Y5 11+ Week Commencing 16th June- Weekly Update
Dear Parents,
As we approach the end of term and look ahead to the summer holidays and into September, I wanted to get in touch with a quick update.
This summer and in the first two weeks back in September, we’re offering more support than ever before to help prepare your child for the test in September. I expect this year to be especially competitive, given the higher birth rate and the impact of the VAT on independent schools.
With that in mind, I’ve included a list of sessions we’re running over the holidays. I’d recommend booking in for any that you’re interested in as soon as possible—some of the sessions are already close to capacity or full, and in certain cases, we simply won’t be able to add more children due to space and staffing.
If you’d like to talk through dates or have any questions at all, please don’t hesitate to drop me a message.
Warm regards,
Chris
FOCUS SESSIONS THIS TERM
This term, our Focus Sessions will be delivered at a slightly higher pitch to more closely reflect the demands of the mock tests. During lessons, we will use structured grids and explicitly teach key test techniques — vital tools for boosting your child's confidence and performance. Full details about each session can be found via the booking links.
Mondays 4:30pm or Saturdays 2:30pm. Cost £75.00 for the three sessions.
Non-Verbal Reasoning: week commencing 23rd June, 30th June and 7th July. BOOK HERE
TOPIC SPECIFIC SPATIAL FOCUS SESSIONS - Starting Thursday 19th June
Children often find certain spatial elements of non-verbal reasoning particularly challenging in the lead-up to the 11+ exam. To help them prepare effectively, we’ve put together six key topics that tend to be the most difficult. These focus areas are designed to strengthen their spatial reasoning skills and boost their confidence ahead of the exam in September.
Thursdays 5:30pm (19/6, 26/6 and 3/7). Cost £60,00. BOOK HERE
Week 1: Block Counting & Fold and Punch.
Week 2: Folding cubes & Spinning Shapes
Week 3: Hidden Shapes & Rotations
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SUMMER MOCK TESTS
Sunday 29th June (please contact me for availability)
Saturday 26th July (5 spaces left)
Saturday 16th August (10 spaces left)
Saturday 30th August (5 spaces left)
EACH MOCK TEST IS DIFFERENT
A mock test is a really important part of getting ready for the 11+ exam.
It’s run just like the real thing—timed, quiet, and under proper test conditions—so your child gets a true feel for what exam day will be like. It’s the perfect chance to make mistakes now, learn from them, and improve before the real test comes around. With only five months to go, this kind of experience is absolutely invaluable. It helps build confidence, shows where extra focus is needed, and gives your child a big boost in feeling prepared and ready.
After the mock test, you'll receive a detailed feedback snapshot within 72 hours, giving you a clear overview of how your child performed, including their strengths and areas that need further development. You’ll also have the option to book a feedback call and a one-to-one session to go over the results in more depth and address any misunderstandings or tricky topics. It’s a great way to keep progress on track and make sure your child gets the support they need.
Cost: £70.00
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SUMMER WORKSHOPS
EACH WORKSHOP IS DIFFERENT.
Each summer workshop is uniquely designed by 11+ specialists and delivered by experienced teachers. These workshops focus on building confidence with test techniques, including time management and accurate grid-filling – key skills for GL-style exams.
They help identify and address gaps in your child’s knowledge, preventing the ‘summer slide’ and ensuring continued progress. Through working on real test papers, your child will become familiar with the exam format and develop essential skills for success.
The workshops run every Monday and Thursday at 4:30pm. Advanced booking is recommended.
Cost £50.00 BOOK HERE
SUMMER ENGLISH COMPREHENSION AND VOCABULARY WORKSHOP
We are delighted to offer a summer English Comprehension and Vocabulary Workshop designed to boost students’ reading skills and deepen their understanding of language.
Each workshop session is 1.5 hours long and provides focused practice across three key text types:
Contemporary fiction
Older or classical literature
Non-fiction texts
Students will explore a variety of reading materials and engage with a wide range of vocabulary-based comprehension questions. Emphasis will be placed on interpreting meaning from context, identifying shades of meaning, and understanding more complex vocabulary and phrasing used across different genres and periods.
