Coopersale Hall School
Same Essex area with a comparable local commute
School profile
Verified 18 August 2026
Saint Nicholas School is a private secondary-stage school in Essex, Essex, with a published age range of 2-16.
Private school Co-ed Ages 2-16 No sixth form listed No boarders
- Application ?
- Apply direct to school
- Age range
- 2-16
- ISI ?
- Standards met
- Boarding ?
- No boarders
Saint Nicholas School
1
On this page
At a glance
Key facts
- Sector
- Private school
- Gender
- Mixed
- Application ?
- Apply direct to school
- Age range
- 2-16
- Boarding ?
- No boarders
- 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
Overview
Beginning GCSE study in Year 9 gives Saint Nicholas School's Upper School a three-year route towards examinations. The co-educational day community at Hillingdon House is divided into Early Years, Lower, Middle and Upper School, with the senior phase running to age 16. Its structure is designed around progression rather than a single jump into senior subjects.
English, mathematics, science and modern foreign languages form the core areas, with choices including humanities, computing, art, 3D design, food technology, music and Latin. The current subject list also includes astronomy, business studies and photography among newer GCSE options, giving pupils several ways to combine academic, creative and practical interests.
A through-school day brings academic, physical and creative experiences together. Lunchtime and after-school clubs add to the timetable, while older pupils can use Homework Club and Study Plus alongside GCSE work. It is a day school without boarding, so the routines and support described here are built around daily attendance.
For Year 6 and Year 7 entry, applicants complete verbal, non-verbal, spatial and quantitative reasoning assessments, followed by a taster day before a place is confirmed. Other year groups can be considered where places are available and use the same assessment and taster approach. Tours are arranged through the admissions team.
Key points
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 46 Attainment 8
GCSE benchmark
Latest 2024/25 KS4 measures compared with Essex and England.
School Local authority England
- Attainment 8
- 46
- Grade 5+ English and maths
- 0%
- EBacc APS
- 4.08
- EBacc entry
- 0%
Attainment 8 trend
Recent published Attainment 8 scores compared with Essex and England.
School Local authority England
School details
School details
- Sector
- Private school
- School type
- Other independent school
- Funding
- Independent fee-paying
- Application
- Apply direct to school
- Gender
- Mixed
- Age range
- 2-16
- Headmaster
- Mr Terence Ayres
- Pupil roll
- 439 pupils
- Sixth form
- No
Location and contact
Location and contact
Address
- Address
- Hobbs Cross Road, Harlow, Essex
- Postcode
- CM17 0NJ
- Area
- Essex
School leadership
- Headmaster
- Mr Terence Ayres
School contact
- School phone
- 01279429910
Admissions contact
- Admissions team
- Admissions
- Admissions phone
- 01279429910
Admissions
Admissions
- Application route
- Apply direct to school
- Age range
- 2-16
- Gender
- Mixed
- Boarding
- No boarders
- Day fees
- £6,472–£7,055/term
- Scholarships and bursaries
- Check school site
- 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
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
Application
How to apply
- 1
Apply direct to the school
Independent-school admissions are handled by the school rather than the local authority CAF.
Check school admissions
Results
Results
Attainment snapshot
- Attainment 8 ?
- 46 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 ?
- 4.08 EBacc APS
Inspection
Inspection
Standards met
Latest inspection: Not yet verified
- 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 2025 is the latest report listed by ISI. The report says the relevant standards were met.
Similar schools and comparisons
Similar schools and comparisons
Nearby schools families also consider
Local rivals appear first, followed by nearby alternatives where the journey and admissions route are still comparable.
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Nearby schools with similar results
Closest comparable alternatives with a similar academic profile, so parents can weigh local fit and results together.
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Shortlist comparisons
Related pages and guides
Related pages and guides
Area and ranking pages
Guides and related reading
Related guides are still being added.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How does Saint Nicholas School handle admissions?
Saint Nicholas School handles applications directly. Check the school website for registration dates, entrance assessments, interviews, fees, scholarships and bursaries.
How do I apply to Saint Nicholas 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 Saint Nicholas School?
Use the school admissions page to confirm registration, assessment, interview and offer dates.
What does the latest inspection picture look like for Saint Nicholas School?
Saint Nicholas School is currently rated Standards met.