A selective co-educational grammar school in Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire, serving ages 11-18 with a sixth form and around 1,468 pupils on roll.
Heckmondwike Grammar School
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At a glance
Heckmondwike Grammar School is a co-educational selective grammar in West Yorkshire, serving ages 11 to 18 from its High Street site. The school traces its foundation to 1898 and presents itself as both academically ambitious and locally rooted: a grammar school with a long civic history, a large sixth form and around 1,468 pupils on roll.
The curriculum is designed to keep breadth before pupils narrow their choices. The school's curriculum material describes a broad and balanced offer, with Key Stage 3 laying foundations across the academic and creative range and Key Stage 4 structured around a substantial GCSE programme. The tone is demanding but not purely results-driven: the curriculum material places knowledge, personal development and preparation for future study alongside examination success.
Enrichment is one of Heckmondwike's stronger school-specific signals. The website presents clubs and societies as part of the culture rather than a bolt-on, with chess, student leadership and community volunteering all visible in school life. The sixth form adds further academic and leadership depth, making the school feel like an 11-18 grammar where older students remain visible in the life of the site.
Year 7 admission has 210 places and uses the FSCE entrance exam. Candidates sit English and mathematics papers, then a creative-writing task is assessed for those who meet the required standard in the first two papers; the English and maths elements are age-standardised and more children may meet the standard than there are places available. The oversubscription order includes looked-after, pupil-premium, catchment, sibling, staff and score-ranked categories. Ofsted judged the school Good in April 2022, with behaviour and attitudes Outstanding; GOV.UK shows +1.00 Progress 8, 100% grade 5+ in English and maths, and 25.7% AAB or better at A level.
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 Kirklees and England.
Recent published Attainment 8 scores compared with Kirklees and England.
Latest 2024/25 Year 11 destination mix compared with Kirklees and England.
January 2025 school census
Whole-school roll of 1,468 pupils; 1,451 had a recorded ethnic group.
| Recorded group | Share | Category | Pupils |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indian | 26.2% | Asian | 384 |
| White British | 26.1% | White | 383 |
| Pakistani | 23% | Asian | 337 |
| African | 4.4% | Black | 65 |
| Chinese | 4.3% | Asian | 63 |
| Any other Asian background | 4% | Asian | 58 |
| Any other mixed background | 2% | Mixed | 30 |
| White and Asian | 1.9% | Mixed | 28 |
| Any other White background | 1.8% | White | 26 |
| Any other ethnic group | 1.6% | Other | 24 |
| Any other Black background | 1.2% | Black | 18 |
| Unclassified | 1.2% | Unclassified | 17 |
| Bangladeshi | 1% | Asian | 15 |
| White and Black Caribbean | 0.6% | Mixed | 9 |
| White and Black African | 0.5% | Mixed | 7 |
| Caribbean | 0.1% | Black | 2 |
| Irish | 0.1% | White | 2 |
Parents must both register for the school entrance exam and rank Heckmondwike Grammar School on their home local authority application. Selective children whose EHCP names the school are considered first, then criteria 1 to 6 are applied, and only the remaining places go purely by exam rank.
The school gives separate priority to children living in the published catchment area and requires proof of residence. After the priority criteria are applied, remaining places are ranked by entrance-exam performance.
Looked-after and previously looked-after children
After any selective child whose EHCP names the school is admitted, first priority goes to selective looked-after and previously looked-after children, including children previously in state care outside England. Evidence of looked-after status must be provided at registration.
Pupil Premium
Next come selective children eligible for Pupil Premium. The school requires the evidence for this category by the published June document deadline.
Catchment area
Then come selective children living in the published catchment area. The relevant address is the child's permanent home on the date of the entrance exam, proof of residence is required, and an offer can be withdrawn if that residency evidence is not met.
Siblings
Then come selective applicants who will have a sibling, including in the sixth form, still on roll when they join the school.
Children of staff
Then come selective applicants with a parent employed by the school for at least two years at the time of the entrance exam, or recruited to a recognised skill-shortage post.
Music criterion
Up to 5% of offers can go to selective applicants with grade 2 or above in a solo music performance qualification from an Ofqual-regulated awarding body. If this category is oversubscribed, places go to the highest entrance-exam scores.
Heckmondwike uses the FSCE entrance exam. All written elements are taken on one day at the school, English and maths are age-standardised, and writing task is marked only after a child has met the required standard on the first two papers.
Shared exam route
Heckmondwike Grammar 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
English, Maths
English and maths papers
Multiple-choice and written-response English and maths questions that are computer-marked and age-standardised.
Paper 2
Writing task
Writing task task
Writing task is assessed for children who achieve an eligible score in the English and maths papers.
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
11 May 2026, 9am
PastOpening of the online registration form for September 2027 entry.
Registration closes
22 June 2026, Midday
Closing deadline for online registration.
Entrance exam
14 September 2026
The school publishes 14 September 2026 as the entrance-exam date.
Result update
17 October 2026, Target date
Results are scheduled to be available online on the published target date.
Local authority deadline
Normally 31 October
Parents are told to check the exact date with their local authority.
National Offer Day
Usually 1 March
Offer confirmation comes from the local authority.
Register online for the entrance exam
Complete the school's online registration form during the published May to June window for September 2027 entry.
Open application procedureSit the entrance exam
The school has published 14 September 2026 as the entrance-exam date for September 2027 entry.
Read about the examCheck whether the standard has been met
The school expects to publish results online on 17 October 2026.
Check key stepsSubmit the local authority application
Rank Heckmondwike Grammar School through your local authority before its deadline.
Read admissions arrangementsLatest 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 | 78.4 | 74.2 | 49.4 |
| 2022/23 | 77.1 | 71.8 | 47.0 |
| 2023/24 | 78.5 | 72.1 | 46.7 |
| 2024/25 | 80.2 | 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 (39.5 points) | 44.0 points | 37.5 points |
| 2022/23 | B- average (36.0 points) | 40.5 points | 33.7 points |
| 2023/24 | B average (40.2 points) | 41.3 points | 34.5 points |
| 2024/25 | B average (39.2 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 | 100% | 99.1% | 94.1% |
| 2022/23 | 99% | 98.9% | 93.9% |
| 2023/24 | 100% | 99.0% | 93.3% |
| 2024/25 | 98% | 98.7% | 91.8% |
Latest year breakdown
| In education | 97% |
|---|---|
| In apprenticeships | 1% |
Latest inspection: 6 April 2022
Local rivals appear first, followed by nearby alternatives where the journey and admissions route are still comparable.
Nearby Yorkshire and the Humber option with a similar admissions 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
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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
Heckmondwike Grammar School currently uses FSCE.
1. Register online for the entrance exam: Complete the school's online registration form during the published May to June window for September 2027 entry. 2. Sit the entrance exam: The school has published 14 September 2026 as the entrance-exam date for September 2027 entry. 3. Check whether the standard has been met: The school expects to publish results online on 17 October 2026. 4. Submit the local authority application: Rank Heckmondwike Grammar School through your local authority before its deadline.
Registration opens: 11 May 2026, 9am. Registration closes: 22 June 2026, Midday. Entrance exam: 14 September 2026. Result update: 17 October 2026, Target date. Local authority deadline: Normally 31 October. National Offer Day: Usually 1 March
Heckmondwike Grammar School is currently rated Good following the latest published inspection dated 6 April 2022.