Welcome to St. Aubyn’s School, a co-educational independent school for 500 children aged 3 to 11. It is my privilege to be the Head of one of the oldest and most established preparatory schools in the country.  Situated in beautiful surroundings of Woodford Green and Epping Forest and easily accessible from the main thoroughfares of London, St. Aubyn’s is set in eight acres of grounds. It is self contained and well-resourced, offering small classes and high levels of teaching. Our focus is on the education, welfare and personal development of each child.  Strong relationships are at the core of this: relationships among pupils and between pupils and staff, all backed up by a partnership with parents.  A Christian foundation, the school is inclusive of all faiths and backgrounds.  Children respect each other’s individuality and achievements.

Our motto from 1884 still reflects our approach to teaching and to learning today:  Fortiter, Fideliter, Feliciter; Bravely, Faithfully, Happily.

We invite you to join us as a member of the St Aubyn’s family.

Louis Taylor.– Head

We are an all-round school for all children. Our aim is that each boy and girl enjoys the present while preparing for their future. Set in eight acres of grounds, the school is self-contained and well-resourced, offering small classes and high levels of teaching. Our motto from 1884 still sums up our approach today: fortiter, fideliter, feliciter; bravely, faithfully, happily.

Our pupils thrive both in and out of the classroom and achieve highly in terms of places, scholarships and awards to selective schools at 11+ and 13+.

Nursery

St. Aubyn’s Nursery is a warm and welcoming place where children are happy to play and learn. The children join us at 3 years of age and quickly settle into their new surroundings.

St. Aubyn’s Nursery is based on the main school site and in 2010 the Nursery building was extended with a bright new conservatory area. We also have two exciting outdoor spaces, one of which the children can have constant access to, in accordance with Early Years requirements.

The Nursery children are also able to make use of the main school’s outstanding facilities. This includes visits to the well resourced library, the Sports Centre and the Performing Arts Centre.

The learning experience aims to inspire the child inside and outside of the classroom. The curriculum is designed to meet the criteria outlined in the EYFS framework.

Our qualified, friendly staff provide a stimulating, nurturing environment where each child’s needs are catered for through our play based curriculum. Children learn through a wide and varied range of play, and we firmly believe that learning should be absorbing, challenging and plenty of fun! This approach provides a basic grounding in numeracy and literacy, thereby enabling children to progress into their primary education with a sense of achievement and confidence.

Pre-Prep

We aim to provide a happy, busy, stimulating and structured environment, where our children feel valued and secure and where they thrive and achieve to the best of their ability. We pride ourselves on a learning environment that promotes good manners, sensitivity, sense of community and self confidence.

Middle School

In the Middle School we value each child as an individual and to that end, there are small classes where we can encourage and guide each one to develop to their full potential. We aim to create an environment where we believe each child wants to be successful and happy. We take the time to celebrate each success, whether in the classroom, on the sports field, in or out of school. Middle School is a place where pupils and teachers enjoy and value learning.

If you're searching for your next teaching or support post, why not contact us now? You'll be working at a great school and be part of a friendly, helpful team. We're always interested to hear from enthusiastic, committed teachers and support staff.

St. Aubyn’s is one of the oldest schools of its type in the country, founded in January 1884 by James Crump BA.

It was originally sited opposite Bancroft’s School and in 1893 moved to premises on the site of the present Hawkey Hall. In 1919 the school was relocated to its current site in Bunces Lane, with a temporary relocation to Cumberland during the Second World War.

In 1922, Colonel W H Colley took over the School and in 1951 his son, Mr H H Colley, joined the staff. Mr Harold Colley took over as Headmaster in 1967 and in 1975 the School became a registered charity, St. Aubyn’s, Woodford Green, School Trust. Mr Harold Colley retired in 1993 and was succeeded by Headmaster, Mr Gordon James MA (Oxon) in whose time the School doubled in size and saw the introduction of girls. Mr James retired in 2013 to be succeeded by Mr Leonard Blom. During this time, the School benefitted from significant developmental changes: a new Dining Hall, Nursery building, extension to the Performing Arts Centre, Reception conservatory to name but a few. It also went from strength to strength in its academic achievements.

Mr Blom retired in 2023, with his successor being Mr Louis Taylor.

At our school, we are dedicated to nurturing curious minds, fostering academic boldness, and building inclusive communities. Through innovative teaching methods and a dynamic curriculum, we empower every child to reach their full potential and become lifelong learners and contributors to society. We embrace diversity, champion inquiry, and cultivate a culture of respect, empathy, and resilience. As a thread through the School, the ‘St. Aubyn’s Promises’ guide us in our behaviour towards one another and our determination to be the best versions of ourselves possible.

Our aim is to create an environment where academic excellence and personal growth intertwine seamlessly. Building upon our enduring motto, “Fortiter, Fideliter, Feliciter; Bravely, Faithfully, Happily”, we embrace a dynamic approach to teaching and learning that honours tradition, while also embracing innovation.

Bravely

A commitment to excellence in:

•  Academic boldness
•  Championing curiosity
•  Broadening opportunity

Faithfully

A commitment to our citizenship in:

•  Community connectors
•  Environmental stewards
•  Actively inclusive

Happily

A commitment to looking after our well-being through:

•  Active lives
•  Nurturing spaces
•  Healthy mindsets