Y5 11+ Week Commencing 14th September (Block 1. Week 2 of 6)
Hello and welcome back to the new term!
I hope you all had a lovely summer break and that your child has settled back into school well.
With our Year 5 pupils, we are now moving into a more focused stage of the 11+ preparation journey. As pupils become more familiar with the different question types, our aim is to build their confidence, improve accuracy and develop the skills needed to approach questions calmly and independently.
For families considering grammar school entry in the West Midlands, the 11+ test is administered using GL Assessment-style materials. Preparation covers key areas including English, maths, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning. Throughout Year 5, we will continue to strengthen pupils’ core knowledge while placing greater emphasis on exam technique, problem-solving, time management and recognising the different styles of questions they may encounter.
Some areas will naturally feel more challenging than others, and this is an important part of the learning process. Lessons are carefully structured to give pupils regular practice, revisit key skills and gradually increase the level of challenge. Our goal is to help every pupil make steady progress and feel confident as they work towards the 11+.
A reminder that little and often practice at home is really important. We recommend around 10 minutes before school and 10 minutes after school each day. Short, regular practice is much more manageable for children and helps to reinforce the skills and techniques we are covering during lessons.
Please encourage your child to continue working through their practice books and tests at home. If you do not currently have suitable books, or you are quickly running out of tests or practice materials, please let me know and I can organise some new ones for you.
We have also now started our Focus Lessons, with this term focusing on Verbal Reasoning. Our next Focus Lessons will move on to Non-Verbal Reasoning. These sessions give pupils additional time to focus on particular areas of the 11+, practise different question types and develop the techniques, speed and confidence needed for the test.
With the 11+ test likely to take place in July 2027, pupils may have around 8–10 weeks less learning and preparation time than in previous years. Because of this, we would strongly encourage parents to consider the weekly Focus Lessons where possible. The extra practice, repetition and targeted support can make a real difference in helping children build their confidence and feel better prepared for the test.
A quick reminder that our regular lessons run Monday to Saturday. If your child is unable to attend their usual session, please let us know in advance. Where possible, we will always try to accommodate them in an alternative session.
As always, if you have any questions about your child’s progress, home practice, the Focus Lessons, the 11+ process or anything covered during lessons, please do get in touch.
We are looking forward to a positive, focused and productive term ahead!
BLOCK ONE
Week 1: Week commencing 7th September
Week 2: Week commencing 14th September
Week 3: Week commencing 21st September
Week 4: Week commencing 28th September
Week 5: Week commencing 5th October
Week 6: Week commencing 12th October
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THINGS TO BOOK
NON-VERBAL REASONING FOCUS LESSONS - BOOK HERE Cost £60 (£20/week)
Unlocking Success: Non-Verbal Reasoning
Week 4: Week commencing 28th September
Week 5: Week commencing 5th October
Week 6: Week commencing 12th October
Our 3-week Non-Verbal Reasoning Focus Programme is designed to give your child targeted, structured support in one of the key areas of the Birmingham GL 11+ entrance examination.
Non-Verbal Reasoning can be challenging because children are required to recognise patterns, analyse shapes, identify relationships and apply logical thinking — often within strict time limits and without relying on language skills. During these three focused weeks, pupils will be introduced to the key techniques and strategies needed to approach Non-Verbal Reasoning questions with greater confidence, accuracy and speed.
Why is attending this three week NVR focus important?
The programme has been carefully structured so that each session builds upon the skills and strategies developed in the previous week. Attending the full three-week focus gives your child the opportunity to develop their understanding progressively rather than simply practising isolated question types.
Regular attendance allows pupils to:
Build strong foundations before progressing to more challenging Non-Verbal Reasoning questions.
Recognise common patterns, rules and relationships more quickly.
Learn step-by-step techniques for breaking down difficult or unfamiliar questions.
Practise a wider range of GL-style question types and become familiar with how they may appear in the exam.
Improve speed and accuracy through guided and timed practice.
Identify and correct common mistakes before they become habits.
Develop effective problem-solving strategies that can be applied independently.
Strengthen exam technique and time management, helping pupils make better decisions when working under pressure.
Build confidence through repetition and progression, so unfamiliar questions feel less intimidating on exam day.
Missing one of the focus weeks may mean missing an important technique, question type or strategy that is developed further during the following session. Consistent attendance across all three weeks therefore gives your child the greatest opportunity to consolidate their learning and make meaningful progress.
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VOCABULARY
WORD OF THE WEEK: ABUNDANT (Find a synonym, antonym and put it into a sentence)
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This week’s KAHOOT quiz pin: (01635741 MIXED MATHS QUIZ ONE)
Remember to play through Kahoot.it using name1, name2 etc.
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HOMEWORK
Unsure how to do homework or independent study - watch this link
Finish the booklet from the lesson and return in the following week. Remember to complete the vocab in context.
Homework is in the 9-10 CGP Practice Books ORDER HERE
CGP 9-10 BOOKS
•MATHS P24-29 •NVR P24-27
REMEMBER: to mark the homework with your child and bring it to next lesson.
Complete at least 3 tests from each of the 10min test books. REMEMBER to mark this with your child daily & go through mistakes. Suggested time table is available in our 11+ guide. https://www.elevenplussuccess.com/11-useful-documents
UPDATE In Case You Missed It: Potential Changes to 11+ Testing Dates
There has been increasing discussion surrounding a possible change to the timing of some 11+ entrance tests, with suggestions that examinations may move from September to July. Whilst no official confirmation has been made across all areas, there is growing momentum behind this shift, and several grammar school regions have already announced plans to move to summer testing. I would say with some certainty that this is now happening and this will effect your children.
The primary reasoning behind this proposed change is to reduce the amount of revision children undertake during the summer holidays and to ease the pressure of preparing throughout the six-week break.
A number of grammarschool areas have already confirmed earlier testing dates. For example, the Gloucestershire Grammar School Consortium — including Pate’s Grammar School, The Crypt School, Sir Thomas Rich’s School, Ribston Hall High School, Stroud High School, Marling School and Denmark Road High School — has announced a move to summer term testing from 2027 (for September 2028 entry). Similarly, Reading School in Berkshire has already brought its examinations forward and will hold testing in July for the 2027 intake.
Whilst we understand the rationale behind a potential move to earlier testing, we also recognise that this may reduce the amount of preparation time available for some children. We know many families value a balanced summer holiday, and we remain committed to providing engaging learning opportunities without creating unnecessary pressure or unrealistic expectations.
With this in mind, and as part of our contingency planning, we will be adapting our provision to ensure children are fully prepared should testing move earlier.
Based on previous changes to testing formats — such as the transition from CEM to GL-style assessments inseveral areas — it is possible that official confirmation may not be received until February or March 2027. At present, however, no formal announcement has been made, and we will continue to monitor developments closely.
Ultimately, our priority is to ensure children are confidently prepared without unnecessary pressure. As competition continues to increase, with some providers beginning preparation as early as Years 1 and 2, we believe it is important to adapt our offering in a measured, child-centred and positive way.
Further details will be shared in the next few days and updated as more information becomes available.
As always, if you have any questions, please do get in touch. We will continue to share the most up-to-date information as soon as we receive it.
