The area, now currently occupied by West Hatch, was previously the western gate (or hatch as it would have been known) into Hainault Forest; it is from these roots that the school derives its name.

The school currently educates 1,300 students from the local catchment area, and nearly 200 sixth form pupils from north east London and west Essex.

[1] The school was built in 1957 as a four-storied building with glazing on all sides on Chigwell High Road by Richard Sheppard & Partners with the Essex county architect, H.

[3] The grounds have been renovated on numerous occasions developing the many-acre site into seven main teaching buildings.

[4] A sports hall and classroom block were built as an extension to the school and opened in 2021.