• New Hall School is values led, aspirational and deeply invested in long-term formation, and aims to offer what it sees as the best possible start through to adulthood.

• Will suit families seeking a substantial Essex all-through-school where Catholic values, boarding flexibility and a distinctive educational structure all play a part.

Admissions at New Hall School are substantial and highly organised, with families mainly deciding whether its Catholic identity, all-through structure and boarding capacity are the right long-term fit. The school's distinctive diamond model adds a clear extra consideration for parents who like co-education in the early years and sixth form but single-sex teaching through much of the senior phase.

Scholarships and financial support may be available, but the bigger draw is clearly the scale of the all-through offer and the distinctiveness of the model rather than awards alone. Families are more likely to choose New Hall for continuity, ethos and breadth.

The overall picture is broad and self-assured, with New Hall presenting itself as a Catholic independent boarding and day school for girls and boys aged 1 to 19 with a well-defined diamond model. Parents should still visit because the question is not whether the offer is substantial, but whether its scale, ethos and structure match their child.