Essex is one of the great counties for selective education. It is home to some of the highest-achieving state grammar schools in the country, run as a single consortium, alongside a handful of excellent independent schools. Below are our eleven best schools in Essex, blending the free grammars and the fee-paying independents, ranked on results, reputation and inspection. For each one you will find what actually helps you plan: who it is for, the entrance exam it sets, how places are decided, and why it earns its place. We never run a school down, and the "best" school is always the one that fits your child.
- Essex's stars are its grammar schools; Colchester Royal Grammar and KEGS Chelmsford are among the best state schools in the country.
- All eight Essex grammars use the CSSE 11+, two written papers in English and maths (no separate reasoning paper), scored out of 420.
- The grammars are free; the top independents here, Brentwood, Felsted and Chigwell, are fee-paying with their own 11+ tests.
- The CSSE puts real weight on writing and vocabulary, so a strong grasp of English matters as much as maths.
How we ranked them
There is no single official ranking that mixes grammar and independent schools, so we used a transparent blend of three things: the most recent published exam results (2024 and 2025 GCSE and A-level grades where schools have shared them), reputation and selectivity, and the latest inspection outcome. The grammars are inspected by Ofsted (all eight here are rated Outstanding) and the independents by the ISI, so we weighed those separately rather than against each other.
Two honest caveats. First, every school here is excellent, so the order separates outstanding from outstanding, and any would be a superb choice. Second, Progress 8 has not been published for 2023 to 2025, so we have not used it, and results, fees and admissions change every year. Treat the detail as a 2025/2026 snapshot and always confirm the latest on each school's own website. Pip is not affiliated with any school or exam board.
How 11+ entry in Essex works
Essex's eight state grammars all admit through one test, the CSSE 11+, run by the Consortium of Selective Schools in Essex. It is two written papers in English and maths, sat on the same day in the autumn of Year 6, with no separate verbal or non-verbal reasoning paper. The English paper combines comprehension with a continuous writing task, and the maths paper covers Key Stage 2 maths with problem solving. Each paper is age-standardised and combined into a score out of 420, and a qualifying threshold (commonly cited around 303) is needed to be considered. You register with the CSSE by late June, then name schools on the council form by 31 October. Our full CSSE guide walks through the format and timeline.
A point that catches families out: the four Southend grammars use the same CSSE test as the Colchester and Chelmsford schools, not a separate Southend exam. The real difference is how places are allocated. The Colchester and Chelmsford grammars run as near-pure super-selectives, ranking qualified children on score, while several Southend schools, such as Southend High for Boys, reserve most places for their local catchment, which makes them more accessible to nearby families. The independent schools, Brentwood, Felsted and Chigwell, sit their own 11+ tests in English and maths (Brentwood uses online adaptive tests, Chigwell adds a reasoning paper), so children aiming at both routes prepare the same core skills.
The CSSE rewards a strong vocabulary
The CSSE English paper leans on comprehension, grammar, vocabulary and a continuous writing task, so the words a child knows really count. Pip's free vocabulary flashcards turn the words pupils are expected to know in Years 4 to 6 into a quick, gamified daily habit, with kid-friendly meanings, example sentences and a tap-to-hear guide for each word.
Try the vocabulary flashcards 🚀
1Colchester Royal Grammar School
- Who it's forBoys' grammar, free (co-ed sixth form), day & boarding · Colchester (CO3)
- Entrance examCSSE 11+: written papers in English and maths
- AdmissionsSuper-selective, ranked on the CSSE score
- Results & OfstedAround 92% of A-levels at A*–B and ~90% of GCSEs at grade 9–7 (2024); Ofsted Outstanding
Founded in 1539, CRGS is, year after year, one of the very top boys' state schools in the country, and unusually for a grammar it offers state boarding alongside its day places. Entry is through the CSSE 11+, the consortium's own written papers in English and maths, with boys ranked on score and no catchment to fall back on.
2King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford
- Who it's forBoys' grammar, free (co-ed sixth form), day · Chelmsford (CM1)
- Entrance examCSSE 11+: written papers in English and maths
- AdmissionsSuper-selective, ranked on the CSSE score
- Results & OfstedAround 89% of GCSEs at grade 9–7 and 89% of A-levels at A*–B (2024); Ofsted Outstanding; ranked 9th best state school nationally in 2025
Founded in 1551, KEGS is one of the highest-achieving state schools in England, named the East Anglia State Secondary School of the Year and ninth in the country in 2025. It admits boys purely on the CSSE 11+ score and has a formidable Oxbridge and STEM record.
3Chelmsford County High School for Girls
- Who it's forGirls' grammar, free · Chelmsford (CM1)
- Entrance examCSSE 11+: written papers in English and maths
- AdmissionsSuper-selective, ranked on the CSSE score
- Results & OfstedAmong the top girls' state schools nationally; Ofsted Outstanding in every category (2024)
Founded in 1907, CCHS is one of the leading girls' state schools in England, rated Outstanding in every category at its 2024 inspection and holder of national teaching and arts awards. It is a pure super-selective, admitting girls on the CSSE 11+ score.
4Colchester County High School for Girls
- Who it's forGirls' grammar, free · Colchester (CO3)
- Entrance examCSSE 11+: written papers in English and maths
- AdmissionsSuper-selective, ranked on the CSSE score
- Results & Ofsted100% of pupils at grade 5+ in English & maths and an Attainment 8 around 80 (2024); Ofsted Outstanding
CCHSG is one of the strongest girls' grammars in the country and has topped national GCSE tables in the past. Rated Outstanding and named the East Anglia State Secondary School of the Year for 2026, it admits girls on the CSSE 11+ score.
5Brentwood School
- Who it's forCo-educational independent, day and boarding · Brentwood (CM15)
- Entrance examGL Assessment online adaptive tests in English and maths, plus a writing task
- Entry points11+, 13+ and 16+
- Results & inspectionAround 43% of A-levels at A*–A (2024); offers A-levels, the IB and BTEC; ISI standards met
Founded in 1558, Brentwood is the flagship Essex independent, teaching boys and girls separately from 11 to 16 and together in the sixth form (the "diamond" model) on a historic 75-acre town campus. Its 11+ entry uses GL Assessment online adaptive tests in English and maths plus a writing task, and it offers A-levels, the IB and BTEC side by side.
6Felsted School
- Who it's forCo-educational independent, boarding and day · Felsted (CM6)
- Entrance examThe school's own assessments and interview
- Entry points11+, 13+ and 16+
- Results & inspectionAround a third of A-levels at A*/A (2024); ISI standards met (2023)
Founded in 1564, Felsted is the county's premier boarding school, set on a rural north-Essex campus with a strong sporting tradition, especially in cricket and hockey. It admits at 11+ and 13+ through its own assessments and interview, with full, weekly and flexible boarding alongside day places.
7Westcliff High School for Boys
- Who it's forBoys' grammar, free · Westcliff-on-Sea, Southend (SS0)
- Entrance examCSSE 11+: written papers in English and maths
- AdmissionsCSSE, with priority for the local area, then open places
- Results & OfstedAround 79% of GCSEs at grade 9–7 and a record ~56% of A-levels at A*–A (2024); Ofsted Outstanding
WHSB is the leading boys' grammar in the Southend area, rated Outstanding, with a strong music and cadet tradition. Like all four Southend grammars it uses the same CSSE 11+ in English and maths as the Colchester and Chelmsford schools, with places weighted towards the local area.
8Chigwell School
- Who it's forCo-educational independent, day (boarding from the sixth form) · Chigwell (IG7)
- Entrance examThe school's own paper in English, maths and reasoning
- Entry points7+, 11+, 13+ and 16+
- Results & inspectionRated "excellent" by the ISI; named the Sunday Times Independent School of the Year 2025
Founded in 1629 on a 100-acre campus in south-west Essex near the London border, Chigwell was named the Sunday Times Independent School of the Year 2025 and rated excellent by the ISI. Its 11+ entry is the school's own paper in English, maths and reasoning, so unlike the CSSE grammars it does test reasoning directly.
