The North Halifax Grammar School
School summary
Academic results sit at the heart of this large, mixed grammar in Halifax, where 91% of pupils achieve grade 5 or above in English and Maths against a national average of 47%. Its Attainment 8 score of 68.5 is well clear of the national figure of 46.9, marking it out as a high-performing school for able pupils. Ofsted rated it Good across the board at its most recent inspection, with the sixth form singled out as Outstanding. With 1,199 pupils against a capacity of 1,250, the school is close to full.
How hard is it to get in?
Competitive · 2 of 5 on the Passmate scale. Demand exceeds the 180 Year 7 places in most years, though less sharply than at the most oversubscribed schools.
Where every mark matters.
Places are limited and demand is high, so exam performance is what sets candidates apart. Passmate turns the months ahead into ten focused minutes a day on the exact topics this school tests.
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Latest results
Attainment 8
68.5
National average 46.9
GCSE grade 5+ (English & Maths)
91%
National average 47%
A-level A*-B
72%
National average 55%
Inspection reports
- Ofsted overall
- Good
- Quality of education
- Good
- Behaviour & attitudes
- Good
- Last inspected
- 8 November 2023
Teaching & academics
Selection at 11+ is via GL Assessment, testing English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning as part of the Calderdale grammar schools consortium. With 180 places on offer and consistently strong outcomes, competition for entry is keen. The pupil-to-teacher ratio of 17.5 is typical for a school of this size, and the Outstanding sixth form points to particularly strong provision in the later years.
Languages
Headteacher · Alex Kent
Beyond the classroom
Main sports
School life & ethos
- Religious character
- None
- Boarding
- No
- SEN support
- 8.59%
- EHC plans
- 0.58%
- English as additional language
- 5.6%
- Free school meals
- 5.5%
Mobile phone policy
NHGS operates an 'On site, Out of sight' policy: students may bring mobile phones and headphones onto site but must keep them switched off and out of sight throughout the school day unless a member of staff gives permission to use them in a lesson. Phones seen in use without exceptional reason are confiscated. Sixth Form students are permitted to use mobile phones in designated areas, but not in the Library.
Schools nearby
The Crossley Heath School
Halifax, Yorkshire and the Humber
Heckmondwike Grammar School
Heckmondwike, Yorkshire and the Humber
Ermysted's Grammar School
Skipton, Yorkshire and the Humber
Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School
Rossendale, North West
Skipton Girls' High School
Skipton, Yorkshire and the Humber
Clitheroe Royal Grammar School
Clitheroe, North West
Watch Passmate decide how to teach.
Answer as a child would. Left: what they see. Right: what it learns about them.
A strong all-round grammar whose sixth form is its standout feature, suiting academically motivated pupils prepared for a competitive entry process.
That’s where Passmate comes in. Tutoring is the most effective thing in a child’s preparation - a well-tutored child can outperform the vast majority of their peers. Passmate works alongside your tutor, not instead of them: it learns how your child thinks, finds the gaps, and shows the tutor exactly where to spend each session - so the limited time you have lands on what actually decides a place.
Works alongside your child’s tutor - not instead of them.
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The North Halifax Grammar School 11+: frequently asked questions
Passmate rating: benchmarked against every selective school in England using official admissions data. It measures demand for places, not school quality. Updated July 2026.
Compiled from public data. Last checked 5 June 2026.