School Chooser

Chelmsford County High School for Girls

Secondary · ages 11-18GirlsAcademy (grammar)1,275 pupilsSixth formChelmsfordEssex
School Chooser Score
98
Well above
similar schools
Likely range 96 to 100
Out of 100. Better than 74% of the 50 schools most like it. Much the same over the last five years.
OfstedOutstandingLast Ofsted inspection, January 2024
Strong pass in English and maths99%England 46%
Attendance95.4%England 91.4%
Pupils from low-income families5%Far fewer than most schools
Places10 spare1,275 pupils, 1,285 places
Pupils per teacher17.5School workforce census

Chelmsford County High School for Girls is a converter academy in Chelmsford for girls aged 11 to 18. It has 1,275 pupils and room for 1,285. About 5 in every 100 pupils come from a low-income family, far fewer than at most schools in England. We give it 98 out of 100. That puts it well above schools like it, ahead of 74% of the 50 schools most like it. Ofsted's last grade was outstanding, back in 2024.

Broomfield Road, Chelmsford, CM1 1RW01245 352592cchs.co.ukMr Stephen Lawlor headteacherAll details

What Ofsted found

Ofsted's last full inspection was on 23 January 2024, back when it gave schools one overall grade. Read the report on Ofsted's website.

Outstanding overall.

TeachingOfsted calls this “quality of education”
Outstanding
BehaviourOfsted calls this “behaviour and attitudes”
Outstanding
WellbeingOfsted calls this “personal development”
Outstanding
LeadershipOfsted calls this “leadership and management”
Outstanding
Sixth formOfsted calls this “post-16”
Outstanding
Safeguarding
Effective
Yes

Results

GCSE results, summer 2025

180 pupils sat their GCSEs. Here is how they did against every state secondary in England.

Average GCSE score80.7
England 46.8
Official name: Attainment 8
Strong pass in English and maths99%
England 46%
Official name: Grade 5+ in English and maths
Standard pass in English and maths99%
England 66%
Official name: Grade 4+ in English and maths
Progress from age 11+0.76In each subject, pupils here finished most of a grade ahead of children across England who started secondary school at the same level. (From 2023/24, the latest year there is. The government didn't work it out for the 2025 year group.)Official name: Progress 8
Trend
Average GCSE score
2018 to 2025
2018: 81.581.520182019: 80.180.120192022: 85.185.120222023: 82.482.420232024: 80.680.620242025: 80.780.72025
Since 2018: -0.8Steady overall
All GCSE measures, year by year
Measure202520242023202220192018EssexEngland
Pupils at the end of Year 11180151154149120119
Average GCSE scoreAttainment 880.780.682.485.180.181.546.046.8
Progress from age 11Progress 8+0.76+0.90+0.90+0.80+0.84
Strong pass in English and mathsGrade 5+ in English and maths99%100%100%100%99%98%44%46%
Standard pass in English and mathsGrade 4+ in English and maths99%100%100%100%100%99%65%66%
Core subjects scoreEBacc average point score7.947.968.138.427.938.094.064.15
Taking the core subjectsEBacc entry97%98%97%96%99%98%39%41%
Average GCSE score: low-income pupilsAttainment 8, disadvantaged68.782.0
Average GCSE score: other pupilsAttainment 8, non-disadvantaged81.282.5
Average GCSE score: pupils who started aheadAttainment 8, high prior attainers80.582.585.180.181.6

Subjects

Results came out for 19 GCSE subjects in 2025. Each figure is the share of pupils who got a grade 5 or better, next to the average for state secondaries in England.

Strongest subjects

Geography99%grades 9 to 5, England 51% · 32nd of 3,116 schools
Mathematics100%grades 9 to 5, England 53% · 20th of 3,211 schools
English Language99%grades 9 to 5, England 54% · 22nd of 3,210 schools
History97%grades 9 to 5, England 52% · 57th of 3,126 schools
What is taught hereOffers triple science, 4 languages, computer science, music, classics.

The small number is how many pupils sat each subject. Subjects with fewer than six pupils aren't published.

