Headteacher answers questions about what makes Heckmondwike Grammar top ranking – open days and how to apply

As a non-fee paying state grammar school, Heckmondwike Grammar School 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.

Students travel from far afield because of the excellent opportunities it provides, with many students commuting across West Yorkshire in order to gain their place. Excellent public transport links and an increasing amount of dedicated coach services make that easier.

Four generations of my family have attended HGS, most recently my two children, and I am a former HGS student myself. I would therefore like to think that I am a good judge of what a school should offer parents as well as students.

These are my top questions to ask a school and the answers you receive at HGS:

Will my child be well looked after?

This should be the first question for any parent to ask.

At HGS, all students meet their tutor first thing every morning. This provides an opportunity to solve any issues, talk with individuals and the form group and ensure that everyone is prepared for the day ahead. Students will then receive five hours of exceptional teaching, which is provided by graduate subject specialists who are trained to support them in any way required.

A further layer of pastoral and academic support is offered by heads of year, working as a team to ensure that students feel happy, safe and confident at school, so that they can achieve their full potential. We also have a welfare officer as well as counsellors, if needed.

Will my child enjoy being at school?

If students feel safe, happy and confident then they will typically enjoy their time at school. As our students are very academically able, they also need to be constantly challenged, with thought-provoking opportunities to take them out of their comfort zone.

Students tell us that they enjoy the academic challenge in lessons, where we teach at a level to stimulate debate for a depth of critical thinking. There is a daily expectation that our students will strive to be the best they can be.

We expect students to work hard but also, and this is hugely important, to play hard. We therefore provide a plethora of extra-curricular activities from most sports to music, as well as chess, subject clubs, debating, drama and a list which grows each year.

Indeed, students are even encouraged to create and run their own societies, which are supported by a discretionary fund. Our house system adds an important element of competition to a lot of these activities.

Each year we have an excellent track record of district sports events successes, with some students competing at county and national level.

Student behaviour in school is excellent, which befits a grammar school as well as the ambitions of the students and their parents.

Will my child get good exam results?

While we pride ourselves on offering an outstanding, well-rounded education for students to help develop them into responsible young adults, we do have an enviable track record of examination successes at GCSE and A-level.

We have excellent facilities, which include industry-standard laboratories and workshops, a fully-equipped performing arts studio, outstanding subject-based classrooms with the latest ICT facilities and superb sports facilities such as a full-sized AstroTurf pitch, sports hall and extensive grass pitches. These support our staff to deliver outstanding lessons.

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

We offer more than 20 subjects at A-level. Our classes are made up of students who have either completed their GCSEs with us or are the most aspirant students from other schools across West Yorkshire. High levels of success allow our students to achieve places at the top universities, including a high proportion of Oxford and Cambridge places, with over 90% entering higher education or high-calibre apprenticeships.

Our dedicated careers experts, who have many years of experience and a wealth of contacts, give support to help students make life-changing decisions for their future.

Will my child be offered a place?

Entry to the school is either by starting at year 7, or joining year 12 A-levels. Entry to year 7 is via an entrance examination, which is held in the September before the year of entry.

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

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

About 90% of students live outside of the Heckmondwike area, which is an indicator of how desirable the school is and why parents and students are prepared to travel.

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

Final thoughts

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

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

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