Southend High School for Girls 11 plus is a common choice for families seeking a high-performing girls grammar in Southend on Sea, with a mixed sixth form later on. The school is on Southchurch Boulevard, so for many families the day-to-day commute matters alongside the pace of a selective school.
Most families feel calmer once two things are clear. First, the admissions route is run through the Consortium of Selective Schools in Essex, so the timeline is predictable when broken into small admin steps. Second, preparation can be simple and consistent without turning Year 5 into constant pressure.
It helps to put your grammar school application UK timeline on one page early, so nothing surprises you when deadlines stack up. This simple page keeps it clear: grammar school application UK timeline.
| Key detail | Information |
| Address | Southchurch Blvd, Southend-on-Sea SS2 4UZ, United Kingdom |
| School type | Selective girls grammar, academy, mixed sixth form |
| Year 7 entry size | 224 places for September 2026 entry |
| Entry route | CSSE selection tests in English and Mathematics |
| Who can apply | Girls for Year 7, normally aged 11 on 31 August 2026 |
| Admissions priority | Priority postcodes SS0 to SS9 with a set quota, then wider area places |
| Local authority | Southend City Council |
| Contact | office@shsg.org, +441702588852 |
| Ofsted | Inspection report published July 2024 |
| Location |
Registration is via the CSSE Supplementary Information Form. Registration opens 13 May 2025 and closes 27 June 2025 for September 2026 entry. Any access arrangements must be requested by the same deadline. Key dates and paper timings are explained in the CSSE Information Guide for 2026 entry.
The CSSE tests are English (60 minutes + 10 minutes reading) and Mathematics (60 minutes), standardised for age and based on Key Stage 2 content.
A pass mark is set annually to keep standards consistent. Passing is required to be considered, but does not guarantee an offer, which is then allocated according to oversubscription rules and quotas.
To be considered for a place, Southend High School for Girls must be listed on your local authority Common Application Form by 31 October 2025. Southend residents apply via Southend City Council.
National offer day is 1 March 2026. Children who pass but are not initially offered a place can be added to the waiting list for their priority category, maintained until 31 December. After 1 January, waiting lists move into the in-year process.
Appeals can only be made after national offer day. The process is governed by the School admission appeals code.
| Key date | What it means |
| 13 May 2025 | CSSE registration opens |
| 27 June 2025 | CSSE registration deadline & access arrangements deadline |
| 20 September 2025 | CSSE test date |
| 10 October 2025 | Results emailed and available online |
| 31 October 2025 | Common Application Form deadline |
| 1 March 2026 | National offer day |
Places are offered in score order within priority categories. Ties are broken by distance, then by independently supervised random allocation if needed. The priority area covers postcodes SS0 to SS9. More on Southend catchment areas is available here.
A quota of up to 162 places is for applicants living in SS0 to SS9. Within this, a smaller quota exists for preferential consideration. Places outside SS0 to SS9 are still offered, with a minimum number set aside. Location helps but does not guarantee admission.
Preferential consideration applies for looked after or previously looked after children, and for children receiving Free School Meals or identified for Pupil Premium Grant at registration. It must be declared on the CSSE form if relevant.
Year 7 selection is exam led, with English and Mathematics papers administered by CSSE on the published date. No formal interview stage exists. Practical preparation focuses on timing, calm pacing, and careful reading under timed conditions.
A steady Year 5 structure is helpful: Year 5 revision plan.
As a starting point, you can book a free 11 plus diagnostic session with Find Your Tutor FYT focused on Southend High School for Girls. It benchmarks your child’s current level and provides a personalised preparation roadmap for the months ahead.
Join Hundreds of Families Who Secured Southend High School for Girls Places with Find Your Tutor.
The CSSE test date is published as Saturday 20 September 2025, with results issued on 10 October 2025.
The published selection tests are English and Mathematics, based on Key Stage 2 content, with timings set out by CSSE.
Yes. You register for the test using the CSSE Supplementary Information Form, then you still must name the school on your local authority Common Application Form by the deadline.
Yes. The arrangements allow applicants from outside the priority postcodes, but offers depend on passing the test and the oversubscription categories.
The school uses SS0 to SS9 as the priority area, with quotas applied within and outside that area.
It applies to looked after and previously looked after children, and to children recorded as receiving Free School Meals or the Pupil Premium at the time of test registration.
Yes. The arrangements state it must be indicated on the CSSE registration form at the time of test registration.
No. Passing is required, but places are offered in score order within categories, so a pass does not guarantee an offer.
The arrangements state that preferential consideration is used first, then distance is used, then an independently supervised random allocation if needed.
The published Year 7 admission route is exam based, and there is no standard interview stage described for normal entry.
The published process is based on attendance at a test venue arranged by CSSE, so planning around the published date matters.
They can be placed on the waiting list for the relevant priority category, and places are offered if they become available.
The arrangements state the category waiting lists are maintained until 31 December, then the in year process applies after 1 January.
Yes. Appeals are available after national offer day, and they are considered under the statutory appeals framework.
Location can help within the oversubscription rules, but the first hurdle is always a pass and a strong score, so preparation matters either way.
