A selective co-educational grammar school in Halifax, West Yorkshire, serving ages 11-18 with a sixth form and around 1,199 pupils on roll.
The North Halifax Grammar School
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At a glance
The North Halifax Grammar School is a co-educational selective grammar in Halifax, serving ages 11 to 18. Its public motto, "Living to Learn | Learning to Live", captures the school's pitch well: academic selection sits alongside a broader emphasis on character, travel independence and preparation for life after school. The school has about 1,199 pupils on roll, including the sixth form.
The curriculum record is strongest around academic breadth and sixth-form progression. NHGS offers an 11-18 selective pathway with sixth-form admissions and subject choice presented as a continuation of the main-school ethos rather than a separate institution. The wider data record also identifies Classics or Latin as part of the curriculum picture, giving the school a traditional grammar-school academic strand alongside English, mathematics and science.
School life is helped by practical infrastructure as well as clubs. The homepage foregrounds dedicated school services and public buses to the site, a detail that matters for a selective school drawing from a wider geography. The school also names drama productions, debating, student leadership, trips and expeditions, plus science laboratories, sports hall and theatre or performance spaces.
Year 7 admission has 180 places. The 2027 process uses two English and mathematics papers plus a creative-writing task: English and mathematics determine rank order after candidates meet the qualifying standard, while creative writing is assessed separately for suitability. The policy detail is strongest around sibling priority, geography or distance and ranked scores. Ofsted judged the school Good in November 2023, with sixth form Outstanding; GOV.UK shows +0.18 Progress 8, 97.8% grade 5+ in English and maths, and 19.4% 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 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 1,199 pupils; 1,196 had a recorded ethnic group.
| Recorded group | Share | Category | Pupils |
|---|---|---|---|
| White British | 63.3% | White | 759 |
| Pakistani | 17.7% | Asian | 212 |
| Indian | 7.3% | Asian | 88 |
| White and Asian | 2.2% | Mixed | 26 |
| Any other Asian background | 1.9% | Asian | 23 |
| Any other White background | 1.9% | White | 23 |
| Any other mixed background | 1.8% | Mixed | 21 |
| African | 0.8% | Black | 10 |
| Chinese | 0.8% | Asian | 10 |
| White and Black African | 0.5% | Mixed | 6 |
| White and Black Caribbean | 0.5% | Mixed | 6 |
| Bangladeshi | 0.4% | Asian | 5 |
| Any other ethnic group | 0.3% | Other | 4 |
| Unclassified | 0.3% | Unclassified | 3 |
| Irish | 0.2% | White | 2 |
| Caribbean | 0.1% | Black | 1 |
North Halifax Grammar reserves up to 10 percent of places for children living in the priority admissions area who meet the qualifying standard. If that group is oversubscribed, English and mathematics rank order is used within the priority-area allocation.
Priority admissions area places
Up to 10 percent of the 180 places are reserved for children living in the North Halifax Grammar School priority admissions area who meet the qualifying standard in English, mathematics, and creative writing.
Priority area ranking
If the priority-area applicants exceed 10 percent of places, they are ranked by order of merit in English and mathematics.
Remaining qualified applicants
After the priority-area allocation, the remaining places are offered in order of merit to children who meet the qualifying standard in English, mathematics, and creative writing.
Tie-break
If scores are tied, priority goes first to siblings already at the school and then to the child living nearest to the school.
The 2027 process uses two English and mathematics test papers plus a writing task task. English and mathematics determine rank order after candidates meet the qualifying standard; writing task is assessed separately for suitability.
Shared exam route
North Halifax 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
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
20 March 2026
PastRegistration closes
26 June 2026
Main test
19 September 2026
Supplementary test
26 September 2026
Results released
16 October 2026
CAF deadline
31 October 2026
Offer day
1 March 2027
Read the admissions policy
Check the published rules for the priority admissions area, qualifying standard, and tie-breaks before you register.
Open admissionsRegister for the Halifax Grammar Schools test
Registration opens on 20 March 2026 and closes on 26 June 2026.
Open admissionsSit the main or supplementary test
The main test is on 19 September 2026 and the supplementary test is on 26 September 2026 for approved candidates.
Open familiarisationSubmit your CAF
List North Halifax Grammar School on your CAF by 31 October 2026 after results are issued in October.
Open admissionsLatest 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 | 69.9 | 74.2 | 49.4 |
| 2022/23 | 67.9 | 71.8 | 47.0 |
| 2023/24 | 68.4 | 72.1 | 46.7 |
| 2024/25 | 68.5 | 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 (41.8 points) | 44.0 points | 37.5 points |
| 2022/23 | C+ average (35.0 points) | 40.5 points | 33.7 points |
| 2023/24 | B- average (36.6 points) | 41.3 points | 34.5 points |
| 2024/25 | B average (40.3 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 | 98% |
|---|---|
| In apprenticeships | 1% |
| In employment | 1% |
Latest inspection: 9 November 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
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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
North Halifax Grammar School currently uses FSCE.
1. Read the admissions policy: Check the published rules for the priority admissions area, qualifying standard, and tie-breaks before you register. 2. Register for the Halifax Grammar Schools test: Registration opens on 20 March 2026 and closes on 26 June 2026. 3. Sit the main or supplementary test: The main test is on 19 September 2026 and the supplementary test is on 26 September 2026 for approved candidates. 4. Submit your CAF: List North Halifax Grammar School on your CAF by 31 October 2026 after results are issued 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. Offer day: 1 March 2027
North Halifax Grammar School is currently rated Good following the latest published inspection dated 9 November 2023.