Best Grammar Schools in Essex

A selective co-educational grammar school in Chelmsford, Essex, serving ages 11-18 with a sixth form and around 1,138 pupils on roll.

Attainment 8?

83.0

Grade 5+ Eng & maths?

99.3%

Year 7 places

150

Sixth form

Yes

Catchment

Anyone can apply — local priorityA 12.5-mile priority area applies. For 2027 entry, the first 120 places go to the highest-scoring boys with continuous residence in that area since 10 October of Year 6, with remaining places filled by score regardless of address.

A highly selective girls' grammar school in Chelmsford using its own FSCE entrance test, with strong published attainment outcomes.

Attainment 8?

81.4

Grade 5+ Eng & maths?

98.9%

Year 7 places

180

Sixth form

Yes

Catchment

Anyone can apply — local priorityA 12.5-mile priority area applies rather than a published catchment map. Within the priority area and outside it, eligible girls are then ranked by score under the published rules.

A selective boys grammar school in Essex with mixed sixth form entry, strong academic outcomes, and established Oxbridge and Russell Group progression.

Attainment 8?

80.9

Grade 5+ Eng & maths?

98.4%

Year 7 places

128

Sixth form

Yes

Catchment

Anyone can apply — no local priorityCRGS has no priority area. Offers are made in score order, with straight-line distance used only to break tied scores.

A selective girls grammar school in Colchester, Essex, serving ages 11-18 with a sixth form and around 1,210 pupils on roll.

Attainment 8?

79.7

Grade 5+ Eng & maths?

98.4%

Year 7 places

192

Sixth form

Yes

Catchment

Anyone can apply — local priorityThe priority area is 25 miles from the school in a straight line. For 2027 entry, priority-area residence must be maintained from 31 October 2026 to the start of Year 7.

A selective boys grammar school in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, serving ages 11-18 with a sixth form and around 1,292 pupils on roll.

Attainment 8?

77.2

Grade 5+ Eng & maths?

98.9%

Year 7 places

185

Sixth form

Yes

Catchment

Anyone can apply — local prioritySS0 to SS9 forms the local priority area; up to 148 places are reserved for that area, including up to 15 preferential-consideration places.

A selective girls grammar school in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, serving ages 11-18 with a sixth form and around 1,253 pupils on roll.

Attainment 8?

74.7

Grade 5+ Eng & maths?

98.9%

Year 7 places

224

Sixth form

Yes

Catchment

Anyone can apply — local priorityThe priority area covers SS0, SS1, SS2, SS3, SS4, SS5, SS6, SS7, SS8 and SS9. The school also has an outside-area route after priority-area and preferential-consideration quotas.

A selective boys grammar school in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, serving ages 11-18 with a sixth form and around 1,325 pupils on roll.

Attainment 8?

75.1

Grade 5+ Eng & maths?

98.3%

Year 7 places

180

Sixth form

Yes

Catchment

Anyone can apply — local priorityThe priority area covers SS0, SS1, SS2, SS3, SS4, SS5, SS6, SS7, SS8 and SS9. Up to 150 places are reserved for this area, but an outside-area route remains.

A selective girls grammar school in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, serving ages 11-18 with a sixth form and around 1,342 pupils on roll.

Attainment 8?

73.8

Grade 5+ Eng & maths?

96.2%

Year 7 places

192

Sixth form

Yes

Catchment

Anyone can apply — local prioritySS0 to SS9 forms the local priority area; up to 154 places are reserved for that area, including up to 15 preferential-consideration places.