A selective co-educational grammar school in Chelmsford, Essex, serving ages 11-18 with a sixth form and around 1,138 pupils on roll.
King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford
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At a glance
King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford - usually KEGS - is one of England's oldest selective schools. A royal warrant of Edward VI established a free grammar school in Chelmsford on 24 March 1551, and the modern school still carries that long academic inheritance. Today it is a selective grammar school with about 1,138 pupils, a sixth form, and a Year 7 route for boys through the Essex CSSE test.
The curriculum is deliberately broad. KEGS says breadth is central to preparing pupils for a rapidly changing world: Key Stage 3 keeps a wide range of subjects to the end of Year 9, GCSE study remains extensive, and all sixth formers begin Year 12 with four A levels, with many also completing an EPQ. The subject range is unusually wide for a state grammar, including Mandarin, Russian, Latin, electronics, geology, philosophy, politics, music, drama, design and technology, food technology and the core sciences and humanities.
KEGS has a deep co-curricular culture. The official clubs page lists orchestras, choirs, ensembles, concerts, musicals, plays, major team sports, Combined Cadet Force, Corps of Drums, Duke of Edinburgh, Young Engineers, debating, chess, quiz teams, language clubs, community service, charity work, arts clubs and trips. Facilities referenced publicly include the McCallum-Rich Theatre and sports facilities, while the school's international links and exchange activity sit naturally alongside its language provision.
For Year 7 entry, the published admission number is 150. The first 120 places are reserved for boys living within the 12.5-mile priority area, with reserved places for eligible pupil-premium and care-experienced candidates who meet the stated score thresholds; the remaining places are allocated by score regardless of address. Recent official benchmarks show Ofsted Outstanding, Progress 8 of +1.11, 100% grade 5+ in English and maths and 68.4% AAB or better at A level.
Latest 2024/25 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.
January 2025 school census
Whole-school roll of 1,138 pupils; 1,105 had a recorded ethnic group.
| Recorded group | Share | Category | Pupils |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indian | 34% | Asian | 387 |
| White British | 28.3% | White | 322 |
| Any other Asian background | 6.6% | Asian | 75 |
| African | 6.3% | Black | 72 |
| Chinese | 4.3% | Asian | 49 |
| Bangladeshi | 3.7% | Asian | 42 |
| White and Asian | 3.4% | Mixed | 39 |
| Any other White background | 3.3% | White | 38 |
| Pakistani | 3.1% | Asian | 35 |
| Unclassified | 2.9% | Unclassified | 33 |
| Any other ethnic group | 1.8% | Other | 21 |
| Any other mixed background | 1.6% | Mixed | 18 |
| Any other Black background | 0.2% | Black | 2 |
| Irish | 0.2% | White | 2 |
| White and Black African | 0.2% | Mixed | 2 |
| White and Black Caribbean | 0.1% | Mixed | 1 |
For 2027 entry KEGS offers 150 Year 7 places through the CSSE test. The first 120 places are reserved for boys who have lived within 12.5 miles since 10 October of Year 6, with the remaining places filled by score regardless of address.
A 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.
Children with an EHCP naming KEGS
Children whose Education, Health and Care Plan names KEGS are admitted first.
Priority-area pupil premium and care-experienced applicants
Up to 8 of the first 120 places are reserved for boys living within 12.5 miles since 10 October of Year 6 who are pupil premium, looked after, previously looked after, or internationally adopted previously looked after, and who score at least 330.
Other priority-area applicants by score
The remainder of the first 120 places go to the highest-scoring boys who have continuously lived in the priority area since 10 October of Year 6.
Open pupil premium and care-experienced applicants
Up to 2 of the remaining places are reserved for equivalent applicants who score at least 350, regardless of address.
All remaining applicants by score
Remaining places are offered in descending score order regardless of address, with looked after status, pupil premium, straight-line distance, and then lots used to separate ties.
The CSSE selection test has one English paper and one mathematics paper. For 2027 entry, the English paper lasts 60 minutes with 10 minutes' additional reading time, and the mathematics paper lasts 60 minutes.
Shared exam route
King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford 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
The CSSE English paper lasts 60 minutes with additional reading time.
Paper 2
Maths
Mathematics paper
The CSSE mathematics paper lasts 60 minutes.
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
12 May 2026, 9am
PastCSSE registration closes
19 June 2026, 5pm
CSSE selection test
19 September 2026
CSSE results issued
12 October 2026
CAF deadline
31 October 2026
National Offer Day
1 March 2027
Read the 2027 admissions policy
Check the KEGS policy for the priority-area rules, reserved-place score thresholds, and tie-break arrangements.
Open admissions policyRegister for the CSSE test
Complete the CSSE registration form between 12 May 2026 and 19 June 2026 so your son can sit the shared Essex test.
Register with CSSESubmit your home local authority application
Add KEGS on your Common Application Form by 31 October 2026. The test registration and school application are separate steps.
Check how to applyLatest official destinations data currently covers 2022/23 study leavers.
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 | 84.1 | 74.2 | 49.4 |
| 2022/23 | 81.5 | 71.8 | 47.0 |
| 2023/24 | 83.7 | 72.1 | 46.7 |
| 2024/25 | 83.3 | 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 | A average (51.4 points) | 44.0 points | 37.5 points |
| 2022/23 | A- average (47.2 points) | 40.5 points | 33.7 points |
| 2023/24 | A average (49.0 points) | 41.3 points | 34.5 points |
| 2024/25 | A average (49.1 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 | 99% | 99.1% | 94.1% |
| 2022/23 | 99% | 98.9% | 93.9% |
| 2023/24 | 100% | 99.0% | 93.3% |
| 2024/25 | 100% | 98.7% | 91.8% |
Latest year breakdown
| In education | 100% |
|---|---|
| In apprenticeships | 0% |
| In employment | 0% |
Latest inspection: 9 December 2021
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FAQ
King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford currently uses CSSE.
1. Read the 2027 admissions policy: Check the KEGS policy for the priority-area rules, reserved-place score thresholds, and tie-break arrangements. 2. Register for the CSSE test: Complete the CSSE registration form between 12 May 2026 and 19 June 2026 so your son can sit the shared Essex test. 3. Submit your home local authority application: Add KEGS on your Common Application Form by 31 October 2026. The test registration and school application are separate steps.
CSSE registration opens: 12 May 2026, 9am. CSSE registration closes: 19 June 2026, 5pm. CSSE selection test: 19 September 2026. CSSE results issued: 12 October 2026. CAF deadline: 31 October 2026. National Offer Day: 1 March 2027
King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford is currently rated Outstanding following the latest published inspection dated 9 December 2021.