Heckmondwike Grammar School 11 plus: a parents' guide for 2022

Heckmondwike Grammar School is a large co-educational selective school in West Yorkshire.

Pupils at Heckmondwike Grammar School enjoy an extensive range of extra-curricular activities on a campus that boasts great facilities. In recent years, the school received a £1.1 million grant to redevelop the old church hall ‘Annexe’ into a new sixth form centre. This was opened in January 2019 and named the ‘Jo Cox Centre’ in memory of the former Head Girl.

Heckmondwike Grammar School was ranked the number one school in the Kirklees/Calderdale region in the 2020 Real Schools Guide. It has also been rated ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted in its last four inspections.

11 plus information for Heckmondwike Grammar School

• Address: Heckmondwike Grammar School, High Street, Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire, WF16 0AH

• County: West Yorkshire

• Admissions contact: [email protected], 01924 402202

• School type: Co-ed grammar

• Number of pupils: 1,500

• Number of places in Year 7: 180

• Open day date: Wednesday 22nd June and Thursday 23rd June 2023

• 11 plus exam dates: Monday 19th September 2022

• Exam board type: CEM

Heckmondwike Grammar School term dates

The term dates for Heckmondwike Grammar School in 2022-23 are:

• Autumn term: 6th September – 16th December

• Half term: 21st – 28th October

• Spring term: 3rd January – 31st March

• Half term: 13th – 17th February

• Summer term: 18th April – 21st July

• Half term: 29th May – 2nd June

Admissions process for Heckmondwike Grammar School

Heckmondwike Grammar School provides a free education to students who are in approximately the top 25% of the ability range for their year group. The school is an Academy and Heckmondwike’s Governing Body is responsible for its admissions arrangements.

There are 180 places available for children in Year 7 in 2023. All applicants will need to sit the 11 plus selection tests in September 2022. If you would like your child to apply to Heckmondwike Grammar School, we recommend that you visit the school on one of its two open days in June to get a feel for it, and to decide whether it is the right school for your child, ahead of the assessment deadline on 27th June 2022.

Children who have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) which names Heckmondwike Grammar School will be admitted. If more students meet the required standard than the 180 places available, the following admissions criteria will be applied in order of priority:

1. Looked after children or previously looked after children of selective ability

2. Children of selective ability who eligible for the Pupil Premium

3. Children of selective ability who reside within the school’s catchment area (see below)

4. Children of selective ability who already have siblings in the school (and will still be on the school roll when the child starts Year 7)

5. Children of selective ability who have a parent who has been employed by the school for at least two years by the date of the entrance exam

6. Children who have gained grade 2 or above in Music

What is the catchment area for Heckmondwike Grammar School?

A map of the catchment area for Heckmondwike Grammar School is available on the school website.

How to apply for Heckmondwike Grammar School

If you are interested in registering your child for Heckmondwike Grammar School, you will need to complete the application for the 11 plus test before 27th June 2022 at midday. You will be able to complete this form on the school website from May.

You will also need to name Heckmondwike Grammar 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 West Yorkshire Borough of Kirklees will be able to apply here.

When is the Heckmondwike Grammar School 11 plus exam taken?

Registration for the 11 plus test at Heckmondwike Grammar School will open in May 2022 and close at midnight on 27th June 2022. The 11 plus test is due to be taken at the school on 19th September 2022.

The school has set a target date of 17th October to inform parents whether their child has reached the standard required for selection. A formal offer of places will be made by the Local Authority on 1st March 2023.

Join Atom's free specialist Grammar School Preparation webinars, and learn how to structure the next few months to maximise your child's progress:

Heckmondwike Grammar School 11 plus exam format

The 11 plus exam at Heckmondwike Grammar School is provided by CEM

Candidates will sit more than one paper (see the school admissions policy as it updates for more specific details). Children will be tested on a range of reasoning skills in a variety of contexts.

Once the papers have been marked, each result will be expressed as a standardised score which is age-weighted and combined. These will then be ranked in descending order; the 180th score will then be the ‘required standard’.

Atom Nucleus has Mock Tests that replicate the 11 plus exam at Heckmondwike Grammar School

How to prepare for the Heckmondwike Grammar School 11 plus

Heckmondwike Grammar School provides specific advice to candidates on its website, such as:

• Helping your child with reading

• Asking your child to explain the meaning of a passage or a word

• Asking your child to give synonyms and antonyms

• Providing your child with the meaning of a word and asking them to find the word in the text they are reading

• Giving your child a time limit to find as many words belonging to a particular word group (e.g. nouns or adjectives) within a text

• Practicing mental maths under time constraints

At Atom Learning, we suggest that it’s best to start preparing as early as possible for the 11 plus exam at Heckmondwike Grammar 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 cem 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 Heckmondwike Grammar 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 CEM 11 plus or Heckmondwike Grammar School:

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