Chigwell School
School summary
Founded in 1629, Chigwell School has nearly four centuries of history behind it, and today educates around 744 pupils from age 4 through to 18 on its Essex site. This is a large, mixed independent school with a Church of England character and the option of boarding, and the Independent Schools Inspectorate rated it 'excellent' both for education and for pupils' personal development. Under Head Damian King, the school combines academic ambition with a notably altruistic ethos, reflected in a sizeable bursary programme that extends to international boarders from parts of Eastern Europe.
Where every mark matters.
Places are limited and demand is high, so exam performance is what sets candidates apart. Passmate turns the months ahead into ten focused minutes a day on the exact topics this school tests.
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Latest results
GCSE grade 9-7
69%
National average 23%
A-level A*-A
44%
National average 28%
A-level A*-B
73%
National average 55%
Inspection reports
- ISI rating
- excellent
- ISI personal development
- excellent
- Last inspected
- 28 November 2023
Teaching & academics
Results sit comfortably above national benchmarks: 69% of GCSE entries were graded 9-7 against a national average of 23%, and at A-level 44% reached A*-A (national average 28%) with 73% at A*-B. The sixth form, with 183 pupils, favours a strong sciences and humanities spread, from Mathematics and Further Mathematics through to Economics, History and the sciences. GCSE, A-level and the EPQ are all on offer, and around 14% of pupils receive SEN support.
GCSE subjects
Head · Damian King
Sixth form
- Sixth-form pupils
- 183
A-level subjects
Qualifications offered
Beyond the classroom
Football and cross-country lead the sporting programme, while Drama and Theatre Studies, Music, Art and Design feature prominently across both GCSE and A-level choices. Academic and Honorary scholarships recognise pupils who excel.
Main sports
School life & ethos
- Founded
- 1629
- Religious character
- C of E
- Boarding
- Yes
- SEN support
- 14.49%
- EHC plans
- 0.27%
Mobile phone policy
Pupils can only make and receive calls using their mobile phone before 8.20am and after 4pm. Pupils below the third form are discouraged from bringing mobile phones to school. If there is a valid reason for doing so, parents are asked to seek written permission and the mobile phone is handed in to the junior school reception and collected at the end of the day. Sixth form pupils can use their phones inside the sixth form centre during the day. A phone may only be used in lessons with the permission of the teacher, if it is being used for work purposes.
Fees & bursaries
- Day fees (per year)
- £29,340
- Boarding fees (per year)
- £51,462
A sizeable number of bursaries available in line with school's altruistic ethos, eg for international boarders from parts of Eastern Europe.
Schools nearby
Daiglen School
Buckhurst Hill, East of England
Beehive Preparatory School
Ilford, Greater London
Normanhurst School
London, Greater London
Forest School
London, Greater London
Read Academy Education
Ilford, Greater London
Lady Evelyn Independent School
London, Greater London
Watch Passmate decide how to teach.
Answer as a child would. Left: what they see. Right: what it learns about them.
A long-established, academically strong school where consistently high results meet a genuine commitment to widening access through bursaries.
That’s where Passmate comes in. Tutoring is the most effective thing in a child’s preparation - a well-tutored child can outperform the vast majority of their peers. Passmate works alongside your tutor, not instead of them: it learns how your child thinks, finds the gaps, and shows the tutor exactly where to spend each session - so the limited time you have lands on what actually decides a place.
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Chigwell School 11+: frequently asked questions
Compiled from public data. Last checked 5 June 2026.