Westcliff Boys 11 Plus Guide
It might be difficult to find your way around the 11 Plus the first time as a parent. How do you aid your kid in getting ready for the Westcliff Boys 11 Plus Exam? What kind of exam structure is it? What stores sell test papers? We’ve provided parents with a “Westcliff Boys 11 Plus Tips” in this article that seeks to address all of your concerns.
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Westcliff High School for Boys Academy, Essex
Westcliff High School for Boys Academy is a boys’ grammar school in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, England. It is an average size secondary school which used to have specialisms in humanities. This page has everything you need to know about Westcliff High School for Boys Academy and can help you get started with the admissions process. You can also find helpful information about the 11 plus exam, such as exam practice resources, information about exam boards and key dates in the calendar.
School details:
Address: Westcliff High School for Boys Academy, Kenilworth Gardens, Westcliff-on-Sea, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, SS0 0BP
County: Essex
Type of school: Boys’ grammar school
Age range: 11-18
Ofsted rating: Outstanding
Number of pupils: 1200
Admissions to Year 7: 185 (approx)
Open evening (2024 entry): June 2023
11+ exam date (2024 entry): September 2023
Exam board: CSSE (Essex 11+)
Admissions phone number: 01702 475443
Admissions email address: Fill out this form online
A Brief Overview of Westcliff High School for Boys Academy and its Performance
Westcliff High School for Boys Academy was originally founded in the 1920s. In 2018 it was ranked number 5 for the top schools in Essex in The Sunday Times School Guide and in 2002 the school was awarded ‘Beacon Status’ for the breadth of its achievements and quality of pupils’ work. In terms of student make up, approximately 23% of pupils speak English as a second language, 7% are on free school meals and 2% have some support for special educational needs.
The school’s results are very good: in 2019, 14% of A-level results were A*, 45% were A*-A, and 75% were A*-B. Eight students also received Oxbridge places and the majority of the cohort went on to Russell Group universities. For GCSEs, 76.3% of grades were 9-7 (old style A*/A) and over a quarter were graded 9 (a top A*). 44% of pupils achieved 8 or more 8 or 9 grades, and 71% achieved 8 or more 7, 8 or 9 grades. The school’s Progress 8 scores are in the top 14% of schools in England and 97% of students achieve a Grade 5 or above in English and Maths GCSE, which is almost twice as high as both the local authority and national average.
In 2022, 35% of entries received the top grade of 9, and in addition 63% of all entries were graded 8 or 9 and 82% of all entries were awarded grades of 7, 8 or 9, making them the best GCSE results ever recorded by the grammar school.
In A levels, 28% of entries graded A* and 64% of all entries graded A* or A. In addition, a remarkable 83% of all entries were graded A*, A or B.
Westcliff Boys 11 Plus Admissions Process: 2024 Entry
For the 2024 entry to this school, your child should now be preparing to sit the 11 plus exam this September. Colchester County High School for Girls is part of the Consortium of Selective Schools in Essex (CSSE) The exact dates are yet to be confirmed.
Westcliff High School for Boys have not yet uploaded their admissions policy for 2024, but you can see their policy for 2023 entry here; it is likely that this year’s policy will be very similar.
Preparing for Westcliff Boys 11 Plus Exam
The CSSE is the provider of the 11 plus exam tests for this school. There are two equally weighted parts to the exam: English (50%) and maths (50%). Your son will be required to sit both tests on the same day.
The English test includes questions about grammar and vocabulary, comprehension, creative writing, and ‘applied reasoning’ (literacy and Verbal). Questions included in the Maths test are similar to those your son will be familiar with from the KS2 new national curriculum. However, it will also have some ‘applied reasoning (Maths/Non-Verbal). You can find lots more information about the CCSE exam here and a list of schools which use the CSSE exam here.
As the exam is scheduled for mid-September, your son should already be getting prepared. However, if they have not started preparing yet, it is not too late. Discover Help your Child Become 11 Plus-Ready in the Six-Month Countdown to the exam for support in approaching exam readiness and preparation, and for parents who are unsure where to begin, you might like to check out this Top 10 Tips to Pass the 11+ Exam guide.
Westcliff Boys 11 Plus Academy Sample Test Papers and Resources
There are past papers available online, but it’s important to remember that it does vary slightly from year to year in order to make it harder for students to prepare. Below you will find a selection of CSSE’s familiarisation papers from previous tests. It would help if you encourage your son to practise using these, as it will help him to get used to the question style. You can download the papers and the mark scheme for free, and you can refer to the mark scheme to check their answers.
2017
English Continuous Writing Paper
2016
English Continuous Writing Paper
2015
English Continuous Writing Paper
You can also order test paper packs from the CSSE website. Each pack contains two papers and costs £15.50 each. Alternatively, there are additional 11+ resources available to download digitally for free. You can easily print these at home to support your son’s study plan.
Additional Information about Westcliff High School for Boys Academy
The school is known for its extra-curricular provision, and offers CCF, the Duke of Edinburgh Award, a House System with inter-house competitions and various charity fundraisers. The school also runs numerous trips, including trips to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, German and French exchanges, rugby tours, music tours (including one recently to New York) and Geography trips to Spain. The school is also known for its sports provision and offers athletics, basketball, badminton, cricket, cross-country, football, golf, gymnastics, hockey, rugby, skiing, squash, swimming, table tennis and tennis. You can see a full prospectus for the school here and an overview of the school’s core values here.
Westcliff High School for Boys Academy FAQs
What is Westcliff High School for Boys Academy’s Ofsted rating?
Westcliff High School for Boys Academy’s Ofsted rating is ‘Outstanding’. You can find all the previous reports and ratings here.
Does Westcliff High School for Boys Academy have a catchment area?
No, the school does not have a catchment area, and boys come from many areas within Southend and some from further afield. However, in the event of oversubscription, places will be offered first to students in the priority area (postcodes SSO0 to SS9).
What is the pass mark for the CSSE Test?
This varies slightly year on year – normally students need to score above 308 if they live in the priority area and above 344 if they live outside the priority area.
What happens if Westcliff High School for Boys Academy is oversubscribed?
In the event that more boys pass the entrance exams than there are places, then priority will be given to looked after children, children on Pupil Premium, children with a sister already at the school, children with health needs and children who live within the priority area. You can find more information in their Admissions Policy.
How should I submit an appeal?
If you haven’t been offered the school place you wanted, Essex County Council advises parents/guardians to watch this video before making any decision on what to do next. You should then lodge an appeal via their online form, in the first instance, or complete the admission appeal form (Word, 43KB) and email it to statutoryappeals@essex.gov.uk
Is there a waiting list?
In the event that you are advised of your child’s place on the waiting list, please refer to this page for advice from Essex County Council. Please note that it is ultimately the school’s decision as to where on the waiting list your child is placed.
You can also access further 11 plus exam resources below:
A Guide to Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning Tests
Best Private Schools in the UK: Top 100 in 2022
11+ Maths Exam: Helping Your Child to Prepare and Pass in 2021
Meet the 11+ Online Tutors Delivering Results
When Should you Start to Prepare Your Child for the 11 Plus Exam