King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford 11+ guide

Atom Learning is partnered with King Edward VI Grammar School. You can read more about our partnership here.

Applying to King Edward VI Grammar School for September 2028? This guide covers the CSSE 11+, the qualifying score, how the 150 Year 7 places are allocated and the key dates for September 2028 entry.

King Edward VI Grammar School 11+ at a glance

• School type: boys' grammar school
• Location: Chelmsford, Essex
• Number of places in Year 7: 150 (2027-entry figure — King Edward VI Grammar School confirms each year's admission number in its determined arrangements, published the spring before entry.)
• Qualifying score: No fixed pass mark. The CSSE makes no offers below a total standardised score of 303, and KEGS then offers places in score order. For 2027 entry, the reserved Pupil Premium and looked after places need at least 330 (priority area) or 350 (outside it).
• 11+ test: CSSE 11+ (two written-answer papers: English, 60 minutes plus 10 minutes' reading time, and maths, 60 minutes)
• Catchment or priority area: yes — a 12.5-mile priority area (120 of the 150 places)

Source: King Edward VI Grammar School Admissions Policy for September 2027 entry. Last checked October 2026.

Key dates for September 2028 entry

King Edward VI Grammar School confirms its exact dates in the spring before each cycle. The windows below follow the 2027-entry timetable: registration ran from Tuesday 12 May 2026 to Friday 19 June 2026, the test took place on Saturday 19 September 2026 and results were due on Monday 12 October 2026 (by email, after close of business). We'll update this page as soon as the school publishes its 2028-entry dates.

The CSSE says it will publish the 2028-entry dates by Easter 2027.

How to apply to King Edward VI Grammar School

King Edward VI Grammar School is selective, so your child needs to sit the 11+ test to be considered for a place.

Register your son for the CSSE 11+ online on the CSSE website (or by post), completing the CSSE Supplementary Information Form. Pupil Premium or looked after status must be declared on that form, with evidence, to be considered for the reserved places.

Once you have your child's result, you apply by naming King Edward VI Grammar School on your common application form, which goes to your home local authority. For September 2028 entry the deadline is Sunday 31 October 2027. As it falls on a Sunday, you may find it easier to submit your form in the days before.

Reaching the qualifying score makes your child eligible, but it doesn't guarantee a place. If more qualifying children apply than there are places, the school uses its oversubscription criteria, set out further down this page.

What will my child be tested on?

The CSSE 11+ is set by the Consortium of Selective Schools in Essex and shared by its ten member schools, so your son sits it once to be considered for any of them. He will usually sit it at the CSSE school you nominate when you register.

There are two papers, both based on the Key Stage 2 curriculum: English (60 minutes, plus 10 minutes' reading time) and maths (60 minutes). The English paper includes a continuous writing task, marked on ideas, vocabulary and spelling, grammar, structure and punctuation. Since 2025 entry it has had no applied reasoning questions. The consortium sets its own papers, and answers are written out rather than chosen from multiple-choice options.

Each paper is standardised for age and weighted equally, at 50% each, to give a total standardised score.

The table below shows what each paper covers.

How are places allocated at King Edward VI Grammar School?

If more children reach the qualifying standard than there are 150 Year 7 places, King Edward VI Grammar School offers places in the order below. This order comes from the school's admissions policy for 2027 entry. The school sets its 2028-entry policy separately, and we'll update this table if anything changes.

Within each group, boys are ranked by standardised score (including age standardisation), highest first. Pupil Premium or looked after status must be declared on the CSSE Supplementary Information Form when registering.

Does King Edward VI Grammar School have a catchment area?

The priority area is everywhere within 12.5 miles of the school, measured in a straight line. To count for the 120 priority-area places, your son must have lived there continuously since 10 October in Year 6.

If boys tie on score for the last place, looked after and previously looked after children come first, then boys receiving the Pupil Premium, then the boy living closest to the school in a straight line. If the distances are identical, lots are drawn by an independent person.

If you don't live close to the school, it's worth thinking about how your child will get there every day. How long will the journey take? What transport options are available? Will they be travelling independently or with support?

A longer or more complex journey can affect your child's daily routine, including how much time they have for homework, rest and after-school activities. It's a good idea to think about how manageable the school run will be and whether it will work for your family day to day.

How can I help my child prepare for the test?

The CSSE 11+ can feel like a big milestone, but preparation doesn't have to be overwhelming. Here's how you can help your child prepare for test day.

Stay on track with a clear plan

One of the hardest parts of 11+ preparation is knowing what to focus on, when, and how to make steady progress without it taking over family life.

A clear, structured plan helps your child feel less overwhelmed and more in control. It ensures they build skills in the right order, cover everything they need, and avoid last-minute cramming.

Atom's exam plan makes this easier. Enter your child's exam date and target schools, and we'll create a personalised weekly plan tailored to the topics they'll be tested on. It shows them what to work on and when, adapts as they improve, and helps them build progress in a calm, manageable way — little and often.

That means less guesswork for you, less stress for them, and a clearer path all the way to exam day.

Build smart exam technique

As your child's knowledge grows, practice tests can help them feel more comfortable with the real exam format.

Atom's 11+ practice papers are built to match the format, timing and question styles of real 11+ exams. They're also unlimited — you can download the same paper again and again, and your child will get new questions each time. This helps them practise without repeating the same content.

We've made marking easy for you, too. Simply photograph your child's answer sheets and upload them to Atom. The papers are marked instantly, showing your child's standardised age score (SAS), where they're doing well, and what they should focus on next. You'll also learn how they compare to other children applying to the same school.

Encourage regular reading

Strong reading skills play a big role in 11+ preparation — particularly for the CSSE, where both the comprehension and creative writing sections reward confident, well-read students.

Encourage your child to read every day, even for just 10–15 minutes. The key is variety. Mix fiction and non-fiction, different genres, and a range of authors. This helps them become more confident in understanding tone, purpose, and meaning across different texts.

Over time, regular reading will broaden their vocabulary, improve comprehension and inference, and build confidence in tackling unseen texts. And just as importantly, it can help them enjoy reading — not just see it as exam preparation.

Looking for inspiration? Explore Atom's free reading and writing starter kit for helpful suggestions of age-appropriate books your child can read!

Celebrate progress, not just scores

When you're supporting your child through 11+ preparation, what really matters is knowing they're moving in the right direction — not just how they scored on a single test.

Atom's progress tracking gives you a clear, simple picture of how your child is doing in each topic and the direction they're moving in. You can see where they're on track, where they might need more practice, and spot progress as it happens.

That makes it easier to give meaningful encouragement, keep motivation steady, and focus on what matters most: consistent improvement, not just one-off results.