manners’ underpins the core elements of life at Brentwood. They pride themselves on providing a balance of traditional and modern education, to prepare pupils for whatever their futures may bring, this is implemented through classes such as IT as well as personal skills such as problem solving, confidence and resilience, which pupils learn to apply to any new challenge. There are many opportunities for both day and boarding pupils to broaden their horizons, with many clubs and activities throughout the week, ranging from equestrian to chess. 

 Chigwell is a co-educational school for pupils aged 4-18. Located on a 100 acre site not far from the City of London, the school offers the best of both city and country education, allowing pupils to have a wide range of opportunities and experiences. The school’s values are: "Happiness first, courageous and resilient, innovative approach, community of kindness and lifelong learning." These values are embodied and encouraged across the whole school, and pupils, and pupils' successes speaks to this. Throughout their time at the school, pupils receive strong careers guidance and support and they achieve highly across the school, with the majority of leavers going on to Russell Group universities.  

 Colchester Prep and High School is a co-educational school for children aged 2-16. They describe their curriculum as “STEAM powered”, and “with a global perspective and a deep sense of responsibility”, to prepare pupils to have the skills and confidence to tackle whatever the future might bring. They also say: “We inspire them to be the next generation of entrepreneurs, digital creatives, engineers and inventors”, aiming to equip children not just for traditional or pre-existing jobs, but to give them the ability to create their own future. This is evident across the STEAM-led curriculum, which provides a range of skills across the core areas (Science, technology, engineering, arts, maths), as well as soft skills such as collaboration, confidence and problem-solving. 

 Felsted is a co-educational day and boarding school for pupils aged 4-18. Located on a 90 acre rural campus, the school embraces being a village school, as well as being just an hour from Cambridge and London. The school offers full and flexi boarding options from Year 5, amongst a diverse international and tight-knit boarding community, with many evening and weekend activities available. Felsted's values embody all they aim to be and what they aim to inspire in their pupils: welcoming, adventurous, respectful, fun, inspirational and sustainable. 

 Gosfield is a co-educational through school, taking children from 2-18. Set on a 110 acre campus, students have access to excellent facilities, including playing fields, woods and parkland. The Gosfield values are: “Kindness, Respect, Responsibility, Community, Independence, Resilience, Integrity, Authenticity”, these values underpin school life and are what they hope students will develop throughout their time at Gosfield. Alongside the core curriculum and wide range of clubs and activities on offer, Gosfield also has academies in netball, cricket and the performing arts, designed to support all children to grow, achieve and inspire.  

 Holmwood House School is a co-educational nursery and through school, for pupils aged 6 months-16 years old. They aim to: “Spark curiosity and ignite wonder in each and every child, allowing them to develop individuality, confidence and tenacity to reach their true potential.” The school recently extended their provision from age 13 to 16 (Year 11), with the first cohort progressing into year 9 in 2023. The school is located on a 25 acre site and is equipped with a swimming pool, indoor cricket nets, squash courts, excellent art facilities (including a kiln room), a large performing arts space and plenty of outdoor space for pupils to utilise. 

 Immanuel School is a co-educational school for children aged 3-16 in Romford. They believe that education is not just about developing skills and abilities, but also about nurturing the individual to develop interests, passions and community. Immanuel is a Christian school and says the bible is integral to their curriculum and school life. Pupils study a range of subjects and benefit from a campus overlooking the Essex countryside with forest areas and sports pitches 

Ipswich High School is a co-educational through school for children aged 3-18, located in an 87-acre estate on the banks of the River Orwell. The school boasts large and prestigious grounds and facilities, including over 300 clubs, whilst maintaining a smaller student body and an average class size of 14 (just 6 in the Sixth Form). This individualised care and family feel allows pupils to thrive throughout the school and beyond, with many going on to top universities including Oxbridge. 

 New Hall School is a Catholic co-educational day and boarding school for children aged 1-18. The school operates the ‘diamond model’, where pupils are educated in co-educational classes from ages 1-11 and at Sixth Form, however, from ages 11-16 they are taught in single-sex lessons. The school believes this provides the best of both settings - allowing teachers to tailor their classes to the needs of boys and girls at different ages, whilst maintaining a co-educational social environment to prepare them for life beyond school. The school’s Catholic foundation means students are encouraged to participate in religious events and attend chapel. The religious foundation also encourages pupils to participate in the school’s voluntary service, supporting vulnerable members of the local community and enabling young people to develop key skills. 

 Saint Nicholas School is a co-educational through school for children aged 2 ½-16. The school’s vision is: “To be a thriving, sustainable and ambitious school community where each individual excels and strives to reach their full potential.” They place great emphasis on developing the individual, recognising that each child is different and tailoring their support to meet their needs. The extensive curriculum and extracurricular opportunities are designed to ensure that Saint Nicholas pupils leave the school confident, capable and well-rounded individuals. 

 St Mary's is an all-girls’ school for pupils aged 3-16. The school believes that: “Girls are remarkable and have different educational needs” which they can meet in a single-sex environment, supporting each girl to be inspired, build resilience, advance academically, learn what interests her and grow, in a supportive and happy environment. The school offers scholarships at lower and senior school level in academic, arts and sport, to support girls to access St Mary’s education. The school is also part of the Round Square education group of over 200 schools worldwide, sharing an ethos, expertise and opportunities. 

 Thorpe Hall School is a co-educational day school for pupils aged 2-16. The school offers a wide range of co-curricular activities alongside their strong academic curriculum, including a ‘sport for all’ programme to encourage all pupils to partake in and enjoy sport. The school also has a ‘grammar school plus’ programme, this selective stream at 11+ offers strong academics whilst maintaining the small classes and facilities of independent education, allowing able pupils to thrive.