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Colchester Royal Grammar School facts for kids

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CRGS pre1908
The school building around 1908

Colchester Royal Grammar School (often called CRGS) is a special kind of public school in Colchester, Essex. It's a grammar school, which means students get in based on their academic ability. This school is very old, started way back in 1206! It even received special official papers, called Royal Charters, from two famous English rulers: Henry VIII in 1539 and Elizabeth I in 1584.

Since 2006, the school's older students (in the sixth form) have achieved the best A-Level exam results in the whole country almost every year. In 2012, CRGS became an academy, which means it gets its funding directly from the government.

About the School

The main buildings of Colchester Royal Grammar School are in the Lexden area of Colchester. The school also has playing fields nearby. You can find it just south of Lexden Road, not far from Essex County Hospital.

Around 850 students attend the school, from age 11 to 18. Girls are able to join the school in the two oldest year groups. The school has lovely gardens, including areas named after important people like Gurney Benham and Elyanore.

CRGS is known for its strong focus on science and languages.

Learning and Achievements

CRGS circa 1920
These school buildings, pictured in 1920, still look much the same today

CRGS is well-known for its excellent academic results. For many years, it has been at the top of the A-level league tables, which rank schools based on exam scores. Students also do very well in their GCSE exams. In 2004, the BBC even called it the best state school in the country.

The Headmaster, Ken Jenkinson, explained the school's success. He said that while good grades are important, they are also a result of encouraging students to aim high and face challenges with confidence.

Even former Prime Minister Tony Blair recognized the school's achievements. CRGS also has a high 'value added' score, which means students make more progress there than the national average.

What Students Study

Here are some of the subjects you can study at CRGS:

School Uniform

Students in the main school wear a special uniform. It includes a purple blazer and tie with a house badge, along with a white shirt and black trousers and socks. There are also special ties that students can earn for their achievements or dedication to the school.

Students in the Sixth Form (the oldest years) do not wear a uniform. Instead, they need to wear smart clothes, usually a suit. This change happened in 1971 after students asked for it.

Before 1908, the school blazer was green. But other local schools started using the same color. The Headmaster at the time, Shaw Jeffrey, wanted CRGS to stand out. He asked a local tailor what the most expensive dye was, and it was purple. So, he decided purple would be the new school color!

Images for kids

  • Percy Shaw Jeffrey

    Percy Shaw Jeffrey in 1916.

  • CRGS Cadets 1914

    The school's cadet group, July 1914.

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