Merry Christmas from Heckmondwike Grammar School

We are delighted to once again be recognised in the Sunday Times and this year absolutely thrilled to have received 2 awards.

Secondary School of the Year 2025 in the North of England – Heckmondwike Grammar School

Secondary School of the Year for Academic Excellence 2025, Ranked No 1 in the North of England – Heckmondwike Grammar School

The first award is for our consistent performance, and a quote from the Sunday Times editor for being “head and shoulders above the other schools in the north of England” and the second award, for academic excellence, reflecting we are now the highest ranked secondary school in the north of England.

We knew our recent exam results at GCSE and A level were very strong indeed and so we were crossing our fingers we had been recognised. However, to receive 2 awards is beyond anything we could have hoped for and is a wonderful early Christmas present for the whole school community.

I must give great thanks to the staff and students for the incredible work they have done together over a number of years. At the end of the day, we are all in education to benefit our wonderful students and it is gratifying enough to witness their successes and career journeys they go on. However, to receive national awards towards the end of a very busy term is a real fillip for all of us and will mean a lot to everyone.

This link, http://thetimes.com/best-schools-league-table will give you more information about the awards.

HGS will once again be supporting Children in Need, but this year, we are going BIG.

All students have been challenged with raising £10 each and have come up with some fantastic ideas to raise money including bake sales, staff football matches, the making and selling of bracelets and key rings etc.  There will also be a variety of events in school including a Pudsey Party, a bush tucker trial and a staff ice bucket challenge.

We will also of course be holding our annual non-uniform day.  All students and staff who take part are asked to pay £1.00 for the privilege.

The UKMT sets out to advance the mathematics education of young people and this nationwide competition is aimed at the UK’s most able girls. This year’s challenge which took place at the end of September was far from straightforward. This challenging competition is composed of five interesting and challenging problems for which girls have two and a half hours to solve. Each problem requires a full, written solution. Their written solutions are then sent off to be scrutinised and marked by a panel.

This year, fifteen students in year 11 and the sixth form participated in this prestigious challenge. Together they achieved a remarkable 7 Merit and 5 Distinction awards. Congratulations in particular to the students who achieved Distinction awards; Methuli Perera Kuranage, Vishaka Vijayaruban, Rachel Gan, Nusaiba Nusaiba and Laura Hatherly.

To everyone who participated, we are incredibly proud of your dedication and achievement, and look forward to doing it again next year.

Apply here

Our Sixth Form Open Evening for 2025 entry will take place on Thursday 24 October 2024 between 5pm and 8pm.

Prospective students are invited to attend our Sixth Form Open Evening for September 2025 admissions. The evening will consist of talks from the Headteacher, the Head of Sixth Form, and provide an opportunity to visit departments to find out more about about out A level courses and see our fantastic facilities.

At Heckmondwike, academic achievement is at the forefront, and our results speak for themselves. Year after year, our students achieve fantastic A-Level results that exceed the national averages. This year, an amazing 85% of students scored A-Level grades of C or higher, and 80% of those grades were A*, A, or B. Eleven of our students picked up three A* grades, and five of our students bagged an incredible four A* grades!

But what’s even more impressive than the statistics is the environment that helps make this possible. The teachers here are committed to helping students reach their full potential, and our ethos of ‘work hard, play hard’ runs through everything we do. Whether you’re aiming for top grades or just trying to be the best version of yourself, you’ll find all the support you need.

One of the things that really sets Heckmondwike Grammar School Sixth Form apart is the sheer number of students who go on to study at some of the UK’s most prestigious universities, including Oxford and Cambridge. The school has a track record of sending more than double the percentage of students to Oxbridge than the national average. This shows how well-prepared students are when they leave. However, we don’t just focus on academic excellence. We help students develop the confidence needed to pursue their dreams, and we strive to equip them with the knowledge and skills they need to make those dreams a reality.

The Jo Cox Sixth Form Centre: A Space to Learn and Grow

When you walk into the Jo Cox Building, you immediately get a sense of what makes Heckmondwike so special. This modern, purpose-built facility is at the heart of Sixth Form life. Whether you’re looking for a quiet study space or a place to hang out with friends, it’s all there. The design of the building encourages both focused learning and community, so you feel part of something bigger while having the space to work on your individual goals.

One of the best things about Heckmondwike’s Sixth Form is the flexibility it offers. Most students opt to take three A-Levels, with a number studying four, and the school provides a wide variety of subjects, so there’s something for everyone. Whether you’re passionate about the sciences, humanities, or arts, you can tailor your studies to suit your future plans.

Please visit the Sixth Form area of our website for more information.

Applications to join Heckmondwike Grammar School Sixth Form should be made through the Kirklees ‘Get Into’ system by visiting https://www.get-into.co.uk/heckmondwike-grammar-sixth-form

Yusuf Shah, a student at Heckmondwike Grammar School has achieved the highest accolade in achieving the highest score in the whole of the UK in the Junior Mathematical Olympiad.

He received a gold medal for his achievements and a letter from the United Kingdom Mathematical Trust. They wrote; “This is an exceptional achievement for both you and your school and we are pleased that your problem solving ability, hard work and dedication have been recognised in this way. We hope that your impressive personal performance will encourage you and your classmates to continue to participate in UKMT competitions, and we hope that this will help you all to become stronger young mathematicians.”

In May, Yusuf also competed in the The British Federation of Mathematical Games: Logic and Mathematical Games Final 2024 at Coventry University and managed to secure a place and some funding to represent the UK in the International Championship of Mathematical and Logical Games in August in Paris. It was an intense and exciting 2 days of competition. Yusuf did very well in the competition, getting 14 out of 16 problems correct, with the highest score and fastest time on day 2 of the competition in his age category.  A highlight of the event was meeting the Fields Medal Winner Professor Hugo Duminil-Copin.

Everybody there was very welcoming and supportive of Yusuf and he even gave an interview to the French media!

Former Heckmondwike Grammar School student, Mike Hollin has published his first children’s novel, ‘Smart Fiona’.

Mike attended HGS between 1995 and 2002 before going on to Huddersfield University to study Business Studies. He then went on to study law as the College of Law in Chester, and has worked in the legal sector ever since. Mike has always adored books, reading and writing but had never set out to write a children’s novel. His inspiration came following a career break in 2011, when he moved to South Korea and taught English to children in a primary school.

Smart Fiona is about a 10 year old girl who gets sucked into her smartphone and discovers a brand new world. The Apps on the phone are being controlled by the ruthless Queen Darkness. With the help of her two companions, Sunita and Sharlene, Fiona must defeat Queen Darkness if she is to return to the real world. However, her charger is lost, and her phone’s battery is dwindling down to zero. If the battery dies, Fiona will never be able to return to the real world. Will Fiona be smart enough when it counts the most?’

Smart Fiona is aimed at 8-12 year olds and is available to buy online at Amazon, Whsmith, Waterstones, Blackwells, Browns and Hive.

We are aware that some parents have not yet received their letters providing the details required for the Entrance Exam on Monday 16 September. All letters were posted first class last week, so we can only assume this is due to issues with the Royal Mail postal service.

We will now send further details to ALL parents of children sitting the test via email this morning (Thursday 12 September).

Please accept our apologies for this delay.