What makes Heckmondwike Grammar one of the top-ranking secondary schools – open evenings and how to apply

Heckmondwike Grammar School is a non-fee paying state grammar school which provides an outstanding education to students aged 11-18 and is ranked 2nd best secondary school in the North of England in the Sunday Times Parent Power survey 2023.

Due to the excellent opportunities it provides, students travel from far afield, with many students commuting across West Yorkshire to gain a place. There are excellent public transport links and an increasing number of dedicated coach services.

I am a former HGS student myself and four generations of my family have attended, most recently my own two children. Therefore, I would like to think I am a good judge of what a school should offer both parents and students.

Here are my top questions to ask a school and the answers you get at HGS:

Will my child be well looked after?

Surely, this should be the first question for any parent to ask.

At HGS, every student will meet their tutor first thing in the morning. This will be the opportunity to solve issues, have a chat with individuals and the form group and ensure that everyone is well prepared for the day ahead. Following this, students will receive five hours of exceptional teaching, provided by graduate subject specialists who are all trained to support students in whatever way required.

Heads of year are a further layer of pastoral and academic support, all working as a team to ensure that students feel safe, happy and confident in school, so they go on to achieve their full potential. We have a welfare officer and counsellors, should the need arise.

Will my child enjoy being at school?

Typically, if students feel safe, happy and confident, they will enjoy their time at school. However, our students are very academically able, so need to be constantly challenged, their thought provoked and opportunities provided to take them out of their comfort zone.

All of our students report that they enjoy the academic challenge in lessons, where we teach to a level which stimulates debate and depth of critical thought, where there is a daily expectation our students will always strive to be the best they can be.

To support the academic rigour of the school, we expect students to work hard but also, and this is hugely important, to play hard. We provide a plethora of extra-curricular activities of all descriptions, from most sports to music, chess, subject clubs, drama, debating. . . the list goes on and grows each year.

Indeed, students are encouraged to set up and run their own societies and I have a discretionary fund to support such activities. The fantastic house system adds an important element of competition to many of these activities.

Every year we have an excellent track record of success in district sports events, with some students going on to represent at county and national level.

Behaviour in school is excellent, as befits a grammar school and the ambitions of the students and parents.

Will my child get good exam results?

While we pride ourselves on providing an outstanding, rounded education for all of our students to develop them into responsible young adults, we do have an enviable track record of examination success at both GCSE and A-level.

Supporting the staff to deliver outstanding lessons, we have excellent facilities, including industry-standard laboratories and workshops, a fully-equipped performing arts studio, outstanding subject-based classrooms with the latest ICT facilities and superb sporting facilities, including a full-sized AstroTurf pitch, sports hall and extensive grass pitches.

At GCSE, our mean grade is 8.2 and on average, in all subjects, students achieve approximately 0.8 of a grade higher than they would be expected to, given their prior attainment. This is outstanding by anybody’s judgement and places the school in the top 5% of all schools nationally.

At A-level, we offer over 20 subjects, and our classes are made up of students who have completed their GCSEs with us and the most aspirant students from other schools across West Yorkshire. The high levels of success allow our students to progress on to the top universities including high proportions to Oxford and Cambridge, with overall, over 90% entering higher education or high-calibre apprenticeships.

Our dedicated careers team, with many years of experience and a wealth of contacts, support our students in making life-changing decisions about the direction of their futures.

Will my child be offered a place?

Entry to the school is either to start year 7 or year 12 A-levels. Entry into year 7 is via an entrance examination, which is always in the September before the year of entry.

This year’s exam is on Monday 18 September 2023, for students who then will be in year 6, and if successful will start at HGS in September 2024.

The entrance exam is comprised of multiple-choice questions and tests a range of reasoning skills. Typically, successful students are in the top 25% national rank of academic ability.

Approximately 90% of students live outside of the Heckmondwike area, and this is an indicator of the desirability of the school for parents and students who are prepared to travel.

Entry to year 12, to study the exclusively A-level programme, is based on GCSE grades and again we aim to enrol the more able, who will thrive on the rigours of the academic courses.

Final thoughts

Before deciding a place for your child and which school will best cater for their needs and ambitions, please ask the questions answered here to headteachers of other schools.

If you think HGS is the right school for you, I invite you to one of our open evenings on June 21 or 22 and look forward to receiving your registration for the entrance exam by the deadline of 12 noon on Monday 26 June 2023.

If you have any questions you would still like to ask, please don’t hesitate and contact me via email at [email protected] or visit www.heckgrammar.co.uk/admissions/