WELCOME TO ESSEX'S BEST PRIVATE SCHOOLS
The isbi Schools Directory Guide To The Top Private Schools & Colleges In Essex
For anyone planning a move to or within Essex in South East England we have collated information below about different places to live, schools, estate agents and other information we think useful for relocating within this fantastic Essex.
Offering some of the best living anywhere in Great Britain, Essex's famous British cities and towns include Colcester, Raleigh and Harlow.
Essex has a great choice of high quality UK private schools, beautiful countryside, lots of activities and excellent housing - with a fantastic range of different property to call home, from country mansions and estates, cottages and bungalows to new build executive housing, family townhouses and apartments.
"Essex offers a complete wallop for your senses – a cherished compendium of contrasts. From the glitzy high jinks of the Sugar Hut to the Zen-like calm of the Blackwater salt marshes. From the vibrant hum of Chelmsford, the UK’s newest city, to the historical majesty of ‘Britain’s First City’, Colchester. It’s hard to imagine so much diversity in one place." Visit Essex
Essex is a coastal county, situated between the North Sea and London. Essex is surrounded by beautiful neighbouring counties, Kent is just south of Essex with Greater London to the south-west, Cambridgeshire to the northwest, Suffolk to the north and Herefordshire to the southwest.
Essex has 350 miles of Coastline, and contains some of the prettiest towns in England. 3 out of 10 towns voted by The Times as the most desirable towns to live in in the UK in 2020 are located within the county.

TOP PRIVATE SCHOOLS IN ESSEX, ENGLAND, UK
Have you booked to attend any School Open Days & Open Events yet?
Visit the comprehensive isbi School Open Days Guide with the latest School Open Days & Open Events dates and timings for School Open Days happening near you.
The isbi School Open Days & Open Events listings have the information you need on Open Days & Open Events happening at your favourite schools soon.
We highly recommend attending School Open Days - they are a great way to learn about and to experience a school and discover if it is the best school for you - or alternatively ask for a private tour of your favourite schools, when it suits you.
Looking for a prestigious Independent (private) school in Essex, GB?
If you are thinking of moving to live in Essex (or you already live in Essex but are considering relocating) and you and your family are researching some of the best private schools in Essex there is a big choice of high quality Essex schools, with a number of the Essex’s highest ranking Independent schools considered to be some of the best in the UK.
Essex’s private education sector features day schools and boarding schools, girls’ schools, boys’ schools and co-educational (mixed) schools, including leading private Nurseries, Prep Schools, Independent Secondary and Sixth Form schools and colleges.
Find Private Schools In Essex, UK (Or "Private Schools Near Me")
Developed over the last 36+ years, the isbi School Search Directory is one of the largest and most comprehensive private schools directories available, helping thousands of families to find, compare and select good schools since the 1980s.
> You can search for private schools with a reputation for excellence in Essex and in the cities of Chelmsford and Colchester towns like Basildon, Rayleigh and Harlow by using our Private Schools Directory and Independent Schools Finder (powered by isbi's School Search Directory) or by clicking on the names of the schools and colleges listed below to see detailed profiles with photos, videos, maps etc.
> With our expanded school search technology you can filter your search by the type of school you are looking for such as day and boarding, gender, age range, academic study, religious affiliation, school fees, scholarships and bursaries, open days etc.
> You can also focus your search on just private Pre-Prep and Prep schools or on Independent Senior and Sixth Form schools and colleges, or view search results for all of them together.
Please explore isbi.com for detailed information and guides about good schools of all types and for open days, school and college and news, articles and blogs with details of school associations, glossaries and explanations about examinations and qualifications and expert advice about independent education at private schools and colleges around the UK and worldwide.

THE BEST INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS AND BEST PRIVATE SCHOOLS & COLLEGES IN ESSEX
Please see below for a full list of private schools and colleges in Essex, some of the best of which being:
Brentwood School
Brentwood, Essex, England, CM15 8EE
Private School (Fee Paying), Co-Educational, 3-18 Years, Day & Boarding (Full)
Brentwood has a reputation for developing confident, resilient and lifelong learners who relish the challenges they face. Their pupils are kind, ambitious, and seek to make a positive contribution in the present and the future.
[Read More About Brentwood School...]
Alleyn Court Preparatory School
Southend-on-Sea, Essex, England, SS3 0PW
Private School (Fee Paying), Co-Educational, 2-11 Years, Day
Alleyn Court is a hidden gem benefitting from the largest and most diverse site in the area. It provides the space for children to breathe and grow in a semi-rural wonderland. They are proud of our reputation as a leading independent school with outstanding outcomes for children both academically and in terms of developing young people of character.
