Schools in Southend-on-Sea

Southend-on-Sea's 30 schools are administered by Southend-on-Sea City Council, covering 17 primaries and 5 secondaries alongside further education and specialist provision. Southend operates its own unitary authority admissions scheme, with community school criteria typically prioritising looked-after children, sibling links and measured straight-line distance in sequence. The town is notable for its two selective grammar schools - Southend High School for Boys and Southend High School for Girls - which draw applicants across Southend, Rochford and Castle Point based on the Southend grammar test.

Non-selective secondary allocation in Southend is affected by grammar school uptake, meaning community secondaries serve a mixed-ability cohort shaped by who has and has not taken the selective test. Families interested in selective grammar places should note that registration for the test usually opens well before primary Year 5 ends, with tests held in the autumn term of Year 6. For community schools, Southend's annual offer statistics show that the most popular primaries close within 0.5-0.8 kilometres in competitive years.