Schools in Southend-on-Sea

Primary schools: Explicit: 'Most primary schools in the City have a defined catchment area, except for the faith schools.' (source)

Most schools use the local authority's default scheme rather than a school-specific catchment map — see each school's page for its own designated/catchment area where one is published.

Southend's grammar schools use the CSSE (Consortium of Selective Schools in Essex) shared 11+ exam: 1. English (60 minutes) — comprehension, applied reasoning and a short continuous-writing element, marked out of 60. 2. Mathematics (60 minutes) — Key Stage 2-based problems, marked out of 60. No verbal or non-verbal reasoning — CSSE tests curriculum English and maths only, with written (not purely multiple-choice) answers. One registration (csse.org.uk) and one mid-September sitting covers all CSSE schools across Southend and Essex. Scores are age-standardised, with a combined ~303+ historically the consideration threshold.

Southend's four grammar schools (Southend High School for Boys, Southend High School for Girls, Westcliff High School for Boys, Westcliff High School for Girls) select through the CSSE (Consortium of Selective Schools in Essex) shared 11+ exam — the same single test used by the Essex grammar schools. One registration (csse.org.uk, historically mid-May to mid-June of Year 5) and one sitting covers every CSSE school in both areas. Children living outside Southend (including London boroughs and Essex) can register and sit the exam. The Southend schools have historically allocated a significant share of places by score rank, but several also use priority areas or residence criteria — check each school's published oversubscription criteria. Apply via your home LA's Common Application Form by 31 October.