Colchester Royal Grammar School gets most Oxbridge offers in UK

Analysis of data compiled by the Telegraph shows a total of 46 students from the school were offered places at colleges at either Oxford or Cambridge.

This was the highest number of any grammar school in the country.

The Telegraph obtained the data from every Oxford and Cambridge college via freedom of information requests asking which schools they made most offers to over the past three years.

Second place was Henrietta Barnett School, in north London, with 45, followed by Pate’s Grammar School in Gloucestershire, where 36 students were offered places.

Two other Essex grammar schools, both in Chelmsford, also made the top 20. - Chelmsford’s King Edward VI Grammar School and Chelmsford County High School for Girls. 

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John Russell, headteacher of Colchester Royal Grammar School, said: “We are delighted to be recognised by the Telegraph as the top performing grammar school in the country in terms of the number of Oxbridge college offers that our students receive.

”We are fortunate to have bright students and an exceptional set of teachers, who are able to teach beyond the top end of A level and inspire students to think about current world issues.

“We have a relatively small sixth form, but have averaged 35 Oxbridge offers per year for over a decade now.

“Much of the success is founded on the enrichment the school provides and our staff are very experienced at supporting such students. “This is true wherever they wish to go and in whatever field they wish to succeed in, be this top universities across the world, high level apprenticeships or music conservatoires.

“Whilst our students are clearly academically gifted, we know students with positive mental health and wellbeing are more likely to achieve better, so their success is underpinned by the core values of our school which are focused on compassion, respect, generosity and support.”

Colchester Royal Grammar School is located in Lexden Road

There are a total of 163 grammar schools across the country, compared with 1,600 during the mid 60s.

Mr Russell added: “Every year, students go out of their way to support each other through the university application process.

“We know they are also extremely grateful for the help they are given by our staff, parents, governors, and alumni, from supporting them with their personal statements to preparing them for interviews. We are very proud of our long history of success in helping students towards top university destinations.”

You can view the analysis at www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/06/17/revealed-best-grammar-schools-getting-place-oxbridge.