East of England brings together 8 grammar schools across 4 local areas, with the biggest groups in Essex, Southend-on-Sea, and Chelmsford. It works best as a wider overview of several distinct selective pockets, where school mix, test route, and admissions shape can change noticeably from one local area to the next.
Area pages
Each page covers one smaller local area.
These area pages split East of England into smaller local groups. That makes it easier to compare schools that are actually part of the same local list.
See all exam areasBrowse 8 grammar school profiles in Essex, covering Chelmsford, Colchester, and Southend-on-Sea, then use the linked Essex (CSSE) guide for shared test dates, downloads, and route detail.
Browse 2 grammar school profiles in Chelmsford, Essex, then use the linked Essex (CSSE) guide for shared test dates, downloads, and route detail.
Browse 2 grammar school profiles in Colchester, Essex, then use the linked Essex (CSSE) guide for shared test dates, downloads, and route detail.
Browse 4 grammar school profiles in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, then use the linked Essex (CSSE) guide for shared test dates, downloads, and route detail.
School list
The best grammar schools in East of England on this page are ordered by GCSE results. Local routes, travel patterns, and school rules can still vary a lot between areas such as Essex, Southend-on-Sea, and Chelmsford.
King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford, Broomfield Road
Overall GCSE score:91.0
Assessment: CSSE
Applicants per place: 4.9 applicants per place
Colchester Royal Grammar School, Lexden Road
Overall GCSE score:87.7
Assessment: CSSE
Applicants per place: 6.1 applicants per place
Colchester County High School for Girls, Norman Way
Overall GCSE score:84.6
Assessment: CSSE
Applicants per place: 3.8 applicants per place
Chelmsford County High School for Girls, Broomfield Road
Overall GCSE score:84.1
Assessment: FSCE
Applicants per place: 3.2 applicants per place
Westcliff High School for Boys Academy, Kenilworth Gardens
Overall GCSE score:77.4
Assessment: CSSE
Applicants per place: 5.5 applicants per place
Westcliff High School for Girls, Kenilworth Gardens
Overall GCSE score:73.4
Assessment: CSSE
Applicants per place: 4.8 applicants per place
Southend High School for Girls, Southchurch Boulevard
Overall GCSE score:71.7
Assessment: CSSE
Applicants per place: 4.0 applicants per place
Southend High School for Boys, Prittlewell Chase
Overall GCSE score:67.1
Assessment: CSSE
Applicants per place: 7.1 applicants per place
East of England overview
8 grammar schools are spread across 4 local areas, with the biggest groups in Essex, Southend-on-Sea, Chelmsford, and 1 more.
What stands out
East of England works more like a set of smaller local grammar-school areas than one single admissions market. The best-known groups sit around Essex, Southend-on-Sea, Chelmsford, and Colchester.
What parents notice
The area includes boys' schools, girls' schools, and one co-ed option. East of England does not sit on one single test route. Across the wider area you see a mix of CSSE, FSCE. 4 local areas also have a named shared test guide.
Where they are
East of England is best understood as a set of smaller local areas, each with its own school mix and admissions shape.
Largest local group
Essex is the biggest local cluster in this wider area, with 8 schools.
Test routes
East of England does not sit on one single test route. Across the wider area you see a mix of CSSE, FSCE.
School mix
The area includes boys' schools, girls' schools, and one co-ed option.
Shared test guides
4 local areas in East of England also have a named shared test guide.
The Essex (CSSE) route shapes much of the local admissions picture.
The Essex (CSSE) route shapes much of the local admissions picture.
The Essex (CSSE) route shapes much of the local admissions picture.
The Essex (CSSE) route shapes much of the local admissions picture.
FAQ
East of England grammar schools are mainly concentrated in Essex, Chelmsford, Colchester, and Southend-on-Sea, rather than one single city-wide or county-wide group.
The area includes boys' schools, girls' schools, and one co-ed option.
East of England does not sit on one single test route. Across the wider area you see a mix of CSSE, FSCE.
They can feel quite different. Some local areas have a named shared test guide, while others are smaller self-contained clusters with their own school mix and local admissions detail.