Open Box Education Centre, Essex
Open Box Education Centre is an independent school for pupils aged 14 to 17 in Essex. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in October 2024.
- Ofsted
- Good (2024)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Open Box Education Centre in detail
Open Box Education Centre in its own words
In its own words: "Welcome to Open Box Education Centre: a nurturing, caring and vibrant school which supports our students to meet their full potential, academically and as individual young adults, and prepares them to take the next step towards realising their aspirations with hope and confidence."
Vision and values (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
The Department for Education's GCSE measures do not count IGCSEs, which many independent schools take instead of GCSEs, so the Attainment 8 and English and maths figures it publishes for Open Box Education Centre can understate its results. We do not rank or compare them; ask the school for its own GCSE and IGCSE results.
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other independent schools to Open Box Education Centre are Coopersale Hall School (1.2 miles, selective); Oaklands School (4.9 miles, selective); and Normanhurst School (6.4 miles, selective).
What parents say
13 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Open Box Education Centre (as of September 2025): 100% would recommend the school, 100% say their child is happy there and 100% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (100%); the weakest, that their child does well at the school (92%).
Who goes there
Almost every pupil at Open Box Education Centre has an education, health and care plan (16 of 16 in 2026).
Getting there
The nearest Underground station is Epping Underground Station, about 660 metres away (roughly a 8-minute walk).
8 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Church (outside), 90 metres away.
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); Ofsted Parent View; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport)
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Safeguarding: effective
Independent school standards
Met all the independent school standards.
- Part 1: quality of educationMet
- Part 2: pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural developmentMet
- Part 3: welfare, health and safetyMet
- Part 4: suitability of staff and proprietorsMet
- Part 5: premises and accommodationMet
- Part 6: information for parentsMet
- Part 7: handling of complaintsMet
- Part 8: leadership and managementMet
Source: Ofsted, non-association independent schools inspections and outcomes (Open Government Licence)
Ofsted's report, in its own words
What is it like to attend this school?
Pupils thrive at this nurturing and caring school. Most arrive at school having previously had very negative experiences of education. Staff quickly get to know pupils and understand their specific special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), as well as their individual interests and aspirations. This helps staff to put in place a curriculum that enables pupils to quickly re-engage with education.
Building relationships founded on kindness underpins everything that happens here. Staff use these relationships to help pupils learn effective strategies to manage their feelings and emotions. This helps pupils to quickly develop the resilience they need to keep going when they find work tricky. Behaviour is exceptional throughout the school. It is also exceptional during off-site lessons. For example, pupils represent the school incredibly well in the community when visiting the allotment to harvest herbs to use in their cooking.
What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?
The school has designed a curriculum that sets out clearly the knowledge pupils need to understand to achieve highly. Teachers have placed this knowledge into a coherent sequence. The rigorous induction process enables the school to identify the specific individual needs of pupils. Staff then skilfully adapt the curriculum to make it relevant. This helps pupils secure the knowledge they need for future lessons.
Teachers are well trained to teach the curriculum. They support each other by sharing their expertise so they develop their subject knowledge. Teachers present information clearly to pupils. They check how well pupils understand content through well considered use of assessment. These checks also identify how well pupils understand subject-specific vocabulary. Teachers are precise with their use of vocabulary. This helps pupils to develop their own understanding of language.
From Ofsted's October 2024 inspection report: the opening paragraphs of each section, quoted word for word. Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its October 2024 inspection.
Rated Outstanding for
Behaviour & attitudes.
Rated Good for
Quality of education, Personal development, Leadership & management.
At a Glance
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
13 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Keep up with Open Box Education Centre
Getting There
Tube / Metro / Tram
Bus Stops
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 39
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 8
- Children hurt
- 3
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 39 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 8 serious and 31 slight.
3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot.
9 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
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
80%
Available places
16 pupils
20 places
4 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Essex
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Essex
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(4)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
16
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
No need-level breakdown available
Pupil Demographics
Key Indicators
16
Total Pupils
6
Boys
10
Girls
2026 academic year
Questions parents ask about Open Box Education Centre
What are GCSE results like at Open Box Education Centre?
The Department for Education's GCSE measures do not count IGCSEs, which many independent schools take instead of GCSEs, so the Attainment 8 and English and maths figures it publishes for Open Box Education Centre can understate its results. We do not rank or compare them; ask the school for its own GCSE and IGCSE results.
What is Open Box Education Centre's Ofsted rating?
Open Box Education Centre was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in October 2024.
Does Open Box Education Centre meet the independent school standards?
At its most recent standard inspection, in October 2024, Open Box Education Centre met all the independent school standards.
How many pupils go to Open Box Education Centre?
Open Box Education Centre has around 16 pupils on roll.
How do I apply to Open Box Education Centre?
Open Box Education Centre is an independent school and runs its own admissions rather than going through the local authority. Contact the school directly for entry requirements, assessment dates, fees and any bursaries.
How many road collisions happen near Open Box Education Centre?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 39 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 8 serious and 31 slight. 3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot. 9 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Essex is 9 (the median across 614 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Open Box Education Centre?
Open Box Education Centre is at St John's Road, Epping, Essex, CM16 5DN.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)