Colchester County High School for Girls
School summary
Every pupil at Colchester County High School for Girls achieves a grade 5 or above in English and Maths, a result that places this selective grammar among the strongest performers in the country. Judged Outstanding by Ofsted across every category, from quality of education to sixth form, it offers a consistently high-achieving environment for academically able girls. The school is notably popular, with around 1,210 pupils against a capacity of 1,020, and admits 192 girls each year at age 11. A diverse intake is reflected in the fact that nearly two in five pupils speak English as an additional language.
How hard is it to get in?
Exceptionally competitive · 5 of 5 on the Passmate scale. Demand here is among the very highest of any selective school in England - a strong exam performance matters more than at almost any other school.
Where every mark matters.
Places are limited and demand is high, so exam performance is what sets candidates apart. Passmate turns the months ahead into ten focused minutes a day on the exact topics this school tests.
Key dates · 2028 entry
Free month · No payment needed
Latest results
Attainment 8
80.6
National average 46.9
GCSE grade 5+ (English & Maths)
100%
National average 47%
GCSE grade 9-7
85%
National average 23%
A-level A*-A
58%
National average 28%
A-level A*-B
83%
National average 55%
Inspection reports
- Ofsted overall
- Outstanding
- Quality of education
- Outstanding
- Behaviour & attitudes
- Outstanding
- Last inspected
- 28 November 2023
Teaching & academics
Academic results are exceptional: an average Attainment 8 score of 80.6 stands well above the national figure of 46.9, and the entire cohort reaches the expected standard in English and Maths. The Outstanding rating extends to the sixth form, making this a school built for sustained achievement from entry through to A-level. With a pupil-to-teacher ratio of about 17.8, teaching is delivered in a setting geared firmly towards stretching capable pupils.
Languages
GCSE subjects
Executive Principal · Gillian Marshall
Sixth form
- Sixth-form Ofsted
- Outstanding
A-level subjects
Beyond the classroom
Main sports
School life & ethos
- Founded
- 1909
- Religious character
- None
- Boarding
- No
- SEN support
- 1.49%
- EHC plans
- 0%
- English as additional language
- 39.2%
- Free school meals
- 2.7%
Mobile phone policy
Students may bring mobile phones to school but they must be switched off and out of sight during the school day, kept in a locked locker. Phones used in school are confiscated until the end of the day, when they may be collected from Reception; parents are contacted on a second occasion and additional sanctions may apply.
Schools nearby
Colchester Royal Grammar School
Colchester, East of England
Chelmsford County High School for Girls
Chelmsford, East of England
King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford
Chelmsford, East of England
Southend High School for Boys
Southend-on-Sea, East of England
Southend High School for Girls
Southend-on-Sea, East of England
Westcliff High School for Boys Academy
Westcliff-on-Sea, East of England
Watch Passmate decide how to teach.
Answer as a child would. Left: what they see. Right: what it learns about them.
A high-flying girls' grammar where Outstanding is the standard across the board. Families should expect a genuinely competitive 11+ via the CSSE consortium, with 192 places sought by many.
That’s where Passmate comes in. Tutoring is the most effective thing in a child’s preparation - a well-tutored child can outperform the vast majority of their peers. Passmate works alongside your tutor, not instead of them: it learns how your child thinks, finds the gaps, and shows the tutor exactly where to spend each session - so the limited time you have lands on what actually decides a place.
Works alongside your child’s tutor - not instead of them.
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Colchester County High School for Girls 11+: frequently asked questions
Passmate rating: benchmarked against every selective school in England using official admissions data. It measures demand for places, not school quality. Updated July 2026.
Compiled from public data. Last checked 5 June 2026.