A selective boys grammar school in Essex with mixed sixth form entry, strong academic outcomes, and established Oxbridge and Russell Group progression.
Colchester Royal Grammar School
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At a glance
Colchester Royal Grammar School is one of the most historically distinctive grammar schools in the country. The school traces its foundation to 1206 and its formal royal charters to the sixteenth century, with its modern identity shaped by the Lexden Road site, the purple-and-gold tradition and a long scholarly reputation in Colchester. Today it is an 11-18 selective boys' school with girls admitted into the co-educational sixth form, about 1,059 pupils on roll and a place in The Thinking Schools Academy Trust.
CRGS combines a traditional academic culture with features that are unusual in the state sector. It is one of the few state boarding schools, with a family-style boarding house for around 30 sixth-form students, and the school links this to a multicultural sixth-form community. Its curriculum pages show the expected grammar-school breadth across sciences, languages, classics, humanities, music, art and technology, while the headmaster's welcome highlights music, drama, trips, exchanges and a comprehensive sports fixture list.
The co-curricular signal is strong: orchestra and choir, drama, cricket, rugby, football, athletics, clubs and societies, the Old Colcestrian network and publications such as the school magazine all sit around the academic core. Sixth form is central to the school's public identity, not least because it is co-educational and closely tied to boarding, university preparation and wider leadership.
Year 7 admission is through the CSSE route, with 128 places and no priority area. Applicants sit the shared English paper, including creative writing, and mathematics paper; remaining places are ranked by score after limited priority for looked-after and Pupil Premium applicants scoring above the published threshold. The academic outcomes are exceptional in the current dataset: +1.09 Progress 8, 100% grade 5+ in English and maths and 77.7% AAB or better at A level.
Creative writing is tested in this school's current 11+ assessment.
A weak creative writing piece can leave a child short of qualification. 11 Plus Writing Coach helps families build steadier practice and clearer feedback.
From our 11 Plus Writing Coach site
Latest 2024/25 KS4 measures compared with Essex and England.
Recent published Attainment 8 scores compared with Essex and England.
January 2025 school census
Whole-school roll of 1,059 pupils; 1,053 had a recorded ethnic group.
| Recorded group | Share | Category | Pupils |
|---|---|---|---|
| White British | 37.1% | White | 393 |
| Indian | 23.8% | Asian | 252 |
| Any other Asian background | 6.2% | Asian | 66 |
| African | 5.7% | Black | 60 |
| Any other White background | 5.6% | White | 59 |
| Chinese | 5.6% | Asian | 59 |
| Pakistani | 3.6% | Asian | 38 |
| White and Asian | 3.6% | Mixed | 38 |
| Bangladeshi | 3.2% | Asian | 34 |
| Any other mixed background | 2% | Mixed | 21 |
| Any other ethnic group | 1.4% | Other | 15 |
| Unclassified | 0.6% | Unclassified | 6 |
| White and Black African | 0.6% | Mixed | 6 |
| White and Black Caribbean | 0.6% | Mixed | 6 |
| Any other Black background | 0.4% | Black | 4 |
| Irish | 0.2% | White | 2 |
CRGS has no priority area. Applicants must register with CSSE by the official deadline and name CRGS on the home local authority application by 31 October 2026; Priority 1 is limited to looked-after or pupil-premium boys scoring above 320 before remaining places are allocated by score rank.
CRGS has no priority area. Offers are made in score order, with straight-line distance used only to break tied scores.
Up to 12 places for looked after and previously looked after boys scoring above 320.
Priority 1 first considers looked after and previously looked after applicants who name CRGS and meet the score threshold.
Any remaining Priority 1 places then go to eligible pupil premium boys scoring above 320.
Pupil premium eligibility must be declared during the CSSE registration process and confirmed if requested.
All remaining places are offered in descending score order until the PAN of 128 is filled.
CRGS has no priority area, so the main allocation is score-based rather than catchment-based.
Tied scores are separated by looked after status, pupil premium, then straight-line distance.
If scores are tied for the final place, the school applies its published tie-break sequence.
Admissions policy
Admissions Policy 2027-2028
2027 entry
Information booklet
CSSE Information Guide 2027 Entry
2027 entry
Score cut-off
CSSE Historical Guidance Sheet 2026 Entry
2026 entry
2025
343
Initial offer score
The shared CSSE 11+ test applies: one English paper with writing task and one mathematics paper. The papers are age-standardised and there are no separate verbal or non-verbal reasoning papers.
