Chatten Free School, Rivenhall
Chatten Free School is a special school for pupils aged 4 to 19 in Rivenhall, part of Hope Learning Community. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in March 2024.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2024)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Chatten Free School in detail
Chatten Free School in its own words
In its own words: "These pages provide all kinds of details about our exciting new school. Click on the links to the right to learn more."
From the headteacher's welcome: "The comment that jumped out at me from the Chatten Free School Ofsted report which I read when first taking an interest in the school, is 'pupil's faces light up when interacting with those running the school'. Upon first visiting our amazing school, I saw this absolutely to be the case."
Vision and values (school website)Headteacher's welcome (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Chatten Free School are Southview School (0.5 miles, Outstanding); Woodend Farm School (2.8 miles, Good, selective); and The Edith Borthwick School (6.4 miles, Good).
Southview SchoolWoodend Farm SchoolThe Edith Borthwick School
The trust
Chatten Free School is one of 4 schools run by Hope Learning Community, an academy trust.
Who goes there
30.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 5.3% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (65%), Black (17%) and Asian (5%).
Almost every pupil at Chatten Free School has an education, health and care plan (75 of 75 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.
Chatten Free School has a resourced provision for specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, visual impairment, other difficulties or disabilities, speech, language and communication needs, autism, social, emotional and mental health needs, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties: 75 places, 72 pupils on roll.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Witham (Essex) Rail Station, about 1.2 miles away in a straight line.
2 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Rickstones Road (n-bound), 50 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
Chatten Free School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Sources: DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 3 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Outstanding at its March 2024 inspection.
Rated Outstanding for
Quality of education, Behaviour & attitudes, Personal development, Leadership & management.
At a Glance
30.7%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
Resourced provision: SpLD, Vision, Other +5
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
2024/25 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 2 nearby schools
Latest from Chatten Free School
Extracurricular Opportunities
18 Jun 2026
Visitors 'blown away' by our school
18 Jun 2026
'Chattenbury' Music Festival
5 Jan 2026
Danbury Residential Trip
5 Jan 2026
TriConnex fundraising
5 Jan 2026
Pupils access work experience
5 Jan 2026
From Chatten Free School's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Keep up with Chatten Free School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Chatten Free School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Chatten Free School is in Essex; for families living there:
- Essex's school travel policy: Education Transport Policy
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025.
The typical figure for schools in Essex is 9 (the median across 614 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
100%
Full
75 pupils
75 places
No spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Rivenhall
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Rivenhall
Across Essex council
Places available
17,590
Applications
16,568
Got 1st preference
83.4%
Got preferred school
97.0%
All secondary applications across Essex council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
75
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Chatten Free School has a resourced provision for specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, visual impairment, other difficulties or disabilities, speech, language and communication needs, autism, social, emotional and mental health needs, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties: 75 places, 72 pupils on roll.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
75
Total Pupils
61
Boys
14
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
15
Teachers
5.0:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£50,321
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
8.4%
Overall absence
29.4%
Persistent absence
68
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Questions parents ask about Chatten Free School
What are SATs results like at Chatten Free School?
Of the pupils at Chatten Free School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 0% reached the expected standard in reading and 0% did so in maths.
What is Chatten Free School's Ofsted rating?
Chatten Free School was rated Outstanding at its most recent Ofsted inspection in March 2024.
What is the catchment area for Chatten Free School?
No fixed boundary. When Chatten Free School is oversubscribed, Essex allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Chatten Free School?
Chatten Free School has around 75 pupils on roll. 31% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Chatten Free School have specialist SEN provision?
Chatten Free School has a resourced provision for specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, visual impairment, other difficulties or disabilities, speech, language and communication needs, autism, social, emotional and mental health needs, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties: 75 places, 72 pupils on roll.
What is attendance like at Chatten Free School?
8.4% of sessions were missed at Chatten Free School in 2024/25. 29.4% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Chatten Free School?
Apply through Essex's coordinated admissions process, naming Chatten Free School on your application. The national closing date in England is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts.
How many road collisions happen near Chatten Free School?
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025. The typical figure for schools in Essex is 9 (the median across 614 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Chatten Free School?
Chatten Free School is at Rickstones Road, Rivenhall, Essex, CM8 3HH.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)