Calderdale / Calderdale 11+
Savile Park, Halifax, HX3 0HG
The Crossley Heath School
1
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.
At a glance
At a glance
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. Based in Halifax, West Yorkshire, the school serves boys and girls aged 11-18 and includes sixth-form study as part of the offer. Current published roll and admissions data point to around 1,141 pupils on roll and 180 Year 7 places.
Admissions are central to understanding whether this school is the right fit and realistic shortlist option. The current route includes FSCE, with 180 places available in Year 7 and demand that currently looks high by grammar-school standards. Catchment or distance rules still matter at allocation stage, so this is the kind of school where families need to read the admissions policy carefully rather than rely on headline scores alone.
Academically, the published picture is strong and easier to judge than reputation alone. The latest published Ofsted judgement is Good. Recent official performance measures show Progress 8 at 0.49 and Attainment 8 at 72.6. 92.7% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths in the latest stored GCSE figures. In the sixth form, 14.1% of entries were awarded AAB or better at A level. Destinations data also suggest strong progression after sixth form, with 70% moving into higher education.
Published school information highlights facilities such as Science labs, Sports hall, Library. The wider offer currently includes Debate club, Duke of Edinburgh, Sport. For many parents, the presence of a sixth form is part of the attraction, because it gives able pupils the option to stay in a familiar academic setting through to A level. That mix of selective entry, published outcomes, and school life is what will matter most to families deciding whether The Crossley Heath School belongs on a serious shortlist.
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.
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 creative writing is assessed for candidates who meet the qualifying standard in those papers.
This school uses the shared Yorkshire consortium route. The consortium page brings together the common test format, key dates and official papers used across that route.
Open Yorkshire guidePaper 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
Creative Writing
Creative Writing
Creative writing is judged after candidates meet the qualifying standard in English and mathematics.
English, Maths and Creative writing are included in the published format.
Verbal reasoning, Non-verbal reasoning and Science are not listed in the current published format.
English
Maths
Creative writing
Included within the published English paper.
Verbal reasoning
Non-verbal reasoning
Science
Registration opens
20 March 2026
Registration closes
26 June 2026
Main test
19 September 2026
Supplementary test
26 September 2026
Results released
16 October 2026
CAF deadline
31 October 2026
National offer day
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 | 98% | 97.8% | 91.4% |
Latest year breakdown
| In education | 97% |
|---|---|
| In apprenticeships | 2% |
| In employment | 0% |
Latest inspection: 4 July 2023
Local rivals first, then nearby alternatives that still fit the same shortlist-building context.
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 the best grammar schools in Calderdale for the 2026 admissions cycle using published GCSE results, Ofsted, admissions routes, and practical local context. Much of Calderdale sits within the Yorkshire route, so shared testing still matters alongside each school's own admissions rules.
Best Grammar Schools in the UK
Explore the best grammar schools in the UK with a national ranking parents can filter by county, school type, and Ofsted. Useful for broad searches like top UK grammar schools, grammar school rankings, and 11+ school shortlists.
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 the best grammar schools in Calderdale for the 2026 admissions cycle using published GCSE results, Ofsted, admissions routes, and practical local context. Much of Calderdale sits within the Yorkshire route, so shared testing still matters alongside each school's own admissions rules.
Best Grammar Schools in the UK
Explore the best grammar schools in the UK with a national ranking parents can filter by county, school type, and Ofsted. Useful for broad searches like top UK grammar schools, grammar school rankings, and 11+ school shortlists.
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: 20 March 2026. Registration closes: 26 June 2026. Main test: 19 September 2026. Supplementary test: 26 September 2026. Results released: 16 October 2026. CAF deadline: 31 October 2026. National offer day: 1 March 2027
Crossley Heath School is currently rated Good following the latest published inspection dated 4 July 2023.