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School profile Verified 17 August 2026

Essex Private schools

Chigwell School

High Road, Chigwell, IG7 6QF

Chigwell School is a private secondary-stage school in Chigwell, Essex, with a published age range of 4-18.

Private school Co-ed Ages 4-18 Sixth form Boarding school
Application ?
Apply direct to school
Age range
4-18
ISI ?
Standards met
Boarding ?
Boarding school
Compare Official website Map

On this page

At a glance

Key facts

Sector
Private school
Gender
Mixed
Application ?
Apply direct to school
Age range
4-18
Boarding ?
Boarding school
Route check
Independent schools do not use the local-authority grammar-school catchment model; check the school site for boarding, transport and eligibility rules.
ISI ?
Standards met

Overview

Chigwell's foundation reaches back to 1629, when Samuel Harsnett established a school for sixteen poor scholars. The modern community is co-educational from age 4 to 18, with Pre Prep, Prep, Senior and Sixth Form stages on one campus. Sixth Form boarding adds a residential option to an otherwise day-school structure.

Senior study combines a strong core with a wide choice. English, mathematics, sciences, humanities, languages, computing, art, music and drama sit alongside PE and wellbeing. French, German and Spanish rotate before pupils choose a language, while GCSE students take English, mathematics, a language and sciences before adding further subjects. Sixth Form students normally choose three or four A levels and can add the Extended Project Qualification and enrichment.

The younger senior years have their own programme of extension, including sustainability, careers, mindfulness, psychology, enterprise, digital literacy and robotics. Music, drama and sport continue through the week, with a games afternoon, PE and the facilities used by Sixth Form students. The blend gives pupils more than a purely examination-led routine.

Entry points include 4+, 7+, 11+ and 16+, with assessment designed to suit the age and stage of the applicant. Prospective pupils meet the school before testing, and Sixth Form applicants complete an online general paper alongside subject assessments. Scholarship and means-tested bursary routes are available within the wider admissions process.

Key points
Assessment route
Applications are made directly to the school. Check the school's own admissions pages for registration dates, entrance assessment stages, interviews, fees, scholarships and bursaries.
Places and demand
Published Year 7 place numbers and applicant-per-place data are not included in GIAS for this private-school seed profile.
Catchment
Private-school eligibility is not controlled by the local-authority grammar catchment model; check boarding, day-pupil, transport and any sibling or faith rules on the school site.
Results
0% grade 5+ in English and maths and 21.9 Attainment 8
Sixth form
Sixth form available with 34.1% AAB or better.

GCSE benchmark

Latest 2024/25 KS4 measures compared with Essex and England.

School Local authority England
GCSE benchmark comparison Latest GCSE benchmark measures for Chigwell School, Essex, and England. 0 50 100 Att. 8 5+ E&M EBacc APS EBacc %
Attainment 8
21.9
Grade 5+ English and maths
0%
EBacc APS
1.05
EBacc entry
0%

Attainment 8 trend

Recent published Attainment 8 scores compared with Essex and England.

School Local authority England
Attainment 8 trend line Attainment 8 over time for Chigwell School, Essex, and England. 60 40 20 0 21/22 22/23 23/24 24/25

School details
Sector
Private school
School type
Other independent school
Funding
Independent fee-paying
Application
Apply direct to school
Gender
Mixed
Age range
4-18
Headteacher
Mr Damian King
Pupil roll
1,135 pupils
Sixth form
Yes
Boarding
Boarding school

Location and contact

Address

Address
High Road, Chigwell, Essex
Postcode
IG7 6QF
Area
Essex

School leadership

Headteacher
Mr Damian King

School contact

School phone
02085015700

Admissions contact

Admissions team
Admissions
Admissions email
reception@chigwell-school.org
Admissions phone
02085015700
Open in Map Open school website

Admissions
Application route
Apply direct to school
Age range
4-18
Gender
Mixed
Boarding
Boarding school
Day fees
Years 7 to 13 day fee
Boarding fees
Full boarding for Years 12 and 13
Scholarships and bursaries
Scholarships and bursaries
Entrance details
Entrance assessment details are not part of the GIAS open data extract.
Admissions note
GIAS confirms the school type and age range; fees, scholarships, bursaries and entrance assessments should be checked on the school's own website.

GIAS confirms the school type and age range; fees, scholarships, bursaries and entrance assessments should be checked on the school's own website.

