At a Glance
Assessment: CSSE
Fees Type: Free
Boarding: Day school
Admissions: Boys Only
Places per year: 185
Introduction
Westcliff High School for Boys is a selective boys school based in Southend. Founded in 1920, Westcliff has a long-standing tradition for rich academic culture and excellence. At its heart, the boys school aims to produce outstanding exam results, meeting this goal every summer on results day. However, the school and its headmaster believe in a broad, life focused education, where boys are taught ‘strong values’ and ‘independence’.
The high exam result attainment is evidenced by the school’s recent sets of GSCE results. Following the 2019 GCSE examinations, 97% of boys at the school achieved at least a grade 5 (or higher) in English and Maths; under the previous GCSE marking criteria, this is equivalent to grades C – A*. This accompanies 99% of all students staying in full-time education or entering into employment as well as a “Progress 8” score at 0.83 (well above average). Progress 8 is an indicator measuring the progression of children’s education from KS2 to GCSE level. Adjoining the High School is their Sixth Form, difficult to get into but progressed to by many students following their GCSEs. In the 2019 academic year, the Sixth Form saw over a 99% pass rate for the students, with over 75% of grades at A*-B.
The results speak for themselves; consequently, Westcliff High School For Boys is an increasingly competitive academy for entry in year 7. It is popular and oversubscribed. The boys’ school selects students based on their performance in the CSSE 11+ Examination. This is the Consortium of Selective Schools in Essex. It is a multiple choice test, made up of two papers. One test in English and one in Mathematics. Each paper is designed to test a candidate beyond their ordinary primary education, with both formatting and question difficulty. Our resources with 11 Plus Hero help prepare your child for the CSSE 11+, providing them with a toolkit to have the best chance to succeed for admission into Westcliff High School For Boys. We also provide information to help guide yourself and your child through the admissions process, so that you and your child can confidently and competently apply to your chosen schools.
Westcliff High School For Boys Key Information
Here, we list key information regarding Westcliff High School for Boys, including addresses and contact details. This is to be used by students and parents in their school selection and application process.
School Address
Full Address:
Westcliff High School For Boys, Kenilworth GardensWestcliff-on-Sea
Essex
SS0 0BP
Contact Information
Parking in the school
There are no parking facilities at Westcliff High School for Boys. The school recommends not to drive to the area and instead take public transport. In the event driving is essential, parking can be found within a 30 minute walk.
Additional parking off site
North Street Car Park, 20 North Street, Leigh-on-Sea SS9 1QE (Opening Times: Mon-Sun All Day)
Elm Road Car Park, 69 Elm Road, Leigh-on-Sea SS9 1SL (Opening Times: Mon-Sun All Day)
Additional parking off site
North Street Car Park, 20 North Street, Leigh-on-Sea SS9 1QE (Opening Times: Mon-Sun All Day)
Elm Road Car Park, 69 Elm Road, Leigh-on-Sea SS9 1SL (Opening Times: Mon-Sun All Day)
Key Information for Westcliff High School For Boys
PAN for Year 7 intake (2021)
Total Student Capacity Years 7 to 13 (2022)
Total Students Years 7 to 13 (2018)
Percentage Capacity (2022)
Latest Ofsted Rating (2007)
Selection Test
Westcliff High School For Boys Key Dates and Application Information
Westcliff High School for Boys application and admission process requires strict adherence to key dates and deadlines. At 11 Plus Hero, we understand there can be alot to keep track of, especially with exam revision too. For this reason, we regularly update key dates below.
CSSE Entrance Test Registration Opening (Available Online):
Entrance Test Deadline:
Open Days
Reasonable Adjustments Deadline
Letter posted to parents informing them of the test arrangements
11+ Entrance Examination Date
Results Date:
School Application to Local Authority (school preferences must be finalised by this date):
School Offer
Application Documents for Westcliff High School For Boys
Below are several links containing specific information regarding the application process to Westcliff High School for Boys and registration for its selective test under CSSE.
The CSSE 11+ Entrance Test Format
Westcliff High School for Boys uses the CSSE 11+ as their selective test to make offers to potential students. This is the test common to all the grammar schools in the Essex Consortium of grammar schools. The assessment consists of two papers: English and Maths, made up of both multiple choice and open answer questions. The English test includes reading comprehension, vocabulary questions, literacy questions and creative writing, while the Maths questions test students on content similar to what they will have learnt at KS2, but pushing them a little further. The test is designed with difficult formatting and challenging questions. The unfamiliar format and its difficulty can seem daunting; for this reason, 11+ Hero is here to help. We understand and are accustomed to the content of the CSSE 11+ Entrance, the question methodology and how to score marks highly. We can provide a toolkit to your child, familiarising them with the test format and ensuring they have the best chance to succeed in admission to Westcliff High School for Boys.
