Primary Schools in Brentwood and Chelmsford

[maggie75]

Hi

We are looking at making the big move from London, my DH works in Essex, so the above towns and their surrounds make sense.

Ive been trying to suss out the good primaries as DD will start school in Sept 2012, but there seems a lot of church schools and not much else that looks any good.

Can anyone shed any light on which are the primaries to look at? I dont mind a church school (I went to catholic schools from 4-18 yrs) but we dont practice and it seems that Essex church schools do expect attendance and involvement in the church (which is fair enough!) - but there seems to be an awful ot of them ... help!

PRIMARY SCHOOLS

Just like we only looked in Shenfield for houses, we only looked at the closest four primary schools.

First thing to say is that there are no bad schools in the area, so predominantly you are making decisions based on your child and your own needs and philosophies.

St Mary’s is the outstanding church school.
Usually requires regular attendance at St Mary’s Church, and some years does not get off the church electoral roll before spaces are filled. Does well academically. Has started forest school with Mountnessing Primary, I think.

Long Ridings is the other side of Shenfield. It is not a religious school and is quite large (2 classes of 30 in each year) with a large catchment area. It has loads of green space. It is perhaps viewed as slightly less ambitious academically. St Mary’s had/has sessions for 11+ prep. Long Ridings will not get involved in this. There is also a new head at Long Ridings. I’ve noticed things getting a little more overtly focussed since then, but it could also be because most of my child’s time at school was during COVID, and might also be a natural step up as you go from the earliest stages of school. I would say I think they did well with provision of learning during lockdown.

Willowbrook is further up the Rayleigh Road in Hutton, so slightly further away from the centre. I was impressed with their school infrastructure and with their head of KS1 who showed us around at the open day. They have a larger number of children with additional needs than the other schools, and they seem to cater extremely well for them. There was a certain anxiety amongst some patients that this might impact on other children. I think SATS scores have been lower than expected in the past.

I also visited Hutton All Saints. I don’t have much opinion on the school from the visit. I would have been OK with my child going there, but it would not have been my first choice.

There is also St Joseph the Catholic Worker off the Rayleigh Road. As the name suggests, it is an RC school. I understand that it is very much sought after.

There is also Woodlands which is an independent school, off the Rayleigh Road, and the Brentwood prep.

When I was deciding, the choice was mainly between Long Ridings and St Mary’s. There was a bit of agonising at the time, but I felt it suited my child better. Although it’s a larger school, it has a very family and community feel (even now during COVID). All the teachers seem to know the children. It feels really really child focussed (not that the others are not, but it was something that jumped out at me). Shenfield is not a diverse place, and I think it’s important to be able to work alongside a mix of people. I felt that this was more something we’d get at Long Ridings. Also, it is just easier for us, as the wraparound care is on site (run by a private day nursery next to the school, but in a pavilion on the KS2 side).

We’ve been really happy with our choice. My child is happy and flourishing. I suspect she would have been just as happy anyway, to be honest. Friends with children at St Mary’s, Willowbrook, Woodland and Brentwood Prep are equally happy.

The one consistently perhaps less positive thing that I have heard from some people is that those at LR who want their children for the 11+ have felt they have had to engage a tutor. Most send them to Kip McGrath on the High Street. This is only relevant if you think your child should consider grammar. I’m not sure it’s a bad thing, given the fact that all schools have limited resources. Personally, I am from a pretty academic background (Oxbridge and postgraduate degrees) and I am not unhappy with the level of teaching at LR or with my child’s progress there.

Ultimately, all the schools are fine to excellent, so if COVID allows, visit them and see which you get good vibes from.

SECONDARY SCHOOLS

I haven’t got to this stage, so no in depth insights.

The two nearest state schools are St Martin’s and Shenfield High. St Martin’s has an academic reputation. Shenfield High has a sporting reputation and excellent sporting facilities.

Slightly further, there is Becket Keys in Brentwood, which is a CofE School and requires church attendance, and the Anglo-European in Ingatestone.

There is also the Brentwood School, which is the nearest independent secondary. I am unsure how academic it is, but it has the full complement of extra-curriculars that you would expect. Its music faculty is excellent.

And then there are the grammars in Chelmsford (for which Shenfield is within the admission area), and in Southend (for which Shenfield is outside).

I am not qualified to make any further comment on secondary schools as we’re too far away from this point in life.

PARKS

One of the big draws of the area (Brentwood generally, not just Shenfield) is the green space and facilities for children.

There are public playgrounds on the Hutton Recreation Ground (off Rayleigh Road) and Courage Fields (near St Mary’s church) which are both easy walking distance from Shenfield centre. There is also a bigger playground in King George’s park in Brentwood (which also has a small skatepark and will have a splash park hopefully opening next Easter). There are other smaller playgrounds scattered all round the borough. There has been a lot of work from the borough to upgrade these facilities over recent years, and they are great.

There is also a network of Country Parks - the closest two in Brentwood are Weald Park and Thorndon Park, where there is loads of mature woodland and field to walk through. There are other Country Parks throughout the county. Parking is not cheap if you pay per visit, but the annual pass works out ridiculously cheaply in comparison if you go a lot. It can be used in all the country parks in the region. For example, Hadleigh Park is in this group, so you could use the ex-Olympic mountain biking trail).

