About the school
Southend High School for Girls, often known as SHSG, is a selective girls’ grammar school located on Southchurch Boulevard in Southend-on-Sea, Essex. It is recognised for its academic excellence, supportive environment and commitment to empowering young women, and has one of the larger intakes in the consortium.
Southend High School for Girls was established in 1906, when the girls left the town’s Day Technical School for their own school, and has a long tradition of high achievement. It educates pupils aged 11 to 18 and offers a comprehensive education that fosters personal growth and intellectual curiosity.
As a member of the Consortium of Selective Schools in Essex (CSSE), Southend High School for Girls selects pupils through the shared CSSE 11+ examination, with admissions coordinated by Southend-on-Sea City Council.
School type
Girls’ Grammar (Mixed Sixth Form)
Exam date
Saturday, 19th September 2026
Exam board
CSSE (Consortium of Selective Schools in Essex)
Address
Southchurch Boulevard, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, SS2 4UZ
Age range
11–18 (Years 7–13)
Our tuition for Southend High School for Girls supports pupils through Year 3, 4, 5 and 6 with structured lessons, intensive courses, full-time mock exams, and free practice papers
Year 3 Preparation
Foundational Skills for Success
Year 4 Preparation
Building Confidence and Competence
Year 5 Preparation
Intensive Exam Practice and Strategy
Year 6 Preparation
Path to Success
Intensive Course
Accelerated 11+ Revision and Mock Testing
Free Practice Paper
Gain a real insight to the exam
Mock Exams
Book Now
Admissions information
The Southend High School for Girls entrance test is the CSSE 11+, sat on Saturday, 19th September 2026. Here is everything you need to know about the admissions process and exam structure.
Southend High School for Girls selects pupils through the CSSE (Consortium of Selective Schools in Essex) 11+ examination, a bespoke test written and set by the Consortium itself rather than by GL Assessment or CEM, and shared by the CSSE member schools, so a child registers and sits the test only once for any of them. The test consists of two written papers – English and Mathematics – each marked out of 60, with no Verbal Reasoning or Non-Verbal Reasoning component.
The CSSE 11+ is sat on a single day, Saturday, 19th September 2026, with two written papers: an English paper lasting 60 minutes plus 10 minutes additional reading time, and a Mathematics paper lasting 60 minutes. The English paper includes a reading comprehension task and writing, while the maths paper covers the Key Stage 2 curriculum. Scores are age-standardised so that younger children are not disadvantaged, and a standardised score of around 303 is typically needed to be considered for a place.
Registration for the CSSE 11+ is completed online directly with the CSSE. For 2027 entry, registration opens at 9 am on Tuesday, 12th May 2026 and closes at 5pm on Friday, 19th June 2026; late registrations are not accepted under any circumstances. Parents must also name Southend High School for Girls on the Essex (or Southend) Common Application Form by 31st October 2026.
The CSSE 11+ takes place on Saturday, 19th September 2026, with results emailed to parents in mid-October, before the Common Application Form deadline. Meeting the qualifying standard does not guarantee a place, as each school applies its own oversubscription criteria. School allocations are confirmed on national offer day, 1st March 2027.
Key admissions details
Southend High School for Girls has a Published Admission Number of 224 places for Year 7 each year, one of the larger intakes in the consortium.
Southend High School for Girls prioritises places for candidates living within the SS postcode district, with remaining places offered to out-of-area applicants ranked by score. After higher-priority groups, qualifying girls are ranked first by whether they live in the priority area and then by test score, with distance used as a tie-break.
Our tutors understand the CSSE 11+ used by Southend High School for Girls. Book a free assessment today and let us build a personalised preparation plan for your child starting wherever they are right now.
Hi-Tech Learning Platform
Subject Specialist Tutors
Live & Recorded Lessons
1-to-1 Live Classes
3 Lessons Per Week
CSSE Curriculum
Regular Homework
Real-Time Results
Weekly Assessments
Regular Feedback Reports
Unlimited Mock Practice
Exam Technique Coaching
In-Person & Online
Great Parent Support
Affordable Tuition Plans
“Jag is a profound tutor with excellent teaching skills and infectious sense of humor. He uses these skills to engage and motivate with students to achieve their full potential. My daughter was enrolled with Jag for 7 months in preparation for her 11 plus exam and she passed brilliantly!”
Jade
Parent
“I wanted to boost my English grade… they connected closely with parents, which kept me motivated and on track.”
Ayva
Student
“I decided to give Pass 11 Plus Grammar a try as it was cheaper than other services I had tried before. I ended up getting an A grade — great value for money.”
Yousif
Student
“I attended the course in June and finally felt satisfied after trying several tutoring services.”
Aurora
Student
“Strongly recommend 11+ Plus Grammar Preparation Success. It helped me reach my full potential and pass my exam. The support and resources from the tutor are excellent.”
Jovan
Student
“I wanted to boost my English grade, so I enrolled in Pass 11 Plus Grammar. It was a great investment and I got a grade much better than I imagined. Their regular contact with parents kept me motivated.”
Jennifer
Student
Southend High School for Girls was established in 1906, when the girls left the town’s Day Technical School for their own school. It is a selective girls’ grammar school in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, with a long tradition of high achievement.
Southend High School for Girls has a Published Admission Number of 224 places for Year 7 each year, one of the larger intakes in the consortium. The school is popular and competitive, so thorough preparation for the CSSE 11+ is important.
Southend High School for Girls uses the CSSE 11+, a bespoke test set by the Consortium of Selective Schools in Essex. It consists of two written papers – English (60 minutes plus 10 minutes reading) and Maths (60 minutes) – with no reasoning component, sat on Saturday, 19th September 2026.
Southend High School for Girls prioritises places for candidates living within the SS postcode district, with remaining places for out-of-area applicants ranked by score. Living within the SS area is therefore an important factor when the school is oversubscribed.
For 2027 entry, CSSE registration opens at 9 am on Tuesday, 12th May 2026 and closes at 5pm on Friday, 19th June 2026. The test is sat on Saturday, 19th September 2026, and one registration covers all the CSSE member schools.
Yes. Southend High School for Girls offers a broad enrichment programme across sport, music, drama and a wide range of clubs and societies, supporting pupils’ personal growth alongside their academic studies.
Yes, all our tuition is available both in-person at our Edgbaston, Birmingham centre and online via live video sessions. Online tuition gives families across Southend and the wider Essex area access to our expert tutors without the need to travel. The quality and personalisation of sessions is identical in both formats.
Other grammar schools
We prepare children for grammar school entry across Northern Ireland and the wider UK. Explore other schools or browse all locations.
Loading schools…
Book a free assessment and get a personalised CSSE preparation plan for your child.