Shared exam route
CRGS uses the shared Essex (CSSE) route. Use these common practice resources for the route, then check the full consortium guide for the complete set and current test guidance.
View all Essex (CSSE) practice papersPaper 1
English
English paper
60-minute English paper plus 10 minutes reading time, covering comprehension, grammar, punctuation, vocabulary, and writing task.
Paper 2
Maths
Mathematics paper
60-minute mathematics paper.
English and Maths are included in the published format.
Verbal reasoning, Non-verbal reasoning and Science are not listed in the current published format.
English
Maths
Verbal reasoning
Non-verbal reasoning
Science
CSSE registration opens
Tuesday 12 May 2026
PastCSSE registration closes
Friday 19 June 2026
CSSE test date
Saturday 19 September 2026
Alternative test date
Tuesday 29 September 2026
This alternative date is only for approved religious, illness, or exceptional circumstances.
Results issued
After close of business on Monday 12 October 2026
CAF deadline
Saturday 31 October 2026
National offer day
Monday 1 March 2027
Read the admissions policy
Check the published Year 7 rules, including the 128-place intake, the Priority 1 score threshold above 320, and the tie-breaks.
Open admissions policyRegister with CSSE
Complete the CSSE registration by 19 June 2026 so your child can sit the September 2026 selection tests.
Open CSSE guideName CRGS on your local authority application
Submit your Common Application Form by 31 October 2026. Test registration alone does not count as a school application.
Open Essex admissionsDestination evidence combines official data with any retained curated signals.
Recent trend
This follows the school's published overall GCSE score across the subjects pupils take. Higher is better.
| Year | This school | Grammar schools | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021/22 | Not published | 74.2 | 49.4 |
| 2022/23 | Not published | 71.8 | 47.0 |
| 2023/24 | 83.4 | 72.1 | 46.7 |
| 2024/25 | 82.1 | 72.3 | 46.8 |
Recent trend
This follows the published average A-level result for the school's sixth form. Higher is better.
| Year | This school | Grammar schools | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021/22 | Not published | 44.0 points | 37.5 points |
| 2022/23 | Not published | 40.5 points | 33.7 points |
| 2023/24 | A average (49.6 points) | 41.3 points | 34.5 points |
| 2024/25 | A average (51.3 points) | 41.8 points | 35.0 points |
Recent trend
This follows the share of pupils moving into a sustained destination after Year 11, such as education, apprenticeships, or employment.
| Year | This school | Grammar schools | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021/22 | Not published | 99.1% | 94.1% |
| 2022/23 | Not published | 98.9% | 93.9% |
| 2023/24 | Not published | 99.0% | 93.3% |
| 2024/25 | Not published | 98.7% | 91.8% |
Latest inspection: Awaiting confirmation
Use the latest Ofsted report for subjudgement detail.
Local rivals appear first, followed by nearby alternatives where the journey and admissions route are still comparable.
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
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Guide
Essex Grammar Schools Guide
A parent guide to Essex grammar schools, including Chelmsford, Colchester, Southend, Westcliff, the CSSE/CCHS split, ranking context, and the route checks that shape school choices.
Guide
What Score Is Needed for Grammar School?
A parent guide to qualifying scores, ranks, pass marks, distance rules, and why one 11 plus score rarely tells the whole admissions story.
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.
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An editor's briefing on using grammar school rankings for discovery while still checking admissions rules, journey, school fit, and official sources.
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FAQ
CRGS currently uses CSSE.
1. Read the admissions policy: Check the published Year 7 rules, including the 128-place intake, the Priority 1 score threshold above 320, and the tie-breaks. 2. Register with CSSE: Complete the CSSE registration by 19 June 2026 so your child can sit the September 2026 selection tests. 3. Name CRGS on your local authority application: Submit your Common Application Form by 31 October 2026. Test registration alone does not count as a school application.
CSSE registration opens: Tuesday 12 May 2026. CSSE registration closes: 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. CAF deadline: Saturday 31 October 2026. National offer day: Monday 1 March 2027
Check the latest Ofsted record for current inspection detail.