County competitions are the Essex events that are often organised by Active Essex known as level 3 events. 

The county will also be hosting 2 School Games Festivals, a Winter Games and a Summer Games.  These will be multi sport events that teams and individuals from primary, secondary and special schools will win the right to compete in through qualifying through level 2. 

The School Games festivals will also give young people the platform to be recognised by National Governing Bodies of Sport, which may lead to them being selected for the Level 4 national event.  By winning or finishing 2nd at a level 2 competition you will qualify to represent Southend in the county level 3 final.

County competitions are very exciting as you compete against the other 14 boroughs of Essex.

The winning school will sometimes move on to a regional or national competition from this known as a level 4 competition,