Grammar Schools in East London: A Parent's Guide to Your Options

If you live in Newham, Tower Hamlets, Hackney or Barking and Dagenham, there is no grammar school in your own borough. That does not rule out a grammar school education, but it does mean looking further afield, and every option comes with its own test, its own dates and, most importantly, its own rules on where you must live.

The options run from the two Redbridge schools near Ilford to Essex, Edmonton and, for the determined, Bexley. Which of them are open to you depends far more on your postcode than on your child's ability.

Start with your address, not the school. For many grammar schools near London, catchment, postcode or priority-area rules decide whether you can realistically be offered a place at all. Check eligibility first, then plan preparation around the tests that remain.

East London grammar schools list at a glance

Grammar schools near Ilford: the Redbridge schools

Redbridge's two grammar schools are the nearest for much of East London. They share a common catchment area, which covers Redbridge and Waltham Forest plus parts of Newham, Barking and Dagenham and Essex.

• The test: two GL Assessment papers, one in English and verbal reasoning, the other in maths and non-verbal reasoning, sat at the start of Year 6.

• Places: 180 at each school, with 45 at each reserved for children eligible for the pupil premium.

• Minimum score: 104 to be ranked.

• Catchment: Redbridge Council says it cannot offer a place to candidates living outside the catchment, so check your postcode on the council's map before registering.

Full details are on the Redbridge Council 11+ page.

The Latymer School, Edmonton: for parts of Hackney, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest

Latymer admits children only from a list of postcode areas. For 2027 entry, the Latymer admissions page lists E2, E4, E5, E8, E9 and E17 among them, alongside Enfield (EN) and north London (N) postcodes. That brings parts of Hackney, Tower Hamlets (E2) and Waltham Forest within reach.

None of Newham's postcodes is on the list, so Latymer is not an option for Newham families.

• The test: a maths and verbal reasoning paper set and scored by GL Assessment, and a written English paper set and marked by the school. In recent years, only the highest-ranked candidates on maths and verbal reasoning have had their English paper marked.

• Places: the school's admissions information refers to 192 offers, including places for children on free school meals or Universal Credit who meet its ranking and address conditions.

• No sibling priority: as a designated grammar school, Latymer cannot give priority to siblings.

• Dates for 2027 entry: applications closed on 2 June 2026; tests were held on 3, 4 and 5 September 2026.

Grammar schools near Newham and further east: Essex

The Consortium of Selective Schools in Essex sets one test for ten schools:

• Chelmsford: King Edward VI Grammar School (boys)

• Colchester: Colchester Royal Grammar School (boys) and Colchester County High School for Girls

• Southend: Southend High School for Boys and Southend High School for Girls

• Westcliff: Westcliff High School for Boys, Westcliff High School for Girls, St Bernard's High School and St Thomas More High School

• Shoeburyness: Shoeburyness High School

The test has an English paper and a maths paper, and no offer is made below a total standardised score of 303. Most schools give priority to children living in their priority area, so living in East London usually puts you in the lower-priority, "outside" group. CSSE publishes the lowest scores offered at each school, inside and outside priority areas, in its historical guidance sheets.

For a fuller breakdown, see our guide to Essex grammar schools.

Chelmsford County High School for Girls

Chelmsford County High is not part of the CSSE. According to its admissions policy for 2027 entry, it runs its own test covering Key Stage 2 subjects plus a creativity element, has 180 places and gives priority to girls living within a 12.5-mile straight-line radius of the school. Families further away should check carefully whether they fall inside that area.

Bexley: an option south of the river

Bexley's grammar schools, including Beths Grammar School for boys, use a selection test run by Bexley Council. Beths' admissions information confirms that the council tests out-of-borough candidates and tells them which test centre to attend. Travel from East London is the main practical question, so do a test journey before you commit.

How to narrow down your shortlist

1. Check eligibility for each school against your address: catchment, postcode list or priority area.

2. Consider the journey. Try the school run at the right time of day before you decide.

3. Count the tests. Each area has its own test, dates and registration. Two tests in one September is manageable; three or four is a lot for a ten-year-old.

4. Keep a strong non-selective school on your list. Grammar places are limited everywhere.

Merit Tutors keeps a list of 11+ schools with registration and test dates across Redbridge, Essex, Enfield, Bexley, Barnet and Kent, which is useful for checking dates side by side.

East London 11+: preparing for more than one test

Families whose address makes them eligible for more than one group of schools, such as Redbridge and Essex, can register for both tests. The styles differ: Redbridge's GL papers include verbal and non-verbal reasoning, while the CSSE papers concentrate on written English and maths. A good plan covers the shared core of reading, vocabulary and arithmetic, then adds format-specific practice in Year 5.

Merit Tutors runs small-group 11+ classes for Years 3 to 5 in Forest Gate, Ilford and Plaistow, covering English, maths and both types of reasoning.

Frequently asked questions

Are there any grammar schools in Newham?

No. Newham has no grammar schools. Families in Newham most often look at the Redbridge schools (if their address is in the common catchment area) or the Essex CSSE schools.

Can my child apply to grammar schools in different areas?

Yes, provided you register separately for each test and the dates do not clash. You then list all the schools on your home council's secondary school application, in your genuine order of preference.

How the options change by postcode: three examples

The same list of grammar schools in East London looks very different depending on where you live.

Your own shortlist will have its own shape. Work out which column applies to you for each school, then plan your preparation around the tests that are left.