The Crossley Heath School 11 plus is the FSCE Entrance Test, sat in September of Year 6 (on 19 September 2026 for 2027 entry) and shared with North Halifax Grammar School. Crossley Heath is a mixed grammar school in Halifax with 180 Year 7 places, offered in order of merit. You register for the test through the school's website in the spring and summer of Year 5, then name the school on your council's application.
This guide covers the test, the key dates for September 2027 entry, how places are offered and how to prepare. Everything comes from official sources, mainly the school's admissions page and its admissions policy for 2027 entry, checked on 13 October 2026.
Sources: The Crossley Heath School, Admissions, its admissions policy for 2027 entry and the Halifax Grammar Schools test FAQ (checked 13 October 2026).
Crossley Heath School at a glance
| Type | State grammar school (academy), ages 11 to 18, with a sixth form |
| Pupils | Mixed (boys and girls) |
| Location | Halifax, West Yorkshire (Calderdale Council area) |
| Year 7 places | 180 |
| Entrance test | FSCE Entrance Test, shared with North Halifax Grammar School (together, the Halifax Grammar Schools) |
| Test fee | None |
| Website | crossleyheath.org.uk |
School type, age range and sixth form are from the Department for Education's register of schools. For the other grammar schools nearby, see our page on grammar schools in Yorkshire.
Key dates for September 2027 entry
Registration for the test closes in the summer term of Year 5, months before the test itself. No late applications are considered.
- 20 March 2026, 10am
Test applications open on the school's website
- 26 June 2026, 11pm
Test applications close
- First week of September 2026
Email confirming the test date, times and venue
- 19 September 2026
FSCE Entrance Test at the Halifax Grammar Schools (all papers on one day)
- 16 October 2026
Results in your application account (a result is not an offer)
- 31 October 2026
Deadline for your council's secondary school application
- 1 March 2027
National Offer Day: councils send offers
Sources: The Crossley Heath School, Admissions and admissions policy for 2027 entry (including its timeline appendix); GOV.UK, how to apply.
The Crossley Heath 11 plus test: what's in it
The Halifax Grammar Schools use the FSCE Entrance Test, with three papers: Papers 1 and 2 each test maths and English, and Paper 3 is creative writing. FSCE stands for Future Stories Community Enterprise, which describes itself as a trading company of Reading School. The school says the test focuses on the key stage 2 national curriculum taught up to the end of Year 5.
- English (Papers 1 and 2): understanding texts and using language well
- Maths (Papers 1 and 2): problem-solving, logical reasoning and applying numeracy
- Creative writing (Paper 3): expressing ideas clearly, with structure and imagination
- No non-verbal reasoning: the FSCE FAQ says it isn't part of the test
The test mixes multiple-choice and written answers. The FSCE FAQ says papers typically last 45 to 60 minutes, with a 20-minute creative writing paper, though the structure can vary. All written elements are sat on one day in September, and a child may take the test only once.
Papers 1 and 2 are marked, age-weighted and standardised. Children who meet the qualifying standard in English and maths then have their creative writing judged by a trained panel of staff from both schools. To be considered for a place, a child must meet the qualifying standard in English, maths and creative writing.
The school publishes FSCE familiarisation guides for parents and children on its admissions page, with sample questions. It says the content changes each year, so the guides show the style of the test rather than its exact questions.
How places are offered
There is no pass mark: if more children reach the required standard than there are places, places go in this order.
- Looked-after children
Children who are looked after, previously looked after or under special guardianship.
- Pupil Premium and Service Premium
Children who attract Pupil Premium or Service Premium. Evidence is due by the end of September in the year of application; later evidence is considered only after the main allocation.
- Order of merit
Remaining places are offered in order of merit for English and maths until the school is full. If children tie for the last place, siblings come first, then those living closest to the nearest school gate.
Source: section 4.1 of the admissions policy for 2027 entry. Children with an Education, Health and Care plan naming the school are admitted separately.
If your child meets the qualifying standard in all three papers, they are suitable for a place at either Halifax grammar school. You then name the school on your council's Common Application Form. If you want both schools, put both on the form, with your preferred one first: the school warns that getting the order wrong can cost you a place. If your child qualifies but isn't offered a place, the next step is Calderdale Council's reallocation (waiting list) process.
How to prepare for the Crossley Heath School 11 plus
The school says no specialist tutoring is needed, and FSCE says it endorses no commercial 11+ books or past papers. Instead, the FSCE FAQ suggests that children read widely and regularly, practise mental arithmetic in everyday situations, play reasoning and logic games, and use the official familiarisation guides.
Reading widely builds the vocabulary that helps with both the English paper and creative writing. Our free 11 plus vocabulary list with meanings, the free 11+ vocabulary quiz and our vocabulary games for 11 plus are general vocabulary practice, not FSCE materials. For timing across the years, see our Year 5 and Year 6 guides.
How 11+ Vocab Master and 11+ Verbal Reasoning Master can help
Whichever grammar school you aim for, our two apps help build the vocabulary and verbal reasoning skills that 11+ tests rely on, in short sessions on a phone or tablet.
- 11+ Vocab Master, our 11+ vocabulary app: 2,500+ words for CEM-style and GL Assessment tests across 100 categories, 12,000+ vocabulary questions, 6 practice modes, 7 games and unlimited mock tests.
- 11+ Verbal Reasoning Master: 2,000+ verbal reasoning questions covering 38+ question types, with flashcards, mock tests and 5 VR games, such as Analogy Arena and Code Cracker.
- Vocab Master has progress tracking, works offline, is ad-free and has audio pronunciation. VR Master has a Hard Questions list. 11+ Vocab Master is Educational App Store Certified.
Both apps come with a 7-day free trial. After that, 11+ Vocab Master is £3.99 a month, £9.99 for 6 months or £12.99 a year, and 11+ Verbal Reasoning Master is £3.99 a month, £9.99 for 6 months or £14.99 a year.
11+ Vocab Master
11+ Verbal Reasoning Master
Frequently asked questions
What test does Crossley Heath School use?
Crossley Heath uses the FSCE Entrance Test, shared with North Halifax Grammar School. It has three papers: Papers 1 and 2 each test maths and English, and Paper 3 is creative writing. It is based on the key stage 2 curriculum taught up to the end of Year 5, and there is no non-verbal reasoning.
Is there a pass mark for the Crossley Heath 11+?
No. There is no pass mark. Children must meet the qualifying standard in English, maths and creative writing. After looked-after children and children attracting Pupil Premium or Service Premium, places are offered in order of merit until the school's 180 Year 7 places are filled.
When do I register for the Crossley Heath test?
Registration is online through the school's website. For September 2027 entry, applications opened at 10am on 20 March 2026 and closed at 11pm on 26 June 2026, when children were in Year 5. No late applications are considered.
Does my child need a tutor for the Crossley Heath 11+?
The school says no specialist tutoring is needed. The FSCE FAQ suggests reading widely, practising mental arithmetic, playing reasoning and logic games and using the official familiarisation guides on the school's website.
Sources
Checked on 13 October 2026. Always check the school's website for the latest dates and policy.
- Admissions (Year 7 entry, September 2027), The Crossley Heath School
- Admissions Policy for entry in 2027, The Crossley Heath School
- "How do I apply to sit the admissions test?" (Halifax Grammar Schools FAQ) and "FSCE Entrance Test for Year 7 Entry: Frequently Asked Questions", both linked from the school's admissions page
- The Crossley Heath School, Get Information about Schools, Department for Education
- School admissions: how to apply, GOV.UK