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Introduction
Future Stories Community Enterprise Ltd (FSCE) is a non-profit organisation focused on providing children with tailored education and support to help them achieve their full potential. FSCE offers a wide range of services, including support for the 11+ exam, as well as outreach programmes designed to ensure that children from all backgrounds have the opportunity to excel academically.
The organisation strives to make a lasting impact on the lives of children and their families, equipping them with the necessary skills to succeed in their educational journey.
FSCE also acts as an exam board and offers a unique exam format for students taking the 11+ exam in the United Kingdom.
FSCE is a relatively new entrant in this field. Currently, its exam is used by the following schools:
- Chelmsford County High School
- Clitheroe Royal Grammar School
- Crossley Heath Grammar School
- Ermysted’s Grammar School
- Heckmondwike Grammar School
- Lancaster Girls’ Grammar School
- Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Penrith
- Reading School for Boys
- The North Halifax Grammar School
- Skipton Girls’ High School
- Gloucestershire Grammar Schools (2028 entry onwards)
FSCE’s Partnership with Reading School
Reading School is a prestigious grammar school with a strong academic reputation, renowned for its commitment to nurturing talent and fostering a culture of learning. The partnership between FSCE and Reading School enables both organisations to pool their resources and expertise, providing high-quality support for students preparing for the 11+ exam.
FSCE and Reading School facilitate several outreach initiatives aimed at widening access to high-quality education for children from all backgrounds:
- Saturday School: This programme offers free tuition for children from disadvantaged backgrounds, ensuring they have access to the same level of support as their more privileged peers.
- Summer School: FSCE’s Summer School programme, supported by Reading School, offers intensive tuition and support to help students prepare for their 11+ exam, covering key areas such as English, Mathematics, Verbal Reasoning, and Non-Verbal Reasoning.
- Workshops and seminars: The partnership enables FSCE to organise workshops and seminars for parents and students, providing information about the 11+ exam and insights into the admission processes and requirements at Reading School.
Future Stories Community Enterprise (FSCE) 11 Plus (11+) Exam Format
The Future Stories exam is designed to test a range of skills and abilities that are essential for success in secondary school and beyond. The exam is also designed to be accessible to all students, regardless of their background or previous educational experience.
The FSCE 11 Plus exam comprises three sections:
- Paper 1: mathematics and English skills (multiple-choice format; 45 minutes in length)
- Paper 2: mathematics and English (constrained/free response format; 35 minutes in length)
- Creative Writing (20 minutes in length)
Children are expected to show competence in skills appropriate to Key Stage 2 English and Mathematics.
The test elements are marked by a computer and are age-standardised to ensure fairness. All students with an eligible score from Papers 1 and 2 will have their creative writing element assessed, which will determine their ranking.
Please note: Reading School and Chelmsford County High School uses an extended and distinct version of the FSCE exam format.
Rather than following the standard three-paper structure, Reading School’s assessment includes four papers and covers a wider range of subjects, including:
Art & Design, Computing, Design & Technology, English, Geography, History, Languages, Mathematics, Music, Physical Education, and Science.
The four components are as follows:
- Adventure Paper: Multiple-choice questions from any of the subjects listed above
- Beacon Paper: Short written responses across any subject
- Compass Paper: Additional multiple-choice questions covering a broad subject range
- Discovery Paper: Requires a creative response and assesses imaginative thinking
The Discovery Paper places particular emphasis on creativity, defined as the ability to generate new ideas or solve problems in original and imaginative ways.
This format is specific to Reading School and differs significantly from the FSCE format used by other schools.
Which schools use the FSCE 11 Plus (11+) Exam?
FSCE creates the 11+ exam for the following grammar schools so far: Chelmsford County High School, Colyton Grammar School, Crossley Heath Grammar School, Heckmondwike Grammar School, Reading School, and The North Halifax Grammar School.
How to Prepare for 11 Plus (11+) Exam by FSCE
Here at Exam Papers Plus, we’ve created specific practice tests to help your child prepare for the FSCE exam format at the following schools:
Chelmsford County High School for Girls (CCHS), located in Essex, is another school that uses the Future Stories exam as part of its admissions process. The school is a selective grammar school for girls and is known for its strong academic reputation.
Practice Papers
Crossley Heath Grammar School is one of the top-performing grammar schools in Halifax, England.
Practice Papers
Heckmondwike Grammar School is a co-educational grammar school and sixth form in West Yorkshire with exceptional academic achievements.
Practice Papers
FSCE has a strong partnership with Reading School, one of the top grammar schools in the United Kingdom.
Practice Papers
The North Halifax Grammar School is a high-achieving grammar school in Halifax, England.
Practice Papers
Frequently Asked Questions about the 11 Plus (11+) FSCE Exam for Year 7 Entry
The Future Stories exam is an 11+ exam designed to test a range of skills and abilities, including literacy, numeracy, and critical thinking. It consists of three papers testing Maths, English and Creative Writing.
The exam is open to all students aged 11+ who are interested in applying to a school that uses the exam as part of their admissions process.
Currently, the schools that use the FSCE exam format are: Chelmsford County High School, Clitheroe Royal Grammar School, Crossley Heath Grammar School, Heckmondwike Grammar School, Reading School, The North Halifax Grammar School, Skipton Girls’ High School and Lancaster Girls’ Grammar School
The exam consists of three papers covering Maths, English and Writing. The Maths and English papers share similarities with the older CEM format that is no longer used. For example, the way questions are presented and the manner in which answer sheets need to be filled bear resemblances.
There are two main differences:
- FSCE does not test Pictures (Non-Verbal Reasoning), which featured prominently in the CEM 11+ Exam format.
- FSCE assesses creative writing. CEM tests did not test this skill at all.
The exam is scored based on the student’s performance in all papers. These scores are then standardised and ranked.
There is no official pass mark for this exam. However, we offer suggested target scores to aim for depending on the school you are targeting. Click the links below to learn more:
Clitheroe Royal Grammar School
Lancaster Girls’ Grammar School
Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Penrith
The North Halifax Grammar School
Gloucestershire Grammar Schools (2028 entry onwards)
No, the exam is not based on any specific curriculum or syllabus. It is designed to test a range of skills and abilities that are essential for success in secondary school and beyond.
However, it’s clear that a solid understanding of the 11+ requirements for Maths, English (Vocabulary) and Writing will set up a student to do well in this exam.
The key to doing well in this exam is being familiar with the new format so there are no mysteries. Your child will then be able to approach their exam with confidence as they know what to expect. For example, they should ideally be aware of details such as how their answers need to be marked and how the questions are laid out.
That’s why working through accurate practice tests is so helpful. It removes uncertainty, thereby increasing confidence and performance.
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Author(s)
Louise Lang
Director of Learning
