• Thorpe Hall School is inclusive, supportive and quietly ambitious and aims to help every child thrive from the earliest years through to GCSE.

• Will suit families wanting an all-through Southend day school with small classes, a nurturing culture and visible opportunities across the board.

Admissions at Thorpe Hall School should appeal to families seeking a non-selective co-educational day school where children can move through one community from nursery to GCSE. It should suit parents who want small classes, a supportive atmosphere and an all-through school that does not rely on academic hot-housing to make its case.

Scholarships are visible here across academic, sport, music, performing arts and all-round categories, which gives the school a little extra breadth for ambitious families. Means-tested bursary support is also set out in the published admissions material.

The overall picture is inclusive, friendly and reassuringly straightforward, with the school stressing happy children, small classes and a nurturing environment. Parents should still visit because the key question is whether the school's tone feels ambitious enough as pupils get older while remaining genuinely supportive.