St Margaret's Preparatory School, Halstead
St Margaret's Preparatory School is an independent school for pupils aged 2 to 11 in Halstead. It is inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) rather than Ofsted; its most recent ISI inspection was a routine inspection in October 2024.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
St Margaret's Preparatory School in detail
St Margaret's Preparatory School in its own words
In its own words: "At St. Margaret’s we have a distinctly home-from-home family feel, providing a nurturing environment for our children to grow. We provide a high-quality all-round education, in a happy and caring family atmosphere, so that each child is well prepared for the opportunities and challenges that they will face in life."
Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, netball, rugby, cricket, tennis, athletics, gymnastics, badminton, multi-sports and yoga.
The school runs after-school care.
Coming up: an admissions event on Friday 13 November 2026 and an open day on Friday 13 November 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.
Vision and values (school website)Clubs (school website)Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Who goes there
In 2026, 22 pupils (14.3%) received SEN support and 1 (0.6%) had an education, health and care plan.
Getting there
There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of St Margaret's Preparatory School.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 7 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and other theft. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Essex (97).
Sources: DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime
Key Information
DfE GIASISI Inspection Reports
Independent schools in England are inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI), not Ofsted.
Routine Inspection
1 October 2024
Educational Quality / Focused Compliance
12 October 2021
Regulatory Compliance
24 May 2017
Standard
1 January 2011
Fees for 2026/27
Day fees, per year
£12,222 to £17,280
depending on year group
| Reception | £12,222 a year |
| Pre Prep - Year 1 | £12,930 a year |
| Pre Prep - Year 2 | £13,632 a year |
| Prep - Year 3 | £16,068 a year |
| Prep - Year 4 | £16,815 a year |
| Prep - Years 5 and 6 | £17,280 a year |
Including VAT. From the school's own fee schedule; check with the school before you rely on it.
Private school fees in Essex - 15 schools' published fees side by side
At a Glance
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Keep up with St Margaret's Preparatory School
Getting There
Bus Stops
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
55%
Available places
154 pupils
282 places
128 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Halstead
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Halstead
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.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
22
SEN Support
1
EHC Plans
14.9%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
No need-level breakdown available
Pupil Demographics
Key Indicators
154
Total Pupils
85
Boys
69
Girls
2026 academic year
Questions parents ask about St Margaret's Preparatory School
When was St Margaret's Preparatory School last inspected?
St Margaret's Preparatory School is inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) rather than Ofsted. Its most recent ISI inspection was a routine inspection in October 2024.
How many pupils go to St Margaret's Preparatory School?
St Margaret's Preparatory School has around 154 pupils on roll.
How do I apply to St Margaret's Preparatory School?
St Margaret's Preparatory School 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 St Margaret's Preparatory 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 St Margaret's Preparatory School?
St Margaret's Preparatory School is at Gosfield Hall Park, Gosfield, Halstead, Essex, CO9 1SE.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)