Y5 11+ Week Commencing 2nd March (week 4 of 6)

2 Mar

Hi everyone,

Welcome back to a new week! We hope you all had a really lovely weekend and that your children enjoyed a restful and enjoyable half term break. It’s always wonderful to see everyone returning refreshed and ready to learn.

As we move further into the term, we’d like to share a few important updates and reminders.

English Focus Sessions – Starting This Week

Our dedicated English Focus Sessions begin this week (full details are below).

These sessions will place particular emphasis on reading comprehension and vocabulary development. For many children, this is one of the most challenging aspects of the 11+ journey. The texts they encounter can be linguistically complex, with demanding vocabulary, nuanced meanings and questions that require careful interpretation.

Through these sessions, we will:

Develop deeper comprehension skills
Strengthen vocabulary breadth and understanding
Build confidence in interpreting more sophisticated texts
Teach clear strategies for tackling longer and more complex passages

A secure grasp of vocabulary and inference skills makes a significant difference, not only in entrance exams but in overall academic confidence.

I have also shared details about our Easter holiday workshop and first full mock.

Celebrating This Year’s Success

We are incredibly proud to share that this has been our strongest year yet for children successfully securing grammar school places.

This success reflects the ongoing improvements we have made — and continue to make — to our curriculum and overall provision. The best outcomes have come from children who have engaged in a balanced programme, including:

Weekly lessons
Ad hoc one-to-one sessions where needed
Holiday workshops
Mock examinations
Targeted focus sessions
Independent study at home
Acting on personalised feedback and next-step guidance

When families work closely with us and children commit consistently, the progress is clear.

Our aim is for next year to be even stronger. We truly hope that the breadth and structure of our provision gives your child every opportunity to achieve the same success.

A Couple of Important Reminders

Parking
Please do not park on site. The parking spaces belong to other organisations using the venue. We really appreciate your understanding and cooperation in respecting this arrangement.

Attendance
Classes run Monday to Saturday. If your child is unable to attend a session, please let us know as early as possible. Wherever space allows, we will always do our best to offer an alternative session within the same week. Please do not just turn up to another session.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support. We’re looking forward to a productive and successful term ahead.

Warm regards,
Chris, Nic and the team

THINGS TO BOOK

ENGLISH COMPREHENSION AND VOCABULARY FOCUS SESSIONS BOOK HERE

Mondays 4:30pm or Saturdays 3:30pm

Week 4: Monday 2nd March - Saturday 7th March

Week 5: Monday 9th March - Saturday 14th March

Week 6: Monday 16th March - Saturday 21st March

Many pupils find English particularly challenging, and this is often reflected in lower test scores. A key reason is the breadth and complexity of language they encounter: 11+ English assessments draw on a wide variety of text types, styles, and vocabulary, requiring children to interpret unfamiliar material with confidence and precision.

Our GL 11+ English Comprehension practice is specifically designed to address these challenges. It builds confidence while gradually familiarising pupils with the level of demand, structure, and style of the GL 11+ exam. The carefully crafted texts and thoughtfully structured questions develop core comprehension skills, including vocabulary development, information retrieval, and inference. By exposing pupils to a diverse range of fiction and non-fiction texts, this structured programme strengthens reading stamina, deepens understanding, and equips learners with the skills and assurance they need to approach the 11+ English paper with confidence.

YEAR 5 11+ EASTER WORKSHOP BOOK HERE

Each workshop lasts two hours and covers the four key areas of the 11+ exam: Maths, Non-Verbal Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning and English. Pupils work through a range of test-style questions, helping them become confident with the format, structure and timing of the GL assessment.

These sessions are especially valuable in the lead-up to the exam as they help children to:

Develop effective exam strategies – using efficient methods to improve accuracy and reduce errors.
Strengthen time management – practising under timed conditions to build pace and stamina.
Pinpoint strengths and gaps – with clear teacher guidance for targeted improvement.
Build confidence – regular practice in a supportive setting reduces anxiety.

Our workshops provide more than subject knowledge; they equip children with the practical skills and exam techniques needed to perform at their very best. They are a vital part of a well-rounded 11+ preparation programme.

YEAR 5 11+ EASTER MOCK TEST BOOK HERE

This is our first full mock test. Our mock tests are written by Chris Moore, Head Teacher and founder of Eleven Plus Success, in collaboration with an experienced 11+ exam writer. They are carefully designed to reflect the standard and format of the real exam, helping children build confidence and become familiar with timed conditions.

In Year 5, the mocks cover all four key areas of assessment and last around three hours, including a short break. This longer format helps pupils develop the focus and stamina needed for the actual test. Our mocks are progressive with each one getting slightly harder than the last. These mock tests are unavailable to purchase on the market and totally unique to us.

Why take a mock test?

Mock tests are a key part of 11+ preparation. They give children realistic practice and help them perform at their best.

Familiarity: Makes the real exam feel less intimidating.
Timing: Teaches effective pacing and time management.
Insight: Identifies strengths and areas for improvement.
Confidence: Reduces nerves and builds self-belief.

In short, a mock test is a rehearsal that helps children feel calm, prepared and ready to succeed.

MATHS FOCUS SESSIONS BOOK HERE

Our carefully designed Focus Sessions offer targeted, high-impact support to help students develop the essential skills required for success in the GL 11+ exam in September 2025. To maximise their benefit, the level of challenge has been increased to mirror the demands of the mock tests, ensuring your child builds resilience, sharpens their technique, and grows in confidence.

Far more than just extra lessons, these sessions concentrate on the trickiest areas that often hold students back — particularly mathematical reasoning and complex word problems. We cover critical topics such as fractions, decimals, percentages, ratio, statistics, and algebra in depth, equipping students with the core knowledge and strategies they need to excel.

With clear, step-by-step guidance and a strong focus on practical problem-solving skills, we help students break down even the most challenging questions, turning obstacles into opportunities. Our approach empowers your child to tackle the exam with clarity, confidence, and a real sense of achievement.

Spaces are limited – secure your child’s place today and give them the tools they need for 11+.

Week 1: 23rd March - 28th March

Week 2: 13th April - 18th April

Week 3: 20th April - 25th April

BLOCK 5 IS NOW READY TO BOOK BOOK HERE

Week 1: 23rd March - 28th March
Week 2: 13th April - 18th April
Week 3: 20th April - 25th April
Week 4: 27th April - 2nd May
Week 5: 4th May - 9th May
Week 6: 11th May - 16th May

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This week’s KAHOOT quiz pin: 09421275 (VOCAB QUIZ 19)

Well done to Alyssia. Our winner last week . You get 5 raffle tickets!!

Remember to play through kahoot.it. Use name1, name2, name3 etc for each play!

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If you haven’t done so already - please follow me on Facebook

Here you will find weekly problems and puzzles the children can solve.

If you happen to see one of my posts too - please give it a like!

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VOCABULARY

WORD OF THE WEEK:AMBIGUOUS (Find a synonym, antonym and put it into a sentence).

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Homework

Unsure how to do homework or independent study - watch this link

PLEASE WATCH THE VIDEO LINK: NVR SIMILAR FIGURES before the lesson. This can replace a 10min test and children will receive 2 raffle tickets for doing so.

Need homework books? Order here

Coming to the end of the 10min test books? The next steps are the focus books - information was sent our via text message on Sunday. Order here

CGP Practice Books 9-10

MATHS TEST 4 NVR TEST 6

Finish the booklet from the lesson and return in the following week. Remember to complete the vocab in context. To be handed in week commencing 9th March

REMEMBER: to mark the homework with your child and bring it to next lesson.

REMBEMBER THE HOMEWORK IS DUE IN NEXT WEEK’S CLASS.

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