Author: Abdul Aziz

This article was written by Yusuf, aged 11, during the summer holiday shortly after passing the St Olave’s 11 plus exam.  [Article start] I’ll start by talking about the night before the test. Even though this test had no real meaning to me- you have to put the school as your first choice if you … Continue reading What is it like sitting the St Olave’s 11+ exam? – A child’s perspective

My name is Yusuf and I am 11 years old. This article is about preparing for and sitting the Kent 11+ test.  I’ll start with the night before the test. I think it’s really important, because that’s when the real nerves kick in, and that’s me speaking from experience. Also, eating, drinking, and numerous mock … Continue reading What it is like sitting the Kent 11+ test: A child’s perspective

My son recently sat his Bexley, Kent and St Olave's 11+ tests. I have written many articles about the 11+, but I thought it'd be interesting to read from a child's perspective what it is like to sit the 11 plus. The article below was written by my son, with minimal editing. My name is … Continue reading Sitting the Bexley 11+ exam: A child’s perspective

Medway 11+ test dates 2026 If your child is in Year 5 and you are considering a grammar school in Medway, you may have questions about the Medway 11 plus, also known as the Medway Test. This guide explains the Medway Test for 2026, including the key dates, test format, scoring system, qualifying score, grammar … Continue reading Medway 11+ test dates- 2026

When will my child sit the Kent 11+ Test? The date of the Kent 11 plus test depends on the primary school your child attends. For September 2027 entry, children who attend a Kent primary school are scheduled to sit the test on: Thursday 10 September 2026. Children who do not attend a Kent primary … Continue reading Kent 11+ Test dates:  2027

If you have registered your child for the Bexley 11 Plus test, the next key date in your calendar is Monday 3 August 2026. This is when you will receive your child's test centre details by email, confirming exactly where and when they will sit the Bexley Selection Test. With test dates approaching in September, … Continue reading Bexley 11 Plus Test 2026: Test Invites and Centre Information

When and Where Will My Child Sit the Bexley 11+ test? One of the first questions parents ask after registering their child for the Bexley 11 plus test (officially known as the Bexley Secondary Selection Test)  is: "When will they take the 11+ exam?" Closely followed by: "Where will my child actually sit the 11+ … Continue reading When and Where Will My Child Sit the Bexley 11 plus test in 2026?

If you're researching grammar schools, there's a good chance you've also come across the 11 Plus, selective admissions, and debates about whether grammar schools are still relevant today. Understanding the history of grammar schools isn't just interesting—it helps explain why the admissions process works the way it does today in places like Bexley and Kent.  … Continue reading The History of Grammar Schools and the 11 Plus (and What It Means for Parents Today)

Pre- September 2026 prices: Group sessions: £35 per 1h 45m session (not per hour)Drop-in group session: £35 per 1h 45m (not per hour) 1-to-1: £50 per 1h 45m session (not per hour) New price (effective from September 1st 2026) Group sessions: £40 per 1h 45m session (not per hour) if booked in a monthly block … Continue reading Advanced notice of price change

There are four grammar schools in Bexley. Three out of four of these grammar schools appear in various 'top 100' school rankings nationwide. All of these schools have an excellent reputation locally. Please click on the school name below to be taken to the official school website. SchoolGenderLocationContact detailsBeth's Grammar SchoolBoysBexleyheath / Crayford01322 556538admin@beths.bexley.sch.ukBexley Grammar … Continue reading Grammar schools in Bexley

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 … Continue reading 11 Plus Summer Courses: Benefits, Drawbacks and What Parents Should Know 

St Olave's is one of the most competitive grammar schools in the UK, attracting well over a thousand applications each year. Missing the registration deadline means losing the opportunity to send your son to St Olave’s as this school does not accept late applications.  For families preparing for the St Olave's 11+ exam, understanding the … Continue reading St Olave’s 11+ Registration 2026: When Should I Register My Child?

This article was published in mid June, which leaves around 3 months till the real 11 plus exam. Just as the racehorse exerts more effort and speeds up when it sees the finish line, pupils hoping to get into a grammar school in Bexley, Kent, Medway, Bromley (or any other area) should also do the same.  … Continue reading Registered for the 11 Plus Exam? Here’s what to do before September

The deadline to register your child for the Medway 11 plus test is Friday 12 June 2026. Registration opened on Monday 18 May 2026. How to register You must register your child online through the Medway Council website. The process requires you to provide your child’s current school details. If you cannot find the school … Continue reading Medway: When should I register my child for his/her 11+ exam in 2026?

Registration for for the Kent 11 plus exam opened on Monday 1st June 2026 and closes on the 1st of July 2026. Please note, this is the real exam, not a mock exam held at one of the grammar schools in Kent. The Kent test is specifically for entry into grammar schools in Kent. If … Continue reading Kent: When should I register my child for his/her 11+ exam in 2026?

