Advice 11 Plus Year 6 St. Thomas More High School 11 Plus (11+) CSSE Exam – Key Details 2026

St. Thomas More High School 11 Plus (11+) CSSE Exam – Key Details 2026

Written by Louise Lang

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Introduction

St. Thomas More High School is a bilateral academy for boys established in 1960. It’s located in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, and caters to pupils between the ages of 11 and 18. The school’s patron saint is St Thomas More, annually celebrated on St Thomas More Day.

The curriculum grounds itself in the values of the Christian faith and is designed to promote students’ growth in all aspects of life. The well-designed syllabus is integrated throughout the entirety of the educational process, instilling intellectual curiosity and a commitment to academic excellence. During CPSHE lessons and the overall learning journey, students can use diverse learning opportunities to improve their abilities and realise their full potential. Some of the core subjects are mathematics, science, and the English language. 

St. Thomas More High School is invested in helping pupils develop their skills beyond the classroom setting and ensures they have a variety of extracurricular activities available each year. The most popular ones include robotics, art club, theatre, chess, board games, etc. 

The school’s ethos emphasises the importance of faith and adherence to Christian values. Students are not only expected to pursue academic excellence but are also encouraged to actively cultivate their connection with God.

St. Thomas More High School is a reputable school that proves its excellence through its students’ yearly performance. Pupils score highly in exams and secure spots at prestigious universities. Ofsted rates the school as “Good”. [1]

St. Thomas More High School 11 Plus (11+) Exam Information 2026

Address: Kenilworth Gardens, Westcliff-on-Sea SS0 0BW

County: Essex

Admissions info: office@st-thomasmore.southend.sch.uk, 01702 344933

School type: Boys’ academy

Number of places in Year 7: 180

Open Day date: July

11+ Exam date: September 2026

Pass mark: Aim for 80-85%+ in our practice tests. See below for more details.

Exam type / Board: CSSE (Essex 11 Plus)


St. Thomas More High School 11 Plus (11+) Admissions

St. Thomas More High aims to admit students who will support the school and its reputation, work hard and respect the needs of others. Of the 150 places available at the school, 30 places will be offered to boys who pass the 11 Plus exam, which is administered by the Consortium of Selective Schools in Essex.

In the instance that two or more boys tie for the final selective place, allocation will be determined by the school’s oversubscription criteria, which gives priority to:

  • Looked After and previously Looked After boys from Catholic families
  • Baptised, practising Catholic boys from selected parishes
  • Other baptised, practising Catholic boys
  • Baptised Catholic boys
  • Other Looked After boys
  • Practising Christian boys that attend a Catholic primary school
  • Practising Christian boys
  • Families who desire a Catholic education for their son.


Additionally, preference will be given within each category to boys who have a sibling at the school and to those who live closest to the school.

You can view the school’s exact location on the map below:


How to Apply for 11 Plus (11+) Entry to St. Thomas More High School

In order to apply for a Year 7 place at St. Thomas More High School, parents need to complete a Common Application Form (CAF) as well as the school’s Supplementary Information Form.

In some cases, the application will also need to be supported by a Certificate of Practice, obtained from the applicant’s Parish Priest (or another Priest who knows the family well).

The 11 plus exam is taken in September and parents will receive the results in October. Registration begins in early May, when your child is in Year 5.

Is St. Thomas More High School part of a Consortium?

St. Thomas More High School belongs to the Essex 11+ Consortium, a group of schools that use the same entrance exam format and share a very similar admissions process.

Essex 11 Plus CSSE Exam information


Does St. Thomas More High School have a catchment area?

Yes, St. Thomas More High School has a catchment area with priority based on location and distance from the school, covering the following postcode areas: SS0, SS1, SS2, SS3, SS4, SS5, SS6, SS7, SS8 and SS9.

St. Thomas More High School 11 Plus (11+) Exam Format

St. Thomas More High School follows the same 11 Plus exam format as all CSSE member schools. There is only one selection test to ensure that students don’t need to take a separate exam for each school to which they have applied.

The St. Thomas More High School 11+ assessment consists of two tests:

  • English – covering comprehension and creative writing;
  • Mathematics – focusing on topics from the KS2 National Curriculum.


The test scores are age-standardised to ensure that older pupils don’t have an unfair advantage.


How to Prepare for the St. Thomas More High School 11 Plus (11+) Exam

The CSSE entrance exam is highly competitive and selective. We therefore strongly recommend that you make use of our resources, which fully reflect an assessment of such nature. They provide an insight into the layout of the actual exam, successfully preparing your child for the types of questions that will come up on the big day.

Getting your son used to answering questions by practising with our tests will help you identify his strengths and weaknesses. Once you determine the weak areas, you will then be able to adjust his study schedule accordingly. 

Such a structured approach tends to help children overcome their nerves and gain a significant advantage over other candidates. For this reason, our practice tests are used successfully by hundreds of thousands of students every year.

