About Essex Grammar Schools
Essex hosts 12 grammar schools, mostly coordinated through the Consortium of Selective Schools in Essex (CSSE). CSSE is unique in England — it's the only 11+ format requiring a substantial creative writing piece. Famous Essex grammars include Colchester Royal Grammar (founded 1206), King Edward VI Chelmsford (KEGS, 1551), Westcliff High Boys/Girls, Southend High Boys/Girls, Shoeburyness, and Chelmsford County High School for Girls (CCHS — runs its own test outside CSSE).
History & Tradition
Essex has England's oldest grammar school — Colchester Royal Grammar School (founded 1206 by Henry III). KEGS Chelmsford (1551) and Westcliff (1920) followed. The CSSE consortium was established to administer a common test, but Chelmsford County High School for Girls broke away in 2011 to run its own test, citing CSSE's volume challenges.
The Entry Test
The CSSE 11+ Test covers English (with substantial creative writing component) and Mathematics. CSSE is the only English 11+ to require extended written answers in English — children must write a 30-40 minute creative piece. Mathematics includes free-response problem-solving alongside multiple-choice questions. Chelmsford County High Girls uses its own test (CCHS Test).
Essex 11+ at a Glance
7 Things You Should Know About Essex Grammar Schools
Researched facts about the region's selective schools — drawn from official sources, school websites and education research.
- 1Colchester Royal Grammar School is one of the oldest in England — founded in 1206 by Henry III. The current school site dates from 1853.
- 2The CSSE 11+ is the only English 11+ to require a substantial creative writing piece — typically 30-40 minutes of extended writing on a given topic. This makes English preparation considerably different from GL Assessment-format areas.
- 3Chelmsford County High School for Girls (CCHS) broke away from CSSE in 2011 — running its own entrance test on a different day (early September). Families wanting both CCHS and other Essex grammars must sit two separate tests.
- 4King Edward VI Grammar (KEGS) Chelmsford is consistently one of England's top boys' grammars — ranking #7 in the Sunday Times Parent Power 2026. KEGS has a mixed 6th form despite being all-boys at lower school.
- 5Westcliff High School for Boys and Westcliff High School for Girls (Southend) are physically adjacent — sharing some sixth-form classes and a sense of friendly rivalry.
- 6St Bernard's Catholic Grammar (Westcliff) and St Thomas More (Westcliff) are faith-based Catholic grammars — accepting baptised Catholic candidates as a priority criterion.
- 7Essex grammars are scattered across the county — families in central Essex often travel 30-45 minutes to access a grammar. The CSSE Test allows distance to become a key oversubscription criterion.
| Rank | School Name | Gender | PAN | 11+ Exam | GCSE 9-7 | A-Level A*-B |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #4 | Colchester Royal Grammar School#4 | Boys (Mixed 6th) | 128 | CSSE Essex | 88.4% | 95.5% |
| #7 | King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford#7 | Boys (Mixed 6th) | 150 | CSSE Essex | 87.5 | 91.1 |
| #16 | Chelmsford County High School for Girls (CCHS)#16 | Girls | 112 | CSSE Essex | 87% | 86.7% |
| #23 | Colchester County High School for Girls#23 | Girls | 192 | CSSE Essex | 85.6 | 83.7 |
| #57 | Westcliff High School for Boys#57 | Boys | 185 | CSSE Essex | 74.9 | 77.9 |
| #61 | Southend High School For Boys#61 | Boys | 180 | CSSE Essex | 68.9 | 79.8 |
| #77 | Southend High School for Girls#77 | Girls | 224 | CSSE Essex | 70.2 | 74.6 |
| #91 | St Bernard’s RC Grammar School#91 | Girls | 180 | CSSE Essex | 72 | 70.2 |
| Bancroft's School | Mixed | 80 | CEM Select | 88.3% | 93.2% | |
| Chigwell School | Mixed | — | Independent | 68.2% | 71.4% | |
| King Edward VI Grammar School, Louth (KEVIGS) | Mixed | 120 | GL Assessment | — | — |
Essex Grammar Schools — Frequently Asked Questions
Which are the top-ranked grammar schools in Essex?
In the 2026 Sunday Times Parent Power tables, the highest-ranked Essex grammar schools include Colchester Royal Grammar School, King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford, Chelmsford County High School for Girls (CCHS). Full rankings plus GCSE and A-Level results for every school are in the table above.
What 11+ exam do Essex grammar schools use?
Most Essex grammar schools admit pupils through the CSSE Essex 11+. Check each school's row above, as some set their own entrance test or use a different exam board.
What makes Essex grammar schools distinctive?
Colchester Royal Grammar School is one of the oldest in England — founded in 1206 by Henry III. The current school site dates from 1853.
What else should families know about the Essex 11+?
The CSSE 11+ is the only English 11+ to require a substantial creative writing piece — typically 30-40 minutes of extended writing on a given topic. This makes English preparation considerably different from GL Assessment-format areas.
Nearby Regions
Many families consider grammars in neighbouring regions to maximise options. Explore: