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Chelmsford County High School for Girls catchment area

Chelmsford · girls grammar school · ages 11 to 18
Admissions
Catchment + open
score places
Intake
Girls · ages 11 to 18
11+ test
FSCE
Year 7 places
180
Location
Chelmsford, Essex
Catchment, explained

How catchment works at Chelmsford County High School for Girls

Chelmsford County High School for Girls runs a two-route admissions model. It reserves a block of places for a designated catchment or priority area, where home-to-school distance matters, and it offers a second block of places on 11+ score alone, open to families living anywhere. That makes it both a catchment school and, in part, a super-selective.

After the FSCE test, up to 30 pupil/service-premium places, then priority-area girls by score, then up to 36 out-of-area girls by descending score. So if you live in the priority area you compete mainly with local families, and if you live further away a high enough score can still win one of the open places.

Bottom line: Chelmsford County High School for Girls has a catchment, but it is not the whole story, a strong score keeps the door open even from outside the area.
Grammar schools near Chelmsford
Essex
Applying

Sitting the 11+ for Chelmsford County High School for Girls

1

Register

Sign up for FSCE with the school or local authority, usually by early summer before Year 6 begins.

2

Sit the test

Your child takes the test in September of Year 6. Results follow in October, before the 31 October secondary application deadline.

3

Get your place

Aim high: a top score can win an open place from anywhere, and helps in the catchment block too.

FAQs

Chelmsford County High School for Girls catchment, your questions answered

Does Chelmsford County High School for Girls have a catchment area?+
Partly. Most places need its 12.5-mile priority area, but up to 36 places are open to girls anywhere on test score alone.
Is Chelmsford County High School for Girls super-selective?+
Partly. Chelmsford County High School for Girls reserves some places on 11+ score alone (open to any address) but also keeps a block for its catchment or priority area, so it is best described as part super-selective, part catchment.
How is the catchment for Chelmsford County High School for Girls measured?+
After the FSCE test, up to 30 pupil/service-premium places, then priority-area girls by score, then up to 36 out-of-area girls by descending score. Distances are normally measured in a straight line from your home to the school, and the cut-off moves each year with demand.
What test does my child sit for Chelmsford County High School for Girls?+
Children applying to Chelmsford County High School for Girls sit FSCE, usually at the start of Year 6. Register with the school or local authority before the summer deadline in Year 5.
How many places does Chelmsford County High School for Girls offer?+
Chelmsford County High School for Girls admits 180 pupils into Year 7 each year. With far more qualifiers than places, the score needed in practice is well above the basic pass mark.
Can we apply to Chelmsford County High School for Girls from outside the area?+
Yes. You can sit the test from any address, and Chelmsford County High School for Girls keeps a block of places for the highest scorers regardless of where they live, so an out-of-area child with a strong score has a realistic route in.
Does passing the 11+ guarantee a place at Chelmsford County High School for Girls?+
No. Passing qualifies your child, the place then depends on the admissions priorities, either the open score block or your position in the catchment.
When do we register for the FSCE?+
Registration usually opens in the spring or early summer of Year 5 and closes before the test, which is sat in September of Year 6. Results come back in October, the secondary application deadline is 31 October, and offers are sent on national offer day, 1 March. Always confirm the exact dates with Chelmsford County High School for Girls or your local authority.

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Catchment and admissions details change every year. This page is an indicative guide for parents, always confirm the current catchment area, distances, places and test arrangements directly with Chelmsford County High School for Girls and your local authority before applying.