This article provides a guide for parents of current Year 5 children who want to prepare their children for the 11+ Exam in September 2024 so that they can enter their child into Year 7 at a grammar school in September 2025.
It is anticipated that getting into grammar schools in the UK will be harder in 2025 due to several factors, including the impending addition of VAT to private school fees, which is likely to increase the competition for the limited number of 11+ places.
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Ideally, you will have decided which grammar schools you are considering. It is a good idea to visit each school with your child to get a better feel and see if it is the right environment for them.
Grammar schools are selective state-funded secondary schools that strongly focus on academic achievement. These schools select their pupils for Year 7 using an academic examination called the 11+ or 11 plus. A few grammar schools also have an intake into Year 8 or Year 9 and test pupils with an equivalent 12+ or 13+ Exam. Grammar schools do not charge fees, and competition for places is generally very high.
There are over 3000 state-funded secondary schools in the UK, of which 164 are state-funded grammar schools, with approximately 167,000 pupils. Grammar schools can be co-educational or single-sex, although most single-sex grammar schools now accept both boys and girls in the sixth form.
164 grammar schools are located in 36 English local authorities. There are a further 69 grammar schools in Northern Ireland, but none in Wales or Scotland. You do not always need to live in an area with state grammar schools for your child to gain a place at one. A few grammar schools recruit outside their catchment, while others offer boarding facilities. Most grammar schools, however, prefer those living within their catchment areas.
Not all selective grammar schools have 'grammar' in their name, e.g. Dr Challoner's High School. Also, many schools with 'grammar' in their name are actually fee-paying independent schools, e.g. Bradford Grammar School. Independent Schools select their pupils using their own bespoke Year 7 School Entrance Exam (sometimes called the 11+), which occurs in January of Year 6 and is similar to the 11+ grammar school exam. The earliest schools connected to monasteries were called scolae grammaticales. These schools were initially established to teach Latin grammar, the language of academia, thus the name's origins.
As grammar school pupils are all academically selected and of similar high abilities, teachers can arguably stretch and challenge their pupils further, making more effective progress in lessons than in a comprehensive, mixed-ability school. Grammar schools are some of the highest-performing schools listed in the national league tables. According to the Sutton Trust Report (2008), grammar school pupils make more significant progress throughout Key Stages 3 and 4 and achieve better GCSEs and A-Levels than pupils from other school types.
Another perceived advantage of attending a grammar school is social mobility. Grammar schools have a track record of producing students who have very successful careers and develop extensive networks of influential friends. A recent study by the University of Bath, Bristol, and the Institute of Education at the University of London concluded that pupils who attend a grammar school earn more than those who attend comprehensive schools.
The 11+ Exam (or "11-plus") is a selective entrance exam generally taken at the beginning of Year 6, generally in September.
The content varies between different areas of the country. Still, it will generally be based on some or all of the following types of questions: English, maths, verbal reasoning, and non-verbal reasoning. It may involve sitting two or even three eleven-plus examinations. Sometimes, the tests will be different, e.g., non-verbal reasoning and a verbal reasoning test; in other cases, the tests will be the same, e.g., two verbal reasoning tests.
There are two main exam boards for the 11+ Exam:
GL and CEM exams strongly emphasise core skills in English and maths, including spelling, punctuation, grammar, comprehension, and vocabulary, including arithmetic skills, problem-solving, and data manipulation. Non-verbal reasoning assesses spatial awareness, pattern-spotting and logical skills.
The best time to start preparing your child for the 11+ Exam depends entirely on their current attainment levels and experience. As the 11+ exam approaches, your son or daughter may only need a few weeks or months of preparation, focusing on practising exam papers and developing exam technique and confidence.
Most children benefit from several months of support, often regular weekly tuition, building rigour and polish across core skills, being fully stretched and challenged academically, and then shaping their performance towards the exam's demands. Any support or tuition focused on preparing for the 11+ exam also brings a significant and broader benefit to your child in terms of their general schoolwork and confidence.
Some parents will choose to prepare their child using resources available, such as the series of Bond 11+ books or GL and CEM past papers; other parents will choose to send their child to 11+ group tuition with classes outside of school hours; other parents may choose to enlist the services of a professional tutor or teacher, who specialises in preparing children for the 11+ Exam.
Teachers To Your Home provides specialist 11+ Examination tutors with considerable experience preparing children for grammar school entry. All of our 11+ tutors are qualified and experienced teachers, a significant number working within the Primary, Prep, and Grammar School Sectors and with thorough knowledge and experience of the 11+ process.
Most parents request 11+ tuition from Years 4 or 5. Initially, our 11+ tutors will assess the child's current levels, ensuring a rich and rigorous foundation across all core skills. Then, they will prepare children for the exam's demands, building confidence and exam technique.
Our tutors can help in many ways, from an initial assessment of your child's readiness for the 11+ to long-term tutoring to short-term focus revision. All our tutors are experienced and qualified teachers with in-depth knowledge of the 11+ exam and how to effectively engage your child in preparing for it.
You can find an 11+ tutor in your area here.
Failing an important exam can be disappointing for a child.
You can download and print past papers for the 11+ Exam (CEM and GL) from our exam library, which contains over 1000 past papers, free fo you to access.
A few links are also shown below:
English (GL board)
Verbal Reasoning (GL board)
Non-Verbal Reasoning (GL board)
Verbal Reasoning (CEM board)
Non-Verbal Reasoning (CEM board)
Numerical Reasoning (CEM board)
The 11+ Exam should be a positive and enjoyable experience for your child. It is about each child achieving their personal best, whatever that may be. Focusing on a holistic approach is essential to raising happy, healthy, and high-achieving children. The key components of successful parenting are emphasising emotional well-being, fostering a love for learning, and staying actively involved in your child's education.
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