My sons and the 11+: what we learned

By Elizabeth Lindley · A parent’s experience of the 11+

I'm lucky to have two sons just a school year apart. We looked around Ermysted's and North Halifax Grammar, along with some local comprehensives, and they chose Ermysted's. It was their own decision. If they'd picked different schools, they'd have gone to different schools.

The first time round

My older son sat both entrance exams in autumn 2024, for entry in September 2025. Both tested maths, English, verbal and non-verbal reasoning.

Halifax told us he had passed, and gave us his ranking too. That reassured us about his chances if we put it first on the local authority form, which had to be in by the end of October. Ermysted’s was simpler: he had passed. But passing only makes a boy eligible. It doesn’t guarantee a place.

We live outside the catchment and had no priority, so all we could do was wait. He was given his place in March 2025. It felt like a very long wait.

The second time round

My younger son sat his entrance exams in autumn 2025, and he felt the pressure. By then we knew the Halifax format had changed. The reasoning papers had gone, there were written answers as well as multiple choice, and there was a creative writing section. We found the uncertainty about timings difficult.

He had fifteen minutes to write a piece beginning something like: "There was a knock at the door. You open it. What do you see?"

The result came by app, not letter, and it took far longer than we expected. He had passed every section, but there was no ranking this time.

A couple of days later, a second email told families how likely they were to get a place. His said he would definitely receive one. Others were told "quite likely", "not likely" or "very unlikely". It was a difficult few days for some children.

Then his Ermysted’s letter arrived. This time we felt much more reassured, as his brother already attended and that gave him sibling priority. Priority still depends on the school’s full admissions rules.

The March surprise

March was another long wait for other families. From the conversations I was having locally, it was clear that some children who had hoped for Ermysted’s had not received an offer.

I later heard from families whose children had received a place after the initial offers. It had been a confusing and upsetting time for them, followed by relief and excitement.

I also heard from families disappointed by the outcome at Skipton Girls’. It is worth checking each school’s own admissions rules rather than assuming that a brother or sister already attending will secure a place.

This year

For September 2027 entry, Ermysted’s, Skipton Girls’ and the Halifax grammar schools use FSCE tests covering English and maths, with multiple-choice and written responses. The Halifax schools also include creative writing. Ermysted’s explicitly says its test has no creative-writing element, and Skipton Girls’ booklet describes English and maths. Ermysted’s published admission number is 128.

Will we see more confusion and upset, or will it run smoothly? I'll be watching closely.

Check the current admissions guidance

This is my family’s experience, rather than a prediction of any child’s result or offer. Formats and allocation rules can change. For current information, read Ermysted’s admissions guidance, the Skipton Girls’ 2027 booklet and the Halifax schools’ test information.