King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford 11+

How to get into King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford

King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford is a selective secondary school in Essex. To get into King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford children need to pass the school's 11+ entrance test. Here is the step-by-step guide to getting your child into King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford with all the important information you need to know.

Admission Requirements

Children born between 1st September 2013 and 31st August 2014 are eligible for Year 7 entry in September 2025 (see key dates). The school offers 150 places annually for Year 7 intake ^[1].

King Edward VI Grammar School is a selective boys' school for ages 11-16, with a co-educational Sixth Form^[1]. Admission to Year 7 requires success in the CSSE 11+ examination.

The school operates a priority area system covering a 12.5 mile radius from the school. Families must be continuously resident at their permanent home address within the priority area from 31st October in Year 6 onwards to qualify for priority consideration ^[1].

• 120 places are reserved for boys living within the priority area
• 30 additional places are available for out-of-area applicants
• Up to 8 places within the priority allocation are reserved for pupils receiving Pupil Premium or looked-after children who achieve a score of 340 or higher
• Recent pass marks: 346.6 for in-area applicants and 366 for out-of-area applicants

Application Process

Families must complete two separate applications to apply for a place at King Edward VI Grammar School. Parents first register their child for the 11+ exam through the Consortium of Selective Schools in Essex (CSSE) ^[1].

All Essex residents must also apply to Essex County Council School Admissions through their online Common Application Form (CAF). Parents living outside Essex must apply through their own local education authority ^[1].

• Register for CSSE 11+ exam by 27th June 2025 (see key dates)
• Complete the Supplementary Information Form (SIF) on the CSSE website
• Submit Common Application Form (CAF) by 31st October 2025 (see key dates)
• Name King Edward VI Grammar School as a preferred choice on the CAF
• Exam takes place on Saturday 20th September 2025 (see key dates)
• Results released in mid-October 2025 (see key dates)

Examination Details

King Edward VI Grammar School is part of the Consortium of Selective Schools in Essex (CSSE), and all 10 grammar schools in the consortium use the same 11+ exam ^[1].

The CSSE 11+ consists of two papers: English and Mathematics. The English paper lasts 60 minutes with 10 minutes additional reading time, while the Mathematics paper lasts 60 minutes.

• English paper: Comprehension and creative writing (no applied reasoning from 2025)
• Mathematics paper: KS2 National Curriculum topics
• No Verbal or Non-Verbal Reasoning components
• Each paper worth 60 marks (120 total)
• Scores are age-standardised and weighted
• Minimum qualifying score: 303 across all CSSE schools

Preparation Guidance

Families should begin preparation well in advance of the exam date. Child psychologists recommend regular study sessions of 20-30 minutes for children aged 10-11, using a 'little and often' approach.

The school recommends starting with diagnostic practice tests to identify areas requiring focus. Building a strong foundation in English comprehension, creative writing, and KS2 Mathematics is essential for success.

• Start preparation at least 12 months before the exam date
• Focus on KS2 curriculum content in English and Mathematics
• Practice timed conditions to build exam confidence
• For practice materials, see 11+ practice papers
• Consider professional support through 11+ tutoring
• Attend school Open Days typically held in July
• Request special arrangements by 27th June 2025 if needed (see key dates)

Practical Advice

Families should prepare thoroughly for exam day and consider backup options. Passing the 11+ exam does not guarantee a place, as many grammar schools are oversubscribed with qualified candidates.

On exam day, children should arrive early and bring required identification. The exam takes place at the nominated school unless capacity limits require alternative arrangements. Results are typically available in mid-October (see key dates).

CSSE 11+ Information

In order to get into King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford, children need to pass the CSSE 11+. This 11+ test is written by CSSE for use by the school's admissions process.

CSSE 11+ Subjects & Structure

The CSSE 11+ requires children to complete tests in the following subjects:

• English
• Maths

The 11 plus exam for CSSE is a rigorous assessment designed to evaluate the academic abilities of students seeking admission to selective schools in the Consortium of Selective Schools in Essex. This competitive examination comprises two distinct papers, each lasting approximately one hour, which thoroughly test the candidates' proficiency in key subject areas.

The English paper assesses the students' command over the language, focusing on their reading comprehension skills and creative writing abilities. Aspiring students must demonstrate a keen understanding of the given texts and articulate their thoughts effectively in writing.

The Maths paper challenges the candidates' numerical aptitude, drawing upon concepts from the Key Stage 2 maths curriculum. Students are expected to exhibit a solid grasp of mathematical principles and apply them accurately to solve problems.

