Grammar schools in Essex and Southend (CSSE)

How places are given

That minimum is a floor, not an offer: Below the pass mark: refused a place at a selective school and cannot join its selective waiting list.Source for Essex and Southend (CSSE): Minimum score ruleEssex and Southend (CSSE): Minimum score ruleCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Southend-on-Sea City Council.The source says: If you use one of your preferences for a selective school and your child did not reach the pass mark you will be refused a place at the selective school. Children can only be on the waiting list for a selective place if they meet the pass mark.View the official source Above it, Selection-test score determines allocation at each selective school; application varies by school (e.g. SS0-SS9 priority area at the four grammars).Source for Essex and Southend (CSSE): Score used for rankingEssex and Southend (CSSE): Score used for rankingCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Southend-on-Sea City Council.The source says: The allocation of places at each of the schools is determined by the score in the selection test, but how this is applied will vary between the schoolsView the official source In Southend, the priority area covers Postcodes SS0 to SS9 inclusiveSource for Essex and Southend (CSSE): Grammar priority areaEssex and Southend (CSSE): Grammar priority areaCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Southend-on-Sea City Council.The source says: the four Southend Grammar schools give preference to those pupils living within a defined geographical area that includes all addresses with a postcode SS0 to SS9 inclusive.View the official source.

Some places work in a mixed way. Shoeburyness High School, St. Bernard’s High School and St. Thomas More High SchoolSource for Essex and Southend (CSSE): Partially selective schoolsEssex and Southend (CSSE): Partially selective schoolsCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Southend-on-Sea City Council.The source says: Three other schools in Southend, Shoeburyness High School, St. Bernard’s High School and St. Thomas More High School admit a proportion of their intake through the selection test.View the official source are partially selective: For the three partially selective schools: one CAF preference, tick the selective-place box; also considered under main criteria.Source for Essex and Southend (CSSE): Selective place applicationEssex and Southend (CSSE): Selective place applicationCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Southend-on-Sea City Council.The source says: Admission to these three schools through the selection test is in addition to admission through their main admission criteria. This means that if you are applying for a selective place at any of these schools you only need to put one preference for the school on your application. You should indicate on the application form in the tick box that you are applying for a selective place. You will automatically be considered through the main criteria as well as this does not count as an additional preference.View the official source

Pupil premium can help: Some CSSE schools reserve places for FSM / Pupil Premium / looked-after childrenSource for Essex and Southend (CSSE): Reserved placesEssex and Southend (CSSE): Reserved placesCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Consortium of Selective Schools in Essex (CSSE).The source says: A number of the CSSE schools ... reserve places for pupils who receive ... free school meals, are entitled to ... Pupil Premium, and those who are or ... have been in social care.View the official source. The form for this is due by Saturday 31 October 2026Source for Essex and Southend (CSSE) 2027 entry: Pp form deadlineEssex and Southend (CSSE) 2027 entry: Pp form deadlineCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Consortium of Selective Schools in Essex (CSSE).The source says: 31st October 2026 Deadline for sending the completed Pupil Premium forms to the CSSE schools you have named on your Local Authority Common Application Form.View the official source.

Which council handles your application

CSSE runs the test, not admissions: CSSE Office handles exam administration only; applications, admissions and appeals are for the LA and each schoolSource for Essex and Southend (CSSE): Csse role exam onlyEssex and Southend (CSSE): Csse role exam onlyCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Consortium of Selective Schools in Essex (CSSE).The source says: The CSSE Office deals only with examination administration. It has no involvement in school applications, admissions or appeals.View the official source. You apply to your home council, whether that is Essex, Southend or elsewhere. For 2027 entry, applications opened on 1 September 2026 for Essex residents and 12 September 2026 for Southend residentsSource for Essex and Southend (CSSE) 2027 entry: Applications openEssex and Southend (CSSE) 2027 entry: Applications openCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Southend-on-Sea City Council.The source says: The application window for on time applications is between 1 September 2026 and 31 October 2026 and parents can apply via our online form.View the official source. Parents can also wait for the result first: Parents may apply before results and amend preferences up to 31 October, or apply after results before the deadline.Source for Essex and Southend (CSSE): Results affect preferencesEssex and Southend (CSSE): Results affect preferencesCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Southend-on-Sea City Council.The source says: You can apply before you receive your results and amend your preferences, up to 31 October, once you have your results, or you can apply once you have your results before the deadline, 31 October.View the official source Offers arrive on Monday 1 March 2027Source for Essex and Southend (CSSE) 2027 entry: National Offer DayEssex and Southend (CSSE) 2027 entry: National Offer DayCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Southend-on-Sea City Council.The source says: National Offer Day, when all that have applied receive the outcome for their application is 1 March 2027.View the official source.

Where to find the dates

For 2028 entry, CSSE says: Important dates to be published by Easter 2027Source for Essex and Southend (CSSE) 2028 entry: Dates published byEssex and Southend (CSSE) 2028 entry: Dates published byCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Consortium of Selective Schools in Essex (CSSE).The source says: CSSE EXAMINATION – 2028 ENTRY Registration will open next year. Important dates will be published by Easter 2027.View the official source. Chelmsford County High School for Girls keeps its own timeline; for 2027 entry its test was on Thursday 3 September 2026Source for Chelmsford County High School for Girls 2027 entry: Test dateChelmsford County High School for Girls 2027 entry: Test dateCloseChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Chelmsford County High School for Girls.The source says: The CCHS Entrance Test took place on Thursday 3rd September 2026.View the official source. Our Essex and Southend dates page will add the new dates, and the Essex and Southend 11+ guide covers the papers and appeals.