Contents
Thinking about applying to Westcliff High School for Boys? Find out everything you need to know about admissions and how to prepare your child for success in the 11 plus.
Key information about Westcliff High School for Boys
Address: Westcliff High School for Boys, Kenilworth Gardens, Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, SS0 0BP
Number of pupils: 1,200+
Admissions contact: [email protected]
Number of places in Year 7: 185
11+ exam: CSSE 11+
Catchment area: yes
Dates for your diary
The 2025 exam dates haven’t been published yet. However, they are likely to be the same as 2024. Please use the dates below as a guide.
11+ registration opens: Tuesday 14th May 2024
Year 5 open evening: Thursday 28th June 2024
11+ registration closes: Friday 28th June 2024
11+ exam date: Saturday 21st September 2024
11+ results released: mid-October 2024
Secondary school application deadline: 31st October 2024
School allocations: 1st March 2025
About Westcliff High School for Boys
Westcliff High School for Boys is a boys' grammar school in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex. It was founded in 1920 and strives to offer an excellent education for its students. The school supports boys in their journey to adulthood by developing character and intellect.
Students at WHSB have plenty of opportunities to build moral values within a strong community. Sport is intrinsic to school life, with fixtures including rugby, football, basketball, cricket and athletics.
How to apply to Westcliff High School for Boys
Westcliff High School for Boys is a selective school. This means that your child will need to take the 11 plus exam to be eligible for a place.
WHSB is a member of the Consortium of Selective Schools in Essex (CSSE). All 10 grammar schools in the CSSE use the same 11 plus exam. This means that your child will only need to take the exam once – even if they’re applying to other schools in the consortium.
The deadline to register for the CSSE 11 plus exam is June 2025. The exam will take place in September and you’ll receive your child’s results in mid-October. You can then use these results to decide whether to apply for a place at Westcliff High School for Boys.
To apply, you’ll need to name the school as one of your preferred schools on the secondary school common application form. This will be available on your home council website from early September and must be submitted by 31st October 2025.
Remember – passing the 11 plus doesn’t guarantee that your child will be allocated a place at your preferred school. Many grammar schools are often oversubscribed with qualified children. Schools and their admissions authorities work through admissions criteria to prioritise children for places. We’ve included the admissions criteria for Westcliff High School for Boys below.
What subjects are on the entrance exam?
The CSSE 11 plus exam consists of two papers. Each paper lasts around one hour.
English: this consists of reading comprehension and creative writing
Maths: questions are based on the Key Stage 2 maths curriculum
Guide to the CSSE 11 plus
Find out everything you need to know in our complete guide to the CSSE 11 plus. Plus, get access to free 11 plus resources to help your child feel confident for their exam!
How does place allocation work at Westcliff High School for Boys?
Each of the two CSSE papers are worth up to 60 marks (120 in total). Your child’s final marks will be standardised and weighted.
Each school in the CSSE sets its own qualifying score, and this varies from year to year. In 2023, a total standardised score of 303 was the lowest score for which boys who live within the priority area were offered a place at Westcliff High School for Boys. A score of 349 was the lowest score for which boys who live outside the priority area were offered a place at the school.
The school offers places to children in this order:
‘Looked after’ and ‘previously looked after’ children who have passed the selection tests
Children who live within the catchment area who have passed the selection tests. Up to 80% of places are reserved for children in this category
Children who live outside the catchment area who have passed the selection tests
In criterions 2 and 3, 10% of places are reserved for children who are entitled to ‘preferential consideration’. This includes children who receive Free School Meals and who receive the Pupil Premium grant. This should be indicated on the CSSE Supplementary Information Form (SIF) when registering for the test.
What is the catchment area for Westcliff High School for Boys?
The catchment area for Westcliff High School for Boys covers the postcode areas SS0, SS1, SS2, SS3, SS4, SS5, SS6, SS7, SS8 and SS9.
Atom’s top tips for 11 plus preparation
The 11 plus is designed to select the most academically able children in the country. Here are our top tips to help you and your child feel confident for exam day!
Bitesize learning
It’s important to build a good knowledge base before the 11 plus. Using a ‘little and often’ approach when learning is key – our brains encode new information more effectively when dealing with smaller ‘chunks’ of information. For children aged 10–11, child psychologists recommend regular study sessions of 20–30 minutes.
Atom Home makes learning a more enjoyable process for your child. They'll explore exciting worlds full of interactive questions, earning coins to spend in the Atom shop. Atom adapts to your child, showing them questions at just the right level of difficulty to keep them motivated.
Read widely
11 plus exams test your child’s ability to analyse and interpret written information. Regular reading is a great way to help your child build these skills.
Encourage them to read books from different genres and by a diverse range of authors. Increasing the variety of your child’s reading will help them understand different styles, tones and purposes. Meanwhile, reading a little every day will help widen their vocabulary, sharpen their analytical thinking, and enhance their imagination.
Refine exam technique
When your child feels confident with the topics they’ve learnt in Year 5, they’ll be ready to put their knowledge to the test.
Practice tests can help your child develop problem-solving skills and build confidence working under test conditions. They’re also a great way to consolidate learning and highlight knowledge gaps for further improvement.
With Atom Home, you'll unlock online mock tests and printable practice papers. Enjoy automatic marking and progress tracking with the online tests, and help your child get familiar with the real exam experience with printable practice papers.
Celebrate progress
Setting regular, achievable goals and celebrating your child’s progress – no matter how big or small – will help keep their motivation high.
Make sure to encourage a growth mindset. This means celebrating effort, as well as achievement! When your child makes mistakes or struggles to understand a particular topic, help them understand that they’ll improve through practice. Regular praise will help your child improve their resilience when tackling new and challenging topics.
Tailored preparation for the CSSE 11 plus
Wish you could give your child a roadmap to success in the CSSE 11 plus? You can. Atom Home has everything you need to get prepared, in one package.
You don't need a tutor to get into your top-choice grammar school. You just need Atom. We’ll create a tailored plan for your child and support them along their fun revision journey.
Online and printable 11 plus practice papers
90,000+ adaptive questions
500+ hours of on-demand video lessons
Automatic marking and instant progress data
Navigate the CSSE 11 plus with confidence.
Start your free trial today. Our local admissions specialists will get to work on your child’s plan. Relax, CSSE 11 plus prep is sorted.
Contents