9Westcliff High School for Girls
- Who it's forGirls' grammar, free · Westcliff-on-Sea, Southend (SS0)
- Entrance examCSSE 11+: written papers in English and maths
- AdmissionsCSSE, with priority for the local area, then open places
- Results & OfstedStrong GCSE and A-level results; Ofsted Outstanding (2024)
WHSG is the counterpart to Westcliff Boys and a consistently Outstanding girls' grammar in Southend, with a large sixth form. It admits through the same CSSE 11+ in English and maths, with places weighted towards the local area.
10Southend High School for Girls
- Who it's forGirls' grammar, free · Southend-on-Sea (SS2)
- Entrance examCSSE 11+: written papers in English and maths
- AdmissionsCSSE, with priority for the local area, then open places
- Results & OfstedStrong all-round results; Ofsted Outstanding (2024)
SHSG is a well-regarded girls' grammar in Southend, rated Outstanding at its 2024 inspection, with the motto "Excellence in Everything". It uses the same CSSE 11+ as the other Essex grammars, with priority for local applicants.
11Southend High School for Boys
- Who it's forBoys' grammar, free · Southend-on-Sea (SS0)
- Entrance examCSSE 11+: written papers in English and maths
- AdmissionsCSSE, with most places reserved for the local catchment
- Results & OfstedStrong results, especially in maths and the sciences; Ofsted Outstanding
SHSB is the most catchment-oriented of the Essex grammars, reserving the majority of its places for local postcodes, which makes it a realistic target for Southend families rather than a county-wide super-selective. It is rated Outstanding and admits through the CSSE 11+ in English and maths.
The CSSE grammars test English and maths, and the independents add reasoning at some schools. Pip builds it all with unlimited, exam-style questions and free downloadable papers - Maths, English, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning. It helps to understand how the CSSE 11+ works and how to choose which schools to apply to.
One free app for every school on this list
Essex's grammars test English and maths through the CSSE, and several independents add reasoning. Pip turns it all into five calm minutes a day - adaptive, exam-style, and genuinely free.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best school in Essex?+
By results, Colchester Royal Grammar School and King Edward VI Grammar School (KEGS) in Chelmsford are consistently among the best boys' state schools in the country, with Chelmsford County High and Colchester County High the leading girls' grammars, and Brentwood the flagship independent. The "best" school, though, is the one that fits your child, so weigh location, day or boarding, fees and the entrance route too.
How do you get into an Essex grammar school?+
Register your child for the CSSE 11+ with the Consortium of Selective Schools in Essex by late June of Year 5, sit the test in September of Year 6, then name the schools on the council application form by 31 October. The CSSE is two written papers in English and maths, scored out of 420; places go on score, though some Southend schools weight places towards their local catchment. Our CSSE guide has the full timeline.
What does the CSSE 11+ test?+
English and maths only, in two written papers sat on the same day in the autumn of Year 6. The English paper combines comprehension with a continuous writing task, and the maths paper covers Key Stage 2 maths with problem solving. There is no separate verbal or non-verbal reasoning paper. Each paper is age-standardised and combined into a score out of 420, with a qualifying threshold commonly cited around 303.
Do the Southend grammars use a different test?+
No. All four Southend grammars, Westcliff High for Boys, Westcliff High for Girls, Southend High for Boys and Southend High for Girls, use the same CSSE 11+ in English and maths as the Colchester and Chelmsford grammars. The main difference is that some Southend schools, such as Southend High for Boys, reserve most of their places for local postcodes.
Are Essex grammar schools free?+
Yes. The grammar schools are state-funded and free to attend; only admission is selective, by the CSSE 11+. The independent schools in this list, Brentwood, Felsted and Chigwell, are fee-paying, though most offer bursaries and scholarships, so it is always worth asking each school directly.
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