King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford

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Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use British English Template:Infobox school King Edward VI Grammar School, or KEGS, is an English grammar school with academy status located in the city of Chelmsford, Essex. It takes pupils between the ages of 11 and 18 (school years 7 to 13). For years 7 to 11 the school is boys-only, whereas it is mixed in the sixth form (years 12 and 13).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The current headteacher is Natalie Wilson, who assumed her position at the start of the 2025–26 academic year, having previously worked as a Vice Principal at the North London Collegiate School Jeju.[1] It was ranked 9th out of all schools in England by the Sunday Times (2025 rankings),<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and is the 2025 East Anglia State Secondary School of the Year.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

History of the school

Coat of Arms of Edward VI, the escutcheon of which is also that of the school: Quarterly: I and IV azure, three fleurs-de-lis Or; II and III gules, three lions passant guardant in pale Or armed and langued azure.

KEGS was one of many grammar schools founded by Edward VI.<ref name="History">Template:Cite web</ref> Its current form resulted from a royal warrant dated 24 March 1551, although evidence of this school exists from as far back as the 13th century, possibly earlier, as a chantry school in a different location in Chelmsford.<ref name="History2">Template:Cite web</ref> Indeed, the school of 1551 was merely a "rebranding" of the Chelmsford Chantry School, a Roman Catholic institution which had been abolished along with the monasteries during the English Reformation. The school was moved to its present site on Broomfield Road in 1892.<ref name="Tuckwell">A History of King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford, 1551-2001 — Anthony Tuckwell</ref> Once a boarding school, it was one of many grammar schools to join the state sector and abolish the nominal fees. The last boarding students left in the 1970s. In 1976 it admitted the first female pupil, Fiona Hook, to the Sixth Form, to study Classics.<ref name="History" />

The school has been ranked in the top 50 schools in the country in national examination league tables.<ref name="LeagueTable">Template:Cite news</ref> KEGS was previously a Foundation School and Specialist Science College and Language College. The school converted to academy status in April 2011,<ref name="Academy">Template:Cite newsTemplate:Dead link</ref> but continues to have science and languages as specialisms. It is also a Leading Edge school.<ref name="LeadingEdge">Template:Cite web</ref>

In 1981 it was named by The Sunday Times as the most successful state school as measured by Oxbridge open awards. In 1998, it was rated by the Financial Times as the most successful state school at GCE advanced level in the period 1993–1998.<ref name="History" /> In 2001 the school was named Sunday Times School of the Year.<ref name="Tuckwell" /> The 2015 Good Schools Guide names KEGS as the top selective state school for a number of A-level subjects, as well as GCSE History and FSMQ Additional Mathematics.<ref name="GoodSchools">Template:Cite web</ref> In December 2021, it was judged to be "outstanding" by OFSTED.<ref name="Ofsted">Template:Cite web</ref>

House system

In 1907, headmaster Frank Rogers set up the system of "Houses"<ref name="HouseSystem">King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford » House System</ref> – Holland, named for the translator Philemon Holland; Mildmay, for the courtier and politician Sir Walter Mildmay; Strutt, for the antiquary Joseph Strutt; and Tindal, for the lawyer Sir Nicholas Conyngham Tindal, and dividing the school into four forms in each year. However, due to the expansion of the school roll, there are currently five forms in each year, containing a mix of people from different houses.

Houses have student captains and deputies, responsible for specific areas of house activity (e.g. music, drama, sport). Each house also has a head of house, a teacher who assists the captains with running events and managing administrative work. A house competition runs between the ends of consecutive Easter terms. Houses accumulate points throughout the house year through house events, including house music, house drama, and sports day. The house with the most points by the end of the house year wins the house cup. Each house holds assemblies in a different venue: the main hall, the McCallum-Rich Theatre, the Darwin Centre, and the Sports Hall, with the leadership of the winning house choosing its venue for the following year first, followed by the other houses in order of placement.

Extracurricular activities

Combined Cadet Force and Corps of Drums

The school maintains an Army contingent of the Combined Cadet Force (CCF), which was also open to students of Chelmsford County High School for Girls until 2017. Military music is provided within the contingent by a Corps of Drums playing drums, flutes and bugles. The Corps wears the full dress scarlet tunics of The Essex Regiment, incorporating the purple facings which gave the Essex Regiment its nickname 'The Pompadours'. It carries the drums of the 5th Battalion (Territorial Army) emblazoned with the Regiment's battle honours.<ref name="CCF">King Edward VI Grammar School » CCF</ref>

KEGS Music

The school has many ensembles, of which the orchestras include members from other schools, though the majority are from KEGS and Chelmsford County High School for Girls. The other ensembles are exclusive to those who attend KEGS.<ref name="Music">King Edward VI Grammar School » Music</ref>

  • Junior Orchestra
  • Senior Orchestra
  • Choir
  • Wind Band
  • Jazz Ensemble
  • Big Band

The KEGS Ambassador

The KEGS Ambassador<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> is the school's independent student newspaper. Since its creation in January 2009, it has featured numerous articles by alumni, staff and students.

KEGS Young Engineers

The KEGS Young Engineers team won the 2022 PAPI Raspberry Pi Competition in the years 12–13 division, as well as the People's Choice Award and has made it to the final every year since the competition started.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The team competes in the FIRST Lego League Challenge, sending two year 8 and 9 teams every year, having gone to the finals numerous times, as well as a year 12 team annually to the Student Robotics competition where they have reached the quarter-finals multiple times.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

KEGS Architecture Society

The KEGS Architecture Society, concerned chiefly with the study and appreciation of architecture, has existed in multiple iterations since its first founding. The current iteration was founded in autumn 2024, and hosts presentations, talks, debates, design competitions and quizzes.Template:Citation needed Topics discussed include follies, Sir Edwin Lutyens, brick bonds, brutalism, Interwar reconstruction in France and Belgium, English cathedrals, and Clandon Park House. The society has held a design competition to redesign a local Chelmsford high street shop façade.Template:Citation needed

KEGS Languages Society

The KEGS Languages Society (LangSoc) is a group where both concepts in linguistics and the structure of specific languages are discussed, mostly in short presentations.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref>

Langsoc also provides training for the United Kingdom Linguistics Olympiad (UKLO). A notable success is of a student winning a gold medal in the International Linguistics Olympiad (IOL) in 2022.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

KEGS Medicine Society

The KEGS Medicine Society (MedSoc) is a society where topical medical issues are discussed.<ref name=":0" />

The KEGS Economics Journal

The KEGS Economics Journal is another of the school's student-led newspapers. They feature articles on a wide variety of national and international economic and political affairs.

KEGS Law Society

The KEGS Law Society (LawSoc) is a thriving hub of discussion and debate, fostering pupils' budding interest in Law through mock trials, external speakers, and student-led presentations.

Notable former pupils

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Of the Chelmsford Chantry School (before the Royal Charter of 1551)

  • John Dee, mathematician, astronomer, astrologer, geographer, occultist, and consultant to Queen Elizabeth I; responsible for the English translation of Euclid's work.

Pre-1900

1900–1960

Post-1960

Fictional

  • John Watson, character in the 2010 BBC series of Sherlock. John Watson's CV is visible in episode two, where KEGS is cited under Education Qualifications (with 6 A*).

References

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