St. Thomas More High School 11 Plus (11+) Exam Pass Marks and Target Scores

Historical data shows that most schools in the area do not admit applicants who have a standardised score less than 303 in the CSSE. Exam results from previous years suggest this correlates with a score of roughly 80-85%+ in our 11+ Essex practice tests.

Whilst there are no guarantees, this has historically been a fairly strong indicator that your child should do well in the St. Thomas More High School 11+ exam. Please click here to learn more.

St. Thomas More High School 11 Plus (11+) Practice Exam Papers

We have a number of practice tests specifically designed to help students prepare for the St. Thomas More High School 11+ exam.

Full Practice Tests Bundle

Essex CSSE 11+ exam preparation

You can now purchase a bundle of all of our CSSE Practice Tests for the Essex 11+ Exam at a large discount. Click the button below to learn more.

Essex CSSE 11+ exam preparation

The CSSE 11+ English paper can include both multiple-choice and open-answer comprehension questions, as well as a writing section.

Practice Papers

  • 11+ English (Grammar Schools) Pack 1
  • 11+ English (Grammar Schools) Pack 2
  • 11+ English (Grammar Schools) Pack 3
  • 11+ English (Grammar Schools) Pack 4
  • 11+ English (Grammar Schools) Pack 5
  • 11+ English (Grammar Schools) Comprehension Pack 1
  • 11+ English (Grammar Schools) Comprehension Pack 2
  • 11+ English: Inference Skills Pack 1
  • 11+ English: Inference Skills Pack 2
  • 11+ English (Independent Schools) Pack 1
  • 11+ English (Independent Schools) Pack 2
  • 11+ English (Independent Schools) Pack 3
  • 11+ English (Independent Schools) Pack 4
  • 11+ English (Independent Schools) Pack 5
  • The Complete Guide to 11+ Comprehension
  • 11+ English: Poetry Comprehension
  • 11+ Reading Workbook
  • The Complete Guide to 11+ Writing
  • 11+ English: Writing Prompts
  • 11+ English: Rewrite & Improve
  • 11+ English: Spelling Pack 1
  • 11+ English: Spelling Pack 2
  • 11+ Essex (CSSE) Continuous Writing Guide

    • English Bundle

    best Essex 11+ English exam preparation

    You can now purchase a bundle of all of our recommended resources for the English section of the Essex 11+ Exam at a large discount. Click the button below to learn more.

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    11+ GL English Comprehension Masterclass Bundle

    Complete practice resources for 11+ GL Assessment English Comprehension

    You can now purchase a bundle of all of our recommended Masterclasses for the English Comprehension section of the Essex 11+ Exam at a large discount. Click the buttons below to learn more.

    Complete practice resources for 11+ GL Assessment English Comprehension

    The CSSE 11+ Maths paper covers the KS2 syllabus (including problem solving and arithmetic) as well as some non-verbal reasoning. The maths questions are not multiple-choice.

    Practice Papers

  • 11+ Mathematics (Independent Schools) Pack 1
  • 11+ Mathematics (Independent Schools) Pack 2
  • 11+ Mathematics (Independent Schools) Pack 3
  • 11+ Mathematics (Independent Schools) Pack 4
  • 11+ Mathematics: Problem Solving (Independent Schools) Pack 1
  • 11+ Mathematics: Problem Solving (Independent Schools) Pack 2
  • 11+ Mathematics: Mental Arithmetic
  • 11+ Mathematics: Algebra (Independent Schools)
  • 11+ Mathematics: Angles & Degrees (Independent Schools)
  • 11+ Mathematics: BODMAS (Independent Schools)
  • 11+ Mathematics: Estimation & Place Value (Independent Schools)
  • 11+ Mathematics: Factors & Multiples (Independent Schools)
  • 11+ Mathematics: Fractions, Decimals & Percentages (Independent Schools)
  • 11+ Mathematics: Measurements (Independent Schools)
  • 11+ Mathematics: Money (Independent Schools)
  • 11+ Mathematics: Operations (Independent Schools)
  • 11+ Mathematics: Perimeter, Area & Volume (Independent Schools)
  • 11+ Mathematics: Position & Direction (Independent Schools)
  • 11+ Mathematics: Probability (Independent Schools)
  • 11+ Mathematics: Properties of Shapes (Independent Schools)
  • 11+ Mathematics: Ratio & Proportion (Independent Schools)
  • 11+ Mathematics: Reflection, Rotation & Symmetry (Independent Schools)
  • 11+ Mathematics: Sequences (Independent Schools)
  • 11+ Mathematics: Special Numbers (Independent Schools)
  • 11+ Mathematics: Speed, Distance & Time (Independent Schools)
  • 11+ Mathematics: Statistics (Independent Schools)

    • Mathematics Bundle

    effective 11+ Essex Maths exam preparation

    You can now purchase a bundle of all of our recommended resources for the Maths section of the Essex 11+ Exam at a large discount. Click the button below to learn more.

