Welcome to The Halifax Grammar Schools - About the FSCE Test for Year 7 Entry
At The Halifax Grammar Schools, we are committed to providing a fair and rigorous selection process for prospective students. As part of this commitment, we have adopted the Future Stories Community Enterprise Ltd (FSCE) Entrance Test as our Year 7 Entrance Test.
Why FSCE?
FSCE’s main goal is to make Grammar School testing more accessible for all children: regardless of primary school, socio-economic background and/or disability. The FSCE Entrance Test is a modern and inclusive entrance test developed and reviewed in collaboration with experienced educators. It is designed to assess a child’s academic ability in the most holistic manner permissible, rather than just through rote learning. The Test is designed to ensure all children have an equal opportunity to succeed and showcase their academic ability.
In focusing solely on areas of the KS2 National Curriculum that have been taught up to the end of Year 5, the Test aims to remove any need for tutoring. Instead, it emphasises the excellent work that children do at primary school and explores a child's innate ability, curiosity and problem-solving skills. This move away from tutoring is essential in ensuring that we select children who will be best placed to thrive in our challenging and enriching school environment.
What is the FSCE Entrance Test?
The Test evaluates application of knowledge and skills in English and Maths as well as exploring imaginative flair through Creative Writing. Children will only be assessed on knowledge appropriate to the KS2 Curriculum so there is no element of the Test that should surprise, trouble or intimidate candidates.
The Test consists of both multiple-choice and written response questions. Further information can be found in the Familiarisation Guide on the North Halifax Grammar School website which includes sample test questions.
The Entrance Test content changes each year therefore the Familiarisation Guide is NOT definitive and the inclusion of any question types does NOT guarantee that they will be found in the actual test.
All papers with the exception of Creative Writing are marked by computer and age-standardised. Students with an eligible score from the English and Maths papers will have their Creative Writing task assessed and candidates will be ranked accordingly.
Please note - a child may only take the test once. All written elements will be tested on one day in September.
How to Prepare
We suggest you print the Familiarisation Guide and read it through carefully. The FSCE Test does not require specialist tutoring, and no specific preparation is necessary. No teacher, tutor or parent will have knowledge of the test that others lack. Instead, we encourage children to:
- Work well at primary school, with maximum attendance and engagement in all areas of school life;
- Develop strong reading habits by reading widely and deeply;
- Practise the fluency of their maths and problem-solving skills through real life day to day examples;
- Engage in imaginative and critical thinking discussions around the dinner table;
- Focus on calmness and confidence rather than pressure and stress;
- Trust that they already have the knowledge required to access the questions.