Southend High School for Boys 11 plus: parents' guide for 2022

Founded in 1895, Southend High School for Boys has been offering a stellar education to boys for over a century. Rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted with boys achieving excellent GCSE results every year, this is a school to be reckoned with.

The sixth form is open to boys and girls and offers its young people a chance to pursue a broad range of A levels ahead of gaining admission to many of the UK's finest universities. A nurturing and innovative establishment with a thriving parents’ association and one of the largest alumni organisations in the UK, Southend High School for Boys sets its pupils up for a life of learning and success.

11 plus exam information for Southend High School for Boys

• Address: Southend High School for Boys, Prittlewell Chase, Southend-on-Sea, Essex SS0 0RG

• County: Essex

• Admissions info: [email protected]

• School type: boys' grammar with co-ed sixth form

• Number of pupils: 1,300

• Number of places in Year 7: 180

• Exam board type: Consortium of Selective Schools in Essex (CSSE)

• Open day: 23rd June 2022. The classrooms will be open between 4.30 and 8.00pm and the Head will speak at 5.45pm, 6.45pm and 8.00pm.

• Registration for entry in 2023: 17th May 2022

• Exam date for entry in 2023: 17th September 2022

• Deadline for applications for entry in 2023: applications must be submitted by 31st October 2022 to the child's home Local Authority

• Offers for entry in 2023: 1st March 2023

Southend High School for Boys term dates

The dates for the 2022-23 school year at Southend High School for Boys are:

• Autumn term: 6th September – 20th December

• Half term: 24th - 28th October

• Spring term: 4th January – 31st March

• Half term: 13th - 17th February

• Summer term: 18th April - 21st July

• Half term: 29th May - 2nd June

Southend High School for Boys 11 plus admissions process

Entry at 11 plus at Southend High School for Boys is decided by the candidate's performance in the Consortium of Selective Schools in Essex (CSSE) exam, which covers English and Maths. These exams take place in September of Year 6. Applications to the school must be submitted to the pupil’s home Local Authority by October 31st in the year prior to admission.

Families hoping to apply to Southend High School for Boys must also register with the CSSE so that their son can take the 11 plus exam. Registration forms can be completed online at the CSSE website. Registration commences in the May before the exam.

There are 180 places in each Year 7 intake. Applications are welcomed from further afield, but the Southend High School for Boys catchment area boundaries will be taken into account when offering places.

What is the Southend High School for Boys catchment area?

The Southend High School for Boys catchment area gives preference to boys living within the priority area postcodes (at this time, SS0, SS1, SS2, SS3, SS4, SS5, SS6, SS7, SS8 and SS9) who have achieved a passing score on the CSSE tests. A quota of 5/6 (150 places) of the Year 7 intake is reserved at this school for boys whose details match this category.

Places are offered in descending order of CSSE test results, so there may be some fluctuation in the number of places offered to children from different areas. In the incidence that there are fewer than 150 boys applying from the priority area who have scored the CSSE pass mark or higher, then more places are available for candidates whose primary residence lies outside the priority area postcodes.

What is the Southend High School for Boys 11 plus exam format?

Southend High School for Boys uses the CSSE exam paper format. Consisting of two papers, the CSSE 11 plus test assesses Key Stage 2 English and Maths competency and skills.

The CSSE exam is similar to independent school admissions tests and the test may only be sat once. The papers are created by the Consortium of Selective Schools in Essex and are intended to challenge the depth and security of a student’s knowledge.

Find out more about what to expect from the CSSE 11 plus exam.

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