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Book a Free ConsultationKing Edward VI Grammar School Chelmsford (KEGS) is a selective state grammar school for boys in Chelmsford, Essex, with a sixth form open to both boys and girls. For September 2027 entry, KEGS is admitting 150 boys to Year 7, with 120 of those places reserved for boys who have lived within 12.5 miles of the school since 10 October in Year 6. Entry is decided by the CSSE 11+ test, which KEGS shares with nine other CSSE member schools.
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Our expert 11+ tutors work with boys across Chelmsford and Essex on the CSSE English and mathematics papers that decide entry to King Edward VI Grammar School, building each programme around a child's own strengths ahead of the September test date.
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The test and results dates for September 2028 entry are carried by the CSSE website as it publishes them.
Updated for September 2028 entry — October 2026
For September 2028 entry (the 2027 test), the CSSE says registration opens in May 2027 and its important dates will be published by Easter 2027.
For September 2027 entry (the 2026 test), the tests and results day have passed, as has the Essex and Southend application deadline of 31 October 2026. National Offer Day is Monday 1 March 2027. These statements rest on the CSSE website, KEGS's admissions policy and its priority-area page.
Ofsted's inspection, dated 10 February 2026, rated the school's Achievement and Post 16 provision 'Exceptional' and its Attendance and behaviour, Curriculum and teaching, Inclusion, Leadership and governance, and Personal development and wellbeing 'Strong standard', with safeguarding confirmed as met. Ofsted's 10 February 2026 report names Natalie Wilson as headteacher.
The report gives KEGS's 2024/25 (revised) A-level average point score as 49.04 per A-level entry, against a national average of 34.99. Of the school's 2023 Year 11 leavers, 99% (a provisional figure) remained in education or employment for at least two terms after GCSEs, also above the national average - both figures from the same Ofsted report.
KEGS is a free, non-fee-paying state grammar school. Its Year 7 places (150 for September 2027 entry) are awarded in rank order of test marks, and the cut-off scores KEGS publishes, covered below, show how high those marks run.
King Edward VI Grammar School Chelmsford uses the CSSE (Consortium of Selective Schools in Essex) examination. This is a two-paper exam sat in September of Year 6, with one paper in English and one in mathematics.
Paper 1 — English: This paper lasts 60 minutes, with ten minutes of additional reading time, and KEGS's admissions FAQ lists comprehension, grammar and vocabulary questions alongside two pieces of creative writing. Children are assessed on their ability to interpret texts with precision, use vocabulary with range and accuracy, and write with structure and flair. The writing component in particular rewards children who have read widely and can deploy language purposefully — not just correctly.
Paper 2 — Mathematics: Also 60 minutes, this paper is based on Key Stage 2 of the National Curriculum. KEGS describes the papers as challenging, though the content is in line with the expectations of Level 5 of the Key Stage 2 National Curriculum. Speed and accuracy both matter here.
One specific preparation point worth noting: practise multi-step problems where the method is not immediately obvious, not only routine calculations. Preparing your child to break down unfamiliar problems — to identify what is being asked before reaching for a method — is one of the most valuable things you can do for their CSSE performance.
The CSSE also publishes free familiarisation papers and sells official practice packs through its own website, so families do not need to rely solely on commercial 11+ publishers to see the test's real style. Children who are ill, whose religion does not allow a Saturday sitting, or who have other exceptional circumstances can, with evidence, sit the tests on the published reserve date instead (29 September 2026 for 2027 entry, now passed), and the CSSE also allocates it if every main-day test centre is full - but it is not a chance to retake the test for a disappointing score. Full detail of the CSSE's own registration and test process is published on its website, and our complete guide to the CSSE exam covers the format across all ten member schools.
The dates below are published by the CSSE for children starting Year 7 in September 2027, covering registration through to National Offer Day. Registration, both test dates and results day (12 October 2026) have passed, as has the Essex and Southend Local Authority application deadline of 31 October 2026. National Offer Day is Monday 1 March 2027. The CSSE guide also gave 31 October 2026 as the deadline for completed Pupil Premium forms to reach the CSSE schools named on the Local Authority form.
| Milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| CSSE registration opens | 12 May 2026 |
| CSSE registration closes (absolute deadline) | 19 June 2026 |
| Main CSSE test date | 19 September 2026 |
| Reserve test date (illness, religious or exceptional circumstances, or if main-day centres are full) | 29 September 2026 |
| Results emailed to candidates | 12 October 2026 |
| Local Authority application deadline (Essex and Southend) | 31 October 2026 |
| National Offer Day | 1 March 2027 |
Source: CSSE 2027-entry Information Guide, retrieved 24 October 2026.
These are the dates published for the cohort applying to start Year 7 in September 2027; for the following cycle, the CSSE says registration for 2028 entry will open in May 2027 and its important dates will be published by Easter 2027. Families preparing for September 2028 entry (the 2027 test) can follow the CSSE's own 2028-entry page for the dates as it publishes them.
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Book a Free Consultation Message us on WhatsAppKEGS's admission arrangements for 2027 entry (boys starting Year 7 in September 2027), approved by the school's Trustees in December 2025, set the published admission number (PAN) at 150 boys. Places are offered first to any applicant for whom KEGS is named on an Education, Health and Care Plan; after that, the remaining places are split by where a family lives.
120 of the 150 places are reserved for boys who have lived continuously within the school's 12.5-mile priority area since 10 October in Year 6. Up to 8 of those priority-area places go to the top-performing boys who were in receipt of the Pupil Premium payment at the time of test registration, or who are looked after or previously looked after, and who reach a final standardised score of at least 330; the rest of the priority-area places are filled in descending order of marks. That leaves up to 30 places (150 minus the 120 reserved for the priority area, and fewer if EHCP places are offered) open regardless of address: up to 2 of those go to Pupil Premium or looked-after boys reaching a final standardised score of at least 350, and the rest go to the highest-scoring boys nationally, ranked by marks.
| Place category | Places | Basis for offer |
|---|---|---|
| EHCP-named applicants | offered first | Named on the child's Education, Health and Care Plan |
| Priority area (within 12.5 miles) - reserved | up to 8 of 120 | Pupil Premium / looked-after, final standardised score 330+ |
| Priority area (within 12.5 miles) - remaining | rest of 120 | Highest standardised scores, ranked |
| Outside priority area - reserved | up to 2 of the remaining places | Pupil Premium / looked-after, final standardised score 350+ |
| Outside priority area - remaining | rest of the remaining places (up to 30) | Highest standardised scores nationally, ranked |
Source: King Edward VI Grammar School Chelmsford admissions policy for September 2027 entry, retrieved 24 October 2026.
There is no single pass mark for the ranked-by-marks places: the score needed varies by cohort each year, and the CSSE says the actual cut-off scores are only known after National Offer Day. The published minimums are a total standardised score of 303 (CSSE 2027-entry guide), below which CSSE schools make no offers (appeal and special-consideration places fall outside it), and a final standardised score of at least 330 or 350 (KEGS policy) for the small number of reserved Pupil Premium and looked-after places. KEGS also publishes its past cut-offs: for September 2026 entry, the lowest score among boys offered a place on 1 March 2026 who were neither in receipt of Pupil Premium nor looked after was 353.5 for an in-area boy and 370.1 for an out-of-area boy. The CSSE has published a historical guidance sheet on its website (Freedom of Information tab), showing the scores of the last selective places offered at each CSSE school on National Offer Day, 1 March 2026 - useful context, but with no guarantee of a place based on the historical information supplied.
Where boys are tied on marks for the last available place, KEGS gives preference first to looked-after or previously looked-after children, then to those receiving Pupil Premium, and then to whichever applicant lives closest to the school in a straight line; if distances are identical, the place is decided by an independent draw. Having a sibling already at KEGS is not a factor in this Year 7 process - it is only weighed for in-year applications to Years 8 to 11, which follow a separate policy.
A waiting list is held for one year after entry, so a place can still open up after September. Families who receive an offer have 21 days to accept or decline it in writing. For boys who narrowly miss the KEGS threshold, a strong CSSE score may be enough for one of the other CSSE schools that admit boys and that you name as preferences, such as Colchester Royal Grammar School, Southend High School for Boys or Westcliff High School for Boys, depending on each school's own admissions policy.
The figures above are drawn from KEGS's own admissions policy for September 2027 entry, its priority area page and its admissions FAQ, together with the CSSE's 2027-entry guide.
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We recommend beginning serious CSSE preparation in Year 5, with the most intensive work in the twelve months before the September sitting, which falls in the first weeks of Year 6. Starting earlier than this is possible, but KEGS's own admissions FAQ advises preparing in small doses and warns that an excessively coached or tutored child may struggle once at the school; starting later than January of Year 5 leaves very little room to address gaps properly before the September sitting.
In Year 5, the focus should be on consolidating core maths skills — particularly fractions, decimals, percentages, and mental arithmetic — and building reading habits that go beyond school requirements. Children who read widely and across genres develop the vocabulary and comprehension instincts that the English paper rewards.
From September of Year 5 through to the spring term, structured practice on CSSE-style questions should be introduced gradually. This is the stage to identify weaknesses and address them methodically, rather than simply completing practice papers and hoping for improvement.
From Easter of Year 5 onwards, timed full-paper practice becomes essential, right up to the September sitting. Children need to develop the stamina and pacing to perform under exam conditions — knowing when to move on from a difficult question is a skill that must be practised, not assumed.
The CSSE itself points families toward preparation rooted in the primary curriculum rather than a separate 11+ syllabus, and it publishes free familiarisation papers on its own website so a child can see the real question style before relying on any commercial practice book. Because the test is sat once, with a reserve date offered for illness, religious or other exceptional circumstances agreed with the CSSE office (or when every main-day centre is full), there is no second attempt to fall back on if preparation starts too late.
Ready to start preparing for the KEGS Chelmsford 11+?
Our expert 11+ tutors in Chelmsford and across Essex build a programme around a child's own gaps in the CSSE's English and maths papers, with regular reviews so preparation stays on track through to the September test.
Book a Free Consultation Message us on WhatsAppLeading Tuition provides specialist 1-to-1 tutoring for children preparing for the CSSE and entry to King Edward VI Grammar School Chelmsford. Our tutors work with each child individually, identifying the specific areas where they need to develop — whether that is extended writing technique, problem-solving in maths, or reading comprehension under timed conditions.
We do not use a one-size-fits-all programme. A child who is strong in maths but less confident in written expression needs a different preparation plan to one who writes fluently but struggles with multi-step problems. Our approach is built around the individual child and the specific demands of the CSSE, with regular progress reviews to ensure preparation is on track as the September exam approaches.
For official entry requirements and registration details, see the King Edward VI Grammar School Chelmsford admissions.
Our 11+ specialists build preparation around the CSSE's own two papers - English and mathematics - and our students have achieved a 95%+ offer rate across selective school entry.
Because 120 of KEGS's 150 places depend on living within the 12.5-mile priority area and the other places are open to boys from any address, we also help families set a realistic target, rather than treating every application the same way.
Leading Tuition is rated 4.8 out of 5 on Trustpilot from 59 reviews, read on 3 October 2026, and 91% of our students achieve their desired grades.
Year 5 families are preparing for the 2027 test, which decides September 2028 entry. This section follows the CSSE stages as the CSSE publishes them.
The CSSE says registration for September 2028 entry opens in May 2027. Registration for September 2027 entry (2026 test) is now closed.
The CSSE describes two tests, one in English and one in Mathematics, as set out on its home page. The English paper includes ten minutes of additional reading time.
The CSSE says the important dates for September 2028 entry will be published by Easter 2027. The stages for September 2027 entry (2026 test) are recorded in the Key Dates table below.
For the registration link and the official 2028-entry dates, use the CSSE website and the KEGS admissions page.
Reviewed October 2026: dates, figures and rules checked against KEGS's September 2027 admissions policy and priority-area page and the CSSE website.
We recommend beginning structured preparation in Year 5, from September or January at the latest, well ahead of the September sitting at the start of Year 6. This allows enough time to build skills properly rather than cramming in the final months. Starting in Year 4 can suit children who need more time to develop confidence in maths or writing, but quality of preparation matters more than sheer quantity of time.
For most of KEGS's 150 places there is no fixed pass mark, and the score needed shifts each year. The published minimums are a total standardised score of 303, and a final standardised score of at least 330 or 350 for a few reserved Pupil Premium and looked-after places. Of the boys offered a place on 1 March 2026 for September 2026 entry, the lowest score obtained by an in-area boy who was neither in receipt of Pupil Premium nor looked after was 353.5, and 370.1 for an out-of-area boy; KEGS gives these as an indication only. The CSSE's published guidance sheet gives each school's last-place scores as at 1 March 2026, with no guarantee of a place.
No. The CSSE is sat once, on the published test date in September of Year 6. A reserve date exists for a child who is ill, whose religion does not allow a Saturday sitting, or who has other exceptional circumstances, with evidence, and the CSSE also allocates it if every main-day test centre is full - it is not a second attempt for a disappointing score. A child who misses out can be offered a place from the waiting list the school holds for one year after Year 7 entry, and parents can appeal through Essex County Council's appeals team; the in-year process for Years 8 to 11 follows its own criteria and depends on a place becoming available.
KEGS keeps a waiting list of boys who sat the CSSE for one year after entry, so a place can still open up after September. A strong CSSE score that falls just short of the KEGS threshold may also be enough for one of the other CSSE schools that admit boys and that are named as preferences, depending on each school's own admissions policy. Families should list their full range of preferences, in genuine order of preference, on the Local Authority form, where the Essex and Southend deadline was 31 October 2026; National Offer Day is Monday 1 March 2027.
KEGS's published admission number for September 2027 entry is 150. Places for boys named on an Education, Health and Care Plan are offered first; then 120 places go to boys who have lived within 12.5 miles of the school since 10 October in Year 6, allocated mostly by CSSE score with a small number of places reserved for Pupil Premium and looked-after children; the remaining places (up to 30) go to the highest-scoring boys regardless of address. Ties for the last place are settled by looked-after status, then Pupil Premium, then distance, then an independent draw.
No. King Edward VI Grammar School Chelmsford is a state grammar school with academy status, and, as its own admissions FAQ puts it, it is not an independent, fee-paying school. It is free to attend for any boy offered a place through the CSSE selection process described above. It should not be confused with fee-charging independent schools that also use the word 'grammar' in general conversation.
Our expert 11+ tutors build a programme around the CSSE's own two-paper format - English and mathematics - with no separate verbal reasoning paper, working from a child's current level toward the September test date. Because 120 of KEGS's 150 places depend on living within the 12.5-mile priority area and the other places are open to boys from any address, we also help families set a realistic target. Book a free consultation to discuss a preparation plan for the KEGS Chelmsford 11+.
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