About Southend High School for Girls
Southend High School for Girls (SHSG) is a highly selective state grammar school for girls aged 11–18 in Southend-on-Sea, Essex. It is a state-funded academy — not an independent, fee-paying school — and is known for strong academic results in a supportive all-girls environment.
Founded in 1913, SHSG is a member of the Consortium of Selective Schools in Essex (CSSE). Entry to Year 7 is by the CSSE 11+ selection test; there are no fees, and admission is by test score together with the school’s catchment area. Its motto is ‘Ad Dei Gloriam’ (to the glory of God).
Year 7 Admissions Guide for Southend High School for Girls
Southend High School for Girls Admissions Criteria
Southend High School for Girls is a selective state grammar school, so entry to Year 7 is by the CSSE 11+ selection test — not by fees. You register your daughter for the test with the Consortium of Selective Schools in Essex (CSSE) and name the school on your home Local Authority’s Common Application Form. Offers are made in rank order of test score, with priority to girls living in the school’s catchment (Southend SS postcodes).
- ✓Step 1 — Visit: Look round at an Open Day or tour to get a feel for the school. This is not part of the selection process.
- ✓Step 2 — Register for the CSSE 11+: Register your daughter for the selection test with the Consortium of Selective Schools in Essex (CSSE), via the Supplementary Information Form on the CSSE website, by the published deadline.
- ✓Step 3 — Name the school on your Local Authority application: List Southend High School for Girls on your child’s secondary Common Application Form through your home Local Authority by the national deadline of 31 October. There is no fee to the school.
- ✓Step 4 — Sit the CSSE 11+: The CSSE 11+ is sat in September of Year 6. The same test is shared across the Essex consortium, so it is taken only once.
- ✓Step 5 — Offers: Your Local Authority makes offers on National Offer Day (1 March of Year 6). Places are allocated by test score within the catchment rules below.
As a state-funded school there are no tuition fees. Support such as free school meals and pupil premium funding is available to eligible families — contact the school for details.
How Places Are Allocated at Southend High School for Girls
- Around 180 Year 7 places, offered to girls who reach the required standard in the CSSE 11+.
- Looked-after and previously looked-after children who meet the standard are prioritised, along with a proportion of places for high-scoring disadvantaged girls.
- Priority is given to girls living within the school’s catchment area (Southend postcodes SS0–SS9).
- Places are then offered in descending order of CSSE 11+ score, with distance from the school as the tie-breaker.
- See the school’s and CSSE’s published admissions policy for the full criteria.
Catchment Area for Southend High School for Girls
SHSG gives priority to girls living within its Southend catchment area, so where you live matters alongside the test score — but entry depends first on sitting the CSSE 11+.
Qualifying scores and distance cut-offs vary each year, so check the school’s admissions policy, the CSSE website and the Southend admissions booklet before applying.
Academic Performance at Southend High School for Girls (GCSE & A-Level Results)
As a selective grammar school, SHSG achieves excellent results across a broad curriculum.
- GCSE: an excellent record, with most grades at the highest levels (grades 9–7).
- A-Level: consistently strong, with most students progressing to Russell Group and other leading universities.
- Progression: the great majority of leavers progress to university.
Exam results change annually, so always confirm the latest published figures on the school’s website.
Pastoral Care, Sport & Extracurricular Life
Founded in 1913, Southend High School for Girls is a selective state grammar for girls (ages 11–18) on Southchurch Boulevard in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, with the motto ‘Ad Dei Gloriam’ (to the glory of God). A high-performing school, it is organised into houses — Artemis, Hermes, Hera, Athene, Aphrodite and Aurora — and combines academic challenge with strong pastoral care in a supportive all-girls setting.
Co-curricular life is wide-ranging, spanning sport, music, drama, the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and many clubs and societies. For the full list, see the school’s own website.
Frequently Asked Questions about Southend High School for Girls
How do I apply to Southend High School for Girls for Year 7?
Register your daughter for the CSSE 11+ with the Consortium of Selective Schools in Essex (CSSE), and name the school on your home Local Authority’s Common Application Form by 31 October. There is no fee to the school.
Does Southend High School for Girls charge fees?
No. SHSG is a state-funded grammar school with academy status — it is not an independent, fee-paying school.
What is the entrance exam for SHSG?
The CSSE 11+ selection test, shared by the grammar schools in the Essex consortium. It is sat in September of Year 6 (papers in English and Maths) and taken only once, even if you apply to several CSSE schools.
Does SHSG have a catchment area?
Yes — priority goes to girls living in the school’s catchment (Southend postcodes SS0–SS9). Where scores are equal, distance from the school is the tie-breaker.
Does SHSG have a Sixth Form?
Yes — SHSG has a sixth form; entry at 16 is based on GCSE results.
How many Year 7 places are there at SHSG?
Around 180 places, offered to girls who reach the required standard in the CSSE 11+, in rank order of score within the catchment rules.
Independent Practice Papers for Southend High School for Girls
Southend High School for Girls uses the CSSE 11+ format. Our practice papers closely mirror the actual test structure — with full video explanations for every question.
- 3 × English, Maths, VR & NVR tests
- 600 video explanations
- 31.5 hours of video content
- 3 × English, Maths, VR & NVR tests
- 600 video explanations
- 28.5 hours of video content
- 4 mixed-subject practice tests
- 200 video explanations
- 11.5 hrs video content
- 4 mixed-subject practice tests
- 200 video explanations
- 11 hrs video content
- 4 mixed-subject practice tests
- 200 video explanations
- 9.5 hrs video content
- 4 mixed-subject practice tests
- 200 video explanations
- 10 hrs video content
- 4 mixed-subject practice tests
- 200 video explanations
- 9.5 hrs video content
- 4 mixed-subject practice tests
- 200 video explanations
- 9 hrs video content
How to Prepare for the Southend High School for Girls 11+ Exam
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