Every subject against England, 2025
Mathematics179 entries · 3rd of 78 in Essex
100%England 53%
English Language179 entries · 4th of 78 in Essex
99%England 54%
Chemistry178 entries · 6th of 69 in Essex
98%England 81%
Biology178 entries · 4th of 69 in Essex
100%England 82%
English Literature178 entries · 3rd of 78 in Essex
99%England 58%
Physics178 entries · 7th of 69 in Essex
98%England 82%
French104 entries · 4th of 51 in Essex
98%England 60%
Geography102 entries · 3rd of 74 in Essex
99%England 51%
History89 entries · 3rd of 77 in Essex
97%England 52%
Computer Science74 entries · 2nd of 54 in Essex
99%England 56%
Latin59 entries · 2nd of 3 in Essex
100%England 82%
Religious Studies56 entries · 1st of 40 in Essex
100%England 60%
German54 entries · 1st of 20 in Essex
100%England 63%
Drama50 entries · 1st of 29 in Essex
98%England 60%
Music41 entries · 1st of 10 in Essex
100%England 61%
Art and Design39 entries · 2nd of 76 in Essex
100%England 58%
Physical Education24 entries · 2nd of 47 in Essex
96%England 56%
Spanish12 entries
100%England 54%
SubjectEntriesGrades 9 to 7Grades 9 to 5Grades 9 to 4England 9 to 5Rank in England
Mathematics17990%100%100%53%20 of 3,211
English Language17992%99%100%54%22 of 3,210
Chemistry17879%98%100%81%468 of 2,537
Biology17886%100%100%82%65 of 2,570
English Literature17890%99%100%58%15 of 3,202
Physics17879%98%99%82%527 of 2,546
French10484%98%99%60%47 of 1,974
Geography10291%99%100%51%32 of 3,116
History8985%97%99%52%57 of 3,126
Computer Science7482%99%100%56%33 of 1,861
Latin5985%100%100%82%12 of 68
Religious Studies5693%100%100%60%10 of 1,825
German54100%100%100%63%1 of 571
Drama5092%98%100%60%24 of 844
Music4195%100%100%61%4 of 395
Art and Design3992%100%100%58%9 of 2,818
Physical Education2475%96%96%56%52 of 1,559
Spanish1292%100%100%54%
Other Modern Languages60%0%0%49%

In combined science each pupil gets two grades and we count the lower one. Rankings only include state secondaries where 20 or more pupils sat the subject.

A level and sixth-form results, 2025

153 students finished sixth-form courses.

Average A level gradeA-47.2 points per entry
A level progress+0.03Against students elsewhere with the same GCSE grades. 0 is average.
AAB or better56%with two subjects universities favour
Stayed and finished98%of students who started
All sixth-form measures, year by year
Measure202520242023202220192018
Students153165154148242234
Average A level points per entryA level APS per entry47.2445.9445.8449.1245.8542.01
Average A level gradeA-A-A-AA-B+
Best three A levelsBest 3 A levels APS47.5146.2846.1549.3545.9144.15
AAB or better in subjects universities likeAAB+ in two facilitating subjects56%50%42%60%49%42%
A level progressA level value added+0.03-0.15+0.00-0.28
Stayed and finishedRetained and assessed98%99%97%100%97%94%

A level subjects

20 A level subjects had results in 2025. Each figure is the share of students who got an A* to B, next to the average for state sixth forms in England. When only a handful of students take a subject, its figures jump around from year to year.