[Read More About Alleyn Prep School...]
Top Private Independent Secondary Schools & Colleges In Essex, UK
Some of the best Independent Secondary schools and colleges and Sixth Form schools and colleges in Essex, Great Britain providing a top-tier, world-class British day and boarding single-sex and mixed education for boys and girls include:
- Bancroft's School
- Braeside School for Girls
- Brentwood School
- Chigwell School
- Colchester High School
- Felsted School
- Gosfield School
- Immanuel School
- New Hall School
- Park School for Girls
- Raphael Independent School
- Saint Nicholas School
- St John's School
- St Mary's Colchester Lower School
- Tendring Enterprise Studio School
- Thorpe Hall School
- Trinity School
Top Private Pre-Preparatory & Preparatory Schools In Essex, UK
Some of the best Pre-Prep and Prep schools in Essex, Great Britain providing a top-tier, world-class British day and boarding single-sex and mixed education for boys and girls aged from 3 years to 11 or 13 years include:
- Al-Noor Independent School
- Alleyn Court Preparatory School
- Avon House School
- Bancroft's Preparatory School
- Beehive Preparatory School
- Brentwood Pre-Preparatory School
- Coopersale Hall School
- Crowstone Preparatory School
- Eastcourt Independent School
- Elm Green Preparatory School
- Felsted Preparatory School
- Gidea Park Preparatory School and Nursery
- Goodrington School
- Heathcote School
- Herington House School
- Holmwood House
- Ilford Ursuline Preparatory School
- Ilford Preparatory School
- Kids Inc Day Nursery, Ilford
- Littlegarth School
- Oakfields Preparatory School
- Oaklands School
- Saint Pierre School
- Soaring High Montessori
- St Anne's School
- St Aubyn's School
- St Cedd's School
- St Margaret's Preparatory School
- St Mary's Hare Park School
- St Michael's Preparatory School
- St Philomena's Catholic School
- The Christian School, Takeley
- The Daiglen School
- Ursuline Preparatory School
- Widford Lodge Preparatory School
- Woodford Green Preparatory School
- Woodlands School, Great Warley
- Woodlands School, Hutton Manor
Special Needs Schools In Essex, UK
Some of the best Special Needs schools in Essex, Great Britain providing a top-tier, world-class British Special Needs and Special Education Needs education for boys and girls (single-sex and mixed) include:
- Doucecroft School
- Essex Fresh Start
- Estuary High School
- Hopewell School
- Pumping Station School
- Ramsden Hall School
- Ramsden Hall School, Langham
- St John's RC School, Essex
- Teaseldown School
- The Yellow House, Sible Hedingham
- Woodcroft School

MOVING TO ESSEX? RELOCATING TO ESSEX?
Where To Live In Essex, England, UK
The most popular British cities and towns in the Essex area (GB) include, with approximate population numbers:
> Basildon, Essex, UK
Basildon (107,100), Billericay (34,000), Wickford (33,400)
> Braintree, Essex, UK
Braintree (42,000), Halstead (11,900), Witham (25,000), Halstead (11,900) Great Notely (7,700)
> Epping Forest, Essex, UK
Loughton (31,100), Waltham Abbey (18,700), Chigwell (10,300), Epping (10,200)
> Harlow, Essex, UK
Harlow (82,000), Abridge (1,500), Bobbinworth (280), Fyfield (437)
> Maldon, Essex, UK
Maldon (21,400), Burnham-on-Crouch (6,900)
> Rochford, Essex, UK
Rayleigh (95,500), Thundersley (6,400), Hullbridge (6,000), Great Wakering (5,400)
> Tendring, Essex UK
Clacton-on-sea (50,500), Harwich (19,000), Walton-on-the-Naze (12,000), Manningtree (5,600), Jawywick (4,800), Frinton-on-Sea (4,600)
> Uttlesford, Essex, UK
Great Dunmow (7,700), Stansted Mountfitchet (6,600)
> Brentwood, Essex, UK
Brentwood (52,000), Ingatestone (5,300)
> Castle Point, Essex, UK
Canvey Island (38,100), Hadleigh (8,200), South Benfleet (50,000), Thindersley (15,600)
> Chelmsford, Essex, UK
Chelmsford (111,500), South Woodham Ferrers (16,400), Danbury (6,600), Writtle (4,800)
> Colchester, Essex, UK
Colchester (119,441), Tiptree (9,100), Wivenhoe (7,600), West Mersea (7,500)

FOCUS ON... LIVING IN CHELMSFORD, ENGLAND, UK
Chelmsford is a very popular place to live and many people move to Chelmsford each year, or to near Chelmsford and the surrounding area, from around the United Kingdom and abroad.
