"> I think for a small school the level of care towards some of the children wasn’t good in my experience. I found many of the teachers came across as tired and bored and would say “ask in the office” if I asked about a planned trip or if I asked where an item of clothing had gone. Supervision was lacking. They used to allow junior age children to play unsupervised with garden spades designed for adults. My child got cut underneath his eye by someone swinging a spade around, but when I arrived to collect him, it was just a case of “oh this happened by the way.” I would advise anyone reading this not to trust this place. Having policies in place is not the same as adhering to them.

"> Brilliant school. It’s nurturing and caring, the teachers go above and beyond for the children and the parents. It’s run on sacrificial giving (and I don’t mean money, but time and love) because that’s the culture the school wants to cultivate. As a school, we (and by that I mean parents as well) want to bring our children up in the biblical view of “thinking about others before ourselves”. I know, I know, that may sound very old fashioned in our culture, but community is at the heart of the school and you can’t have community without personal sacrificial investment. I don’t feel the need to sell the school to anyone, it is either for you or it’s not. If you want to drop your children off at the front gates and think because you pay your money that’s enough, then the place probably isn’t for you. I believe we are to invest in our children’s education and welfare needs in and out of school and to actually enjoy investing love, time and resources into the school. I love it for my children, it’s the right place for them, it’s nurturing with personalised care, you don’t get that in many places. The classes are really small so they almost get one-to-one care all the time. As above, the teachers go above and beyond for the children AND the parents. The fees are no where near the price of normal independent schools, yet the care you get is way above the money you pay. There’s regular open days, so I would suggest checking it out for yourself and definitely talk to parents in the school playground.

"> My view as a parent with a child at the Christian School of Takeley: It's a great school. It's small so the education of your child can be tailored to his/her level, teachers are always accessible to parents, everybody is respected for who they are. The school is based upon Christian ethos and values, but everybody is respected in their beliefs. And compared to any other independent school I feel its a fantastic value for money! Fees go towards a very good education: Emotional and academic. But don't expect to find any of the "fancies" of other expensive independent schools as fees are only used for the education of the child. No clubs, restaurant, late technology will be found there. But caring and development of full potential of children will be found. Results in GCSEs are excellent.