Colchester County High School for Girls, Colchester

In its own words: "The mission of this school is to prepare resilient , highly motivated and responsible leaders, who are able to contribute positively to society and compete in a global economy. We promote high aspiration and personal achievement through outstanding teaching and learning and by nurturing good mental and physical wellbeing. We are unashamedly ambitious for the future success of our students."

From the headteacher's welcome: "It is my great privilege as Executive Principal of Colchester County High School for Girls to warmly welcome you to our unique and inspiring community. This is a vibrant, happy school providing an exceptional opportunity for students to develop their talents, enjoy themselves and flourish as individuals."

Coming up: an open evening on Friday 11 December 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

In 2026, pupils at Colchester County High School for Girls averaged an Attainment 8 score of 79.7, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 46.5 in Essex and 47 across England.

98% 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 80.6.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.99: 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 Biology, Physics and Religious Studies.

Colchester 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, 322 families put Colchester County High School for Girls as their first choice and 744 named it as one of their preferences, for 190 places offered. That is 1.7 first choices for every place. 157 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

Colchester 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, Colchester 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 Colchester County High School for Girls are St Benedict's Catholic College (under 0.1 miles, Good, Attainment 8 58.4); Philip Morant School and College (0.3 miles, Good, Attainment 8 45.6); Colchester Royal Grammar School (0.5 miles, selective, Attainment 8 80.9); and St Helena School (0.9 miles, Good, Attainment 8 42.4).

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

Colchester County High School for Girls is one of 5 schools run by Alpha Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 59.8 in 2024/25.

Of the 159 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 98% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 2% to a further education college.

Of the 128 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 70% went on to university or other higher education, 2% to apprenticeships and 10% into work. 60% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

2.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 40.7% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are Asian (44%), White British (24%) and Black (11%).

In 2026, 18 pupils (1.5%) received SEN support and 0 (0%) 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.

The nearest railway station is Colchester City Rail Station, about 1.3 miles away in a straight line.

3 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Norman Way Schools (outside), 180 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Colchester County High School for Girls stands in is among the 20% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 243 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and other theft. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Essex (97), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Colchester County High School for Girls issued 17 suspensions, 1.4 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Colchester County High School for Girls are Hamilton Primary School (0.5 miles), Prettygate Infant School (0.6 miles), Prettygate Junior School (0.6 miles) and Home Farm Primary School (0.9 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.