Independent schools do not use the local-authority grammar-school catchment model; check the school site for boarding, transport and eligibility rules.

Oversubscription and eligibility

Use the official admissions policy for the current priority order and eligibility rules.

Exam and test format

Entrance route and assessment

Entrance assessment details are not part of the GIAS open data extract.

Assessment route
Apply direct to school

Application

Key dates

Get date reminders

  1. Year 7 meetings and interviews

    Saturday 14 and Saturday 28 November 2026

    Route: Year 7 (11+); entry: September 2027.

  2. Year 7 applications close

    25 November 2026

    Route: Year 7 (11+); entry: September 2027.

  3. Year 7 entrance examination

    9 January 2027

    Route: Year 7 (11+); entry: September 2027.

  4. Year 7 music scholarship auditions

    Week beginning 11 January 2027

    Route: Year 7 music scholarship; entry: September 2027.

  5. Year 7 academic scholarship assessment and interviews

    20 or 21 January 2027

    Route: Year 7 academic scholarship; entry: September 2027.

  6. Year 7 final sport scholarship assessment

    26 January 2027

    Route: Year 7 sport scholarship; entry: September 2027.

  7. Year 7 entrance examination results are issued

    18 February 2027

    Route: Year 7 (11+); entry: September 2027.

  8. Year 7 offer acceptance closes

    5 March 2027

    Route: Year 7 (11+); entry: September 2027.

  9. Sixth Form fee-paying and scholarship applications close

    12 October 2026

    Route: Sixth Form (Year 12); entry: September 2027.

  10. Sixth Form scholarship assessments

    Week of 16 November 2026

    Route: Sixth Form scholarship; entry: September 2027.

  11. Sixth Form entrance examinations and interviews

    21 November 2026

    Route: Sixth Form (Year 12); entry: September 2027.

  12. Sixth Form results are issued

    30 November 2026

    Route: Sixth Form (Year 12); entry: September 2027.

  13. Sixth Form offer acceptance closes

    4 January 2027

    Route: Sixth Form (Year 12); entry: September 2027.

How to apply

  1. 1

    Apply direct to the school

    Independent-school admissions are handled by the school rather than the local authority CAF.

    Check school admissions

Results

Attainment snapshot

Attainment 8 ?
21.9 Attainment 8
GCSE results
0% grade 4+ in English and maths
Grade 5+ English and maths ?
0% grade 5+ in English and maths
EBacc average point score ?
1.05 EBacc APS
A-level results
34.1% AAB or better
A-level average points
41.60 A-level points per entry

Inspection
View report
Standards met

Latest inspection: 21 April 2026

Leadership, management and governance
Standards met
Quality of education, training and recreation
Standards met
Physical and mental health and emotional wellbeing
Standards met
Social and economic education and contribution to society
Standards met
Safeguarding
Standards met

Quick summary

  • Latest ISI report: Routine Inspections 2026 records an inspection beginning 21 April 2026. The report says the relevant standards were met.

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Explore this school in context

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Related pages and guides

Guides and related reading

Related guides are still being added.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How does Chigwell School handle admissions?

Chigwell School handles applications directly. Check the school website for registration dates, entrance assessments, interviews, fees, scholarships and bursaries.

How do I apply to Chigwell School?

1. Apply direct to the school: Independent-school admissions are handled by the school rather than the local authority CAF.

When are the key dates for Chigwell School?

Year 7 meetings and interviews: Saturday 14 and Saturday 28 November 2026. Year 7 applications close: 25 November 2026. Year 7 entrance examination: 9 January 2027. Year 7 music scholarship auditions: Week beginning 11 January 2027. Year 7 academic scholarship assessment and interviews: 20 or 21 January 2027. Year 7 final sport scholarship assessment: 26 January 2027. Year 7 entrance examination results are issued: 18 February 2027. Year 7 offer acceptance closes: 5 March 2027. Sixth Form fee-paying and scholarship applications close: 12 October 2026. Sixth Form scholarship assessments: Week of 16 November 2026. Sixth Form entrance examinations and interviews: 21 November 2026. Sixth Form results are issued: 30 November 2026. Sixth Form offer acceptance closes: 4 January 2027

What does the latest inspection picture look like for Chigwell School?

Chigwell School is currently rated Standards met following the latest published inspection dated 21 April 2026.