Cost: £35 per session
SUMMER ONE TO ONES
This summer, we are offering individualised one-to-one sessions. Once you’ve secured your booking, please contact Chris to discuss the focus of your session or to receive a tailored recommendation. Spaces are strictly limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, so we strongly recommend booking in advance.
Cost £45.00 per one hour session BOOK HERE
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SEPTEMBER EXAM READY WORKSHOPS
Just like our summer workshops, the September sessions are thoughtfully designed by 11+ specialists and delivered by experienced teachers. These workshops focus on building confidence with essential exam techniques, including time management and accurate grid-filling—key skills for GL-style exams.
They help identify and address any gaps in your child’s knowledge, preventing the ‘summer slide’ and supporting continuous progress. By practising with real test papers, your child will become familiar with the exam format and develop the strategies needed for success. With the 11+ rapidly approaching, these are the final few workshops available to help your child feel fully prepared.
Workshop dates and times:
Monday 1st, Tuesday 2nd, Thursday 4th, Monday 8th, and Thursday 11th September: 4:30 – 6:30pm
Saturday 6th September: 9:00 – 11:00am
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Homework
PLEASE WATCH THE VIDEO LINK: - Similar Figure Ovals (NVR), before the lesson. This can replace a 10min test and children will receive 2 raffle tickets for doing so.
CGP Practice Books 10-11
• NVR Assessment Test 3
• Maths Assessment Test 1
Finish the booklet from the lesson and return in the following week. Remember to complete the vocab in context.
REMEMBER: to mark the homework with your child and bring it to next lesson.
Classes due date: Monday 23rdJune, Thursday 26th June or Saturday 28th June
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
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VOCABULARY
This week’s vocabulary words: Impressed, marvellous, prowess, shouldered, feats
WORD OF THE WEEK: Dwell (Find a synonym, antonym and put it into a sentence)
This week’s KAHOOT: Vocab Quiz 32: 09251617 (due 22nd June 8pm) www.kahoot.it. Use your name. Name1, Name2 etc. This way we can identify who you are to give you a raffle ticket per play. The person with the highest score will receive 10 raffle tickets!
Download Vocabulary List 32 here
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OPEN DAYS
Here are the confirmed open day details and booking links for some of the local Grammar Schools you maybe considering.
1. Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School (Sutton Coldfield) 🏫
Year 7 Open Evening (for 2025 entry): 12 June 2025, evening (multiple sessions) (bvgs.co.uk)
Details & booking: Tickets via TicketSource — search for “BVGS Year 4/5 & Year 6 Open Event” (ticketsource.co.uk)
2. King Edward’s Aston School (boys)
Tuesday 17 June 2025 & Thursday 19 June 2025, both at 9:00am
🔗 Link: Aston School Open days & events
3. King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School (boys)
Open Evening: Thursday 19 June 2025, 5:00 – 8:00pm (keaston.bham.sch.uk, kingedwardvifoundation.co.uk)
🔗 Link: Handsworth Grammar Open Evening page
4. King Edward VI Handsworth School for Girls
General Open Evening: Tuesday 24 June 2025, 5:00 – 8:00pm (kingedwardvifoundation.co.uk)
🔗 Links: Request a visit / Open events
5. Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls
Summer Open Evening: Wednesday 25 June 2025, 4:00 – 6:45pm (kingedwardvi.bham.sch.uk, suttcold.bham.sch.uk)
🔗 Links: SCGSG Open Events
6. Queen Mary’s High School for Girls (Walsall)
Open Evening for Year 7 entry: Typically late June; for 2024 it was 25 June. 2025 date expected similar
🔗 Links:
✅ What You Can Do Now
Visit the linked pages above to register/book your place.
Sign up early—many events are ticketed and may fill quickly.