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    Video Masterclasses

  • 11+ GL Mathematics: Algebra Mini Masterclass
  • 11+ GL Mathematics: Angles & Degrees Mini Masterclass
  • 11+ GL Mathematics: BODMAS Mini Masterclass
  • 11+ GL Mathematics: Estimation, Rounding & Place Value Mini Masterclass
  • 11+ GL Mathematics: Factors & Multiples Mini Masterclass
  • 11+ GL Mathematics: Fractions, Decimals & Percentages Mini Masterclass
  • 11+ GL Mathematics: Measurements Mini Masterclass
  • 11+ GL Mathematics: Money Mini Masterclass
  • 11+ GL Mathematics: Operations Mini Masterclass
  • 11+ GL Mathematics: Perimeter, Area & Volume Mini Masterclass
  • 11+ GL Mathematics: Position & Direction Mini Masterclass
  • 11+ GL Mathematics: Probability & Combinations Mini Masterclass
  • 11+ GL Mathematics: Problem Solving Mini Masterclass
  • 11+ GL Mathematics: Properties of Shape Mini Masterclass
  • 11+ GL Mathematics: Ratio & Proportion Mini Masterclass
  • 11+ GL Mathematics: Reflection, Rotation & Symmetry Mini Masterclass
  • 11+ GL Mathematics: Sequences Mini Masterclass
  • 11+ GL Mathematics: Special Numbers Mini Masterclass
  • 11+ GL Mathematics: Speed, Distance & Time Mini Masterclass
  • 11+ GL Mathematics: Statistics Mini Masterclass

    • 11+ GL Mathematics Mini Masterclass Bundle

    Complete practice resources for 11+ GL Assessment Mathematics

    You can now purchase a bundle of all of our recommended Masterclasses for the Mathematics section of the Essex 11+ Exam at a large discount. Click the buttons below to learn more.

    Complete practice resources for 11+ GL Assessment Mathematics

    If you’d like to have your child’s writing assessed and marked, you may be interested in our Writing Marking Service. Please click here to learn more.


    Why do some of the recommendations above show me independent school papers?

    The main difference between independent and grammar school papers is the question format. Independent schools usually assess with standard format questions, which means students need to write out full answers. Grammar schools usually use multiple-choice format questions.

    Whilst St. Thomas More High School is a grammar school, they actually use the independent school (standard) format for some of their exams, which is why they are included in the recommendations above.



    Don’t forget to use the code eppdiscount at checkout to get 10% off orders over £70 and 20% off orders over £250 if you don’t buy a bundle.


    Our practice tests aim to show what sort of questions have been included in St. Thomas More High School 11+ past papers. The information provided about St. Thomas More High School is believed to be correct at the time of publishing. However, please be aware of future changes. We advise you to contact the school directly if you are unsure of anything. School contact details are provided within the article.

    Please note that Exam Papers Plus is an independent publisher of practice tests and resources, and is not affiliated with or endorsed by St. Thomas More High School.


    Frequently Asked Questions About 11+ Entry to St. Thomas More High School

    St. Thomas More High School was established in 1960.

    St. Thomas More High School converted to academy status in 2011.

    St. Thomas More High School hosts open events in July, welcoming prospective families on campus for a lively event packed with activities.

    St. Thomas More High School assesses prospective pupils through the standardised CSSE 11+ exam, also used by other schools in the Essex Grammar School Consortium. The assessment covers English and Mathematics.

    Parents applying to St. Thomas More High School must register their child for the 11+ exam by completing a Supplementary Information Form (SIF), which can be accessed through the CSSE website. Residents of Essex also need to state St. Thomas More High School as their preferred secondary school on the Common Application Form (CAF).

    Yes, you can. All CSSE schools that you wish to apply for must be named as preferences on the Local Authority Common Application Form.

    All 11+ applicants for entry to St. Thomas More High School will be asked to sit the Essex CSSE exam which tests English comprehension and creative writing, and mathematics topics from the KS2 National Curriculum.

    No, the St. Thomas More High School 11+ entrance exam does not test Non-Verbal Reasoning.

    One of the best ways to prepare for a challenging entrance exam, such as the CSSE, is to use practice tests. They will provide your son with the opportunity to become familiar with the format and question types that he will encounter in the actual exam. Our practice papers are used successfully every year by hundreds of thousands of students targeting schools with a competitive entrance exam.

    We recommend beginning with a few full practice tests, such as this one. These will act as diagnostics so you can quickly work out which areas your child needs to focus on. You can then select the relevant topic based material listed above to target weaker areas. Please get in touch if you need advice on how to prepare or what to focus on for each section and stage of the exam.

    Our 11+ CSSE practice tests replicate the format and style of the actual exam, effectively preparing students for success in this competitive assessment. Each practice test is designed to mimic the full examination experience, covering relevant Maths and English question types. More details are available on this page.

    Historical data shows that most schools in the area do not admit applicants who have a standardised score less than 303 in the CSSE. Exam results from previous years suggest this correlates with a score of roughly 80-85%+ in our 11+ Essex practice tests.



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    Author(s)

    Louise Lang

    Director of Learning

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