Schools in Essex

Choose a postcode district for school lists, Ofsted, distance filters, an interactive map, and local area statistics.

55 postcode districts in Essex. 557 state-funded schools listed. Plus 47 independent schools (fee-paying and special, labelled on cards).

Using School Checker in Essex

This page lists 55 postcode districts in Essex. School Checker groups schools by outward postcode (for example WF2 or N1), not by parish or ward. Open a district to see every school we list, state-funded and independent, with Ofsted, attainment, attendance, and local context on one screen.

Across Essex we currently show 557 state-funded schools in 55 districts (443 primary, 81 secondary, 33 other phase). We also list 29 independent (fees usually apply) and 18 independent special (usually LA-funded). These figures come from official government school data and we update them regularly.

Districts with the most schools in Essex right now include CM1 (30 schools), CM3 (28 schools), CM2 (26 schools). Smaller outward codes can still be useful if you are comparing streets near a boundary.

Essex runs state school admissions for its area. Rules, catchment definitions, and tie-breakers are set locally and can change each year.

443Primary
81Secondary
33Other
55Districts with schools

Postcode districts in Essex

Click a postcode district to open schools, map, distance filters, and local stats. Each card is one area and the whole card is clickable.

Common questions about schools in Essex

How many schools does School Checker list in Essex?: We list 557 state-funded schools across 55 postcode districts in Essex (443 primary, 81 secondary, 33 other phase). Plus 47 independent schools (fee-paying and independent special, labelled on each card). Counts change when schools open, close, or change phase.
How do school admissions work in Essex?: Essex runs state school admissions for its area. Rules, catchment definitions, and tie-breakers are set locally and can change each year. School Checker shows historic demand indicators on school cards where published. They are not a guarantee of a place. Always read the Essex admissions booklet and each school's oversubscription criteria.
What is a postcode district on this page?: A postcode district is the outward part of a postcode (the letters and numbers before the space, such as WF2). Essex is split into 55 districts on School Checker. Each district page lists schools whose postcode falls in that outward code, plus distance from your home postcode when you add one.
How should I use School Checker to research schools in Essex?: Start with the district closest to your home (busy districts here include CM1 (30 schools), CM3 (28 schools), CM2 (26 schools)). Add your full postcode on the district page for straight-line distances and map pins. Shortlist schools you like, then open Compare for side-by-side figures and a CSV download. Visit schools and confirm admissions rules with Essex before you apply.
Where does the data for Essex schools come from?: School names, addresses, and governance come from the government school register. Ofsted publishes inspection outcomes. The Department for Education publishes attendance, attainment, pupil characteristics, and SEN figures. Local context rows (crime, census, house prices) are labelled by geography on each district page. See our methodology page for more detail and how to report a likely error with a school URN.