North Halifax Grammar School 11 plus: a parents' guide for 2022

North Halifax Grammar School is a co-educational grammar school and science college in Illingworth, Halifax, West Yorkshire. It shares the same admissions process as The Crossley Heath School.

The school is consistently high-achieving; it is one of 190 secondary schools in the country to have been rated outstanding in three Ofsted inspections in a row. In the last formally-graded exams (2019), over 47% of students achieved 7 or more Grade 7s in their GCSEs.

The school’s motto translates as ‘Living to learn, learning to live’, which underpins the school’s ethos statement across its curriculum provision and pastoral system.

11 plus information for North Halifax Grammar School

• Address: North Halifax Grammar School, Moorbottom Road, Illingworth, Halifax, West Yorkshire, HX2 9SU

• County: West Yorkshire

• Admissions contact: [email protected], 01422 244625

• School type: Co-educational grammar

• Number of pupils: 1,240

• Number of places in Year 7: 180

• Open day date: Thursday 23rd June 2022

• 11 plus exam dates: Saturday 24th September 2022

• Exam board type: GL Assessments

North Halifax Grammar School term dates

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

• Autumn term: 6th September – 16th December

• Half term: 21st – 31st October

• Spring term: 3rd January – 31st March

• Half term: 13th – 20th February

• Summer term: 17th April – 21st July

• Half term: 29th May – 2nd June

Admissions process for North Halifax Grammar School

As an Academy, the North Halifax Grammar School governance board is the school’s Admission Authority.

North Halifax Grammar School operates a joint admissions process with The Crossley Heath 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 North Halifax Grammar School, we recommend that you visit the school on its open evening (Thursday 23rd June 2022) with your child to get a feel for the school and its education before completing the assessment registration form.

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 North Halifax Grammar School?

North Halifax Grammar School does not have a defined catchment area. Parents with children in any UK Local Authority may apply.

How to apply for North Halifax Grammar School

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

You will also need to name North Halifax 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 Calderdale area of West Yorkshire will be able to apply here from September.

When is the North Halifax Grammar School 11 plus exam taken?

Registration for the 11 plus test at North Halifax Grammar 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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North Halifax Grammar School 11 plus exam format

The 11 plus exam at North Halifax Grammar 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 North Halifax Grammar School

How to prepare for the North Halifax Grammar School 11 plus

It's best to start preparing as early as possible for the 11 plus exam at North Halifax 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 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 North Halifax 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 GL Assessments 11 plus or North Halifax Grammar School:

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