The CSSE 11+ Entrance Test: Overview
The CSSE 11+ consists of two test papers, one testing English and the other Maths. The test will include both multiple choice and open answer questions. For an in depth breakdown of the CSSE 11+, please visit our article ‘ – Selective Tests in Essex – the CSSE CEM 11+ Test’.
Paper One
Maths
Paper Two
English
The CSSE 11+ Entrance Test - 11 Plus Assessment Criteria
| Verbal Reasoning | Non-verbal Reasoning | English (some verbal reasoning is included) | Maths | Additional |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| XX | XX | ✔✔ | ✔✔ | n/an/a |
Pass Mark
Test scores are received in mid-October of the preceding year of entry; for example, for entry in 2023, test scores will be received by mid-October 2022. The scores are also ‘weighted’, meaning children are given different results depending on their age, so they are not penalised for it. For admission to Westcliff High School For Boys, there is a pass mark which is set annually, sent out with a child’s results in October of the preceding year of entry. For Westcliff High School For Boys, no child will be admitted if they score below this pass mark in the entrance test. It is notable that merely passing the test does not mean a child will be granted entry to the school.
Pass Mark
Test scores are received in mid-October of the preceding year of entry; for example, for entry in 2023, test scores will be received by mid-October 2022. The scores are also ‘weighted’, meaning children are given different results depending on their age, so they are not penalised for it. For admission to Westcliff High School For Boys, there is a pass mark which is set annually, sent out with a child’s results in October of the preceding year of entry. For Westcliff High School For Boys, no child will be admitted if they score below this pass mark in the entrance test. It is notable that merely passing the test does not mean a child will be granted entry to the school.
Catchment Area
There is no official catchment area for Westcliff High School For Boys. However, the oversubscription criteria DOES operate on priority postcodes. This means that boys who pass the test and live in the priority postcodes have a higher chance of admission. The priority postcodes are outlined below:
- SS0, SS1, SS2, SS3, SS4, SS5, SS6, SS7, SS8 and SS9
Additional Eligibility
The school determines admission in the order of priority set out below:
- Looked After or Previously Looked After* children who have exceeded the pass mark in rank order of marks;
- Children who exceed the pass mark, reside within the priority area codes and are entitled to ‘preferential consideration’**;
- Others resident in the priority area codes, who have exceeded the pass mark in rank order of marks;
- Pass mark exceeded children resident outside the priority area codes who are entitled to preferential consideration;
- Others resident outside the priority area codes, who have exceeded the pass mark in rank order of marks
*A Looked After or Previously Looked After child has been in or previously been in state authority care
**Preferential consideration, in the context of Westcliff High School for Boys, are children who are Looked After or Previously Looked After or are in receipt of Free School Meals. In the oversubscription criteria outlined above, it gives them priority over other potential candidates.
For children with an Education and Healthcare Plan, naming the school, will be admitted under separate statutory procedures and not under the schools admission policy and subsequent oversubscription criteria. A child with an EHCP which names the school, who passes the test, will be admitted prior to the allocation of places using the oversubscription criteria. Hence, the PAN number of 180 will reduce accordingly.
For a full and detailed breakdown of the Westcliff High School for Boys admissions policy please visit the link on their website
Westcliff High School For Boys FAQs
The pass mark for Westcliff High School For Boys is subject to change every year. It is sent out with each child’s aggregate score on the CSSE every October of the preceding year of entry. In the oversubscription criteria, boys are also ranked in order of their scores, with the highest scoring boys having most priority for admission.
Westcliff High School For Boys tests candidates using the CSSE 11+, used by all the schools in the Essex Consortium of Grammar Schools. It assesses a candidate’s competence in Maths and English, and is designed to push them past their primary level education.
- The CSSE website hosts familiarisation materials, allowing children to better understand the format of their exams.
- Please find these on the CSSE website.
- This familiarisation material should include Maths and English questions. Please note, the Maths questions will be of a similar standard to the difficult standard of questions on the KS2 curriculum.
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