Grammar schools in Ipswich
There are no grammar schools in Ipswich.
Grammar schools are state secondaries that select by ability, usually through an 11+ test. Only 46 of the 226 local authorities in the UK still have any, and Suffolk is not one of them, so every state secondary in Ipswich admits without a selective test.
The nearest is Colchester Royal Grammar School, about 15.8 miles away in Essex. Most grammar schools accept out-of-area applicants, though distance is often a tie-breaker when a school is oversubscribed.
Nearest grammar schools to Ipswich
Straight-line distance from the centre of Ipswich — not a travel time.
| School | Area | Distance | Intake | Ofsted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colchester Royal Grammar School | Colchester | 15.8 miles | Boys | — |
| Colchester County High School for Girls | Colchester | 16.3 miles | Girls | Outstanding |
| Chelmsford County High School for Girls | Chelmsford | 35.8 miles | Girls | Outstanding |
| King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford | Chelmsford | 36.1 miles | Mixed | — |
| Southend High School for Girls | Southend-on-Sea | 39.3 miles | Girls | Outstanding |
| Southend High School for Boys | Southend-on-Sea | 39.5 miles | Boys | Outstanding |
Published admissions priorities
These are extracts from school-specific arrangements for the entry years shown, in priority order. They are not the full policy or a prediction of an offer. Check the linked arrangement for test eligibility, deadlines and all remaining priorities.
Colchester Royal Grammar School — 2026 entry
- Up to 12 places for boys scoring over 320 who are looked after / previously looked after (first) or on the Pupil Premium Grant — in score order (published source)
- All remaining places in score order, wherever the boy lives (published source)
Colchester County High School for Girls — 2026 entry
- Looked after and previously looked after children scoring 320 or more (published source)
- Up to 20 places for the highest-scoring girls eligible for the Pupil Premium (free school meals now or in the last six years) scoring 320 or more (published source)
- Up to 10 places for the highest-scoring girls eligible for the Service Pupil Premium scoring 320 or more and living in the 25-mile priority area (published source)
Chelmsford County High School for Girls — 2026 entry
- Looked after and previously looked after children scoring up to 5 marks below the eligible score, wherever they live (published source)
- Up to 30 places for girls on the Pupil or Service Premium scoring up to 5 marks below the eligible score and living within the 12.5-mile priority area since 31 October of Year 6 (published source)
- The rest of 144 places in score order for girls with an eligible score living within the 12.5-mile priority area since 31 October of Year 6 (published source)
King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford — 2026 entry
- Up to 8 places for boys on the Pupil Premium or looked after / previously looked after, living in the 12.5-mile priority area since 10 October of Year 6, with a standardised score of at least 330 — top scores first (published source)
- Further places in score order until 120 have gone to boys living in the 12.5-mile priority area since 10 October of Year 6 (published source)
- Of the remaining places, up to 2 for boys on the Pupil Premium or looked after with a score of at least 350, wherever they live (published source)
Southend High School for Girls — 2026 entry
- Looked after and previously looked after children who pass the CSSE selection tests (published source)
- Children living in the SS0–SS9 postcodes who pass and are entitled to 'preferential consideration' (free school meals or pupil premium, declared when registering for the test) — up to 17 places, in score order (published source)
- Other children living in the SS0–SS9 postcodes who pass — in score order, up to 179 places for the area in all (published source)
Southend High School for Boys — 2026 entry
- Looked after and previously looked after children who pass the CSSE selection tests (published source)
- Children living in the SS0–SS9 postcodes who pass and are entitled to 'preferential consideration' (free school meals or pupil premium, declared when registering for the test) — up to 15 places, in score order (published source)
- Other children living in the SS0–SS9 postcodes who pass — in score order, up to 150 places for the area in all (published source)
Schools in Ipswich
Ipswich has 87 open schools. Browse all Ipswich schools with Ofsted ratings, catchment areas and admission criteria, or see them on the map.
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