Essex


<p>There are lots of things we consider a priority when choosing a school. Results obviously, pastoral care is high up there too. But have you considered its community? According to Claire Murdoch, Head of Buckhurst Hill&#8217;s Daiglen School, community really does matter in shaping your child&#8217;s future. And it&#8217;s what&#8217;s at the heart of the school&#8217;s latest initiative, The Community Award.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1498" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/04/Daiglen-72-1-1536x1098-1.jpg" alt="Head Teacher, Claire Murdoch, with pupils at Daiglen School" class="wp-image-28166" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/04/Daiglen-72-1-1536x1098-1.jpg 1498w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/04/Daiglen-72-1-1536x1098-1-800x534.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/04/Daiglen-72-1-1536x1098-1-1000x668.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/04/Daiglen-72-1-1536x1098-1-768x513.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1498px) 100vw, 1498px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-does-community-matter">Why does community matter?</h2>



<p>Research shows that children learn more when their education is rooted in real life experiences. Which is why you might spot the children from Daiglen school out and about in Buckhurst hill –&nbsp;in the library, working with local groups, heading to the train station or exploring the woodland just beyond the school gates.</p>



<p>&#8216;Childhood should feel connected, not contained,&#8217; says Claire. &#8216;Studies around experiential learning and place-based education consistently show stronger engagement, better retention, and greater confidence when children can link what they learn in the classroom to the world around them.&#8217;</p>



<p>The children at Daiglen School visit farms, connect with local nurseries, build relationships with senior schools, and take part in community initiatives, from parish projects to road safety awareness campaigns. They learn how to navigate, communicate, contribute, and belong.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/04/DaiglenOct-266.jpg" alt="Pupils at Buckhurst Hill tube station" class="wp-image-28168" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/04/DaiglenOct-266.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/04/DaiglenOct-266-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/04/DaiglenOct-266-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/04/DaiglenOct-266-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>&#8216;Sometimes that means hopping on a train into London, because the city is part of their classroom too. Not just a school, a community, and this only works because of how we are built,&#8217; explains Claire.</p>



<p>Daiglen is a not-for-profit charitable trust. There are no shareholders, no profit margins driving decisions. Everything they receive is reinvested straight back into the school, into teaching, spaces and opportunities.</p>



<p>&#8216;It allows us to think differently,&#8217; Claire says. &#8216;We have frozen our fees, invested in our outdoor spaces and Early Years environments, and continue to expand the breadth of experiences we can offer. Outdoor learning, in particular, is not a trend for us. Research shows it supports wellbeing, resilience, and even academic progress, especially in younger children. We see that every day in how our pupils grow in confidence and independence.&#8217;</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/04/DaiglenOct-261-1.jpg" alt="pupils from Daiglen School at Buckhurst Hill station" class="wp-image-28169" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/04/DaiglenOct-261-1.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/04/DaiglenOct-261-1-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/04/DaiglenOct-261-1-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/04/DaiglenOct-261-1-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-makes-a-community-minded-school">What makes a community-minded school?</h2>



<p>&#8216;If you are going to be a truly community-minded school, you have to make sure your community can actually access you,&#8217; Claire explains. &#8216;At Daiglen, that means:</p>



<ul>
<li>The Community Award –&nbsp;A place each year for a local child who may not otherwise be able to consider independent education. Not a token gesture, but a genuine commitment.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>External bursaries –&nbsp;Managed sensitively and fairly, recognising that every family’s circumstances are different.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>Internal scholarships – Celebrating potential, character, and contribution, not just outcomes.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>Hardship support –&nbsp;Because life happens and continuity for children matters.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>Staff fee support –&nbsp;Because great schools are built by great teachers, and we want them to be part of our community too.&#8217;</li>
</ul>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/04/DaiglenOct-20.jpg" alt="Daiglen School pupil climbing tree" class="wp-image-28170" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/04/DaiglenOct-20.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/04/DaiglenOct-20-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/04/DaiglenOct-20-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/04/DaiglenOct-20-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>At Daiglen School they are of course ambitious academically, but are equally focused on something broader.</p>



<p>&#8216;Confidence. Curiosity. The ability to walk into a room, or a forest, or a city, and feel at ease,&#8217; says Claire.</p>



<p>Adaptability, communication and resilience are important skills, but Claire explains, these can&#8217;t be taught through worksheets; &#8216;They are built through experience. Through conversations in real places. Through responsibility. Through being part of something bigger than yourself.&#8217;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-should-parents-consider">What should parents consider?</h2>



<p>If you are exploring schools, especially if you are considering bursaries or financial support, here&#8217;s what Claire suggests:</p>



<ul>
<li>&#8216;Look at how a school connects to its community, not just what happens inside the classroom.</li>



<li>Ask where the money goes, especially when the school is profit making.</li>



<li>Find out how they support families when circumstances change.</li>



<li>And most importantly, consider where your child will feel known, valued, and able to thrive. Because the right school does not just educate your child. It opens up their world.&#8217;</li>
</ul>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1500" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/04/Daiglen-17-scaled-ratknk447wdvy3xg7n6s9q2d6rephdi1xjftlo7kns.jpg" alt="Head teacher, Claire Murdoch, speaking to pupils at Daiglen School" class="wp-image-28171" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/04/Daiglen-17-scaled-ratknk447wdvy3xg7n6s9q2d6rephdi1xjftlo7kns.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/04/Daiglen-17-scaled-ratknk447wdvy3xg7n6s9q2d6rephdi1xjftlo7kns-533x800.jpg 533w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/04/Daiglen-17-scaled-ratknk447wdvy3xg7n6s9q2d6rephdi1xjftlo7kns-667x1000.jpg 667w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/04/Daiglen-17-scaled-ratknk447wdvy3xg7n6s9q2d6rephdi1xjftlo7kns-768x1152.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-daiglen-community-award">The Daiglen Community Award</h2>



<p>The Daiglen Community Award, is a fully funded place at The Daiglen School (a bursary of up to 100% of school fees). This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a local families for whom an independent education would not normally be financially possible, and for children who would benefit from Daiglen’s strong pastoral care, academic rigour, and preparation for senior school and 11+ entry. The award is open to children currently attending a state school in Year 2, Year 3, Year 4 or Year 5. Find out more <a href="https://daiglenschool.co.uk/admissions/community-award/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-in-the-mood-for-more">In the mood for more?</h2>



<ul>
<li><a href="https://essex.muddystilettos.co.uk/kids/school-reviews/the-daiglen-school-buckhurst-hill/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Review: Daiglen School, Buckhurst Hill</a></li>
</ul>


Why community matters in a child’s education

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