Strongest A levels

Computer Science100%A* to B, England 46% · 16 entries
Psychology97%A* to B, England 46% · 39 entries
Geography93%A* to B, England 51% · 15 entries
Government and Politics93%A* to B, England 55% · 27 entries
A levels taught hereThe small number is how many students sat each one in 2025.
SubjectsMathematics75Biology71Chemistry64Psychology39English Literature37French27Government and Politics27Physics26Economics25Religious Studies22Mathematics (Further)17Computer Science16Geography15History12Art and Design9Spanish7Physical Education / Sports Studies7Music7Latin6Drama and Theatre Studies6
Every A level subject against England, 2025
Mathematics75 entries · 71% A* or A · 100% passed
88%England 60%
Biology71 entries · 61% A* or A · 100% passed
82%England 49%
Chemistry64 entries · 48% A* or A · 100% passed
73%England 53%
Psychology39 entries · 72% A* or A · 100% passed
97%England 46%
English Literature37 entries · 51% A* or A · 100% passed
81%England 52%
French27 entries · 52% A* or A · 100% passed
85%England 60%
Government and Politics27 entries · 56% A* or A · 96% passed
93%England 55%
Physics26 entries · 62% A* or A · 100% passed
73%England 51%
Economics25 entries · 48% A* or A · 100% passed
92%England 57%
Religious Studies22 entries · 50% A* or A · 96% passed
86%England 50%
Mathematics (Further)17 entries · 100% A* or A · 100% passed
100%England 76%
Computer Science16 entries · 75% A* or A · 100% passed
100%England 46%
Geography15 entries · 67% A* or A · 100% passed
93%England 51%
History12 entries · 67% A* or A · 100% passed
92%England 55%
Art and Design9 entries · 89% A* or A · 100% passed
100%England 60%
Spanish7 entries · 71% A* or A · 100% passed
100%England 59%
Physical Education / Sports Studies7 entries · 100% A* or A · 100% passed
100%England 41%
Music7 entries · 57% A* or A · 100% passed
100%England 47%
Latin6 entries · 67% A* or A · 100% passed
67%England 51%
Drama and Theatre Studies6 entries · 50% A* or A · 100% passed
67%England 54%

A levels only. BTECs, T levels and other courses are in the table above. Subjects with fewer than five students aren't published.

Does every child do well here?

A good school does well by every child, not just on average. Each row compares two groups of pupils here. The grey marks show the same two groups across England. 1 of the 2 gaps is smaller than the gap across England. When a group has fewer than about ten pupils, its figures jump around a lot from year to year.

At GCSE, 2025

Average GCSE scoreLow-income pupils vs other pupils
68.781.2
Gap 12.5England 12.2
Strong pass in English and mathsLow-income pupils vs other pupils
100%99%
Gap 1 ptsEngland 22 pts
First groupSecond groupEngland, each group

Low-income means the child has had free school meals at some point in the last six years. A group's figure isn't published when it has fewer than six pupils.

Getting a place

Grammar school. This is a grammar school, so places depend on an entrance test.

Nearly full1,236 pupils for 1,260 places, 2024/25
98% full

Fewer than one place in twenty is empty, so in most years more families apply than there are places. Living close by, or already having a child here, makes a real difference. Pupil numbers have grown by 11% since 2021/22, so places are getting harder to come by.

How places were given out for September 2026.

EntryPlacesApplied at allHow far the last child livedSource
2026 Secondary180601LA

Who goes here

Who a school teaches matters. That is why our score compares it with schools that take in a similar mix of children, not with every school in the country.

Pupils on roll1,275Census January 2026
Places1,28599% full
Pupils from low-income families4%5% have had free school meals at some point in the last six years
Pupils learning English28%First language is not English
Pupils getting extra support4%49 pupils with SEN support
Pupils with an EHC plan0%1 pupil with a plan
Average class size22.653 classes, January 2026; England 22.8
Classes with more than 30 pupils0%share of one-teacher classes; England 12%
Pupils with extra funding (pupil premium)7%£66,000 extra funding in 2026/27; England 30%
Boys and girls0 / 1,275
White British pupils26%

The most common needs among pupils getting extra support: Autistic spectrum disorder (18), emotional and mental health (8), Hearing impairment (7), Other difficulty or disability (7), Specific learning difficulty (3), language and communications needs (3).

How the mix of pupils has changed
Census202620252024202320222021
Pupils on roll1,2751,2361,1861,1631,1151,049
Pupils from low-income familiesFree school meals4%4%3%3%3%2%
Pupils learning EnglishEnglish as an additional language28%25%23%20%17%13%
Pupils getting extra supportSEN support4%3%2%2%2%
Pupils with an EHC planEducation, health and care plans0%0%0%0%0%

Attendance and behaviour

In 2024/25 pupils were in school 95.4% of the time. Across similar schools in England it was 91.4%.

Attendance95.4%
England 91.4%
Official name: 100 minus overall absence
Pupils missing a lot of school10.0%
England 23.9%
Official name: Persistent absence
Suspensions per 100 pupils0.62024/25, no permanent exclusions
Missed without permission0.6%of school time, 2024/25
Attendance year by year
Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/212018/19England
Sessions missedOverall absence4.6%5.1%5.7%5.9%2.3%3.9%8.6%
Missed with permissionAuthorised absence4.0%4.7%5.3%5.9%2.2%3.8%
Missed without permissionUnauthorised absence0.6%0.4%0.4%0.1%0.1%0.0%
Pupils missing a lot of schoolPersistent absence10.0%14.9%16.1%23.4%2.8%9.2%23.9%
SuspensionsSuspension rate0.60.30.10.40.9
Permanent exclusionsPermanent exclusions00000

What pupils do next

After GCSEs

Where the 154 pupils who left in 2022/23 were a year later.

