History

Foundation and Early Years

Samuel Harsnett, Archbishop of York and Vice-Chancellor of Cambridge, founded the school in 1629, though its first building had been erected a decade earlier. Peter Mease, a Cambridge graduate, took over as headmaster in 1623 when just 16 boys from modest backgrounds attended. Among them was William Penn, who would later establish Pennsylvania. In 1714, Quakers sent Prince George, son of a Yamasee chief, to study here.

Development of Chigwell School

Between 1762 and 1813, the Burford family ran the institution across several generations. The school split into English and Latin divisions in 1868, and seventeen years later introduced swimming—building England’s first wooden pool on school grounds. William Cotton, who became Governor of the Bank of England, studied here during this transformative period.

Chigwell Today

Girls joined the senior classes in 1997, making it co-educational. The Countess of Wessex opened a purpose-built drama centre in 2004. During the Covid-19 pandemic, teachers delivered over 10,000 online lessons while producing 1,000 pieces of protective equipment for NHS workers. In 2022, construction began on the largest building project in its history—a new sports centre.

Campus

Chigwell offers diverse facilities:

• Science laboratories: four modern kitchens and two new labs.
• Sports facilities: all-weather pitch with lighting, outdoor sports centre.
• Cultural venues: Ludwig Music School, theatre centre, renovated chapel.
• Educational buildings: Junior School, Chigwell Pre-Prep for ages 4-7, Risham Sarao Sixth Form Centre.

These elements reflect how the school balances four centuries of tradition with contemporary innovation.