Grammar schools in Westcliff-on-Sea
2 grammar schools · qualifying scores, test dates and admission criteria · see all Westcliff-on-Sea schools
Westcliff-on-Sea has 2 grammar schools, part of Southend-on-Sea's wider catchment. 2 have a published Ofsted rating, and 2 of those are rated Good or Outstanding.
Southend-on-Sea entrance test format
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.
Key dates
| Entry year | Event | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Sept 2028 | Application deadline | 2027-10-31 |
| Sept 2028 | Primary application deadline | 2028-01-15 |
| Sept 2028 | Offer day | 2028-03-01 |
| Sept 2028 | Primary offer day | 2028-04-17 |
| Sept 2027 | Registration opens | 2026-05-12 (passed) |
| Sept 2027 | Registration closes | 2026-06-19 (passed) |
| Sept 2027 | Test date | 2026-09-19 |
| Sept 2027 | Results released | 2026-10-15 |
| Sept 2027 | Application deadline | 2026-10-31 |
| Sept 2027 | Primary application deadline | 2027-01-15 |
| Sept 2027 | Offer day | 2027-03-01 |
| Sept 2027 | Primary offer day | 2027-04-16 |
| Sept 2026 | Registration opens | 2025-05-08 (passed) |
| Sept 2026 | Registration closes | 2025-06-30 (passed) |
| Sept 2026 | Test date | 2025-09-21 (passed) |
| Sept 2026 | Results released | 2025-10-11 (passed) |
| Sept 2026 | Application deadline | 2025-10-31 (passed) |
| Sept 2026 | Primary application deadline | 2026-01-15 (passed) |
| Sept 2026 | Offer day | 2026-03-01 (passed) |
| Sept 2026 | Primary offer day | 2026-04-16 (passed) |
Out-of-area applications
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.
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