There are also other open spaces all over the place to go for a nice walk or cycle. A number of areas have made little trails for young children (e.g. Peter Rabbit trail in Laindon, Wind in the Willows at Hanningford Reservoir, Stick man at Weald and Gruffalo at Thorndon).

There are also loads of public footpaths and bridleways. One of the things I loved when we first moved here is that you hit proper countryside after 5 minutes cycling from my house. (And Essex is relatively flat!)

Hylands House in Chelmsford and Lake Meadows in Billericay are also good for a walk/a child learning to cycle and playground.

Lots of places to see animals within 30 minutes or so - various petting farms like Marsh Farm and Barleylands, and there’s also the animal rescue at Hopefield in Brentwood itself.

SHOPPING

No there are no big shopping centres in the area.

Shenfield High Street is a fairly typical High Street - a few cafes, a Tesco metro snd a co-op, a handful of restaurants, dry cleaners, greengrocer, butcher, fishmonger etc.

Brentwood High Street doesn’t look like it is doing well. There are loads of restaurants, but most of the chain stores have now closed up. However, Crown Street is full of good independent shops, including a refill shop and a lovely lovely children’s book shop.

They’ve suffered from COVID, but I also think are quite typical for a lot of towns, in that they can’t compete with big shopping centres or online.

The main shopping centres are Lakeside (off M25), Bluewater (other side of Dartford Crossing) and Stratford (one stop on the fast train).

For groceries, there’s a big Sainsbury in Brentwood and a Waitrose in Billericay, and then Tesco metro and co-op on Shenfield High Street.

I just wanted to mention libraries as well. There’s a big library in Brentwood. There’s a smaller one in Shenfield and in Ingatestone. They are really convenient, but perennially under threat, so if you do move this way, please use them! They do rhyme time and various children’s activities, not just borrowing books.

AREAS

Difficult to comment on as it depends on what you want.

Shenfield is not cheap because of the fast train line into Liverpool Street and Crossrail. It’s also now part of TFL because of this. However, clearly it’s more affordable than then inner zones of London!

You are not going to get beautiful Georgian townhouses stacked with period features here. Most of the housing stock is 1930s or later. We looked at an awful lot of houses when we moved here, and even the older properties seem to have been renovated in such a way that the interiors are very modern. Gardens are large compared to London, but a lot of properties have been extended at the expense of the garden.

There are some Victorian villas in the older part of town (around Priest’s Lane/Worrin Avenue).

Shenfield Park is the area to the other side of the High Street. Mainly 1930s semis and detached, with less garden, but still sufficient. Lots of 4-5 bed family homes snd a few bungalows.

There are similar houses lining the Alexander Lane and Rayleigh Road, with bigger gardens.

The really expensive bit of town is Hutton Mount. Mainly very large Essexy houses.

When you cross the railway line, you are in Hutton. Property is more affordable. Hutton is a huge area, from the railway line in Shenfield, halfway up to Billericay, and then looping round the bottom of Brentwood, so it’s worth restricting your searches if you want to be in easy reach of the station.

I don’t think there are any areas to avoid as such in Shenfield/Hutton. I’ve never felt unsafe. I did feel a little uneasy on a very few occasions around the time of the Brexit vote, but that pretty much settled down straight away.

I thought I’d add that I was a bit apprehensive when we were first moving here because it was when TOWIE had just come out. I was concerned that I wouldn’t fit in. I am dumpy, unconcerned with appearances, and a bit serious with unfashionable interests.

There is definitely the TOWIE lifestyle, but like everywhere, there is a real mix of people. Generally people are really friendly and lovely. I’ve also not experienced any of the “Motherland” tribes at school.

I grew up in a different home county. Whilst we were within the M25, the connections to London are similar, and the commuters are a similar cohort of people. It’s very much like where I grew up EXCEPT it is much easier to get out to green space (and the sea) from here, and we consequently live a bit more of an outdoors lifestyle now.

So if you’re thinking of moving this way, don’t let the “Essex girls” stereotypes put you off. They are unkind and it isn’t all like that.

Apologies for any autocorrect fails and non-sequiturs. I didn’t proofread as I went along.

I vote for Chelmsford and the Springfield area, lived there for 9 years, had a 80s built 4 bed house with garage, it was huge. Kids won't get bored, there's loads to do particularly if they like drama and dance. Nice town centre with good shops and only 35 mins by train from Liverpool Street. Good schools, lots of choice.

This OP is ancient you know, my daughter was born in 2011 and she's in Year 6 now!

As above, Chelmsford has many good schools to choose from.

Thank you @Secnarf so much for the detailed response. You have given me so much to go on with... we have been looking online at houses hoping we find the right one... I have a year or so to find the right house (fingers crossed) thank you
I really really appreciate this

Hello, I’ll be relocating to the Hutton/Sheinfield area of Essex before the end of the year. I have a 5-year-old in Year 1 and an 11-year-old in Year 7. Can anyone recommend good infant and secondary schools in the area? I’ve been very fortunate with fantastic schools in Guildford, so I’m feeling a bit unsure about the options here. Any advice would be much appreciated!