what happens to learning over time?

Parents of Year 5 children due to sit the 11 plus for entry into a grammar school often consider enrolling their child(ren) into intensive summer courses. 

This article explains what summer courses are as well as their pros and cons.

What Is an 11 Plus Summer Course?

An 11 Plus summer course (sometimes called an ‘intensive programme’ or a ‘crash course’) aims to cover all or most of the 11 plus curriculum in a very short space of time (i.e. within the summer holiday). 

It is extremely intense: in some cases, two years worth of content are condensed into four weeks of learning at break-neck speed. In addition, some summer courses also involve sitting multiple mock exams. 

Unlike regular tuition sessions, summer courses are usually held over several consecutive days or weeks during the summer holidays. Therefore, if you do sign up to one of these summer courses, expect to drop off your child to an 11 plus tuition centre at least five days a week. 

Depending on the tuition provider, a summer school may cover:

For families in Welling/ Blackfen (or anywhere in Bexley), there are plenty of providers as Bexley has four grammar schools in it and plenty of demand from parents. Kent also has many providers, but they tend to be more spread out. 

What Is the Purpose of an 11 Plus Summer Course?

Summer schools are particularly useful because they allow children to:

  • Refresh important topics after the school year ends.
  • Prevent the loss of content (forgetting) during the six week break.
  • Practise questions and techniques and maintain fluency. 
  • Identify gaps in knowledge whilst there is time to fix it. 
  • Maintain momentum (not studying for six weeks and then picking it up in September is not easy).
  • Build confidence before sitting practice exams.
  • Improve exam technique under timed conditions.
  • Develop resilience when tackling more challenging questions.
  • Stay academically active without excessive pressure.

For many children, the long summer holiday can result in a loss of routine. A summer course provides structure whilst still leaving plenty of time to enjoy the holidays.

The Benefits of an 11 Plus Summer Course 

1. Prevents the Summer Learning Slide

Educational research consistently shows that children can forget some of what they’ve learned throughout the year during a long school break, which is often referred to the ‘summer learning slide’ (a previous article explains the forgetfulness curve, so we won’t go into it here).

A summer course helps maintain progress by regularly revisiting key concepts.

2. Builds Exam Confidence

Confidence often plays a significant role in 11 Plus success.

Many pupils understand the subject content but become anxious under exam conditions. Summer courses involve timed exercises and realistic practice papers, helping children become familiar with the pace and format of the examination.

By September, many pupils feel calmer because they’ve already experienced exam-style conditions several times.

3. Identifies Weak Areas Before the Exam

The summer holidays provide an ideal opportunity to address any remaining knowledge gaps.

Perhaps your child struggles with:

  • Fractions
  • Multi-step problem solving
  • Vocabulary
  • Comprehension (and especially inference)
  • Verbal reasoning patterns

A focused intensive summer programme gives tutors enough time to identify these weaknesses and help pupils improve before the real exams.

4. Creates a Positive Learning Routine

During the holidays it’s easy for study habits to disappear.

Attending a few sessions each week helps children maintain a healthy routine without feeling like they’re spending the entire summer studying.

Many parents find this balance beneficial, particularly during the final weeks leading up to September.

5. Helps Children Meet Like-Minded Pupils

One often-overlooked advantage is the social aspect.

Many children preparing for grammar school feel isolated because few classmates are also sitting entrance exams. Summer courses allow pupils to meet others with similar goals, helping reduce anxiety and making preparation feel more enjoyable.

Are There Any Benefits For Parents?

There are several benefits for parents, too. 

Without a summer intensive programme, it is up to parents to put together a study schedule, teach any topics that need to be taught, mark mock exams, motivate learners, put up with their behaviour…and all whilst carrying out the regular duties (for parents that work from home, it usually affects the work). Sending children to a summer course gives parents a few precious hours of alone-time, when parents can get some work done.  

Also, sometimes the mental aspect is ignored. Trying to intensively tutor your own child at home is really difficult. The reality is that children do not play up with tutors as they do with their own parents. This can take a toll on both the parent(s) and the child. 

The summer course will always have a structure, irrespective of which 11 plus tuition centre you opt for. At home, it may be less structured. Structure matters. 

Are There Any Drawbacks?

Like any educational programme, summer courses aren’t suitable for every child.

Here are a few points parents should consider.

Burnout

If a child has already been studying intensively throughout the year, too much additional work can lead to fatigue.

The most effective summer courses balance learning with engaging activities rather than expecting pupils to spend six hours each day completing worksheets.

Cost

Summer courses usually represent an additional investment beyond weekly tuition.

Parents should consider whether the programme offers genuine value through experienced tutors, structured lessons, feedback, and small class sizes.

At Grammar School Pathway, we are pleased to offer summer courses at affordable prices. Please get in touch if this is of interest to you.

Not Every Child Learns the Same Way

Some children thrive in an intensive group environment, others make greater progress through individual tuition or smaller weekly sessions.

Choosing the right approach depends on your child’s personality, confidence and learning style. Parents are best placed to make this judgement.

Quality Can Vary

Not all summer schools are created equal. Before booking, parents should ask questions such as:

  • How experienced are the tutors?
  • What is the class size?
  • Are practice papers included?
  • Is individual feedback provided?
  • Is the summer programme designed specifically for local grammar school exams?

A high-quality 11 Plus tuition centre should be able to answer these questions clearly.

Time-investment

We mentioned financial investment earlier; but there is also a time investment. Dropping your child off to an 11 plus tuition centre, driving home, then after a couple of hours, picking them up again takes time. 

To claw back some time, it is not uncommon to see parents take their laptops with them, and whilst the child is in class, they get on with their own work.

Should My Child Attend an 11 Plus Summer Course?

Ultimately, parents are best placed to decide whether an intensive summer course is right for the child. From our experience, more often than not, a summer course is a good decision as the pros outweigh the cons.

The weeks before the September examinations are often when confidence grows the most, making the summer holidays one of the most valuable preparation periods.

Choosing the Right 11 Plus Tuition Centre

If you’re looking for an 11 Plus tuition centre in Bexley, Welling or Kent, it’s worth choosing a provider that offers more than just additional lessons.

Look for a centre that provides:

  • Experienced specialist 11 Plus tutors
  • Small class sizes
  • Mock examinations
  • Individual feedback
  • Exam strategy and time-management techniques
  • Preparation tailored to Bexley and Kent grammar school entrance exams

The right tuition centre should help children feel confident, prepared and motivated—not overwhelmed.

Final Thoughts

A summer course won’t compensate for two years of missed preparation, but it can be one of the most valuable periods of revision for pupils who already have a solid foundation. The key is choosing a programme that reinforces existing knowledge, identifies weaknesses and builds confidence before the September exams. We are pleased to offer affordable, high quality summer courses. Please feel free to contact us to discuss your requirements.

Looking for downloadable resources? head to our downloads page.

One thought on “11 Plus Summer Courses: Benefits, Drawbacks and What Parents Should Know ”

  1. Great read & it is actually really helpful.
    You have explained it all without the hard sell – what they cover, why the summer matters, and also the downsides like cost + burnout.
    Biggest takeaway for me: it’s good for keeping them in a routine and getting used to timed papers, but only if your child isn’t already exhausted from doing tuition all year.
    Also loved the bit about parents sometimes it’s just easier with a tutor than trying to do it ourselves!

    Reply

Leave a Reply