King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford
100%
Capacity
1,138
Pupils
4.9x
Demand
About King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford
King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford holds an Outstanding rating from its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2021, a grade it has maintained across both its recorded inspections. The school’s academic story is best told through its Progress 8 score of 1.11, which places pupils nearly a grade and a half above the national average per subject. This ranks the school first out of 12 secondary schools in the Chelmsford local authority, third out of 350 schools in the East of England region, and 42nd nationally out of 3,141 schools. The Attainment 8 score sits at 83.7, and 99.3% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths. The school also posts an EBacc average point score of 8.31, with 97.3% of pupils entered for the EBacc combination of subjects.
At Key Stage 5, the sixth form achieves an average points per entry of 49.02, equivalent to an A grade, and 68% of entries were graded AAB or higher. The best three A-levels average out at an A grade, with 50.15 points. However, the sixth form’s value-added score of -0.11 is rated as below average, meaning pupils here make slightly less progress than similar students nationally. The school’s Progress 8 breakdown shows strongest progress in open subjects (1.29) and EBacc subjects (1.21), with English progress at 0.67 being the weakest component. For context, the local authority average Progress 8 score is -0.18, so King Edward VI Grammar School significantly outperforms the typical Essex school. The nearest Outstanding-rated school is Chelmsford County High School for Girls, just 0.4 km away.
The school is heavily oversubscribed: for 2025/26 entry, there were 737 applications for 150 places, a ratio of 4.91 applicants per place, with 411 first-preference applications. Facilities include a swimming pool, sports hall, gymnasium, science labs, playing fields, theatre, sixth form centre, and tennis courts. Sports on offer range from rowing and martial arts to hockey and rugby, while clubs include Model UN, Young Enterprise, and a gardening club. The school’s SEND provisions cover seven categories, including specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, autistic spectrum disorder, and social, emotional and mental health needs. With just 2% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the intake is notably less diverse socioeconomically than the national average. This is a high-achieving grammar school for academically selective pupils and families who prioritise strong exam results and a wide range of extracurricular opportunities.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Broomfield Road, Chelmsford, Chelmsford, CM1 3SX |
| Headteacher | Natalie Wilson |
| Local Authority | Essex |
| Number of Pupils | 1,138 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 2.0% |
| School Capacity | 1,138 / 1,142 (100% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
8 Dec 2021Overall Effectiveness
Outstanding
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 31 Jan 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+1.11)
42nd of 3,141
Nationally
3rd of 350
In East of England
1st of 12
In Chelmsford
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly more progress than similar students nationally
Attainment 8 (vs national avg)
Students achieve significantly higher grades than the national average
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. Progress 8 compares to students with similar Key Stage 2 results.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
51.4
'22/23
47.1
'23/24
49.0
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2397%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 151 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)97%
- Sixth form college1%
- Not sustained1%
99% of leavers had a sustained destination 6 months on.
Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance, KS4 pupil destinations 2022/23 (revised). Only state-funded schools are required to report.
Where school leavers go
2022/2384%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 178 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
75%
Russell Group
80%
Top-third HE
11%
Oxford / Cambridge
Percentages of the whole cohort (not just HE-goers). Russell Group = 24 elite research universities. Top-third HE = top by mean UCAS tariff.
- University (HE)84%
- Employment6%
- Not sustained5%
- Apprenticeship2%
- Further education1%
Sources: DfE 16-18 destination measures (broad bucket); DfE KS5 student destinations file (Russell Group / top-third HE / Oxbridge). Level 3 cohort. “Sustained” means the pupil was in education, apprenticeship or employment for 6 months in the year following completion.
Sixth form A-level subjects
2022/23- Mathematics134
- Biology69
- Chemistry69
- Economics58
- Physics58
- History45
- Mathematics (Further)45
- Government and Politics34
- Computer Studies / Computing32
- English Literature32
- Design and Technology (Product Design)17
- Logic / Philosophy15
Subjects with at least 3 entries in 2022/23. Number shown next to each subject is the number of pupils who sat that A-level exam — a rough indicator of subject popularity at this school. Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
8Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
20Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed150
737
High Demand
Competitive - many more applications than places available
411 families put this school as their 1st choice (56% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Lower-disadvantage intake compared to the national average (25%).
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- Asian51.7%
- White British28.3%
- Mixed5.3%
- White (other)3.3%
- Black0.2%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than half of schools in England.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Better than half of schools in England.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
12
Total schools
11
Oversubscribed
8
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
Frequently Asked Questions About King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
Understanding Progress 8
Learn how Progress 8 measures pupil progress from primary to GCSE
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
Broomfield Road, Chelmsford
Chelmsford, CM1 3SX
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
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