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
The children had a very merry Monday yesterday, making Christmas wreaths 🎄
Thank you Gemma for a lovely workshop! 🎅🏼
Our brand new accessible cookery room is officially open! 🧑🍳
Today, Year 6 enjoyed the very first lesson in this fantastic space, and we couldn’t be more excited!
From Nursery (2 years old) through to Year 6, our whole school will soon be using this room to explore cooking, nutrition and healthy living. 🌱🥬🌶️
With our new Head of Sport, Mr Ellis, linking sport and nutrition, we can’t wait to start growing our own herbs, vegetables, and spices to use in our own recipes! 🫚🧄
Wow, Prep - you were amazing on Friday at our Christmas on Broadway concert! 🎄✨
Well done to all our performers.
Parents and carers, we hope you loved the show!
Roll on tomorrow… we’ve got a week full of festive fun ahead, including our wreath-making workshop, carol concert, Christmas disco, and our Christmas lunch! 🎅🌟
We can’t wait to welcome you to our Open Week from Monday 19th - Friday 23rd January 2026!
Join us during Careers Week as we open our doors for a week of exploration, inspiration and exciting opportunities here at St Margaret`s.
A huge thank-you to @christopheranthonyestates , Halstead’s newest estate agency, for their generous collaboration and sponsorship of this event. 🏡✨
To book a tour or to speak to our friendly Admissions Team, give us a call on 01787 273 050 or email admissions@stmargaretsprep.com
Huge well done to our Nursery children for a brilliant Christmas party performance this morning! 🎅✨
From our youngest 2 year olds, to those who only joined us this term, you all lit up the stage. We’re bursting with pride!
Thank you for the Christmas sparkle - and the fabulous conga finale! 💫🎶🎄
✨We’re Hiring! Teaching Assistant / Lunchtime Assistant (Maternity Cover)
We’re looking for a caring and enthusiastic individual to join our team, with an anticipated start date of January!
Do you have a passion for helping children grow, learn, and thrive? ✨
Step into a rewarding role supporting pupils both in the classroom and during lunchtime.
In this role, you’ll:
📘 Support lessons & help prepare learning materials
💙 Work with pupils of all ages and abilities
🌟 Encourage positive behaviour & motivate children to achieve their best
🤝 Help maintain a safe, calm & happy learning environment
🛝 Supervise lunchtime play for children aged 2–11, ensuring fun, safety & positive interactions
If you’re dedicated, supportive, and love working as part of a team, we’d love to hear from you! 💙
#NowHiring #TeachingAssistant #LunchtimeAssistant #SchoolJobs #EducationCareers #MaternityCover #EssexPrepSchool
🍰 Bethlehem Bake-Off Brilliance 🌟
Year 2 were absolutely amazing this morning! They whisked, they mixed and nativity-fied their way to true star baker status, worthy of a Paul Hollywood handshake! 🤝
We’re so proud of you 🥰 🍰 ✨
