The Crossley Heath School 11 plus: parents' guide for 2022

The Crossley Heath School is a co-educational grammar school in Halifax, West Yorkshire, established in 1895 following the amalgamation of Heath Grammar School and Crossley and Porter School. It shares the same admissions process as North Halifax Grammar School.

The school has a strong family ethos, evident in its house system – pupils join one of four houses (Kings Queens, Porter or Savile) and the house activities are commented on by pupils as one of the highlights of their time at the school.

In 2021, The Crossley Heath School was included in the Sunday Times Parent Power’s top 150 schools and was ranked the fifth-best state school in their North of England category. It is also rated ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted.

11 plus information for The Crossley Heath School

• Address: The Crossley Heath School, Savile Park, Halifax, West Yorkshire, HX3 0HG

• County: West Yorkshire

• Admissions contact: [email protected], 01422 360272

• School type: Co-educational grammar

• Number of pupils: 1,140

• Number of places in Year 7: 180

• Open day date: Tuesday 21st June 2022

• 11 plus exam dates: Saturday 24th September 2022

• Exam board type: GL Assessments

The Crossley Heath School term dates

The term dates for The Crossley Heath School in 2022-23 are:

• Autumn term: 2nd September – 16th December

• Half term: 24th – 28th October

• Spring term: 3rd January – 31st March

• Half term: 13th – 20th February

• Summer term: 18th April – 21st July

• Half term: 29th May – 2nd June

Admissions process for The Crossley Heath School

The Crossley Heath School operates a joint admissions process with North Halifax Grammar School for entry to Year 7. Both schools are selective, meaning that only children who attain the required standard in the entrance exams (the 11 plus) by reference to academic ability will be eligible for admission. 1,200 children, on average, take the exam each year.

There are 180 places available for children in Year 7 in 2023. All applicants will need to sit the 11 plus selection tests on Saturday 24th September 2022. If you would like to register your child for The Crossley Heath School, we recommend that you visit the school on its open evening (Tuesday 21st June 2022) with your child to get a feel for the school and its education before completing the assessment registration form.

Children who have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) which names The Crossley Heath School will be admitted. If more children reach the required standard than there are places at the school (180), children in the following categories who reach the required standard will be offered a place according to the following oversubscription criteria:

1. Looked after children and previously looked after children

2. Children attracting the Pupil Premium and children whose parent/carer is currently serving in the UK Armed Forces

What is the catchment area for The Crossley Heath School?

The Crossley Heath School does not have a defined catchment area. Parents with children in any UK Local Authority may apply.

How to apply for The Crossley Heath School

You will need to register your child for the 11 plus test at The Crossley Heath School before Friday 1st July 2022. The application can be completed online..

You will also need to name The Crossley Heath School on your Local Authority Common Application Form (CAF). The closing date for this, regardless of which LA you reside in, is 31st October 2022. Parents of children who live in the Calderdale area of West Yorkshire will be able to apply here from September.

When is The Crossley Heath School 11 plus exam taken?

Registration for the 11 plus test at The Crossley Heath School opened on Friday 1st April and will close on Friday 1st July 2022. You will receive information about the venue and timetable for the tests by Monday 12th September, then the 11 plus test will take place at the school on Saturday 24th September.

Parents will receive the results of the admissions tests (including the overall score and position in the order of merit) on Saturday 22nd September. On Wednesday 1st March 2023, offers will be distributed by the home Local Authority.

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The Crossley Heath School 11 plus exam format

The 11 plus exam at The Crossley Heath School is provided by GL Assessment.

Pupils will take two multiple-choice papers, comprising four elements:

• English and verbal reasoning

• Maths and non-verbal reasoning

The tests are multiple-choice questions and are answered on optical mark reader sheets. Once the papers have been marked, each result will be expressed as a standardised score. This takes the child’s age into account and helps to ensure that younger children are not disadvantaged.

Following the tests, children will be placed in a single list based on their performance in terms of aggregated scores across both tests. Those with the highest scores will be at the top of the list, which will form an ‘order of merit’. This is the only information that is used for the allocation process.

Atom Nucleus has Mock Tests that replicate the 11 plus exam at The Crossley Heath School

How to prepare for The Crossley Heath School 11 plus

It's best to start preparing as early as possible for the 11 plus exam at The Crossley Heath School to give your child the maximum amount of time to master the Key Stage 2 core curriculum before the exam.

A good way to prepare is to practice as many questions as possible in the format of the GL exams. Carrying out mock tests helps students practice answering questions under pressure and improve their exam technique and time management.

We can help

At Atom Learning, we have over 90,000 teacher-written practice questions and unlimited mock tests that mirror the format and structure of the 11 plus exam at The Crossley Heath School. We also offer live exam prep courses and lessons to help build their skills in a friendly, encouraging, and interactive way.

You can start your 5-day free trial of Nucleus today to ensure your child is fully confident and prepared for the 11 plus.

We know how crucial this time is, so our team is on hand to support you and your family every step of the way. You can book a call with one of our Education Experts to ask any questions you may have about the GL Assessments 11 plus or The Crossley Heath School:

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