Choosing the right senior school for a child is one of the most important decisions a parent can make as it sets them on a journey that expands on their primary learning by promoting academic growth and personal development.
The Oak-Tree Group of Schools, comprised of Coopersale Hall, Normanhurst and Oaklands School, all instil a love of learning and aim to foster individual strengths from the earliest years through to each crucial milestone.
Whilst Oaklands takes children up to Year 6, the other two schools have senior intakes from Year 7 and take pupils up to their GCSEs at age 16 whilst preparing them thoroughly for their sixth form schools and colleges.
All-through education
Since September 2023, Coopersale Hall in Epping has been able to offer senior places for external candidates joining into Year 7 and internal candidates who have wanted to remain. The newly built senior facilities mean that, since September 2025, Coopersale Hall has been a ‘through school’ with pupils from ages 2½ to 16.
Normanhurst in North Chingford has been established as an all through school taking pupils from 2½ up to 16 for over 100 years.
The Group is proud of its all-through model that offers a seamless transition from Kindergarten to Year 11 in smaller class sizes and with more individual attention. This model provides excellent continuity for the pupils to move through the school. Of course, while many pupils move internally from Year 6 to Year 7, there are also a number of places for external students to join in Year 7.
Life as an Oak-Tree senior
Life as a senior within the Oak-Tree Group is dynamic and full of opportunities to expand the learning and develop the pupils.
Within the Oak-Tree Group, each pupil’s unique strengths and passions are identified and extended. With a wide range of subjects and a challenging curriculum supported by subject specialist teachers and facilities, the schools have consistently achieved excellent results at each level.
When they're not in class, they take up the raft of extra-curricular opportunities such as visits to the Olympic Park, the Globe Theatre or Stansted Mountfitchet Castle. Many spend their lunch breaks in the music rooms practising one of the many additional instrument lessons arranged by the school, such as the flute, guitar, drums or trumpet. Throughout the year, they stage a diverse array of productions, including festive Christmas carol concerts, school plays or even captivating acapella performances.
After regular school hours, pupils stay back to participate in sports fixtures, attend academic catch-up sessions, and engage in a variety of extracurricular clubs. During school holidays, many students take the opportunity to partake in residential overseas trips that might include large international skiing or sporting tours.
11+ Entrance Exams will be held at Coopersale Hall and Normanhurst on Tuesday, January 13.
Part scholarships are available at each school at 11+ entry. Contact the schools directly or register for the exam online.
Normanhurst School, North Chingford
admissions@normanhurstschool.co.uk
Coopersale Hall School, Epping
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