Essex grammar schools
Which test each school uses, its places for September 2027, and how it gives priority.
Seven CSSE grammar schools
Colchester County High School for Girls
Colchester · Girls · CSSE test · 192 places
A 25-mile straight-line priority area. Priority groups and children living inside it are ranked to 154 places; the other 38 go by score wherever a child lives. Children must live at the address from 31 October 2026.
Last place, March 2025: 322 inside the area, 333 outside it.
2027 policyCCHSG admissions policy, 2027 entry (PDF)Colchester Royal Grammar School
Colchester · Boys · CSSE test · 128 places
No priority area under the 2026 policy: places go by score, with distance breaking ties. Up to 12 places for disadvantaged boys need a score above 320.
Last place, March 2025: 343.
2026 policy: check for 2027CRGS admissions policy, 2026 entry (PDF)King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford
Chelmsford · Boys · CSSE test · 150 places
Under the 2026 policy, 120 places went to boys inside a 12.5-mile priority area and the rest by score wherever a boy lived.
Last place, March 2025: 355 inside the area, 372 outside it.
2026 policy: check for 2027KEGS admissions policy, 2026 entry (PDF)Southend High School for Boys
Southend · Boys · CSSE test · 180 places
A priority area and preferential groups. Check the school's 2027 policy for the exact postcodes and numbers.
Last place, March 2025: 305 inside the area, 342 outside it.
Check the school's 2027 policySouthend secondary admissions booklet, 2026 entrySouthend High School for Girls
Southend · Girls · CSSE test · 224 places
SS0 to SS9 is the priority area: up to 179 places inside it (17 preferential, 162 ordinary). Outside it, up to 4 preferential places and at least 41 ordinary ones.
Last place, March 2025: 303 inside the area, 321 outside it.
Westcliff High School for Boys
Westcliff-on-Sea · Boys · CSSE test · 185 places
SS0 to SS9 is the catchment: up to 148 local places, including up to 15 preferential. The other 37 include 4 preferential places. Equal scores go to preferential status, then distance.
Last place, March 2025: 309 inside the area, 351 outside it.
2027 policyWHSB admissions policy, 2027 entry (PDF)Westcliff High School for Girls
Westcliff-on-Sea · Girls · CSSE test · 192 places
A priority area and quotas. Check the school's 2027 policy for the exact numbers.
Last place, March 2025: 306 inside the area, 345 outside it.
Check the school's 2027 policyCSSE information guide, 2027 entry (PDF)
CSSE selective places in other schools
Shoeburyness High School
Southend · Mixed · CSSE test · 28 selective places
28 selective places inside a larger school. Under the 2026 policy they went to the priority area, normally at 303 or more.
Last place, March 2025: 304 inside the area.
2026 policy: check for 2027Southend secondary admissions booklet, 2026 entrySt Bernard's High School
Westcliff-on-Sea · Girls · CSSE test · 30 selective places
30 selective places inside a larger Catholic school, with its own priority postcodes, faith criteria and form.
2026 policy: check for 2027Southend secondary admissions booklet, 2026 entrySt Thomas More High School
Westcliff-on-Sea · Boys · CSSE test · 30 selective places
30 selective places inside a larger Catholic school. Under the 2026 policy a boy had to live in SS0 to SS9; it also has faith criteria and its own form.
Last place, March 2025: 303 inside the area.
2026 policy: check for 2027Southend secondary admissions booklet, 2026 entry
Schools with their own test
Chelmsford County High School for Girls
Chelmsford · Girls · CCHS FSCE test · 180 places
After children in care and with an EHCP, 144 places go to girls inside 12.5 miles (up to 30 of them Pupil Premium or Service Premium). Up to 36 more go by score wherever a girl lives.
2027 policyCCHS admissions policy, 2027 entry (PDF)The King John School, Thundersley
Thundersley · Mixed · King John's own test · Up to 15% of 350 places
A comprehensive. After siblings, catchment and staff children, up to 15% of places can go by ability, highest scores first. Only children with an SS postcode can sit its test.