Heckmondwike Grammar School 11+ Guide

About Heckmondwike Grammar School

Heckmondwike Grammar School is a selective secondary school in West Yorkshire. For children to get into Heckmondwike Grammar School they need to pass the school's 11+ entrance test. Hence, Heckmondwike Grammar School is a traditional grammar school, one of only 163 remaining in England.

Nestled in the heart of West Yorkshire, Heckmondwike Grammar School (HGS) is a beacon of academic excellence and holistic student development. This co-educational grammar school and sixth form has garnered a reputation for nurturing a vibrant community of learners, guided by the profound motto Nil Sine Labore (Nothing without work). As an academy with specialisations in Language and Technology, HGS is committed to shaping its pupils into future leaders by providing a comprehensive education that caters to their diverse interests and talents across various disciplines.

HGS takes immense pride in the exceptional academic achievements of its students, particularly in recent GCSE examinations. A staggering majority of Year 11 students secured a minimum of five good GCSE grades, with an even more impressive proportion achieving five or more GCSEs at the prestigious grade range of 9-7. These outstanding results are a testament to the unwavering dedication of both the students and the school's faculty, who work tirelessly to create a supportive and enriching learning environment. The school's continuous investment in the quality of its educational provision ensures that each cohort is well-equipped to tackle future challenges and pursue their aspirations.

Recognising the importance of a well-rounded education, HGS offers an extensive array of extracurricular activities to complement its rigorous academic curriculum. From sports and music to a diverse range of clubs, such as British Sign Language and Youth Theatre, students are encouraged to explore their passions and develop their skills beyond the classroom. These activities foster cultural understanding, versatility, and personal growth, enabling students to maximise their potential and become well-rounded individuals.

Heckmondwike Grammar School is renowned for upholding the traditions, values, and high expectations of a grammar school while embracing innovation in its educational framework. This unique blend of tradition and modernity has consistently yielded excellent examination results, positioning the school as one of the top-performing state schools in the north. The vast majority of students who complete their education at HGS progress to higher education, with a significant proportion pursuing degrees in the sciences. The school's commitment to academic excellence, coupled with its diverse extracurricular offerings, ensures that students are well-prepared for the challenges and opportunities that await them in their future endeavours.

School Information

Below you will find further information about Heckmondwike Grammar School together with their admissions contact details.

Heckmondwike Grammar School is a mixed (i.e. both girls and boys) school. It is also an academy, meaning the school is run independently by a trust or sponsor and is directly funded by the central government (not the local authority).

In total 1,520 pupils attend Heckmondwike Grammar School and it's led by the Headteacher, Mr Peter Roberts.

Heckmondwike Grammar School Location

Below you will find a map showing the school's location:

GCSE & A-Level Subjects

Below you will find a complete list of GCSE and A-Level subjects offered to pupils at Heckmondwike Grammar School for the 2022-23 academic year.

Heckmondwike Grammar School 11+ Information

In order to get into Heckmondwike Grammar School, children need to pass the Heckmondwike Grammar School 11+. This 11+ test is written internally for exclusive use by the school (rather than by an external company like GL Assessment, CSSE or CEM).

Heckmondwike Grammar School 11+ Subjects & Structure

The Heckmondwike Grammar School 11+ requires children to complete tests in the following subjects:

• English comprehension
• Maths
• Creative writing

Heckmondwike Grammar School has announced a change to their entrance examination process. The school has partnered with a new exam provider, Future Stories Community Enterprise (FSCE), to assess prospective students' abilities across three core subjects.

The updated 11+ exam will evaluate candidates' skills in English comprehension, testing their understanding and interpretation of written passages. Additionally, students will be assessed on their mathematical aptitude, covering a range of age-appropriate topics. Lastly, the exam will include a creative writing component, allowing students to showcase their imagination and written expression.

By focusing on these essential subjects, Heckmondwike Grammar School aims to identify students with a strong foundation in literacy, numeracy, and creativity. The school believes that this well-rounded approach to assessment will help them select pupils who demonstrate the greatest potential for academic success and personal growth within their rigorous educational environment.

Heckmondwike Grammar School 11+ Marking Process

The reality of 11+ tests, selective education and academic institutions such as Heckmondwike Grammar School is that only children with particularly high marks are admitted. Hence why it is important that children perform well in their 11+ papers.

Different schools (and different 11+ tests) have different marking processes. Some tests are marked in person, some remotely, while others utilise computer-based optical recognition technologies for quickly marking multiple-choice answer sheets.

Many 11+ tests are age-standardised to ensure younger children are not disadvantaged (i.e. their marks may be moderated depending on the month in which they were born). While creative writing papers can be used as tie-breakers, multiple-choice tests in Maths, Comprehension, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning normally make up the bulk of a child's marks. The specific details and weightings can vary from year to year.

It's worth remembering that once children's 11+ tests are being marked, the admissions process is completely outside of the parents' control. Hence, parents should not worry themselves about whether their child has got a place!

Heckmondwike Grammar School 11+ Pass Mark

The pass mark for the Heckmondwike Grammar School 11+ changes every year and isn't generally made public knowledge. This is due to the academic strength of the children taking the test varying and how challenging the test ends up being (as well as plenty of other smaller variables).

Hence, as a vague rule-of-thumb, it's recommended that children aim for roughly 75-80% in their practice tests. Whilst this won't guarantee them a place at Heckmondwike Grammar School, it's a ballpark exam result figure for successful candidates.

Heckmondwike Grammar School 11+ Key Dates for your Diary

Here are all the important dates for the Heckmondwike Grammar School 11+ tests (to get into Heckmondwike Grammar School) as well as other relevant dates.

Although the utmost care has been taken to gather these dates, parents should treat them as a guide and check with Heckmondwike Grammar School as they may well change.

Ofsted Information

Heckmondwike Grammar School was last inspected by Ofsted on 05/04/2022 and the inspection only lasted one day. Ofsted published their report on 15/06/2022, declaring that the school was 'Good'. This information is summarised in the table below along with a link to the full report.

Last Ofsted Report Data

Ofsted Report Summary

Heckmondwike Grammar School was inspected by Ofsted on 15/06/2022 and received an overall rating of Good. The school demonstrated Good quality of education, Outstanding behaviour and attitudes, and Good personal development and leadership and management.

However, the sixth form provision was found to Require Improvement. This suggests that while the school performs well in most areas, there are some aspects of the sixth form that need to be addressed to ensure students receive the best possible education and support.

GCSE & A-Level Performance

Below are the individual GCSE and A-Level performance tables for Heckmondwike Grammar School per subject. Note that this may include children taking GCSEs early (e.g. taking a language GCSE in Year 10) or indeed a child in Year 12 retaking a GCSE.

GCSE Results Information (2022-23)

A-Level Results Information (2022-23)

Past 11+ Paper Downloads

Here are all available past 11+ papers for Heckmondwike Grammar School. Please note that this may include 11+ past papers, past familiarisation booklets, past practice materials published by third parties and past 11+ exam guides written by the school. These materials are provided 'as-is' and may no longer reflect the subjects, format, structure or exam board that Heckmondwike Grammar School currently uses.

The exam board (or test supplier) that Heckmondwike Grammar School chooses to use for their 11+ entrance tests can change and we encourage you to check directly with the school.

As well as these past 11+ papers, you may find our 11+ practice papers helpful for your child's preparation.

None available.