Colchester Royal Grammar School (CRGS) is a state-funded grammar school in Colchester, Essex, that educates students aged 11 to 18. Founded in 1206, the school is a smaller than average, selective boys’ school. Girls are admitted to the thriving sixth form. The sixth form ranks highly at a national level for A-level results.
Colchester Royal Grammar School (CRGS) has been ranked 27th in the country for Oxbridge admissions. In 2012, the school became an Academy, and in 2013 it was recognized as a National Teaching School and a National Support School. It is one of the few state boarding schools in the UK.
According to headmaster Mr Russell, the school focuses on children’s personal development and combines traditional values with forward-thinking as a modern approach to education for their growth.
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General Information
Registered address: 6 Lexden Road, Colchester, Essex, CO3 3ND
General enquiries: +44 (0)1206 509100
Website: https://www.crgs.co.uk/
Email: office@crgs.co.uk
Gender of Entry: Boys
Day/boarding type: Boarding school
Age Range: 11 – 18
Exam board type/format: CSSE (Essex 11 Plus)
Admissions policy: Selective
Pupils: 813
Places in Year 7: 128 places
Ofsted Report: Ofsted Report | Colchester Royal Grammar School, London
Headmaster: Mr John Russell, MA
Admission to Colchester Royal Grammar School
Admission to Colchester Royal Grammar year seven is based on the student’s CSSE 11 plus exam performance. The selection process is open for all equally, including people in Essex and those who live outside the county. Testing takes before the application, and all the applicants must register to the CSSE for the selection test before the official registration deadline.
When the school is oversubscribed and has more applicants than places available, it offers places to 120 top-scoring boys in the selection test that have filled CRGS as their preferred school in the form and meet the relevant criteria under the coordinated admissions arrangements to be offered a place at the school. If there are applicants with an equal score competing for last places available the priority in admission will be given to –
- A ‘looked-after child’ or a child that has been previously looked after.
- A child in receipt of the pupil premium grant at the time of registration for the 11 plus exam.
- The child living closest to the school by straight line distance as defined by the local authority.
CRGS does not usually admit under-age or over-age applicants. Any underage or overage applicant has to submit the relevant evidence to support their application. For more information about underage or overage applicants, you can visit the CSSE website.
For more information on Colchester Royal Grammar School’s admissions process, you can visit the admissions policy page or the admissions policy document, available on the school’s website.
How to apply for Colchester Royal Grammar School
Admission to the CRGS is through CSSE 11 plus exam, and therefore to apply for CRGS, parents must register their children for the 11 plus exam. Parents can complete these registration forms online through the CSSE website. Apart from this, they also need to complete a Supplementary Information Form (SIF), also available from the CSSE website.
All applicants from Essex need to mention their preferred secondary schools on the Essex Common Application Form (CAF). This can be completed offline on the paper form supplied in the LEA Secondary School Admission booklet.
To know more about the school and its suitability for your child, we advise parents to visit one of the CRGS open days with their children, which usually takes place in July. CRGS headmaster Mr. Russell added to his welcome note that when you visit CRGS, you will see the unique combination of traditional values with a forward-thinking and modern approach to education that leads to outstanding success for CRGS is known.
Catchment area of Colchester Royal Grammar School, state school
CRGS has a catchment area with priority based on distance from the school as defined by the local authority and set out in the secondary education in Essex booklet.
Exam format for Colchester Royal Grammar School
Like other CSSE member schools, CRGS also follows the same 11 plus exam format. This 11+ exam consists of two tests, each 1 hour long with 10 minutes of reading time. The two exams are –
- English (involves comprehension, grammar, vocabulary, verbal reasoning, creative writing, and literacy)
- Maths (based on the topics from the KS2 National Curriculum) and applied reasoning (mathematical/non-verbal).
The test scores will be aggregated and mathematically age-standardized to ensure that older pupils don’t have an unfair advantage.
How to prepare for Colchester Royal Grammar School
With approximately nine applications per place, competition for 11 plus Colchester Royal Grammar School is very fierce, and to ensure academic success for your child, we suggest you start early practice. You can start by creating a helpful study schedule and adding 11 plus past papers to it. These past papers help students get familiar with the 11 plus format and types of questions asked in the 11+ exam. If you wish to know more about the 11 plus exam, visit our 11 plus guide for parents.
The two important part of the CSSE 11 plus exam is English and Maths. For English, you need to work on comprehension, writing, spelling, and vocabulary skills. You can encourage your child to read; reading helps in improving both comprehension skills and vocabulary. Learn seven comprehension strategies that will make your child a powerful reader. You can also try our 11+ vocabulary module specially designed for 11 plus vocabulary preparation to improve your vocabulary.
Maths exam is based on the key stage 2 syllabus, and therefore your child needs to be well prepared with it. Learn everything you need to know about the 11 Plus Maths Exam and how to prepare for it.
Past papers useful for Colchester Royal Grammar School
List of Grammar Schools
For a comprehensive list of Grammar schools visit the Comprehensive List of Grammar Schools and Consortiums
