Private schools in Essex (2026)

34 fee-paying schools, 5 taking boarders, listed by A level results where the school publishes them, then by name.

Schools

fee-paying

Boarding

take boarders

Publish A levels

16 to 18 results

Typical day fee

£6,496

a term before VAT (East, ISC 2026)

Filter these schools →All of England

School	Ages	A level	Pupils	Fee income per pupil	Inspection
Brentwood School Brentwood · Co-ed · Boarding · Christian	3–19	B+	1853	£21,700	ISI report
New Hall School Chelmsford · Co-ed · Boarding · Catholic	1–19	B	1364	£22,000	ISI report
Chigwell School Chigwell · Co-ed · Boarding · Church of England	4–18	B	1135	£19,700	ISI report
Felsted School Felsted · Co-ed · Boarding · Church of England	3–19	B-	932	£28,500	ISI report
Alleyn Court Preparatory School Stonebridge · Co-ed · Day	2–11	—	218	—	ISI report
Beis Chinuch Lebonos Westcliff Southend-on-Sea · Girls · Day	3–11	—	103	—	Ofsted report
Chelmsford Hospital School Chelmsford · Co-ed · Day	11–18	—	1	—	Ofsted report
Colchester Prep & High School Colchester · Co-ed · Day	2–16	—	280	—	ISI report
Coopersale Hall School Epping · Co-ed · Day	2–16	—	302	—	ISI report
Daiglen School Buckhurst Hill · Co-ed · Day	3–11	—	95	—	ISI report
Elm Green Preparatory School Danbury · Co-ed · Day	3–11	—	164	—	ISI report
Gosfield School Gosfield · Co-ed · Day	2–18	—	369	£13,700	ISI report
Heathcote School Danbury · Co-ed · Day	2–11	—	98	—	ISI report
Holmwood House School Colchester · Co-ed · Boarding	0–16	—	395	—	ISI report
Howe Green House School BISHOP'S STORTFORD · Co-ed · Day	2–11	—	130	£14,700	ISI report
Littlegarth School Colchester · Co-ed · Day	2–11	—	304	£14,600	ISI report
Loyola Preparatory School Buckhurst Hill · Boys · Day	3–11	—	138	£15,100	ISI report
Maldon Court Preparatory School Maldon · Co-ed · Day	1–11	—	142	—	ISI report
Oaklands School Loughton · Co-ed · Day	2–11	—	264	—	ISI report
Open Box Education Centre Epping · Co-ed · Day	14–17	—	16	—	Ofsted report
Saint Nicholas School Harlow · Co-ed · Day	2–16	—	439	£16,400	ISI report
Saint Pierre School Southend-on-Sea · Co-ed · Day	2–11	—	106	—	ISI report
St Anne's School Chelmsford · Co-ed · Day	3–11	—	107	—	ISI report
St Cedd's School Chelmsford · Co-ed · Day	3–11	—	321	£14,300	ISI report
St John's School Billericay · Co-ed · Day	2–16	—	274	—	ISI report
St Margaret's Preparatory School Halstead · Co-ed · Day	2–11	—	154	—	ISI report
St Mary's School for Girls Colchester · Girls · Day	2–17	—	424	£16,300	ISI report
St Philomena's School Frinton-on-Sea · Co-ed · Day	4–11	—	89	£9,200	ISI report
St. Michael's School Southend-on-Sea · Co-ed · Day · Church of England	2–11	—	184	£15,500	ISI report
The Light Christian School Grays · Co-ed · Day	3–11	—	23	—	Ofsted report
Thorpe Hall School Stonebridge · Co-ed · Day	2–16	—	600	£13,400	ISI report
Ursuline Preparatory School Brentwood · Co-ed · Day	3–11	—	161	£15,100	ISI
Widford Lodge School Chelmsford · Co-ed · Day	2–11	—	179	—	ISI report
Woodlands School Hutton Manor Brentwood · Co-ed · Day	0–11	—	143	—	ISI report

Not a ranking. Fee-paying schools do not sit the same tests as state schools: many take IGCSEs, which the government's GCSE tables leave out, so we list them by their average A level grade where they report it (Department for Education 16 to 18 results) and then by name. Many fee-paying schools do not report A levels, so a dash does not mean poor results. Fee income per pupil is the school's income from fees in its latest Charity Commission accounts divided by its pupils: a guide to cost, not the fee list, and only shown where the charity runs that one school. Inspections: Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) or Ofsted.

Questions

What are the best private schools in Essex?

By average A level grade: Brentwood School (B+), New Hall School (B), Chigwell School (B). Not every school publishes A levels, so look at inspection reports and visit too.

How many private schools are there in Essex?

34 mainstream fee-paying schools, 5 of them taking boarders.

How much do private schools in Essex cost?

As a guide, the Independent Schools Council's 2026 census puts the average day school fee in East at £6,496 a term (about £23,400 a year with VAT) and the average boarding fee at £14,113 a term, before VAT. Individual schools charge more or less than this, and more for older pupils: each school's website gives its fee list.

Private schools in Essex (2026)

Questions

What are the best private schools in Essex?

How many private schools are there in Essex?

How much do private schools in Essex cost?

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