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Private schools in Essex

44 fee-paying schools are registered in Essex: 28 mainstream and 16 special. 3 are single-sex. 12 take pupils to 18. Of the mainstream schools, 15 take pupils up to 11 or 13, 11 run from primary age into the senior years and 2 start at 11 or 13. Everything below is the Department for Education's register as it stands; fees, entrance tests and inspection reports live on each school's own site.

44independent schools
28mainstream
16special schools
10,784pupils on roll, where reported

Weighing a state place instead? How far Essex state schools admitted from, school by school →

Private primary and prep schools in Essex

15 schools. Ages up to 11 or 13, from each school's registered age range.

School Ages Pupils Faith On roll How full
Daiglen School IG9 5LG Ages 3 to 11 Mixed Non-faith 95 62% full
Elm Green Preparatory School Essex, CM3 4SU Ages 3 to 11 Mixed Non-faith 164 75% full
Heathcote School Chelmsford, CM3 4QB Ages 2 to 11 Mixed Non-faith 98 61% full
Howe Green House School BISHOP'S STORTFORD, CM22 7UF Ages 2 to 11 Mixed Non-faith 130 69% full
Littlegarth School Colchester, CO6 4JR Ages 2 to 11 Mixed Non-faith 304 89% full
Loyola Preparatory School BUCKHURST HILL, IG9 5NH Ages 3 to 11 Boys Non-faith 138 64% full
Maldon Court Preparatory School CM9 4QE Ages 1 to 11 Mixed Non-faith 142 84% full
Oaklands School Loughton, IG10 4RA Ages 2 to 11 Mixed Non-faith 264 97% full
St Anne's School Chelmsford, CM2 0AW Ages 3 to 11 Mixed Non-faith 107 65% full
St Cedd's School Chelmsford, CM2 0AR Ages 3 to 11 Mixed Non-faith 321 76% full
St Margaret's Preparatory School Halstead, CO9 1SE Ages 2 to 11 Mixed Non-faith 154 55% full
St Philomena's School Frinton-on-Sea, CO13 9HQ Ages 4 to 11 Mixed Non-faith 89 64% full
Ursuline Preparatory School Brentwood, CM13 3HR Ages 3 to 11 Mixed Non-faith 161 95% full
Widford Lodge School Chelmsford, CM2 9AN Ages 2 to 11 Mixed Non-faith 179 66% full
Woodlands School Hutton Manor Brentwood, CM13 1SD Ages 0 to 11 Mixed Non-faith 143 62% full

All-through private schools in Essex

11 schools. From primary age into the senior years, from each school's registered age range.

School Ages Pupils Faith On roll How full
Brentwood School CM15 8EE Ages 3 to 19 Mixed Christian 1,853 93% full
Chigwell School IG7 6QF Ages 4 to 18 Mixed Church of England 1,135 98% full
Colchester Prep & High School CO3 3HD Ages 2 to 16 Mixed Non-faith 280 50% full
Coopersale Hall School Epping, CM16 7PE Ages 2 to 16 Mixed Non-faith 302 71% full
Felsted School CM6 3LL Ages 3 to 19 Mixed Church of England 932 85% full
Gosfield School CO9 1PF Ages 2 to 18 Mixed Non-faith 369 97% full
Holmwood House School Colchester, CO3 9ST Ages 0 to 16 Mixed Non-faith 395 88% full
New Hall School Chelmsford, CM3 3HS Ages 1 to 19 Mixed Catholic 1,364 91% full
Saint Nicholas School Essex, CM17 0NJ Ages 2 to 16 Mixed Non-faith 439 80% full
St John's School CM12 0AR Ages 2 to 16 Mixed Non-faith 274 50% full
St Mary's School for Girls Colchester, CO3 3RB Ages 2 to 17 Girls Non-faith 424 71% full

Private senior schools in Essex

2 schools. Starting at 11 or 13, from each school's registered age range.

School Ages Pupils Faith On roll How full
Chelmsford Hospital School CM1 7SJ Ages 11 to 18 Mixed Non-faith 1 8% full
Open Box Education Centre Essex, CM16 5DN Ages 14 to 17 Mixed Non-faith 16 80% full

Independent special schools in Essex

16 schools. Registered as independent special schools.

School Ages Pupils Faith On roll How full
Athena School Canvey Island, SS8 0HN Ages 8 to 17 Mixed Non-faith 2 33% full
Cambian Great Dunmow School Essex, CM6 1XJ Ages 11 to 19 Mixed Non-faith 15 60% full
Clarity Independent School Chelmsford, CM2 7SG Ages 6 to 17 Mixed Non-faith 13 72% full
Compass Community School Essex ESSEX, CO16 9PY Ages 11 to 19 Mixed Non-faith 16 21% full
Doucecroft School Colchester, CO6 3QL Ages 3 to 19 Mixed Non-faith 83 83% full
High Trees London, W1W 7LT Ages 11 to 17 Mixed Non-faith Not reported How full: Not reported
Luxborough Court School IG7 5AA Ages 5 to 19 Mixed Non-faith 80 53% full
Minerva Independent School Clacton-on-Sea, CO16 8DH Ages 8 to 17 Mixed Non-faith 1 17% full
Octavia House Schools, Essex CM2 7HH Ages 5 to 16 Mixed Non-faith 61 53% full
Omnia Foundation SS6 9DT Ages 12 to 17 Boys Non-faith 24 57% full
Teaseldown School Halstead, CO9 3PX Ages 11 to 19 Mixed Non-faith 24 83% full
The Belsteads School Essex, CM3 3PP Ages 10 to 17 Mixed Non-faith 52 95% full
The Tower School CM16 4BA Ages 11 to 18 Mixed Non-faith 60 97% full
The Yellow House School Halstead, CO9 3HX Ages 13 to 17 Mixed Non-faith 14 70% full
Woodcroft School Loughton, IG10 1SQ Ages 5 to 13 Mixed Non-faith 41 82% full
Woodend Farm School Witham, CM8 1EH Ages 6 to 16 Mixed Non-faith 25 62% full

Which of these are near an address

The schools guide measures each school from the postcode typed, so the answer is a list nearest first rather than a council. A district is wide, so check the address itself before counting on a distance.

What this list is, and is not

Source: the Department for Education's Get Information About Schools register, which every school in England must keep current, refreshed here with each import. "How full" is pupils on roll against the school's stated capacity, where both are reported. The register carries no fees, no entrance requirements and no inspection grades for independent schools: those are on each school's own site and the Independent Schools Inspectorate's. A school missing here is not registered in Essex, which for a school on a boundary can mean it is listed under the neighbouring council.

Choosing between a private place and a state one? The full property report puts every school near an address, state and independent, on one page with the house itself.