Chelmsford County High School for Girls, Chelmsford

In its own words: "The Parents’ Association (the “PA”) has been running successfully for a number of years. It raises funds to enhance the students’ educational experience as well as providing an important link between parents, guardians or carers and the school. You are automatically a member of the PA as a parent, guardians or carer of a CCHS student."

From the headteacher's welcome: "Chelmsford County High School (CCHS) is a leading academic community, inspired to excellence in education and opportunity for girls. CCHS was formally opened on 1st May 1907, with 76 inspiring students on roll, to provide girls with an academic education."

In 2026, pupils at Chelmsford County High School for Girls averaged an Attainment 8 score of 81.4, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 46.5 in Essex and 47 across England.

99% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 45% in Essex and 47% in England.

That is in line with 2025, when the score was 80.7.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.76: pupils made well above average progress compared with pupils nationally who started secondary school at the same level. Progress 8 was not published for 2026.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 21 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Physics, Biology and Chemistry.

Chelmsford County High School for Girls is a grammar school: places go to children who reach the required standard in its entrance test, and only then are the oversubscription criteria applied.

For September 2026 entry, 358 families put Chelmsford County High School for Girls as their first choice and 600 named it as one of their preferences, for 179 places offered. That is 2 first choices for every place. 183 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

Chelmsford County High School for Girls admits pupils through an entrance test - in Essex, the CSSE (Consortium of Selective Schools in Essex) test. Children have to be registered for it in advance, normally in the spring or summer of Year 5; the test itself is usually sat in September of Year 6, and results come out in October, before the 31 October deadline for naming secondary schools.

Passing the test makes a child eligible rather than guaranteeing a place: when more children pass than there are places, Chelmsford County High School for Girls ranks them by the criteria in its admissions policy, which can include test score and distance. Check Essex's admissions pages and the school's own policy for this year's registration deadline - a child who is not registered in time cannot sit the test.

Essex has 4 state grammar schools in all, so a child who passes may have several selective schools to choose between.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Chelmsford County High School for Girls are King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford (0.3 miles, Outstanding, selective, Attainment 8 83); St John Payne Catholic School, Chelmsford (0.6 miles, Good, Attainment 8 48.7); The Boswells School (1.1 miles, Good, Attainment 8 49.1); and Hylands School (1.5 miles, Requires improvement, Attainment 8 40.3).

Chelmsford County High School for Girls's 2026 results were higher than 3 of these 4 schools.

Of the 151 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 98% stayed in education or training for at least two terms.

Of the 164 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 81% went on to university or other higher education, 1% to apprenticeships and 7% into work. 66% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

4.2% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 27.9% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are Asian (48%), White British (26%) and Black (8%).

In 2026, 49 pupils (3.8%) received SEN support and 1 (0.1%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is autism.

Chelmsford County High School for Girls had 93 teachers in 2026, one for every 13 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical secondary school, at about one for every 17.

The nearest railway station is Chelmsford Rail Station, about 740 metres away (roughly a 9-minute walk).

12 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Keene Home (opposite), 90 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 621 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, shoplifting and anti-social behaviour. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Essex (97), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Chelmsford County High School for Girls issued 7 suspensions, 0.6 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Chelmsford County High School for Girls are Maltese Road Primary School (0.3 miles); Kings Road Primary School (0.3 miles); St Pius X Catholic Primary School (0.5 miles); and The Cathedral Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, Chelmsford (0.6 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.