Colchester Royal Grammar School Overview
Colchester Royal Grammar School was founded as early as 1206 and is a state funded school suitable for BNO students. The school admits academically talented students aged 11 to 18. It only accepts boys in junior school, and girls are admitted starting from the Sixth Form. This is one of the few public grammar schools that offers boarding services, but the number of boarding places is extremely limited, with around 30 spots available each year exclusively for Sixth Form students.
The school has an excellent reputation and has been recognized by the Good School Guide as one of the top selective boys’ state schools in the UK. This reputation is well-deserved, as Colchester students perform exceptionally well in both GCSE and A-Level examinations. For more information on the relevant data, please see below.
Summary Of School
- Type of school: boys(Y7-Y11) ; Co-educational(Sixth Form)
- Age range: 11-18
- Fees: £5,850 per term (no tuition fees, only boarding fees)
Table of Contents
Colchester Royal Grammar School Academic Results
A Level
- A*-A: 76.8%
A*-B: 92%
GCSE
- 9-7: 85%
- 9-4: 99.8%
Colchester Royal Grammar School - Sixth Form
University Subject Selection and Career Guidance
Colchester Royal Grammar School makes full use of its extensive alumni network by inviting recent graduates and alumni working in various industries to return and give talks to students.
The Sixth Form has a well-stocked careers library, and students can also make appointments with an independent careers advisor for personalized advice.
University Application Support
In Year 12, students are introduced to the university application process through a series of presentations and workshops conducted by experienced staff and guest speakers. This helps students become familiar with various universities and begin considering the courses available, as well as the detailed steps required to complete a UK university application through UCAS.
Some students also choose to apply to universities abroad. In recent years, students have successfully secured places at universities in the United States, Canada, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Hong Kong.
Support for Applications to Oxford, Cambridge, and Popular Subjects
The application deadlines for Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Science, or any course at the University of Oxford or the University of Cambridge are earlier than those for other universities and subjects, and students are required to undergo a more challenging interview process. Therefore, Colchester Royal Grammar School provides additional support for students intending to apply for these subjects and universities. This includes arranging for experienced professional staff to assist with writing personal statements and preparing for university entrance exams and interviews. Additionally, the school invites external interviewers to help students practice their interview skills.
Colchester Royal Grammar School Extra-Curricular Activities
The school has an outstanding reputation for extracurricular activities, and students are encouraged to make full use of the opportunities available. Early in the autumn term, a list is published which showcases a sample of the weekly clubs, societies and other extracurricular activities on offer for students. These comprise both staff and student-led activities.
In the last year, these have included cooking, Lego league, debating, public speaking, musical ensembles and orchestras, a wide range of sporting activities (including netball, rugby and cricket), and activities that develop skills for future careers such as Young Enterprise, the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, MedSoc, VetSoc and LawSoc. Some activities take place in the lunch hour, but some may also occur after school or at weekends.
Rugby, cricket and football are played to a high standard as extracurricular games, and in these there is a full programme of school matches with state and independent schools, throughout the 11-18 age range. Other extracurricular sports include athletics, badminton, basketball, cross-country, fencing, tennis and table tennis.
The school owns extensive, well-kept playing fields, including a pavilion that houses changing facilities. There are also an outdoor heated swimming pool, a gymnasium, a multi-gym and a hard-play area. In addition to the four full-time members of staff, who are experienced, well-qualified, specialist PE teachers, many staff, several with coaching qualifications, help with curricular or extracurricular sport. There are strong links with local clubs, with which many of the school’s students, past and present, have been or are associated.
Colchester Royal Grammar School Pastoral Care
In the Sixth Form, the students are organised into separate Lower and Upper Sixth tutor groups. Tutor groups are determined by options. Tutors are responsible for the general care and conduct of their tutor groups under the co-ordination of the Head of Year. They support and monitor the welfare, academic progress and extracurricular involvement of the students in their tutor groups.
There are weekly Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education (PSHE) lessons for all Sixth Form students, in which statutory Health Education (HE) and Relationship and Sex Education (RSE) are taught. The course aims to equip young people with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate their way through, and thrive in, modern Britain. Each year group will cover a range of topics that fall into three main strands: Health and Wellbeing, Relationships, and Living in the Wider World.
Academic and pastoral support is provided by the Head of Sixth Form, the Heads of Years 12 and 13, the Sixth Form tutors, and the Designated Safeguarding Leads attached to the Sixth Form. Students also have access to The Student Support Hub where they can gain support from the Welfare Manager, the Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENDCO), a Mental Health Nurse, School Counsellor and Chaplain.
Colchester Royal Grammar School Boarding
Colchester Royal Grammar School is a state-funded school with no tuition fees, only boarding fees. The boarding fees for September 2025 entry are fixed for two years at £5,850 per term. All students must possess a British passport or have a Right of Residency in the UK or an equivalent status.
The biggest benefits of being a boarder include access to outstanding pastoral care and the school facilities in the evenings and on weekends, such as the school gym, tennis courts, music department, and smart board technology for their studies. Boarders also have access to a beautiful library housed in one of the original school buildings. Additionally, there is a well-equipped games hut and newly renovated common rooms available for boarders to use and relax in after a busy school day.
With spacious, well-equipped, and newly renovated rooms, Year 13 students typically have single occupancy rooms, while Year 12 students share rooms. This arrangement allows them to build friendships, enjoy communal living, and develop mutual respect for others.
Throughout the school year, the school proudly celebrates a variety of cultural events that bring the boarding community together, such as Christmas, Diwali, and Chinese New Year. Boarders participate in events like National Boarding Day and inter-house competitions, and they are encouraged to arrange weekend activities with each other. The school also offers trips to external venues throughout the year, including ice skating, mini-golf, and the West End.
The school is within walking distance of the historic Colchester city center, allowing boarders to enjoy access to cinemas, theatres, museums, high street shops, and numerous restaurants and cafes. It is also within walking distance of a railway station, with a train journey to Central London taking under an hour; thus, boarders, with parental consent, can enjoy a variety of days out and easily access university open days.
Colchester Royal Grammar School fees
Year 12 - Year 13
Colchester Royal Grammar School Contact Information
- Official website: https://www.crgs.co.uk/
- Location: 6 Lexden Road, Colchester, Essex, CO3 3ND
- Email address: office@crgs.co.uk
- Phone: +44 (0)1206 509100
