ONE of the oldest and most prestigious educational institutes in the country, Chigwell School is perhaps the best known place of learning in the district.

Founded in 1629, the school, in Chigwell High Road, has a rich heritage in education with a list of former alumni to match the best.

Set in 70 acres, the school currently hosts around 730 pupils including 60 international boarding school students from 12 different countries.

Among its many prestigious former students perhaps the most famous is William Penn the 17th century Quaker leader who founded the American state of Pennsylvania.

The list of famous face continues into this day with recent alumni including actors Sir Ian Holm, and Ken Campbell, and TV presenter Ben Shepherd.

Now in his third year at Chigwell, Michael Punt is the 35th headmaster of the school.

He said: “It's a lovely very busy school. It's always been at the heart of Chigwell village whereas a lot of schools have moved out from London.

“The school itself is a community but I hope we also have good relations with the local community. We have residents and staff living on site. We are not a school where people are here 9 to 4 and then everyone goes home. There's always something going on here.”