A selective co-educational grammar school in Halifax, West Yorkshire, serving ages 11-18 with a sixth form and around 1,141 pupils on roll.
The Crossley Heath School
1
On this page
At a glance
The Crossley Heath School brings two Halifax grammar-school traditions together: Heath Grammar, chartered in 1585 and opened in 1600, and Crossley and Porter, with the present school formed by their 1985 amalgamation. Today it is a co-educational selective school on Savile Park, with about 1,140 pupils and a sixth form.
The school's own language is notably values-led. Its strategy describes a school family built around kindness, courage and excellence, with the purpose of unlocking potential and developing future leaders. The curriculum and student-zone material point to a broad grammar education with English, mathematics, science, humanities, languages, arts, music, personal development and sixth-form progression.
Crossley Heath's historic buildings are part of the appeal, but the everyday offer is contemporary: science laboratories, sports hall, library, sixth-form centre, debate, music, drama, sport, house activities, student leadership and Duke of Edinburgh. The school also stresses philanthropy and service, linking that to its Halifax heritage.
Year 7 entry has 180 places and uses the Halifax Grammar Schools FSCE test: English and maths papers are age-standardised, with creative writing assessed for candidates who meet the required standard. There is no priority admissions area; the 2027 timetable asks families to register by 26 June 2026 and sit the main test on 19 September 2026. Published measures show Ofsted Good, Progress 8 around +0.49 and 98.9% grade 5+ in English and maths.
Creative writing is tested in this school's current 11+ assessment.
A weak creative writing piece can leave a child short of qualification. 11 Plus Writing Coach helps families build steadier practice and clearer feedback.
From our 11 Plus Writing Coach site
Latest 2024/25 KS4 measures compared with Calderdale and England.
Recent published Attainment 8 scores compared with Calderdale and England.
Latest 2024/25 Year 11 destination mix compared with Calderdale and England.
January 2025 school census
Whole-school roll of 1,141 pupils; 1,113 had a recorded ethnic group.
| Recorded group | Share | Category | Pupils |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pakistani | 36.9% | Asian | 421 |
| White British | 29.2% | White | 333 |
| Indian | 13.8% | Asian | 158 |
| Any other Asian background | 4.8% | Asian | 55 |
| Any other mixed background | 2.5% | Mixed | 28 |
| Unclassified | 2.5% | Unclassified | 28 |
| African | 1.9% | Black | 22 |
| Chinese | 1.8% | Asian | 21 |
| White and Asian | 1.8% | Mixed | 21 |
| Any other ethnic group | 1.5% | Other | 17 |
| Any other White background | 1.4% | White | 16 |
| Bangladeshi | 0.9% | Asian | 10 |
| White and Black Caribbean | 0.4% | Mixed | 4 |
| Any other Black background | 0.3% | Black | 3 |
| White and Black African | 0.3% | Mixed | 3 |
| Irish | 0.1% | White | 1 |
Crossley Heath has no priority admissions area. Register by 26 June 2026, sit the Halifax Grammar Schools test on 19 September 2026, and include the school on your CAF by 31 October 2026.
Crossley Heath has no priority admissions area. Qualification and ranking are driven by the published Halifax Grammar Schools test rules.
Looked after and previously looked after children
Priority goes first to children who are looked after, previously looked after, or were previously in state care outside England and are now adopted or under a special guardianship or child arrangements order.
Eligible pupil premium and service premium children
Priority is given to eligible pupil premium and service premium children who meet the qualifying standard.
Order of merit after qualification
Remaining places are offered to children who meet the qualifying standard in English, mathematics, and creative writing, ranked by the English and mathematics score.
Tie-break
If scores are tied, priority goes to siblings already at the school and then to the child living nearest to the school.
The Halifax Grammar Schools entrance test applies: English and mathematics papers are age-standardised, and writing task is assessed for candidates who meet the qualifying standard in those papers.
Shared exam route
Crossley Heath School uses the shared Yorkshire route. Use these common practice resources for the route, then check the full consortium guide for the complete set and current test guidance.
View all Yorkshire practice papersPaper 1
Maths, English
Paper 1
Paper 1 tests mathematics and English.
Paper 2
Maths, English
Paper 2
Paper 2 tests mathematics and English.
Paper 3
Writing task
Writing task
Writing task is judged after candidates meet the qualifying standard in English and mathematics.
English and Maths are included in the published format.
Verbal reasoning, Non-verbal reasoning and Science are not listed in the current published format.
English
Maths
Verbal reasoning
Non-verbal reasoning
Science
Registration opens
Friday 20 March 2026
PastRegistration closes
Friday 26 June 2026
Main test
Saturday 19 September 2026
Supplementary test
Saturday 26 September 2026
For approved candidates only.
