A selective girls grammar school in Colchester, Essex, serving ages 11-18 with a sixth form and around 1,210 pupils on roll.
On this page
At a glance
Colchester County High School for Girls is an 11-18 selective girls' school with about 1,210 pupils and a history of educating students in Colchester since 1909. Its published mission is ambitious: to prepare resilient, highly motivated and responsible leaders, with academic success balanced by wellbeing, citizenship and contribution.
The school has the feel of a highly academic Essex grammar with a broad intellectual culture. The curriculum includes modern languages, EPQ and sixth-form study, supported by co-curricular music, drama, Duke of Edinburgh, trips, student voice, library provision and careers progression. CCHSG's own history also gives it a distinctive local thread, from earlier girls' education in Colchester to its present role as a county high school within the Alpha Trust.
Year 7 entry uses the CSSE selection process, with English and mathematics papers. The published admission number is 192. The policy combines a 25-mile priority area, a minimum score threshold, reserved routes for looked-after, Pupil Premium and service pupil premium applicants, and score-ranked places inside and outside the priority-area structure.
CCHSG's published academic record is very strong: Ofsted Outstanding, a very high Progress 8 score, 100% grade 5+ in English and maths, and a strong A-level AAB measure. The admissions detail matters because that high attainment sits inside a tightly structured allocation model rather than a simple score-only queue.
Upload a photo, PDF or typed practice piece to get personalised feedback, specific improvements and the next skill to practise.
Latest 2025/26 KS4 measures compared with Essex and England.
Recent published Attainment 8 scores compared with Essex and England.
Latest 2024/25 Year 11 destination mix compared with Essex and England.
Whole-school roll of 1,198 pupils; 1,172 had a recorded ethnic group.
A school admission appeal follows a refusal of a place. Use the school's current timetable and your refusal letter for the deadline. A test review, if available, has separate rules.
Applies to: Applicants seeking a place through the priority-area residence criteria.
An offer made through priority-area residence is conditional on continuous residence at the permanent home from 31 October 2026 until the start of Year 7 in September 2027. Informal letting arrangements and retention of another home may be investigated.
For 2027 entry, register through CSSE by 19 June 2026, submit the Essex CAF by 31 October 2026, and only send the CCHSG supplementary form if you are applying under the looked after, previously looked after, pupil premium, or service pupil premium criteria.
The 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.
Looked after and previously looked after children scoring 320 or above.
Children in care and previously looked after children are considered first if they reach the school's minimum qualifying score of 320.
Up to 20 pupil premium places for the highest-scoring eligible applicants scoring 320 or above.
These places are reserved for applicants who meet the published pupil premium eligibility rules and reach the minimum score threshold.
Up to 10 service pupil premium places for the highest-scoring eligible applicants scoring 320 or above and living in the priority area.
Applicants must satisfy the published service pupil premium definition and the priority-area residence rule.
Priority-area places are then allocated by score rank until 154 places have been filled after EHCP and criteria 1 to 3.
The priority area is a 25-mile straight-line radius from the school.
The remaining 38 places are then allocated by score rank regardless of where applicants live.
Residence only affects the priority-area tranche; the final score-only places are open to the highest remaining scorers.
Admissions policy
A1 School Admissions Policy 2027/28
2027 entry
Information booklet
CSSE Information Guide 2027 Entry
2027 entry
Information booklet
11+ Results Day FAQ 2026
2026 entry
Score cut-off
CSSE Historical Guidance Sheet 2026 Entry
2026 entry
2025
322
Initial offer score
Official exam resources
CSSE releases earlier entrance-test papers and mark schemes. The year shown is the entry year; check the current test format before using an older paper. Official guidance
Essex (CSSE) test guideFree parent account
Create a free parent account to open the official papers, sample questions and guidance listed here.
CSSE registration opens
9am Tuesday 12 May 2026
PastCSSE registration closes
5pm Friday 19 June 2026
PastCSSE test date
Saturday 19 September 2026
PastAlternative test date
Tuesday 29 September 2026
PastThis alternative date is only for candidates approved for exceptional reasons.
Results issued
After close of business on Monday 12 October 2026
PastEssex CAF opens
Saturday 12 September 2026
PastEssex CAF deadline
Saturday 31 October 2026
PastNational offer day
Monday 1 March 2027
Residence start date
31 October 2026
PastContinuous residence until
Start of Year 7 in September 2027
Read the admissions policy
Check the published 2027/28 policy for the 192-place intake, the 25-mile priority area, and the score threshold rules.
