Schools
One of the main reasons Essex is so popular with young families is the excellent reputation of its schools. Not only is Chelmsford home to two of the best grammer schools in the country but also in the catchment area of several others. The 2007 school league tables published in the Daily Telegraph: www.telegraph.co.uk/education/main put Chelmsford County High School for Girls, King Edward’s Grammer School for boys, Colchester County High School for girls and Colchester Royal Grammer School in the top 20 for GCSE and A levels results in the country.
http://www.cchs.co.uk/ 
http://www.kegswebsite.org.uk/
Many of the local comprehensive schools have responded to the competition and their results are also impressive, achieving GSCE and A level results well above the national average.
There is a large choice of primary and secondary schools in both the state and independent sector catering for all abilities and talents, many of the independent primary school are geared to preparing children for the 11 plus. http://www.stcedds.org.uk/
Brentwood School
Brentwood School, Brentwood, Essex, CM15 8AS 01277 214580
Mixed, 11to18, Day & Boarding 1050+ pupils, C of E 
http://www.brentwoodschool.co.uk
Chigwell School
Chigwell School, Chigwell, Essex, IG7 6QF 02085 015700
Boys, 13to18, Day & Boarding 350+ pupils, Inter-denom
http://www.chigwell-school.org
Colchester Royal Grammar School
A 'town school' or 'great school' is recorded as existing in Colchester in 1206 AD. The present school, a direct descendant of this, was granted Royal Charters: by Henry VIII in 1539 and by Elizabeth I in 1584.
http://www.crgs.co.uk
Felsted School
Felsted School, Dunmow, Essex, CM6 3LL 01371 820258 Mixed, 13to18, Day & Boarding 370+ pupils, C of E

http://www.felsted.org
Friends' School Saffron Walden
Co-educational, Quaker, day school, boarding school. Your child will have opportunities in a wide range of cultural, creative and physical activities within a community which values and respects individuals, celebrates achievements and broadens perspective
http://www.friends.org.uk
Gosfield School
Gosfield School is set in 110 acres of parkland on the Essex/Suffolk borders. Founded in 1929 the school occupies a gracious Victorian country house.
http://www.gosfieldschool.org
New Hall School
For over 350 years, girls have been educated at New Hall School, England's oldest Roman Catholic independent girls school.
http://www.newhallschool.co.uk