Most children will begin the 11+ Tutoring Programme in the October of Year 5, and follow the year's programme. The programme is broken down over three terms, with the final summer holidays (before the 11+ test) dedicated to revision, exam preparation, tips and techniques and Mock Exams. Refer to the 11+ Tutoring page for more information or if you have any questions, please do get in touch!

It is never too early to contact me to find out more and register your interest. Most places on the current 11+ tutoring programme are booked a year or so in advance, but if you think you have left it too late, do contact me to see if there is still a place for your child, whether for the full programme or places on the summer revision interventions.

The Gloucestershire Grammar Schools' 11+ test is split over two 45 minute, multiple choice papers. One paper tests the students verbal skills, which includes comprehension, vocabulary, grammar, spelling and verbal reasoning. The other paper assesses their non-verbal reasoning and mathematical knowledge, skills and understanding.

Verbal Reasoning is designed to evaluate a student's language skills, logical reasoning and ability to comprehend written information. Success in this section depends on a combination of language proficiency, critical thinking and the ability to apply logical reasoning to various types of verbal problems.

Non-verbal reasoning (NVR) is a category of cognitive ability tests that assess a student's ability to analyse and solve problems, presented in a visual or non-verbal format. Unlike verbal reasoning, which relies on language skills, NVR focuses on understanding and interpreting visual information. The NVR skills of logical reasoning, pattern recognition and spatial intelligence are considered important in various academic and professional contexts.

The majority of resources will be provided, including stationary and exercise books. Additional books will be provided for the 11+ tutoring programme. For the GCSE studies, some extra books may be recommended, to be paid for by the client.

A standardised score typically refers to a core that has been transformed to fit a standard scale, making it easier to compare and interpret.

In the context of the 11+ test, schools in one county use the standardised score to compare an individual performance relative to the whole group of 11+ applicants in that county. The process of standardisation allows for a fair and meaningful comparison of scores by those grammar schools, based on the students' ages in years and months.

As for the score that grammar schools consider an acceptable 'pass' mark for the test, either to gain a firm offer of a place, or to be placed on a waiting list, wholly depends on the competitiveness of the year's applicants and the schools' own thresholds for admission. This boundary score is therefore very fluid. As a (very) broad guide, a student needs to have a standardised score of somewhere around 120+ to gain a high enough place on the waiting list to stand a good chance of being offered a place, but it varies even within the Gloucestershire Grammar Schools.

There are three parties equally involved in each 11+ course: the child, the tutor and the parents/carers. I will keep you informed weekly of topics taught and your child's progress so that you can support them with their hometasks. This support does not necessarily mean sitting and studying with your child, but involves encouraging and helping them to find time and space at home to complete each week's tasks. It also means helping them to stay organised and arrive each week with their 11+ study bag and completed work, ready to accomplish the next steps.

It is never too early to begin preparation for the 11+ journey if your child is ready. Pupils in Year 4 often begin with puzzle solving, number games and forays into verbal and non-verbal reasoning. If you want to find out more, book a free initial assessment with me and I can advise you on the next steps to prepare your child for the 11+ journey. However, the single most valuable thing they should do is read widely and discuss new vocabulary. This will greatly build their vocabulary, which is so important for the 11+ Admissions Test. I can help advise you on suggestions for great books for your year 4 or year 5 child to read.

With regards to Maths, your child should be confident and secure in their times tables up to 12 x 12 and the associated division facts.

There are options to pay for each lesson weekly, or to pay for a half term block (6 sessions) in advance. Payment can be made by bank transfer, by card or by cash, but all to be paid by the day of the lesson. Summer camps and Mock tests can be paid for the same way. Refer to the 11+ Pricing and Packages page for more information.

I completely understand that unexpected changes can happen at the drop of a hat. If I am unable to carry out a session, then I will endeavour to give a minimum of 48hrs notice and arrange with you a new date/time that is convenient to you. In return, I ask for clients to give me 48 hours notice if they need to cancel a booked tutoring session. If a booking is cancelled with less than 24 hours notice, a flat cancellation fee of £20 will be charged.

If this happens, although I will try, I cannot always make up the time due to my schedule of other appointments that I have on the day.

All tutoring sessions take place from my home in Avening. I have an extensive range of resources available here to help develop your child's skills, knowledge and understanding. I am also able to offer a controlled learning environment to prevent distractions.

Throughout the 11+ tutoring programme, your child will develop effective exam techniques, such as reading questions carefully, managing time effectively and applying learned strategies for problem solving. Mock exams gives your child an opportunity to experience the conditions of the real exam. This includes time constraints, exam format and the general atmosphere of the testing environment. Familiarity with these conditions can help reduce anxiety during the actual exam.

Mock exams allow your child to practice managing their time effectively. Understanding how to allocate time to different sections or questions is a crucial skill for success in the real 11+ test. It also helps your child develop and practice effective exam technique and helps them to maintain composure and focus under challenging conditions.

After sitting a mock 11+ test that I have provided, I will analyse your child's performance to help identify strengths and weaknesses, to enable me to refine their study strategies and focus on any areas that need further practice.

Success in a mock exam can boost your child's confidence and motivation. It validates all the hard work that they have put in during the course and provides a sense of accomplishment, ultimately contributing to a positive mindset going into the actual 11+ test.

When you receive your child's 11+ Test result, the individual grammar schools that you have applied to will contact you and let you know if your child has (i) achieved the necessary pass mark to gain a place on their waiting list, and (ii) tell you if they have scored high enough to be offered a definite place.

Being offered a place on the school's waiting list does not necessarily guarantee a place or not. Each school usually has 150 places, so over the total of four schools that boys or girls could apply to, waiting list positions up to around 450/500 usually get offered a place. Places will be offered in order of score.

In some cases, if your child does not pass the exam, there may be an option to appeal the decision. You will need to review the appeal process outlined by the specific school. If your child does not pass the exam, or get offered a place, it is important to remember that it is just one aspect of their academic journey, and does not mean failure or a lack of academic potential. It is simply a very competitive entrance exam.

In our Stroud/ Tetbury/ Cirencester area, there are so many excellent comprehensive schools that may better suit your child's strengths and interests. There are multiple routes to achieve academic success, and every child is unique.