Other Schools using CSSE 11+

As well as King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford, several other schools also use CSSE 11+. These are:

• Colchester County High School for Girls
• Colchester Royal Grammar School
• Southend High School for Boys
• Southend High School for Girls
• Westcliff High School for Boys Academy
• Westcliff High School for Girls

CSSE 11+ Marking Process

The reality of 11+ tests, selective education and academic institutions such as King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford is that only children with particularly high marks are admitted. Hence why it is important that children perform well in their 11+ papers.

Different schools (and different 11+ tests) have different marking processes. Some tests are marked in person, some remotely, while others utilise computer-based optical recognition technologies for quickly marking multiple-choice answer sheets.

Many 11+ tests are age-standardised to ensure younger children are not disadvantaged (i.e. their marks may be moderated depending on the month in which they were born). While creative writing papers can be used as tie-breakers, multiple-choice tests in Maths, Comprehension, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning normally make up the bulk of a child's marks. The specific details and weightings can vary from year to year.

It's worth remembering that once children's 11+ tests are being marked, the admissions process is completely outside of the parents' control. Hence, parents should not worry themselves about whether their child has got a place!

CSSE 11+ Pass Mark

The pass mark for the CSSE 11+ changes every year and isn't generally made public knowledge. This is due to the academic strength of the children taking the test varying and how challenging the test ends up being (as well as plenty of other smaller variables).

Hence, as a vague rule-of-thumb, it's recommended that children aim for roughly 75-80% in their practice tests. Whilst this won't guarantee them a place at King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford, it's a ballpark exam result figure for successful candidates.

Key Dates for the King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford 11+ Entrance Tests

Here are all the important dates for the 11+ tests (to get into King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford) as well as other relevant dates.

Although the utmost care has been taken to gather these dates, parents should treat them as a guide and check with King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford as they may well change.

11+ Tutor for King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford

As the CSSE 11+ entrance process is particularly gruelling, we would highly recommend using an 11+ private tutor.

Why use a private 11+ tutor?

Personal tutors have the experience and expertise to help children pass their 11+ exams. They know the requirements of the CSSE 11+ tests inside-out and can provide tailored support to give children the best possible chance of success. It's also important to bear in mind that plenty of other children will be using private tutors too.

11+ tutors don't need to be face-to-face, plenty of children use online 11+ tutors.

11+ tutors can also provide regular progress reports and feedback, helping parents to monitor their child's progress and make any necessary adjustments to their preparation.

Most importantly, using an 11+ tutor helps ensure that the preparation work gets done!

Private 11+ Tutors for the King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford 11+ Tests

We have a range of private tutors who specialise in preparing children for the King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford 11+ entrance tests. Please click here to be put in touch with a range of excellent 11+ private tutors from our friends at exams.courses.

11+ Past Papers for King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford

Unfortunately, King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford has not made any of their 11+ past papers publicly available. However, you can use However, you can use 11+ practice papers from other exam boards (such as GL Assessment, CEM and CSSE) to help your child prepare.

11+ Practice Papers for King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford

School Information

Below you will find further information about King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford together with their admissions contact details.

King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford is a mixed (i.e. both girls and boys) school. It is also an academy, meaning the school is run independently by a trust or sponsor and is directly funded by the central government (not the local authority).

In total 1,131 pupils attend King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford and it's led by the Headteacher, Mr Tom Carter.

King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford Location

Below you will find a map showing the school's location:

Ofsted Information

King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford was last inspected by Ofsted on 08/12/2021 and the inspection only lasted one day. Ofsted published their report on 31/01/2022, declaring that the school was 'Outstanding'. This information is summarised in the table below along with a link to the full report.

Last Ofsted Report Data

Ofsted Report Summary

King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford was inspected by Ofsted on 8 December 2021 and received an Outstanding rating in all areas. The school demonstrated exceptional quality of education, with students consistently achieving high standards across the curriculum.

The inspection also highlighted the school's outstanding behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and sixth form provision. Students were found to be highly motivated, respectful, and engaged in their learning, while benefiting from a wide range of opportunities for personal growth and development.

The leadership and management of the school were also rated as outstanding, with a clear vision and effective strategies in place to maintain and further improve the school's performance. The inspectors praised the school's commitment to providing a high-quality education and supportive environment for all students.

GCSE & A-Level Subjects

Below you will find a complete list of GCSE and A-Level subjects offered to pupils at King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford for the 2022-23 academic year.

GCSE & A-Level Performance

Below are the individual GCSE and A-Level performance tables for King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford per subject. Note that this may include children taking GCSEs early (e.g. taking a language GCSE in Year 10) or indeed a child in Year 12 retaking a GCSE.

GCSE Results Information (2022-23)

A-Level Results Information (2022-23)