Many of those moving to Chelmsford are escaping more urban living in London or other larger cities, deciding to relocate to the Essex capital to enjoy a different pace of life and the historic and elegant surroundings of a prosperous city with great facilities and leisure amenities, high quality housing and schools, fantastic pubs, restaurants and sports and popular cultural events, arts and music.
Ten Things To Know About Chelmsford, England, UK
> FACT 1: Chelmsford was the location of Britain's first ever public audio broadcast! The sound of Dame Nellie Melba, an australian opera singer was broadcasted from Chelmsford on the 15th of June 1920.
> FACT 2: Chelmsford briefly featured as the capital of England in 1381. This was because the seat of Government was temporarily moved down to the town during the peasants' revolt of 1381.
> FACT 3: In 2007, Chelmsford was voted at the 8th best place to live in the UK by the Channel 4 programme “Location, Location, Location”
> FACT 4: West Ham legend Sir Geoff Hurst, the only man to ever score a hat-trick in the football World Cup final is from Chelmsford.
> FACT 5: Chelmsford Cathedral is the second smallest in England, behind Derby Cathedral. However it still makes an excellent visit, with an intricate green spire.
> FACT 6: In 1516, Henry VIII built the Beaulieu Palace after purchasing the Boleyn Estate. Henry used this palace as a place for his 10 mistresses to live, including his later wife, Ann Boleyn.
> FACT 7: Just before the Romans left Britain in 407, they built a small town called “Caesaromagus”. It translates to Caesar’s Marketplace and was used as a local market town between London and Colchester.
> FACT 8: The first witch trial to be held in a secular court was in Chelmsford in 1566. Elizabeth Frances was accused of using a cat called Sathan to harm a number of her neighbours. She was later found guilty after appearing in a second Chelmsford witch trail and was hanged for witchcraft.
> FACT 9: Britain's first ever electric toaster was originally made in Chelmsford, after being invented in Scotland in 1893 by Alan MacMasters, the “Eclipse Toaster” was manufactured in Chelmsford.
> FACT 10: Robert the Bruce, a famous Scottish king was supposedly born at Montpelier’s Farm in Writtle in 1274.
Where To Live In Chelmsford, UK
Chelmsford and the surrounding area offers a huge choice of high quality, premium and luxury property to meet the needs of any family, whether wanting a cottage, townhouse, large apartment, mansion or country estate, with or without granny annex, garden or swimming pool. There are also property development and investment opportunities too, with land available to purchase and properties in need of renovation.
From central city living to rural, country lifestyles, Chelmsford and the areas near Chelmsford are full of bustling districts and leafy suburbs, lush green areas, charming Crescents and estates, rolling countryside, vibrant high streets, busy neighbourhoods and friendly residential communities.
Some of the popular residential areas include:
East Hanningfield Chelmsford, Tillingham Chelmsford, Battlesbridge Chelmsford, Bickacre Chelmsford, Great Leighs Chelmsford, Hanfield Peverel Chelmsford, Springfield Chelmsford, Great Baddow Chelmsford, Old Moulsham Chelmsford
Commuting To And From Chelmsford By Rail Or Road
Relocating to Chelmsford is especially popular with those happy to work from home most of the time but needing to occasionally commute to other places for work.
Others are happy to commute more regularly to London, Colchester, Southend-on Sea, Cambridgeand other locations for work.
Travel times to key destinations by road and rail include:
> Chelmsford To London: London is about 50 miles by road from Chelmsford via the A13 and driving to the centre of London from Chelmsford normally takes under 1 and a half hours. There is a very regular train service to London from Chelmsford, with trains taking from 40 minutes to an 1 hour to get to London.
> Chelmsford To Colchester: Colchester is about 23 miles by road from Chelmsford via the A12 and driving to the centre of Colchester from Chelmsford normally takes under 1 hour. There is a very regular train service to Colchester from Chelmsford, with trains taking from 35 minutes to 45 minutes to get to Colchester
> Chelmsford To Cambridge: Cambridge is about 50 miles by road from Chelmsford via the M11 and driving to the centre of Cambridge from Chelmsford normally takes under 1 and a half hours. There is a very regular train service to Cambridge from Chelmsford, with trains taking from1 hour 40 minutes to 2 hours to get to Cambridge

Nearest Airports To Chelmsford, UK
The nearest airport to Chelmsford is London Stansted International Airport (STN) which is 14 miles away. Other nearby airports include London City (LCY) (under 24miles), London Heathrow (LHR) (under 44 miles) and London Gatwick (LGW) (under 48 miles).

