Can I add Chelmsford Grammar to my choices ?

[popandcandy]

Hi. Am hoping DD will get a place at ColCHSG but am also now wondering if I can add the Chelmsford girls grammar as another choice when it comes time to fill in that dreaded form from the LEA. Are we outside catchment for Chelmsford? We live in CO3 near Colchester town center.. Thanks for advice.

[pushymother]

Not unless your DD sat the CCHS CEM test as well. CCHS is not part of the CSSE anymore....

[popandcandy]

Ok thankyou. Perhaps I should have put her in for that exam too.. too late now! I think we might be out of catchment anyway as I vaguely remember something about Chelmsford reducing their catchment area. Thx

[pushymother]

Yes CCHS have a 80% in catchment list and 20% out of catchment list top scores down until they fill the places.

If you want to consider Southend grammars than last year a 330 + was a safe OOC score. You will get a traffic light list with your result.

Good luck!

[ToadMum]

Yes CCHS have a 80% in catchment list and 20% out of catchment list top scores down until they fill the places.

If you want to consider Southend grammars than last year a 330 + was a safe OOC score. You will get a traffic light list with your result.

Good luck!

It's a bit academic as your DD didn't sit the exam anyway, but the way the CCHS admissions criteria work is 80% in catchment in score order, then 20% in score order regardless of residence. So the OOC places are a maximum of 20%.

This is in contrast to the Southend and Westcliff schools, where there is a maximum number reserved for IC applicants and the rest of the places, plus any 'unclaimed' IC ones, automatically go to OOC applicants.

I obviously have no idea whether all of the IC places at SHSG and WHSG will be taken up by IC applicants this year or what your DD's chance of getting a place would be. They are both great schools, but I would personally advise caution re applying for either of them, unless you were going to move nearer to Southend.

[popandcandy]

Hi, thankyou for the info and advice. Yes, Southend too far away. Was thinking it wouldn't be too much for DD to get on a train from Colchester to Chelmsford each morning but too late now! Hope she gets a place at ColCHSG. x

[Minesatea]

All of Colchester is out of Catchment for the Chelmsford schools, the 12.5 mile radius makes it up the A12 as far as Kelvedon. This leads to the unfair situation that DC's living in Chelmsford can choose between the Chelmsford and Colchester grammar schools whereas DC in Colchester really have no other option than the Colchester grammars as a very high mark would be required for OOC at CCHS or KEGS.