Our school was built in 1964-1965 on the site of the house and grounds of "Ongar Hill House". The original mansion was part of an extensive estate and farmlands set in 40 acres. Our school is set in wonderful grounds, which enrich our learning environment and provide opportunities for our children to learn beyond the classroom.

We believe that children learn best when they enjoy what they are doing. At Ongar Place we are committed to enriching and supporting learning through first hand and practical experiences. We promote excellence in learning and include the development of thinking skills, collaborative and investigative opportunities for our children throughout their learning journey. Active involvement in the learning process leads children to become independent, creative and autonomous in their own learning. Educational visits and visitors help to enrich their learning experiences and provide further learning beyond the classroom.

We strongly believe that our curriculum provides challenge, excitement and enjoyment and meets the needs of all our learners, preparing them well for a successful future. We are able to provide and sustain a family atmosphere and we value the close involvement of parents in their children’s education. We see educational success as the result of the combined efforts of happy motivated children, supportive parents and a committed school.  

This is an exciting time in the life of the school as we celebrate the extension of our age range from four to eleven years, from September 2008. We look forward to new opportunities for our children as they continue their learning journey with us in Key Stage 2, building on their skills and knowledge, so that they are well prepared for the challenges ahead in the fast changing world of the twenty first century. OFTSED This is a good school. It has a strong caring ethos that ensures pupils flourish both academically and personally. Teaching is good. It is well planned and organised. Behaviour is good, both in lessons and around the school. Where there is any poor behaviour involving pupils with identified behavioural difficulties, the school deals with these quickly and effectively. Pupils feel safe and say that any form of bullying is infrequent but when it occurs, is dealt with swiftly by staff.