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. 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.
Weighing a state place instead? How far Essex state schools admitted from, school by school →
Mainstream independent schools
| School | Ages | Pupils | Faith | On roll | How full |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brentwood School Brentwood, CM15 8EE | 3 to 19 | Mixed | Christian | 1,853 | 93% |
| Chelmsford Hospital School Chelmsford, CM1 7SJ | 11 to 18 | Mixed | Non-faith | 1 | 8% |
| Chigwell School Chigwell, IG7 6QF | 4 to 18 | Mixed | Church of England | 1,135 | 98% |
| Colchester Prep & High School Colchester, CO3 3HD | 2 to 16 | Mixed | Non-faith | 280 | 50% |
| Coopersale Hall School Epping, CM16 7PE | 2 to 16 | Mixed | Non-faith | 302 | 71% |
| Daiglen School | 3 to 11 | Mixed | Non-faith | 95 | 62% |
| Elm Green Preparatory School Essex, CM3 4SU | 3 to 11 | Mixed | Non-faith | 164 | 75% |
| Felsted School Felsted, CM6 3LL | 3 to 19 | Mixed | Church of England | 932 | 85% |
| Gosfield School | 2 to 18 | Mixed | Non-faith | 369 | 97% |
| Heathcote School Chelmsford, CM3 4QB | 2 to 11 | Mixed | Non-faith | 98 | 61% |
| Holmwood House School Colchester, CO3 9ST | 0 to 16 | Mixed | Non-faith | 395 | 88% |
| Howe Green House School BISHOP'S STORTFORD, CM22 7UF | 2 to 11 | Mixed | Non-faith | 130 | 69% |
| Littlegarth School Colchester, CO6 4JR | 2 to 11 | Mixed | Non-faith | 304 | 89% |
| Loyola Preparatory School BUCKHURST HILL, IG9 5NH | 3 to 11 | Boys | Non-faith | 138 | 64% |
| Maldon Court Preparatory School Maldon, CM9 4QE | 1 to 11 | Mixed | Non-faith | 142 | 84% |
| New Hall School Chelmsford, CM3 3HS | 1 to 19 | Mixed | Catholic | 1,364 | 91% |
| Oaklands School Loughton, IG10 4RA | 2 to 11 | Mixed | Non-faith | 264 | 97% |
| Open Box Education Centre Essex, CM16 5DN | 14 to 17 | Mixed | Non-faith | 16 | 80% |
| Saint Nicholas School Essex, CM17 0NJ | 2 to 16 | Mixed | Non-faith | 439 | 80% |
| St Anne's School Chelmsford, CM2 0AW | 3 to 11 | Mixed | Non-faith | 107 | 65% |
| St Cedd's School Chelmsford, CM2 0AR | 3 to 11 | Mixed | Non-faith | 321 | 76% |
| St John's School | 2 to 16 | Mixed | Non-faith | 274 | 50% |
| St Margaret's Preparatory School Halstead, CO9 1SE | 2 to 11 | Mixed | Non-faith | 154 | 55% |
| St Mary's School for Girls Colchester, CO3 3RB | 2 to 17 | Girls | Non-faith | 424 | 71% |
| St Philomena's School Frinton-on-Sea, CO13 9HQ | 4 to 11 | Mixed | Non-faith | 89 | 64% |
| Ursuline Preparatory School Brentwood, CM13 3HR | 3 to 11 | Mixed | Non-faith | 161 | 95% |
| Widford Lodge School Chelmsford, CM2 9AN | 2 to 11 | Mixed | Non-faith | 179 | 66% |
| Woodlands School Hutton Manor Brentwood, CM13 1SD | 0 to 11 | Mixed | Non-faith | 143 | 62% |
Independent special schools
| School | Ages | Pupils | Faith | On roll | How full |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Athena School Canvey Island, SS8 0HN | 8 to 17 | Mixed | Non-faith | 2 | 33% |
| Cambian Great Dunmow School Essex, CM6 1XJ | 11 to 19 | Mixed | Non-faith | 15 | 60% |
| Clarity Independent School Chelmsford, CM2 7SG | 6 to 17 | Mixed | Non-faith | 13 | 72% |
| Compass Community School Essex ESSEX, CO16 9PY | 11 to 19 | Mixed | Non-faith | 16 | 21% |
| Doucecroft School Colchester, CO6 3QL | 3 to 19 | Mixed | Non-faith | 83 | 83% |
| High Trees London, W1W 7LT | 11 to 17 | Mixed | Non-faith | Not reported | Not reported |
| Luxborough Court School | 5 to 19 | Mixed | Non-faith | 80 | 53% |
| Minerva Independent School Clacton-on-Sea, CO16 8DH | 8 to 17 | Mixed | Non-faith | 1 | 17% |
| Octavia House Schools, Essex | 5 to 16 | Mixed | Non-faith | 61 | 53% |
| Omnia Foundation | 12 to 17 | Boys | Non-faith | 24 | 57% |
| Teaseldown School Halstead, CO9 3PX | 11 to 19 | Mixed | Non-faith | 24 | 83% |
| The Belsteads School Essex, CM3 3PP | 10 to 17 | Mixed | Non-faith | 52 | 95% |
| The Tower School | 11 to 18 | Mixed | Non-faith | 60 | 97% |
| The Yellow House School Halstead, CO9 3HX | 13 to 17 | Mixed | Non-faith | 14 | 70% |
| Woodcroft School Loughton, IG10 1SQ | 5 to 13 | Mixed | Non-faith | 41 | 82% |
| Woodend Farm School Witham, CM8 1EH | 6 to 16 | Mixed | Non-faith | 25 | 62% |
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.