Best Grammar Schools in Yorkshire in 2026

There are six state-funded grammar schools in Yorkshire. In North Yorkshire these are Ermysted's Grammar School (boys), Ripon Grammar School (co-educational) and Skipton Girls' High School (girls). In West Yorkshire these are Heckmondwike Grammar School, North Halifax Grammar School and The Crossley Heath School, all co-educational. Each school sets its own entrance exam, so there is no single shared Yorkshire 11+ paper, though five of the six use papers provided by FSCE, while Ripon Grammar School uses GL Assessment. For 2027 entry, exam dates fall in September 2026, with registration windows opening in spring and closing over the summer, so checking each target school's specific deadlines early is essential. 

From the ancient streets of Ripon to the hills above Halifax, Yorkshire is home to six genuinely excellent state grammar schools. Here is a clear, complete guide to the best grammar schools in Yorkshire, their entrance exams, and the key dates families need for 2027 entry. 

How many grammar schools are there in Yorkshire?

There are six state-funded, selective grammar schools in Yorkshire, grouped across North Yorkshire and West Yorkshire.

• 6: State grammar schools in Yorkshire

• 3: In North Yorkshire

• 3: In West Yorkshire

Top grammar schools in Yorkshire

1. Ermysted's Grammar School 

Skipton, North Yorkshire · Boys · Founded 1492 

One of the oldest schools in the country, Ermysted's has built a strong academic reputation over more than five centuries, alongside a broad extracurricular programme and a genuine focus on personal development.

Entrance exam: FSCE (FSCE papers, shared with Skipton Girls' High School)

2. Ripon Grammar School

Ripon, North Yorkshire · Co-educational · Founded 1555

Among the oldest schools in England, Ripon Grammar School combines a long academic tradition with a genuinely supportive, inclusive community and a wide range of extracurricular activities.

Entrance exam: GL Assessment, testing verbal and non-verbal reasoning

3. Skipton Girls' High School

Skipton, North Yorkshire · Girls · Founded 1886

A leading girls' grammar school with a strong academic record, Skipton Girls' High fosters an empowering environment where students are encouraged to develop intellectual curiosity and leadership skills.

Entrance exam: FSCE papers in English, maths and creative writing

4. Heckmondwike Grammar School

Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire · Co-educational · Founded 1898

Known for consistently high academic results, Heckmondwike Grammar School is equally recognised for its supportive, inclusive community and its focus on developing well-rounded individuals.

Entrance exam: FSCE papers in English, maths and creative writing

5. North Halifax Grammar School

Halifax, West Yorkshire · Co-educational · Founded 1985

One of the more recently established grammar schools on this list, North Halifax has quickly built a strong academic reputation alongside a broad, balanced curriculum and rich extracurricular offering.

Entrance exam: FSCE papers in English, maths and creative writing

6. The Crossley Heath School

Halifax, West Yorkshire · Co-educational · Founded 1985

With roots going back to the sixteenth century, Crossley Heath combines a strong academic tradition with a genuine focus on developing well-rounded students across a broad curriculum.

Entrance exam: FSCE papers in English, maths and creative writing, with a supplementary test date available

All six schools are highly regarded, heavily oversubscribed, and consistently among the strongest performing state schools in the region, so families are genuinely choosing between excellent options rather than picking a single stand out winner.

Key dates for Yorkshire grammar school 2027 entry

Since each school runs its own separate registration and exam process, keeping track of every deadline matters enormously.

North Yorkshire schools

West Yorkshire schools

Dates that apply to every school

Dates may be subject to change. Always confirm directly with your target school for the very latest information before relying on any published date.

What's on the Yorkshire 11+ exam

There is no single shared 11+ exam across Yorkshire's six grammar schools. Most use papers provided by FSCE, Future Stories Community Enterprise, while one uses GL Assessment.

How the Yorkshire 11+ is scored

After the test, answer sheets are marked using Optical Mark Recognition technology, which reads a child's selected answers and awards a mark for every correct one.

Scores are age-standardised. Raw scores are converted into a Standardised Age Score, so younger children within the year group are not disadvantaged compared to older classmates. This standardised score is what schools actually use to rank candidates. For schools with a creative writing component, only children who reach an eligible score in English and maths have their creative writing paper marked at all.

There is no single fixed pass mark across Yorkshire's grammar schools. Each school ranks all age-standardised scores and sets its own qualifying standard, so passing the test does not automatically guarantee a place, particularly at schools that are heavily oversubscribed.

How to apply to a grammar school in Yorkshire

Before diving into registration, it is genuinely worth speaking to your child's current teacher first, since grammar schools select children working toward the top of their year group, and a teacher can offer an honest, informed view on whether your child is likely to keep pace.

1. Register for the 11+ at each target school

Every school has its own registration process and deadline, available on each school's website. Register separately for every school you are applying to, even where two schools share the same exam.

2. Sit the test and wait for results

Results are sent to parents in mid to late October 2026 for 2027 entry, with exact timing varying slightly by school.

3. Complete the common application form

If your child meets the qualifying standard, list the school on your secondary school common application form, submitted to your home local authority by 31st October 2026. Always check each school's specific admissions policy before listing it.

4. Wait for National Offers Day

On 1st March 2027, families are informed which secondary school place has been allocated. If a preferred school is not offered, an alternative local place will be provided, along with information on how to appeal.

How to prepare for the top grammar schools in Yorkshire

With six schools, two different exam providers and several distinct registration windows, preparation genuinely benefits from starting early and staying organised.

1. Confirm your target school's exact exam format first

Knowing whether your child needs GL Assessment style verbal and non-verbal reasoning, or FSCE style English, maths and creative writing, shapes the whole preparation plan from the outset.

2. Build strong core skills well before Year 6

Starting in Year 4 or Year 5 gives children genuine time to build vocabulary, mental arithmetic and comprehension skills steadily, rather than cramming in the final months.

3. Practise under real timed conditions

Working through 11+ past papers and sitting 11 plus mocks builds the pace and composure needed for exam day, well before it counts.

4. Get support that understands both exam formats

A tutor who genuinely understands both FSCE and GL Assessment style papers can prepare a child accurately for whichever school they are targeting, rather than offering generic 11+ practice alone.

Our 11+ free practice papers are a great starting point for families beginning preparation, and our 11 plus intensive summer course offers a concentrated push well ahead of the September test dates.

If your family is nearby, our 11 plus tutors in Birmingham would love to help build exactly this kind of targeted, format aware preparation for your child's Yorkshire grammar school application.

Final thoughts

Knowing which grammar schools in Yorkshire might suit your child is a great first step. Knowing exactly how ready they are for a specific school's exam format is the next one, and that is where a genuine, honest assessment makes the real difference.

Do not wait until registration closes to start preparing. Build the skills your target school's exam actually rewards, one structured session at a time.

Get started today and see what focused, expert 11+ preparation can really do for your child's confidence.