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King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford

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King Edward VI Grammar School, or KEGS, is a British grammar school with academy status located in the city of Chelmsford, Essex, England. 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).[5] The headteacher is Tom Carter,[1] who was appointed in the autumn of 2014. It was ranked 9th out of all schools in England by the Sunday Times (2025 rankings), and is the 2025 East Anglia State Secondary School of the Year.

King Edward VI Grammar School
Address
Map
Broomfield Road

Chelmsford
,
Essex
,
CM1 3SX

England
Coordinates51°44′24″N 0°27′54″E / 51.74°N 0.465°E / 51.74; 0.465
Information
TypeGrammar school, Academy
MottoQuicquid agas sapiens age fortiter ex animoque ('Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might', Ecc 9:10)[1]
Established1551; 473 years ago (1551)
FounderEdward VI
Department for Education URN136642 Tables
OfstedReports
ChairmanMary Turner[2]
HeadteacherTom Carter
Staff74 teaching, 62 support[3]
GenderBoys; Mixed (Sixth Form)
Age11 to 18
EnrolmentOver 1000
HousesHolland  
Mildmay  
Strutt  
Tindal  
PublicationThe Chelmsfordian[4]
Former pupilsOld Chelmsfordians
Websitehttp://www.kegs.org.uk/

History of the school

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KEGS was one of many grammar schools founded by Edward VI.[6] 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.[7] 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.[8] 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.[6]

The school has been ranked in the top 50 schools in the country in national examination league tables.[9] KEGS was previously a Foundation School and Specialist Science College and Language College. The school converted to academy status in April 2011,[10] but continues to have science and languages as specialisms. It is also a Leading Edge school.[11]

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.[6] In 2001 the school was named Sunday Times School of the Year.[8] 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.[12] In December 2021, it was judged to be "outstanding" by OFSTED.[13]

House system

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In 1907, headmaster Frank Rogers set up the system of "Houses"[14] – 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. Due to the expansion of the school roll over the last few years, this has not been the case. Instead, there are five forms, which contain a mix of people from different houses.

Extracurricular activities

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Combined Cadet Force and Corps of Drums

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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)[15] emblazoned with the Regiment's battle honours.[16]

KEGS Music

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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.[17]

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

The KEGS Ambassador

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The KEGS Ambassador[18] 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

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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.[citation needed]

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.[citation needed]

KEGS Languages Society

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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.

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.[19]

KEGS Medical Society

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The KEGS Medical Society (MedSoc) is the society where topical medical issues are discussed.

The KEGS Economics Journal

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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 with a budding interest in law into skilled rebutters and speakers.

Notable former pupils

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See also: Category:People educated at King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford

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

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

Pre-1900

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1900-1960

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Post-1960

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Fictional

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  • 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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  1. ^ a b "King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford » Headteacher's Welcome". Retrieved 5 April 2015.
  2. ^ "Board of Governors – KEGS". Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  3. ^ "Staff List". Retrieved 3 April 2015.
  4. ^ "King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford » 'The Chelmsfordian". Retrieved 3 April 2015.
  5. ^ "King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford » Admissions Policy". Retrieved 3 April 2015.
  6. ^ a b c "King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford » Our History". Retrieved 5 April 2015.
  7. ^ "KEGS Prospectus: A 21st Century Grammar School". Archived from the original on 26 December 2014. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  8. ^ a b A History of King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford, 1551-2001 — Anthony Tuckwell
  9. ^ "BBC News: Secondary league tables". BBC News. 29 January 2015. Archived from the original on 3 July 2016. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  10. ^ "William de Ferrers and KEGS get academy status". Essex Chronicle. 7 April 2011. Retrieved 27 February 2016.[permanent dead link‍]
  11. ^ "Leading Edge and Learning Lessons". Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  12. ^ "King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford - The Good Schools Guide". Archived from the original on 5 January 2016. Retrieved 5 January 2016.
  13. ^ "King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford » Ofsted Report". Retrieved 30 October 2022.
  14. ^ King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford » House System
  15. ^ corrected after reference to the Band Master Mr Worrall
  16. ^ King Edward VI Grammar School » CCF
  17. ^ King Edward VI Grammar School » Music
  18. ^ "The KEGS Ambassador: KEGS school newspaper". Archived from the original on 19 February 2009. Retrieved 3 May 2010.
  19. ^ "UKLO: UK Linguistics Olympiad". 12 May 2022. Archived from the original on 5 October 2022. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  20. ^ "20th MasterChef winner is crowned". Retrieved 23 May 2024.
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