Southend High School for Girls
School summary
Few schools achieve a clean sweep of Outstanding judgements across every Ofsted category, but Southend High School for Girls manages exactly that, from quality of education to sixth form. This large selective grammar in Southend-on-Sea draws around 1,253 girls and sits close to its capacity of 1,269, a sign of how sought-after a place here is. Entry at 11 is fiercely competitive, with 180 places offered through the CSSE consortium. The result is a high-performing, calm and ambitious environment that suits girls who thrive under academic challenge.
How hard is it to get in?
Very competitive · 3 of 5 on the Passmate scale. Demand comfortably exceeds the 180 Year 7 places each year - a clear pass, not a borderline one, is what wins a place.
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
75
National average 46.9
GCSE grade 5+ (English & Maths)
99%
National average 47%
GCSE grade 9-7
71%
National average 23%
A-level A*-A
39%
National average 28%
A-level A*-B
76%
National average 55%
Inspection reports
- Ofsted overall
- Outstanding
- Quality of education
- Outstanding
- Behaviour & attitudes
- Outstanding
- Last inspected
- 2 July 2024
Teaching & academics
Results here are exceptional. The average Attainment 8 score of 75 stands well above the national figure of 46.9, and 99% of pupils secure grade 5 or above in English and Maths, against a national average of 47%. With Outstanding judgements for both quality of education and the sixth form, the academic strength runs all the way through the school.
Languages
Headteacher · Jason Carey
Beyond the classroom
Main sports
School life & ethos
- Founded
- 1913
- Religious character
- None
- Boarding
- No
- SEN support
- 1.76%
- EHC plans
- 0.4%
- English as additional language
- 15.4%
- Free school meals
- 8.8%
Mobile phone policy
Pupils in Years 7-11 may bring phones to school but they must be switched off and out of sight throughout the school day, including before and after school and at break and lunch; phones may only be used in lessons at the teacher's direction for educational activities. Sixth Form students may use phones for study during supervised studies and free periods in the Sixth Form building and library, but not in other buildings, the canteen or grounds. Breaches result in confiscation, a week of daily phone hand-in, a one-hour detention and parents being informed.
Schools nearby
Southend High School for Boys
Southend-on-Sea, East of England
Westcliff High School for Boys Academy
Westcliff-on-Sea, East of England
Westcliff High School for Girls
Westcliff-on-Sea, East of England
Rainham Mark Grammar School
Gillingham, South East
Borden Grammar School
Sittingbourne, South East
Highsted Grammar School
Sittingbourne, South East
Watch Passmate decide how to teach.
Answer as a child would. Left: what they see. Right: what it learns about them.
An exceptional grammar with a flawless Ofsted record and results to match. For academically able girls ready to compete for one of 180 places, this is about as strong as state selective education gets.
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.
Free month · No payment needed
Southend 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.