ESTATE AGENTS IN ESSEX, ENGLAND, UK
Williams & Donovan
We Buy Property
D & G Estate Agents
Everest Independent Estate Agents
Robert Micheal Estate Agents
Hamilton Piers Estate Agents
Palmer & Partners Estate Agents
Stuart Thomas Estate Agents
Pink Residential Estate Agents
Quatremain & Co Estate Agents
Sandra Davidson Estate Agents
Chris Allen Estate Agents
Griffin Residential
R A M Estate Agents
Sheen’s Estate Agents
Roger Bates Estate Agents
www.rogerbatesproperties.co.uk
Lordsons Estate Agents
Town & Country Estate Agents
www.townandcountryresidential.co.uk
Silver Service Estate Agents
www.silverserviceproperty.co.uk
Charleson’s Estate Agents
The Good Estate Agents
Mountain View Estate Agents
Kingswood Estate Agents
Estate Agents Barking
Lyttons Estate Agents
Bairstow Eves Estate Agents
Haart Estate Agents
Beresfords Estate Agents
Mi Estate Agent
Morgan Brookes Estate Agents
Holden Estate Agents
Stoneridge Estate Agents
Rainbow Estate Agents
Hunters Estate Agents
Roffeys Estate Agents
Chewton Rose Estate Agents
Hiblery Chaplin Estate Agents
John Sear Estate Agents
Daniel Brewer Estate Agents
John Alexander Estate Agents
Aaron Holmes Estate Agents
Quirks Estate Agents
Church & Hawes Estate Agents
Hunt Roche Estate Agents
A C Estates
Martin & Co Danbury Estate Agents
Richard Poyntz & Co
YOPA Estate Agents
Countryside Estates
Millers Estate Agents
Murdochs Estate Agents
www.murdochsestateagents.co.uk
Home Estate Agents
Castle Estate Agents
Mark Bowyer Estate Agents
www.markbowyerestateagents.co.uk
Lawlors Estate Agents
Top Supports Estate Agents
Lucas Estate Agents
Grant Allen Estate Agents
Ilford Homes Estate Agents
Abode UK Estate Agents
Ridge Estate Agents
Madison Fox Loughton
Farr O’Neil
Lawlors Estate Agents
Millers Estate Agents
Your Move Estate Agents
Grace & Rose Estate Agents
Moores Estate Agents
Hardy King Estate Agents
Moving Places Estate Agents
William H Brown Estate Agents
Wiloth Estate Agents
H S Estate Agents
Countryside Estate Agents
Kingtons Estate Agents
Woodland Estate Agents
Fenn Wright Estate Agents
Ashton Estate Agents
Game Estate Agents
Approach Estate Agents
Aim Estate Agents
Rigley Estate Agents
Essex Countryside Estate Agents
Beresfords Estate Agents
Edward Chase Estate Agents
Temme English Estate Agents
William H Brown Estate Agents
REMOVAL COMPANIES (DOMESTIC) IN ESSEX, ENGLAND, UK
Essex Removal Service & Co Ltd
Essex House Clearance Services
www.essexhouseclearanceservices.co.uk
F & M Bennett & Son Removals
Easymove Team
Brentwood & Essex Removals
www.brentwoodandessexremovalsltd.co.uk
L D Transport Removals
A A Removals
David Alexander Removals
Paul’s Removals
Lawes Brothers Removals
Dinev’s Q&E Removals
Walton International Movers
W Norton & Sons Removals
SafeZone Removals
Higgins Removals
T F M Removals
K Dobbs & Son Removals & Storage
Moving Places Removals
www.movingplacesremovals.co.uk
Shorts Removals & Storage
www.shortsremovalandclearance.co.uk
South Park Removals
Jamie's Removal Assist
Metropolis Removals
Gids N a Van Removals
Move U Removals
Allcrates Removals
RNA Services
www.myprivatelink.co.uk/rnaremovals.co.uk/
Raid Transport UK
The Smart Logistics Removals
Agents Choice Removals
www.agentschoiceremovals.co.uk
Max Removal Services
www.maxremovalservicesltd.co.uk
Comprehensive Removals
www.comprehensiveremovals.co.uk
SWAN Moving Group
Monarch Removals
Re-Move-All Removals
The Algarve Freight Centre
Reliable Moving & Storage
Ready Moves Essex