St Thomas More High School

St Thomas More High School in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex uses CSSE. The test is administered by the Consortium of Selective Schools in Essex (CSSE) and comprises two distinct written papers: Mathematics and English comprehension/creative skills. There are no separate Verbal or Non-Verbal Reasoning papers.

St Thomas More High School offers approximately 30 (Selective Stream) Year 7 places, with competition historically rated as Medium. Admissions criteria: Entry to the selective stream requires sitting the CSSE 11+ exam.

Primarily local Catholic parishes, but selective stream is open to those who pass the CSSE 11+. For state grammar applications, parents must ensure their permanent residence satisfies published local authority criteria before the 31st October Common Application Form (CAF) deadline.

Register for the CSSE exam, submit a CAF to the local authority, and provide a SIF to the school. Key dates: Open Evening: September; Registration Deadline: July (via CSSE) & SIF Deadline; Entrance Exam: September (Year 6); National Offer Day: March 1st. Always consult the official school website for any annual adjustments.

Focus on: Focus on CSSE exam preparation for English and Maths., Complete practice papers under timed conditions., Remember to complete the SIF in addition to the CAF.. Preparation should begin in early Year 5 with disciplined 15-minute daily micro-practice, timed mock exams matching the CSSE format, and systematic mistake review using LuraPrep to eliminate repeat errors.