Open admissions policyRegister with CSSE
Register through CSSE during the published May to June window so your child can sit the September entrance test.
Open CSSE guidanceSubmit the supplementary form if eligible
Only complete the CCHSG supplementary form if you are applying under the looked after, previously looked after, pupil premium, or service pupil premium criteria.
Open supplementary formName the school on the Essex application
Submit the Essex Common Application Form by 31 October 2026. Registering for the test does not count as your school application.
Open Essex admissionsAdmissions policy
A1 School Admissions Policy 2027/28
2027 entry
Information booklet
CSSE Information Guide 2027 Entry
2027 entry
Information booklet
11+ Results Day FAQ 2026
2026 entry
Key dates
Essex Secondary Co-ordinated Scheme 2027 to 2028
2027 entry
Supplementary form
SIF Admissions CCHSG 2027/28
2027 entry
Latest inspection: 29 November 2023
Local rivals appear first, followed by nearby alternatives where the journey and admissions route are still comparable.
Same Essex area with a comparable local commute
Same wider selective region and a similar admissions route
Same wider selective region and a similar admissions route
Closest comparable alternatives with a similar academic profile, so parents can weigh local fit and results together.
Similar Attainment 8 and Progress 8
Similar Attainment 8 and Progress 8
Similar Attainment 8 and Progress 8
Best Grammar Schools in Essex
Compare 8 Essex grammar schools for 2026: GCSE ranking table, Ofsted, Essex (CSSE) route, admissions rules, competition, and school profiles.
Best Girls' Grammar Schools in the UK
Explore the best girls grammar schools in the UK with a national ranking parents can filter by county and Ofsted before comparing schools by route and journey.
Best Grammar Schools in the UK
Explore the best grammar schools in the UK with a national ranking that can be filtered by county, school type, and Ofsted before moving into local admissions detail.
Best Grammar Schools by A-level Results
Explore the best grammar schools by A-level results in the UK, ranked by the published share of students achieving AAB or better at A level.
Best Grammar Schools in Essex
Compare 8 Essex grammar schools for 2026: GCSE ranking table, Ofsted, Essex (CSSE) route, admissions rules, competition, and school profiles.
Best Girls' Grammar Schools in the UK
Explore the best girls grammar schools in the UK with a national ranking parents can filter by county and Ofsted before comparing schools by route and journey.
Best Grammar Schools in the UK
Explore the best grammar schools in the UK with a national ranking that can be filtered by county, school type, and Ofsted before moving into local admissions detail.
Best Grammar Schools by A-level Results
Explore the best grammar schools by A-level results in the UK, ranked by the published share of students achieving AAB or better at A level.
Guide
CSSE results and Essex grammar school appeals
CSSE grammar school appeals for 2027 entry: Essex and Southend appeal routes, school contacts, qualification versus oversubscription and evidence to prepare.
Guide
Essex Grammar Schools Guide
Explore the eight grammar schools across Essex and Southend, with a clear distinction between the CSSE examination and Chelmsford County High School’s separate route.
Article
Chelmsford vs Colchester: Two Essex Grammar School Routes to Compare
A parent briefing on how Chelmsford and Colchester differ in Essex grammar school research, including route checks, school profiles, and what to compare before registration.
FAQ
For September 2027 entry, Colchester County High School for Girls uses CSSE 11+. Check the named test and any alternative or later-stage requirements in the admissions policy.
1. Read the admissions policy: Check the published 2027/28 policy for the 192-place intake, the 25-mile priority area, and the score threshold rules. 2. Register with CSSE: Register through CSSE during the published May to June window so your child can sit the September entrance test. 3. Submit the supplementary form if eligible: Only complete the CCHSG supplementary form if you are applying under the looked after, previously looked after, pupil premium, or service pupil premium criteria. 4. Name the school on the Essex application: Submit the Essex Common Application Form by 31 October 2026. Registering for the test does not count as your school application.
CSSE registration opens: 9am Tuesday 12 May 2026. CSSE registration closes: 5pm Friday 19 June 2026. CSSE test date: Saturday 19 September 2026. Alternative test date: Tuesday 29 September 2026. Results issued: After close of business on Monday 12 October 2026. Essex CAF opens: Saturday 12 September 2026. Essex CAF deadline: Saturday 31 October 2026. National offer day: Monday 1 March 2027. Residence start date: 31 October 2026. Continuous residence until: Start of Year 7 in September 2027
Colchester County High School for Girls is currently rated Outstanding following the latest published inspection dated 29 November 2023.
