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Best Essex Grammar Schools 2026/27 (CSSE)
CSSE 11+ test dates, qualifying scores, Ofsted ratings and admissions data for Essex grammar schools
Essex has 10 grammar schools. Seven of them — including Colchester Royal Grammar School, Colchester County High School for Girls and King Edward VI Grammar School Chelmsford — belong to the CSSE (Consortium of Selective Schools in Essex) and share a single entrance examination. The CSSE 11+ has two paper-based papers (Mathematics and English Comprehension & Writing) and a standardised qualifying score of 303 is typically needed to be considered for a place.
Chelmsford County High School for Girls is selective but sets its own separate entrance test and is not part of the CSSE consortium. St Bernard's High School and St Thomas More High School also sit outside the consortium and apply Catholic faith criteria to their admissions.
10
SchoolsCSSE (Essex Consortium)
Exam BoardLate September (estimated)
Test DateLate June (estimated)
DeadlineTop-Ranked Schools (Recent National Awards)
Schools below have been recognised in recent Sunday Times Parent Power rankings. Citations are taken from each school's published profile.
Colchester • CO3 3HD
One of the oldest schools in England, founded in 1206, with outstanding academic results.
90.2%
GCSE 9-792.2%
A-Level A*-BColchester • CO3 3US
An outstanding girls' grammar school with exceptional results across all subjects.
Chelmsford • CM2 6LR
A highly selective girls' grammar school. Note: Uses own test, not CSSE.
Chelmsford • CM1 1LX
Outstanding (February 2025). Ranked 9th nationally, East Anglia State Secondary School of the Year 2025 (Sunday Times). Founded 1551. Excellent STEM provision.
89.7%
GCSE 9-789.1%
A-Level A*-BSouthend-on-Sea • SS1 2TQ
Outstanding in all categories (June 2024). 99% achieved grade 5+ at GCSE. Strong music tradition.
Southend-on-Sea • SS0 0RG
An outstanding girls' grammar school with excellent pastoral care.
Westcliff-on-Sea • SS0 0BP
A successful boys' grammar school with strong academic traditions.
Westcliff-on-Sea • SS0 9TD
A girls' grammar school with strong academic results.
Westcliff-on-Sea • SS0 0AL
A Catholic girls' grammar school.
Southend-on-Sea • SS2 4AA
A Catholic boys' grammar school.
Essex Grammar Schools — Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the questions parents ask most about grammar schools in Essex, the 11+ entrance exam, admissions deadlines and how to prepare.
Essex has 10 grammar schools. Seven of them form the CSSE (Consortium of Selective Schools in Essex) and share a single entrance test, while three (Chelmsford County High School for Girls, St Bernard's High School and St Thomas More High School) set their own admissions arrangements.
The CSSE 11+ is the shared entrance examination for the seven Essex CSSE consortium grammar schools. It is a paper-based test with two papers — Mathematics, and English (Comprehension and Writing). Children sit a single CSSE test that can then be used to apply to multiple consortium schools.
The CSSE 11+ uses a standardised qualifying score of 303 (an approximate 80–85% raw score). Children scoring at or above 303 are considered qualified for CSSE consortium schools, although individual schools then apply their own oversubscription criteria (distance, siblings, faith) when allocating places.
The CSSE 11+ test is typically held in late September of Year 6, with results published in mid-October so families can submit secondary school applications by the 31st October deadline. The CSSE usually confirms exact dates in Spring — check csse.org.uk for the official 2026 date before relying on a timetable.
CSSE registration typically opens in mid-May and closes in late June of Year 5. Test centre allocation usually follows in mid-July. The Local Authority secondary school application deadline (separate from CSSE registration) is 31st October.
No. Chelmsford County High School for Girls sets its own entrance test and is not part of the CSSE consortium. St Bernard's High School and St Thomas More High School also have separate arrangements and apply Catholic faith criteria. If you are applying to any of these schools you will need to register separately with each.
Boys' schools include King Edward VI Grammar School Chelmsford, Southend High School for Boys, Westcliff High School for Boys and St Thomas More High School. Girls' schools include Colchester County High School for Girls, Chelmsford County High School for Girls, Southend High School for Girls, Westcliff High School for Girls and St Bernard's High School. Colchester Royal Grammar School is boys-only with a mixed Sixth Form.
Prepare across Maths and English (comprehension and writing) — the two CSSE papers. The CSSE test is paper-based, so include timed past-paper practice in a written format rather than only multiple choice. Most families begin focused preparation in Year 5. Prep4All provides practice papers and adaptive lessons for both CSSE subject areas.
Prepare for Essex Grammar Schools
Get access to CSSE (Essex Consortium) practice papers, mock exams, and expert guidance.