Y5 11+ Week Commencing 13th July (week 8 of 8)
Welcome back! We hope you had a lovely weekend.
This will be my final weekly update of the school year. I would like to thank you all for taking the time to read these messages throughout the year, and I hope you have found them useful and informative.
The warmer weather has continued, which has been wonderful, and we're keeping our fingers crossed that it stays with us throughout the summer holidays!
We are now in our final week of term – where has this school year gone? It really has flown by.
As we approach the summer holidays, it's natural for families to take different approaches to studying. Some parents prefer to ease off completely, while others feel their child should be working for long periods each day. Ultimately, you know your child best, but if I could offer some advice as a teacher, an 11+ specialist, and a parent who has recently been through the process myself, it would be this: little and often is far more effective than long study sessions.
Short, focused bursts of around 10–20 minutes at a time are usually much more productive and help children stay engaged without feeling overwhelmed. Attending workshops and other sessions also helps to build confidence, reinforce learning in a positive environment, and take some of the pressure away from home.
As I mentioned in a recent message, I would be very grateful if you could book sessions as far in advance as possible. Advance bookings allow me to plan staffing levels effectively and help ensure that I don't have to turn children away when sessions become fully booked.
If you're unsure about what would be the most beneficial approach for your child over the summer, please don't hesitate to get in touch. I'm always happy to offer advice and help you create a plan that works best for your child.
Finally, thank you for choosing us to be part of your child's 11+ journey. We truly appreciate the trust you place in us and look forward to seeing you all again very soon. Have a wonderful summer!
👉👉If you haven’t done so already - please follow me on Facebook
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VOCABULARY
WORD OF THE WEEK: PERSISTENCE (Find a synonym, antonym and put it into a sentence)
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This week’s KAHOOT quiz pin: (09915246 Vocab Quiz 35)
Remember to play through kahoot.it.Use name1, name2, name3 etc for each play!
UPDATE FROM IF YOU MISSED IT!
We are now entering the final three weeks of term before the summer holidays, and with just under TWO months to the 11+ test, this is an important stage in your child’s preparation. It’s the ideal time to focus on filling any remaining gaps, strengthening confidence, and helping pupils feel fully prepared for the months ahead.
Following our most recent mock test, we identified that maths and vocabulary proved more challenging for many children than the other areas of the exam. This is completely understandable, as both subjects cover such a broad range of skills and knowledge. The good news is that there is still plenty of time to make meaningful progress before September.
Over the summer, in addition to our twice-weekly Test Skills Workshops, 1–1 sessions, and mock tests, we will also be running dedicated maths and vocabulary sessions to provide focused support where it is needed most. In maths particularly, our aim is to help pupils use the strategies they have already been taught more consistently, enabling them to approach questions with greater confidence, accuracy, and ease. Vocabulary sessions will focus on expanding word knowledge and improving understanding of the types of language commonly seen in the exam.
Now is also a good time to start thinking about summer sessions, as availability is already beginning to fill quickly. We still have a limited number of 1–1 sessions available over the summer, but these are booking up fast.
You can view all available sessions between now and the test here:
View All Summer & Pre-Test Sessions
We’re looking forward to supporting your child through this important final stage of preparation and helping them feel as confident as possible going into test day
👉👉A REMINDER OF THE FOLLOWING
Holiday Provision
Throughout the holidays, we will continue to offer workshops (each covering different content), mock tests, and 1:1 lessons. These will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, with booking links shared in the coming weeks.
Resources & Homework
If you have already placed a book order, your resources should have been distributed. If not, ordering details can be found in the Homework section.
If you are still waiting to receive materials, please get in touch. A small amount of stock is still available for those who have not yet ordered.
Important Reminders
Parking
Please do not park on site, as the parking spaces belong to other organisations using the venue. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation.
Attendance
Classes run Monday to Saturday. If your child is unable to attend a session, please notify us as early as possible. Where space allows, we will do our best to offer an alternative session within the same week.
As a reminder, we are now entering the final term with just 7 weeks of regular teaching remaining. We recommend gradually increasing home study to around 20–30 minutes per day, ideally split into 10–20 minute sessions.
If you are not already attending additional sessions, we strongly encourage you to consider them, as they are highly effective for boosting confidence and addressing any gaps.
Thank you, as always, for your continued support. We are looking forward to a productive and successful half term ahead.
BLOCK 6 DATES
Week 1: 18th May - 23rd May
HALF TERM HOLIDAY
Week 2: 1st June - 6th June
Week 3: 8th June - 13th June
Week 4: 15th June to 20th June
Week 5: 22nd June to 27th June
Week 6: 29th June to 4th July
Week 7: 6th July to 11th July
Week 8: 13th July to 18th July
Warm regards,
Chris, Nic, and the team
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👉THINGS TO BOOK👈
👉HOLIDAY WORKSHOPS BOOK HERE
MONDAYS AND THURSDAY 16:30-18:30
When theses spaces are filled I am unable to accommodate any further children.