Still in education, work or training99%and stayed there for at least six months
Earlier years
Destination2022/23 leavers2021/22 leavers2020/21 leavers2019/20 leavers
Still in education, work or training99%100%100%99%
Education99%99%100%99%
Apprenticeship0%0%0%0%
Work0%1%0%0%
Not in education, work or training0%0%0%0%

After sixth form

Where the 151 pupils who left in 2022/23 were a year later.

Still in education, work or training93%and stayed there for at least six months

Among pupils from low-income families it was 57%, compared with 94% for everyone else.

Where the ones heading for university went

Went on to degree-level study or training93%England 72%
Top-third universities66%England 22%. The universities that ask for the highest grades
Higher or degree apprenticeship5%England 6%
Higher technical course3%Level 4 or 5, such as an HNC or HND

Among students from low-income families, 100% went on to degree-level study or training and 38% to a top-third university.

Earlier years
Destination2022/23 leavers2021/22 leavers2020/21 leavers2019/20 leavers
Still in education, work or training93%90%94%
Education81%80%87%
Apprenticeship5%2%2%3%
Work7%7%6%
Not in education, work or training5%6%3%

Staff and money

From the government's count of school staff in November 2025 and the school's published accounts.

Teachers72.9full-time equivalent, 93 people
Pupils per teacher17.5Pupils for every full-time teacher
Fully qualified teachers97%hold qualified teacher status
Teaching assistants1.9full-time equivalent
Average teacher pay£52,953
Teachers who left in the year9%2024/25, for any reason including retirement
Vacancies0
Sick days per teacher2.42024/25

Money

From the academy accounts return, year to August 2025. The per-pupil figures are compared with other secondary schools in England that report their accounts the same way.

Spend per pupil£7,087England £7,965. Total £8.8m
Income per pupil£6,972England £8,423. Total £8.6m
Spent on teachers per pupil£4,553England £4,444
Money in reserve9%A healthy amount put by: £752k, £608 per pupil. England 10%
Money in against money out-£141kit spent more than it took in this year
Where the money goes£7,087spent per pupil

Reserves are the money left over at the end of the year, kept back for emergencies and big projects. Being in the red year after year is a warning sign. Very large reserves can mean money sitting in the bank instead of being spent on today's pupils. Academy figures are rounded to the nearest £1,000 and include a share of any money the trust holds centrally.

The area around the school

Crimes within 500 m27812 months to June 2026, mostly violence and sexual offences
Local crime rate107 per 1,000 people17% higher than the England average
Typical house price£400,000Chelmsford
Nearest bus stop90 mKeene Home, 18 stops within 500 m

Crime figures come from police.uk. The police record each crime at the nearest of a fixed set of map points rather than the exact spot, so “within 500 m” is only rough. House prices are from HM Land Registry sales nearby over the last two years.

Nearby schools

The closest secondary schools, nearest first. Hover over a row to see it on the map.

Well aboveAboveIn lineBelowWell belowNot scored
SchoolTypeDistancePupilsOfstedScore
King Edward VI Grammar School, ChelmsfordAcademy (grammar)440 m1,153Report card 202699Compare
St John Payne Catholic School, ChelmsfordRoman Catholic1000 m1,241Good 202466Compare
The Boswells SchoolAcademy1.1 miles1,423Good 202349Compare
Hylands SchoolAcademy1.6 miles614Report card 20265Compare
Moulsham High SchoolAcademy1.7 miles1,662Good 202091Compare
The Beaulieu Park SchoolFree school1.7 miles1,763Outstanding 202388Compare
Chelmer Valley High SchoolAcademy1.9 miles1,200Good 202365Compare
Great Baddow High SchoolAcademy2.2 miles1,516Report card 202666Compare

Compared with schools like it

Our score compares Chelmsford County High School for Girls with the 50 schools in England whose pupils are most like its own. We match on family income, how many children are learning English, special needs, the neighbourhood, the size of the school and how it admits pupils. Those 50 schools are dotted all over the country, so we don't list them. What matters is where this school sits among them.

