Our Cause
This petition seeks support for our local campaign to introduce a catchment area for Colchester Royal Grammar School (CRGS).

The lack of a catchment is having a negative impact on families and communities in Colchester, and it is time for this long-standing imbalance to be addressed.

CRGS is an Outlier
Unlike Colchester County High School for Girls (CCHSG), which already operates a fair and sensible catchment policy, CRGS continues to admit pupils from across the country with no geographic priority. This means that many academically able boys living in Colchester and the surrounding area are denied access to their local grammar school, while places are taken by pupils travelling significant distances each day or even relocating temporarily to secure a place.

The Data
An FOI shows feeder schools for CRGS include schools from all around the UK, and internationally including China and the USA. Another FOI also shows that only 39 children with a CO postcode received an offer to CRGS on March Offer Day 2025, out of 128 places - meaning 70% were not from the local area.

The Disadvantage
This situation disadvantages local children and families, harms social mobility, fragments our community, and increases traffic congestion and environmental impact from long-distance commuting. It also undermines the principle that local schools should serve local communities.

The Benefits of Change for the Community in Colchester:
Introducing a catchment for CRGS would bring several clear benefits:

·         Fairness and accessibility – It would give local boys the same opportunity as local girls to attend a grammar school in their own town.

·         Community cohesion – Families would be able to send their children to local schools alongside peers from their area, strengthening community links and reducing social divide.

·         Environmental benefits – Fewer long-distance journeys would mean less congestion and lower emissions, particularly at peak times.

·         Support for local education – It would encourage families to remain invested in Colchester’s education system, supporting primary and secondary schools across the area.

The Benefits of Change for CRGS:
It’s important to note that catchment areas do not reduce academic standards. King Edward VI Grammar School (KEGS) in Chelmsford, for example, successfully operates with both an in-catchment and an out-of-catchment admissions score. It remains one of the top grammar schools in the country while ensuring fair access for local pupils. There is no reason why CRGS could not follow a similar model. 

It would also provide the school with:
1) Better reputation in sports: better participation from students who can stay after school to practice and also attend matches on a weekend, improving the school's standing and reputation for sport.
2) Stronger school culture and ethos: including better community ties and local identity through enhanced parental support, volunteering and local partnerships. Students are more likely to feel a sense of belonging, pride and responsibility to the school and each other.
3) Reduced travel burden - leads to better student punctuality, less stress and fatigue, improved focus, enhanced mental health, wellbeing and performance.

The Desired Outcome
We call on local authorities, the school administration, and educational policymakers to urgently review and revise the admission policies at CRGS. Let's ensure that our valued local institution serves the students and families of Colchester as it ought to.

The current system effectively excludes many Colchester families from a school that is publicly funded and located in their own community. Introducing a catchment would not only be equitable but would also help restore confidence in a fair and transparent admissions process.

Please sign this petition to support our local campaign for the introduction of a catchment area for CRGS. Your signature can contribute to meaningful change and help secure the educational future of our community's children.