Essex Grammars - KEGS and CRGS - exactly HOW hard is it to get in within catchment?

[HazelnutCookies]

Hi all
Exactly this really. If we live within the 12 mile radius catchment for KEGS what are our chances of getting a place? DSs are bright and doing well for their age even in an “academic” prep school. Anyone know how many applicants per place? Also for CRGS? We live in Essex already but outside of catchment and considering relocating to boost our chances from applying within catchment but I don’t want to put all our eggs in one basket in case DSs don’t get in. We live near a good private school currently as backup. I don’t rate the private schools near Chelmsford or Colchester particularly (New Hall too new money) and Felsted v sporty but academic results not brilliant. Sorry if that’s a crazy sweeping generalisation and do feel free to correct me!
Exactly how hard is it to get into KEGS and CRGS? I don’t mind DS having tuition prior but I don’t want to expose them to ridiculous levels of stress and we are too busy to do anything much extra with him for preparation. DSs prep school spends most of year 5 preparing them for various 11 plus exams so hope that would be a help but not much track record of grammar exams, mostly private. I went to an Essex grammar myself and LOVED it, thrived there and at the time it was within top 10 schools in the country, amazing free education, I just spent a week prior to the exam cramming from past papers but I appreciate things are VERY different now. Any recent experiences much appreciated.

For KEGS, there are 150 places, and 120 of them go to pupils in the catchment. That means that it is significantly easier for a pupil who lives in the catchment to get in. However, the bar for entry is high anyway, so I'm not sure a relocation would be worth it unless you're confident they would get a high enough score.

What are your chances for other Essex/ London grammars and private schools as it may be better to target them.

@ClaudiaWankleman Thank you, I agree it’s putting all eggs into one basket really to move just to try and get in, in case he doesn’t / or has an off day on the day of the exam etc. There is a very good private school near us (Which a third of the class about to move up into secondary got into) but I’d like to avoid paying fees and also would rather the “down to earth” vibe of grammars. Tricky one!!

Both kegs and CRGS has similar entry cut off. But if you are moving near KEGS, CRGS become better commutable. Not sure how far are the Southend Grammars now from where you are. You will get to apply as OC to those as well even if you move near KEGS

Ofcourse the entry cut off is similar for IC KEGS and CRGS. For OC as you know the cut off for KEGS is very high

About 450 boys apply for KEGS each year. However, over 5000 children take the Essex 11 plus and, as the results are (usually) published prior to the application date, many people choose not to apply in the first place based on their DS’ results. It’s slightly easier to get into CRGS - usually 4 to 5 points lower than KEGS.

@bunsy 1 place to every 3 applicants isn’t sooo terrible, really good to know the stats thank you for sharing, and it’s really good that the results are usually published before you have to decide on which school, I know it didn’t work that way this year which must have been v tough!

@HazelnutCookies Yes, this year was tough as we applied without knowing the results. It was my DS’ first choice and he got in. Ability wise he is top of the top sets - there are 4 sets for maths and English in his current school. Most of the top set boys took the exam but only three scored high enough to get a place at KEGS.

@BunsyGirl gosh your DS did amazingly, you must be so proud! Can I ask if you are in catchment or out? A boy at our school (head boy, top sets, scholarship at another indie) didn’t get high enough out of catchment

He would have got in if he was in catchment though - but bloody hell he is sooo bright I’m not sure we can compete with that!

@HazelnutCookies Yes, we are really proud of him. We are in catchment. My DS wouldn’t have got in out of catchment. He also got an academic scholarship for an indie.

@BunsyGirl thank you that’s really helpful to know - so pleased for you re your DS. I just loved my time at grammar school and I’m sure he will too. Did you consider Colchester? I heard the school
Is a little more relaxed than kegs but there isn’t a great difference in points required for entry. Interested in your thoughts on the school

@HazelnutCookies Thank you. We put Colchester as our second choice. Nothing against Colchester but we live much closer to KEGS so it makes more sense for DS1 to go there and DS2 also goes to school in Chelmsford. We didn’t get a chance to look round either school properly due to Covid so logistics won the day for us! It is slightly easier to get into Colchester. Their waiting list tends to move more as those travelling from London opt for KEGS or the Southend schools as their first choice, or other schools in London itself. 4 or 5 points doesn’t sound like much but in the CSSE 11plus even a fraction of a mark can be the difference of getting into a school or not!

HI,
Wanted to get some help and guidance from the forum .. DS is looking to target KEGS for his 11+ . However, given the competition is tough it looks like we'll have to move in catchment (IC) to get a chance for an admission. The only sticking point in terms of the move is my travel to central london which is going to be way too expensive from Chelmsford. The two questions i have are

1. Is there any other area that we can target which turns out a win win in term of cheaper commute to central london and also being IC for KEGS ?

1. DS is starting year 5 so how much time do we technically have for moving to Chelmsford / nearby areas to be eligible for IC scores ?

Really appreciate some help here :)

Brentwood and Shenfield are within the KEGS catchment area. Fast trains from Shenfield to Stratford in 15mins and approx 22-25mins(not too sure) to Liverpool Street station.

@Likingit

1 I don’t commute to London but it’s expensive from Essex. The cheapest way is probably the Tube from Epping but you wouldn’t be in catchment for KEGS and property prices are very expensive. If you went South of Chelmsford (e.g. Shenfield, Billericay), the price of a rail ticket may reduce but, again, property prices are very pricey. If you went North (e.g. Witham), property prices are a bit cheaper but I don’t believe that commuting would be cheaper as you’d be further away from London. You would need to check this out though.

1. You need to be living in catchment from 1 September in the year that your son starts year 6. Check out the admission criteria on the KEGS website.

@mumcreates and @BunsyGirl .. this is super helpful!

Haven't really seen much of Brentwood but hear that its green and the advantage i see is that we'll be closer to family and friends living in London. Is Brentwood a nice area to raise a family ? good schools ?safe ?

My daughter has scored little over 97% in this years examinations (in India). She has applied at KEGs as external candidate, how are the chances since we are still flexible on relocating to any place near London.
We aren’t too sure if they consider marks obtained in India in parity with GCSE. Would someone be kind enough to throw some light? Many thanks

Just to be clear - your daughter is applying for sixth form?

The neighbours son was at KEGs. We definitely don't live in the catchment. He used to use a school bus/ pick up drop off service.

@Sanjayc you might want to start a new thread with your question since people won’t spot this and will answer the original catchment related one instead