The 11+ isn’t just about passing an exam – it’s about building real confidence, exam technique, and academic resilience. The Eleven Plus Success workshops are designed by experienced teachers to give children focused, structured preparation in key areas like English comprehension, vocabulary, maths, and reasoning.
Each session targets essential exam skills such as time management, working under pressure, and tackling GL-style questions, while also identifying and closing gaps in learning. This helps prevent learning loss and keeps children progressing steadily, even outside school.
With interactive, exam-focused practice and expert guidance, these workshops don’t just improve knowledge – they help children feel calm, prepared, and capable when it matters most.
A small amount of targeted support now can make a big difference to confidence and outcomes later.
👉MOCK TESTS BOOK HERE
EACH MOCK TEST IS DIFFERENT AND PROGRESSIVE.
SATURDAY 25th July, SATURDAY 8th August, SATURDAY 22nd August.
OUR NEXT MOCK TEST IS SATURDAY 25TH JULY - 9:00 - 12:00
When theses spaces are filled I am unable to accommodate any further children.
Mock tests are one of the most powerful tools in 11+ preparation. They don’t just check what a child knows — they recreate real exam conditions, helping students build confidence, stamina, and time-management skills before the actual test.
At Eleven Plus Success, mock exams mirror the real GL-style 11+ format across English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning, and Non-Verbal Reasoning. This gives children a clear picture of where they are now, and exactly what they need to improve.
After each mock, parents receive detailed feedback showing strengths, weaknesses, and key areas for focus. This turns every test into a clear, personalised revision plan — not just a score.
In short, mock tests reduce exam-day stress, highlight gaps early, and give children the best possible chance of success.
👉SUMMER ONE TO ONES BOOK HERE
(A few adhoc Saturdays left) then Wednesdays 09:00-15:30 throughout the summer.
Spaces are limited and on a first come, first served basis. We can focus on an area of need your child has. These are also pre-bookable for Mock Test Feedback.
👉SPATIAL WORKSHOPS BOOK HERE
Wednesday 5th and 26th August 16:30-18:30
Spatial reasoning in the 11+ GL test (UK) is all about how well a child can understand and manipulate shapes and patterns in their mind. It doesn’t test knowledge in the same way as maths or English, but instead looks at how children think about space, movement, and visual relationships.
In the GL Assessment papers, spatial reasoning questions might involve:
Identifying the next shape in a sequence.
Finding the hidden shape within a diagram.
Rotating or reflecting a shape in their head.
Finding a the cube face that does not fit from a net.
Spotting which shape is different or doesn’t belong.
Many children find this area the most challenging, because it is so visual. Unlike vocabulary or times tables, which can be revised in a more straightforward way, spatial reasoning relies heavily on visualisation skills—being able to “see” the shapes move or change mentally. Some children naturally enjoy this type of puzzle, but for many it takes practice and confidence to improve
👉MATHS WORKSHOPS BOOK HERE
Tuesday 28th July, 4 August, 11th August. 16:30-18:30.
These can be booked individually at £50.00 each. If you wish to book all 3 please contact Chris to receive a £20 discount.
Each maths-focused workshop is designed to be different, offering a tailored approach to specific topics and areas of learning. The sessions aim to explore useful shortcuts and effective problem-solving strategies, while also identifying and addressing common misconceptions that can often hinder understanding. By breaking down key concepts and highlighting practical techniques, the workshops help build confidence, improve accuracy, and develop a deeper understanding of mathematical thinking.
👉VOCABULARY WORKSHOP BOOK HERE
WEDNESDAY 22nd July and August 19th 16:30-18:30
BOTH VOCABULARY SESSIONS ARE DIFFERENT
One of the most challenging aspects of the 11+ exam is vocabulary, accounting for around 15% of the Verbal Reasoning and English sections.
Many children find this difficult because:
- The level of language is more advanced than what they usually encounter in school.
- The words and expressions are often beyond the books they typically choose to read.
Our vocabulary workshop aims to support pupils by:
- Exploring language in a variety of contexts to deepen understanding.
- Helping children cement new words and phrases into their working memory.
- Teaching practical techniques to make recalling and using unfamiliar vocabulary easier during the test.
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HOMEWORK
COMPLETE ANY UNFINISHED ASSESSSMENT TESTS AND WORK WITHIN ALL YOUR BOOKS OVER THE SUMMER!
Unsure how to do homework or independent study - watch this link
Coming to the end of the 10min test books? The next steps are the focus books. Order here