Beats74%of schools with a similar mix of pupils
In the upper half of its group. Its score of 98 is about the same as the typical school in the group.
0Lowest of the group 86 · middle 97 · highest 100100

How the score was worked out

The score is out of 100. A 98 means that once everything below is added up, this school comes out ahead of 98% of secondary schools in England. Results bounce around from year to year, especially in small schools, so we also show a likely range: 96 to 100. Every part is judged against schools with a similar mix of pupils. For small schools we pull each part towards the group average, so one unusual year can't swing the score too far.

What we looked atHow much it countsAgainst schools like itEffect on the scoreBased on
Results over three years20%well above
+0.59
2025, 2024 and 2023 results; 180 pupils
Ofsted inspection20%well above
+0.34
Ofsted grade, 2.6 years old
Progress pupils make20%well above
+0.32
DfE progress measure; 180 pupils
Direction of travel over five years10%in line
+0.03
results and attendance falling year on year
Attendance and behaviour10%well above
+0.15
2024/25; 903 pupils
Results, allowing for the mix of pupils10%in line
-0.02
Attainment relative to schools with a similar intake; 180 pupils
What pupils do next5%well above
+0.08
154 pupils
What parents say0%no data

Worked out on 13 September 2026 (method v1). Read how the score works, including every weight and the checks we run. Think a number is wrong? Tell us.

Questions parents ask

Is Chelmsford County High School for Girls a good school?

Yes, going by the figures. Chelmsford County High School for Girls scores 98 out of 100. That is well above schools that take in a similar mix of pupils, and ahead of 74% of the 50 schools most like it in England. The score could fairly be anywhere from 96 to 100, so a few points either way between schools doesn't mean much.

What is Chelmsford County High School for Girls's Ofsted rating?

Ofsted rated Chelmsford County High School for Girls outstanding at its last full inspection on 23 January 2024.

How good are Chelmsford County High School for Girls's GCSE results?

In summer 2025, 99% of pupils got a grade 5 or better in both English and maths. Across England it was 46%. Its Attainment 8 score, which is the average grade across a pupil's best eight subjects times ten, was 80.7, against 46.8 for England. In each subject, pupils here finished most of a grade ahead of children across England who started secondary school at the same level.

How many pupils does Chelmsford County High School for Girls have?

1,275 pupils aged 11 to 18 were on the roll in January 2026. It has 1,285 places, so it is 99% full. It is a girls' school.

Is Chelmsford County High School for Girls oversubscribed?

Often. Fewer than one place in twenty was empty in 2024/25, so popular year groups fill up.

Does Chelmsford County High School for Girls have an entrance exam?

Yes. It is a grammar school, so places depend on an entrance test, usually sat in September of Year 6. Check the school's admissions page for the test dates and the pass mark.

What is attendance like at Chelmsford County High School for Girls?

Pupils were in school 95.4% of the time in 2024/25. Similar schools in England managed 91.4%. 10% of pupils missed at least a tenth of the year.

How big are the classes at Chelmsford County High School for Girls?

The average class had 22.6 pupils in January 2026. Across England it was 22.8. No class had more than 30 pupils.

Does Chelmsford County High School for Girls have a sixth form?

Yes. The average A level grade in 2025 was A-. 20 A level subjects had results in 2025; the full list is in the results section.

These answers come straight from the figures on this page and update when new data comes out.

Contact and details

Address
Broomfield Road, Chelmsford, CM1 1RW
Telephone
01245 352592
Website
www.cchs.co.uk
Headteacher
Mr Stephen Lawlor
Type of school
Converter academy (Academy converter, academies)
Phase
Secondary school, ages 11-18, with sixth form
Gender
Girls
Religious character
None
Single-academy trust
Chelmsford County High School for Girls (1 schools)
Local authority
Essex
Ward
Patching Hall
Constituency
Chelmsford
Setting
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city
Opened
1 January 2011 (academy converter)
URN
136412 · LAESTAB 8815410 · UKPRN 10032603
Formerly
Chelmsford County High School for Girls

Recent changes

  • New KS4 results for 2024/25

Where these figures come from