Chatten Free School
Rickstones Road, Rivenhall, CM8 3HHOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Chatten Free School is a special school in Rivenhall for ages 4 to 19. It is one of the 604 schools in Essex. Its latest Ofsted rating is Outstanding, from an inspection in March 2024.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 26 March 2024, report published 12 May 2024
- Overall effectiveness
- Outstanding
- Quality of education
- Outstanding
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Outstanding
- Personal development
- Outstanding
- Leadership and management
- Outstanding
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 26 March 2024
Pupils join the school having faced educational challenges. They may have spent considerable time at home, leading to setbacks in their development. Fortunately, the personalised care and curriculum pupils receive at Chatten Free School restores pupils and parents' confidence in education. Pupils embrace the school's routines. They give them a sense of security. Feeling secure prepares pupils for learning. Also, having staff who understand how to predict and prevent sometimes challenging behaviours means pupils are generally calm and happy. Over time, pupils learn to trust their key staff. This allows pupils to persevere with challenging activities and move around the school safely. Pupils make remarkable progress. Most start school with limited communication skills. Through specialised techniques, pupils learn to independently communicate their wishes and feelings. When they are ready, pupils learn to accept boundaries. Pupils learn, for example, to express the word 'no' and to accept the word 'no' from key staff. This enables staff to sensitively steer pupils away from their usual activities and interests. Over time, pupils' worlds widen to include horse riding, swimming, trampolining and a residential trip. These new, exciting experiences prepare pupils for future challenges.
Exam results
SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25
7 pupils took the tests
Pupil numbers and mix
75 pupils on roll, with places for 75
Schools near Chatten Free School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southview School | 0.5 miles | Ofsted: Outstanding | Not published |
| Woodend Farm School | 3 miles | Ofsted: Good | Not published |
| The Edith Borthwick School | 6 miles | Report card: Expected standard | 0% met the expected standard |
| The Belsteads School | 8 miles | Ofsted: Good | Not published |
| Clarity Independent School | 9 miles | No Ofsted inspection | Not published |
School details
- School type
- Free schools special
- Sector
- Free school
- Trust
- HOPE LEARNING COMMUNITY
- Age range
- 4 to 19
- Gender
- Mixed
- Headteacher
- Mrs Kate Finch
- Phone
- 01376433150
- Address
- Rickstones Road, Rivenhall, CM8 3HH
- Local authority
- Essex
- URN
- 148543
School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Exam results for 2024/25 from the Department for Education. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.