The 11 plus is a selective entrance examination for secondary schools. In Calderdale, entry to The Crossley Heath School and The North Halifax Grammar School is determined by academic ability and attainment in the 11 plus examination.
There are four parts to the entrance exam: English, Mathematics, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning.
From 2021 all three tests are answered on optical mark reader answer sheets. The tests will be provided by GL Assessment.
The 11 plus entrance exam in Calderdale is very challenging and competition for places at the Grammar Schools is strong. In order to give your child a chance to achieve their best potential result, it is important that they are prepared for the challenges of the Maths, English and Verbal Reasoning components of the 11 plus entrance examination.
My approach to help prepare your child is a bespoke 11 plus teaching programme, which is based on extensive examination feedback received from children, in addition to many years of primary school teaching experience throughout Key Stage 2.
The programmes (both one and two year versions are available) encompass all of the Maths, English and Verbal Reasoning concepts, plus thorough use of practice papers and teaching of examination technique, specially focused on the 11 plus entrance examination.
11 plus teaching programme
Both Year 4 and Year 5 programmes have been specifically written based on:
- Extensive post examination feedback received from children over the past decade.
- The unique requirements of the Calderdale 11 plus examination.
- 15 years primary school teaching experience.
In addition:
- Groups typically contain 8-10 and never more than 12 children.
- Homework is set each week to underpin learning.
- Children are assessed in December, at Easter and during the Summer to measure progress.
- Revision classes are held during the Summer holidays for both year groups.
Given the challenging and highly competitive nature of the grammar school 11 plus entrance examinations, it can be an advantage to begin study in Year 4. The Year 4 programme seeks to provide an excellent foundation in all of the Maths, English and Verbal Reasoning skills required for the Calderdale version of the 11 plus. There is also the option to begin study in Year 5.
There is no pass mark for the Calderdale 11 plus. Places are allocated to the two grammar schools according to the order of merit and in accordance with the admission policy for allocation and over-subscription.
There are 180 places available in Year 7 in each of the Calderdale Grammar Schools, totalling 360 across the two schools. Children within the order of merit 361-500 have been deemed suitable for a place if one became available. Places allocated beyond 360 are dependent upon the preferences made on the Common Application Form (CAF) by parents/carers of those children who were ranked between 1 – 360 in the order of merit. This could be due to a child declining a place offered, or due to an incorrectly completed CAF.
