Selective grammar schools in the authority admit children based on their performance in a series of tests, designed to identify academic potential. This information is aimed at parents whose children will be tested for consideration for entry to Ripon Grammar School or Ermysted's Grammar School in Skipton during the academic year 2013/2014.

If you would like us to consider your child for a place at Ripon Grammar School or Ermysted's Grammar School, you will need to list that school on the common application form along with your other preferences and return it by the secondary application deadline of 31 October 2012. We will post the results of the selection tests to you on 17 October 2012, in time for the deadline for secondary common application forms.

For information on applying to Skipton Girls' High School, which is an academy, you will need to contact the school direct.

If you wish to apply for a place at Skipton Girls' High School you will also need to list the school on your common application form. Each school has its own website (see the weblinks below) and prospectus for more information.

Selective areas

Selective areas refers to the following schools and the normal or local areas from which children usually go to that school. This term will be used throughout these web pages.

Schools in the Skipton area

• Ermysted's Grammar School, a voluntary-aided selective school for boys.
• Skipton Girls' High School*, a selective academy for girls. This school became an academy on 1 April 2011.
• Aireville School, Skipton, a non-selective school for boys and girls in a selective area.
• Upper Wharfedale School, Threshfield, a non-selective school for boys and girls in a selective area.

*Details of testing arrangements for Skipton Girls' High School can be obtained from the school direct. 

Schools in the Ripon area

• Ripon Grammar School, a selective school for boys and girls (which includes 14 boarding places).
• Outwood Academy, Ripon, a non-selective academy in a selective area for boys and girls. 

Suitability for selective grammar school education

The definition of who is suitable for a Ripon Grammar School or Ermysted's Grammar School education is very precise. The results of the North Yorkshire selection tests are used to find the highest scoring 28 per cent (or as close as possible) of all year 6 pupils who live in the Ripon area and the highest scoring 28 per cent (or as close as possible) of all year 6 boys who live in the Skipton area. This percentage figure then sets the cut-off mark in each elective area, setting the standard which pupils must reach to be considered as suitable for selective grammar school education in that area. The cut off marks between Ripon and Skipton are usually different and will vary from year to year. In the last three years, the cutoff marks for these two areas, including all boys and girls have been:

For us to consider children who live outside the Ripon selective area as suitable for Ripon Grammar School, they must meet the cut-off mark which is set by the performance of the pupils who live in that area.

For us to consider boys who live outside the Skipton selective area as suitable for Ermysted's Grammar School they must meet the cut-off mark which is set by the performance of the boys who live in that area.

If your child has achieved the appropriate cut-off mark for Ripon Grammar School or Ermysted's Grammar School, they will be eligible to be considered for a place at the selective school that has been preferenced. Even if your child meets the standard needed for selective education, this does not guarantee that they will get a place at a selective grammar school if that school is oversubscribed.

You can view details of last year's admission appeals here.

Ripon Grammar School and Ermysted's Grammar School help to administer the council's selection scheme to decide which pupils are suitable for admission. Ermysted's Grammar School's and Skipton Girls' High School's over-subscription, admission and appeals policies can be found on the schools websites at www.ermysteds.n-yorks.sch.uk or www.sghs.org.uk.

As Ripon Grammar School is a community school it adheres to North Yorkshire County Council's (NYCC) agreed admissions policy as outlined here.

Key dates - selection procedure

Ripon selection parents' evening held at Ripon Grammar School 3 July 2012 (7pm-9pm). Skipton boy's selection parents' evening held at Ermysted's Grammar School 5 July 2012 (7pm-9pm) Closing date for entry for testing 17 August 2012.

*Review and appeal dates may vary in exceptional circumstances.

Further information

Below you will find further information on selective schools, admissions policies where relevant, example selection tests and frequently asked questions. This information is grouped by school.

Applying online for your child to take a selection test

You can apply for your child to take a selection test by clicking here.

Useful downloads Selective school admissions guide 2012/13 [1Mb] [pdf] Printable selective guide to school admissions Selective school admissions guide 2013/14 [2Mb] [pdf] Printable selective guide to school admissions Ripon selection parents evening 2012 [156kb] [pdf] Presentation from Ripon selection parents evening 2012 Skipton selection parents evening 2012 [158kb] [pdf] Presentation from Skipton selection parents evening 2012   Related Pages School admission policies Weblinks Please note: All external websites open in a new browser window and NYCC is not responsible for the content of external websites. Ermysted's Grammar School Ermysted's Grammar school website Ripon Grammar School Ripon Grammar School website Skipton Girls' High School Skipton Girls' High School website Contacts The education office Contact details for the admissions, school transport, post-16 support and the welfare teams. Full details for The education office