Results released
Friday 16 October 2026
CAF deadline
Saturday 31 October 2026
National offer day
Monday 1 March 2027
Read the admissions policy and parent guide
Check the published rules, timetable, qualifying standard, and supporting guidance before registering.
Open admissions policyRegister for the Halifax Grammar Schools test
Complete the registration process between 20 March 2026 and 26 June 2026.
Open timetableSit the entrance tests
The main test is on 19 September 2026, with the supplementary test on 26 September 2026 for approved candidates.
View test datesSubmit your Common Application Form
List Crossley Heath on your CAF by 31 October 2026 after receiving the results in October.
Open parent guideLatest official destinations data currently covers 2022/23 study leavers.
Recent trend
This follows the school's published overall GCSE score across the subjects pupils take. Higher is better.
| Year | This school | Grammar schools | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021/22 | 72.3 | 74.2 | 49.4 |
| 2022/23 | 69.3 | 71.8 | 47.0 |
| 2023/24 | 72.6 | 72.1 | 46.7 |
| 2024/25 | 74.5 | 72.3 | 46.8 |
Recent trend
This follows the published average A-level result for the school's sixth form. Higher is better.
| Year | This school | Grammar schools | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021/22 | B- average (37.5 points) | 44.0 points | 37.5 points |
| 2022/23 | B- average (35.2 points) | 40.5 points | 33.7 points |
| 2023/24 | C+ average (32.8 points) | 41.3 points | 34.5 points |
| 2024/25 | C+ average (34.8 points) | 41.8 points | 35.0 points |
Recent trend
This follows the share of pupils moving into a sustained destination after Year 11, such as education, apprenticeships, or employment.
| Year | This school | Grammar schools | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021/22 | 99% | 99.1% | 94.1% |
| 2022/23 | 99% | 98.9% | 93.9% |
| 2023/24 | 99% | 99.0% | 93.3% |
| 2024/25 | 99% | 98.7% | 91.8% |
Latest year breakdown
| In education | 97% |
|---|---|
| In apprenticeships | 2% |
| In employment | 0% |
Latest inspection: 4 July 2023
Local rivals appear first, followed by nearby alternatives where the journey and admissions route are still comparable.
Same Calderdale area and similar co-ed selective route
Nearby Yorkshire and the Humber option with a similar admissions route
Same wider selective region with a comparable travel distance
Closest comparable alternatives with a similar academic profile, so parents can weigh local fit and results together.
Similar Attainment 8 and Progress 8
Similar Attainment 8 and Progress 8
Similar Attainment 8 and Progress 8
Best Grammar Schools in Calderdale
Compare 2 Calderdale grammar schools for 2026: GCSE ranking table, Ofsted, Yorkshire route, admissions rules, competition, and school profiles.
Best Grammar Schools in the UK
Explore the best grammar schools in the UK with a national ranking that can be filtered by county, school type, and Ofsted before moving into local admissions detail.
Best Grammar Schools by A-level Results
Explore the best grammar schools by A-level results in the UK, ranked by the published share of students achieving AAB or better at A level.
Best Grammar Schools in Calderdale
Compare 2 Calderdale grammar schools for 2026: GCSE ranking table, Ofsted, Yorkshire route, admissions rules, competition, and school profiles.
Best Grammar Schools in the UK
Explore the best grammar schools in the UK with a national ranking that can be filtered by county, school type, and Ofsted before moving into local admissions detail.
Best Grammar Schools by A-level Results
Explore the best grammar schools by A-level results in the UK, ranked by the published share of students achieving AAB or better at A level.
Related guides are still being added.
FAQ
Crossley Heath School currently uses FSCE.
1. Read the admissions policy and parent guide: Check the published rules, timetable, qualifying standard, and supporting guidance before registering. 2. Register for the Halifax Grammar Schools test: Complete the registration process between 20 March 2026 and 26 June 2026. 3. Sit the entrance tests: The main test is on 19 September 2026, with the supplementary test on 26 September 2026 for approved candidates. 4. Submit your Common Application Form: List Crossley Heath on your CAF by 31 October 2026 after receiving the results in October.
Registration opens: Friday 20 March 2026. Registration closes: Friday 26 June 2026. Main test: Saturday 19 September 2026. Supplementary test: Saturday 26 September 2026. Results released: Friday 16 October 2026. CAF deadline: Saturday 31 October 2026. National offer day: Monday 1 March 2027
Crossley Heath School is currently rated Good following the latest published inspection dated 4 July 2023.