Welcome to St. Margaret’s Prep School
We know that finding the right school for your child is one of the biggest decisions parents face. That perfect environment, suited especially to your child, where they will learn, grow and embark on a journey of discovery and adventure. At St. Margaret's Prep, we pride ourselves on being just this.
Our children are happy, curious and kind. They thrive in our beautiful, countryside school, where we prioritise a holistic education, fostering character development alongside academic excellence.
Whilst academic achievement is high, so is our focus on wellbeing, as we know that happy children are high achieving children. We nurture our pupils and develop the characteristics and qualities we know they will need to build bright futures. We ensure they are fully prepared for the next steps in life, both in the classroom and beyond.
Day Nursery Awards 2025 Winners
We’re delighted to have been awarded the ‘Top 20 Day Nursery Award’ for the second year in a row!
The annual Nursery Awards recognises 20 of the top-rated Nurseries in each region of the UK based on reviews from parents/individuals responsible for a child.
We are St Margaret’s
We have a strong family ethos and instil a sense of great pride in our school community. We look after, support and encourage each other to always be our best.
Welcome to St. Margaret’s Prep School, we make education fun and stimulating. We have a reputation for developing exceptionally well-rounded pupils with a love of learning. Our results speak for themselves, with our excellence in scholarships, sports, arts and music.
"I believe strongly that a happy child is a successful child and here at St Margaret’s we excel in providing a warm, welcoming and supportive community for your family."
-Carolyn Moss, Headteacher
Awards
An excellent all-round education
We were delighted to be awarded European ‘School of the Year 2022’ at the Cognita O-wards, we offer specialist teaching across the curriculum, combined with a home-from-home family feel, to give your child the very best start.
The Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI), rated St. Margaret’s as ‘excellent’ in October 2021. The inspection report concluded that the quality of the pupil’s academic and other achievements is excellent and the quality of the pupils’ personal development is also excellent.
"Pupils’ enjoyment of school life is evident in every aspect of their activities in and out the classroom. This is a result of the high quality of pastoral care, which focuses on the well-being of each individual to ensure they all flourish.” ISI, 2021
Join us for a Personal Tour
We warmly welcome families throughout the year, offering tailored personal tours on a day that suits you, including school holidays.
Enjoy a guided tour of the school, arranged by a member of our friendly Admissions Team who can answer any questions you may have
FACILITIES & LOCATION
A beautiful parkland setting
Our idyllic countryside setting, in rural north Essex, means we are surrounded by stunning scenery, including parkland, fields and woodland.
The former coach house and stables of Gosfield Hall make up the partly Grade 2 listed school buildings.
The school offers two classrooms per year group, plus dedicated rooms for music, science, art, languages and computers, as well as a sports hall and a well-stocked library. There are three music practice ‘pods’ where children have individual music lessons.
The grounds include netball courts, playgrounds, an adventure playground, and outdoor classrooms. Forest School and various sports are also available. Additionally, the school uses nearby facilities for cricket, hockey, and swimming.
School News
We have enthusiastic pupils who are eager to showcase their accomplishments, and we join in celebrating their triumphs through various engaging activities throughout the year. These activities, such as outings, concerts, sports events, and numerous other exciting events, are designed to enhance our pupils' learning experience.
Follow St Margaret's School on Social Media
Thank you so much to our Year 6 leavers for these amazing buddy benches! We cannot wait for the children to make use of these come September 🩵💙

Thank you @_thomasfranks for a wonderful Year 6 Leavers Lunch in our Orchard yesterday afternoon, following a fantastic Speech Day.
We started this tradition last year and it has been a very successful event and great way to end a wonderful year ☀️🥂
Enjoy your last day Year 6 🩵

‘A Ripple in Time’ 💙☀️👏
Thank you Mrs Gostelow for the most incredible show!
A huge well done to our superstar children - we are SO proud of every single one of you 🥰💙🥂

Who came to watch our Relaxed Speech Day today?
We are SO excited to welcome our parents, carers and special guests tomorrow for the main event 💙🥂🥰
The children were AMAZING!

Here`s some more photos of our wonderful parent lunches we`ve hosted this Summer Term! 🌞🍽️
It has been such a joy to welcome all of you and share these delightful moments together. Thank you for being a part of our school community and making these gatherings so special.
We`re especially excited for our special Year 6 leavers lunch with parents on Thursday after Speech Day. 🎓✨ It`s going to be a memorable day as we celebrate our amazing Year 6 children and their journey ahead.
Stay tuned for more updates and photos! 📸💫
@_thomasfranks

Join St. Mag`s for Academic Success!
Are you ready to start your journey towards academic excellence? It’s not too late to join St. Mag`s! We have places available starting this September. ✨
Our friendly admissions team are here all summer long to assist you. Contact us today to find out more about our simple six-step admissions process. Whether you’re looking for a supportive community or top-tier educational opportunities, St. Mag`s is the place for you!
Don`t miss out on the opportunity to be part of something special. Reach out to us now and secure your place at St Margaret`s Prep! 📚🌟
📞 01787 273 050
📧 admissions@stmargaretsprep.com

Thank you so much to all of our parents, carers and special visitors who have attended our lunches this term. We hope you have enjoyed this event and we can’t wait to do it all over again next year ☀️🥂🩵
@_thomasfranks 🍴