As the 2026 GCSE exam season gets into full swing, parents may be more exposed to news about students sitting their GCSE exams. local newspapers have recently covered how state secondary schools and grammar schools in Bexley have been performing.  One of the main ways schools are compared to one another is via Attainment 8. … Continue reading GCSEs and school rankings

There are a couple of major events for children in Year 6: (i) moving to secondary school (ii) the SATs. This article focuses on the SATs (other articles have discussed moving from primary school to secondary school). What, When, and Who? What are SATs? They stand for Standard Assessment Tests. In England, they are formal … Continue reading Year 6 SATs: A Quick Guide for Busy Parents

Parents and teacher discussing student progress in a school meeting Some of our articles try to show prospective parents some of the differences between grammar schools and state secondary schools (especially Bexley state secondary schools).  The truth is, there isn’t a huge deal of difference between a state school and a grammar school (however, of … Continue reading Parents’ evening at a grammar school

Many parents ask when is the right time to start the 11+? But is there ever a wrong time to start the 11+?  Yes.  Starting too early This one may seem strange to some parents, but it is possible to start the 11 plus too early.  The 11 plus is a difficult exam that requires … Continue reading When not to start the 11+

This article is for parents thinking about applying for a late transfer (known as ‘in-year’/ ‘casual admission’) at a Bexley grammar school for Year 8-9.  Essential information Who? The 12+ is for children applying for an in-year transfer place at a Bexley grammar school. In other words, the child did not start school in Year … Continue reading The 12+ exam for grammar schools in Bexley: What parents need to know

If you search '11 plus for Year 3 children', you’ll see links to 11 plus tuition centres, books, online platforms and even parent forums discussing their experience of the 11 plus with their Year 3 children (and sometimes, even younger children!).But just because there’s a market for it, does that mean trying to get very … Continue reading When should my child start his or her 11 plus journey?

A new ranking from the independent education website, School Guide, has named the highest-rated state secondary schools in Bexley for 2026.  It is important to note that the rankings below may differ from official government league tables. This is discussed in more detail below.  The top 10 secondary schools in Bexley 1. Bexley Grammar School, … Continue reading Bexley school ranking: Grammar schools and state schools 

English will be examined in almost every 11 plus exam across the country. We have seen over the years that those pupils who do well in English tend to do well across the board, so it’s really important to prioritise the English section of the 11 plus exam. Children attending an 11 plus tuition centre … Continue reading 11 Plus English exams: Strategies for the English exam

In a previous article we mentioned that we would take a deeper look into what and how Quest Assessments will assess the 11 plus exam. This article explores the similarities and differences between the pre-2026 11 plus exams assessed by GL and the new Quest Assessments for the English section only (other articles will look … Continue reading Quest Assessments: 11+ English comprehension exam 

This is a ‘how to’-style article about comparing schools. So, do read on if you’re at the stage of needing to select a secondary school for your child. In other words, the days of ferrying your children to tuition centres to study an 11 plus course or undertake 11 plus mock exams are behind you. … Continue reading How to compare secondary schools using government data (and tools)

In a previous article, we explained that Bexley council has selected Quest Assessments as the exam board to assess the 11+ exams from 2026 onwards.  Naturally, many parents will be wondering if their existing 11+ preparation will be sufficient or if they need to do anything differently.  Does my child need to learn extra content? … Continue reading What will Quest Assessments examine?

Bexley council will be using Quest Assessments  to assess the 2026 11+ exams. This is a change from previous years. Previously, GL Assessment was used to mark the 11+ papers (and before that, CEM was used pre-2023).  We can see that in a short space of time Bexley council has made the decision to use … Continue reading Bexley moves from GL to Quest Assessments

The article below has been written by Bexley Grammar School (BGS) student, Safaa. I tasked Safaa with writing an article aimed at Year 6 pupils who are aiming to pass their 11+ exam and get a seat at the school. I’ve made minimal edits and I hope the article provides an unfiltered insight into what … Continue reading What is it like studying at a grammar school?

***URGENT ATTENTION REQUIRED** The Bexley 11 plus exam registration for 2026 has changed. The registration period will now run from 1 March 2026 to 31 March 2026.  Compared to last year, the registration dates have been brought forward by two months.  It is well known that Bexley grammar schools may sometimes use proximity between a … Continue reading REGISTRATION: Bexley 2026

The article below has been written by 10 year old Yusuf Abdul-Aziz. He was asked to write an article on how he managed to balance his school work with 11 plus preparation. He had free reign to write what he thought was appropriate and decided on the subheadings, content and structure. I have made minimal … Continue reading Balancing Year 5 with 11+ preparation

The 11+ is an exam taken by children in their final year of primary school (Year 6, aged 10 or 11) for entry into certain state-funded grammar schools and some selective independent schools. The 11 plus exam is not something every child has to sit (unlike the SATs exam); it only needs to be sat … Continue reading What is the ’11+’?

To download free 11+ resources, please click on the button below. Free downlads

Is tuition absolutely necessary to pass the 11+ exam? No. This is the short answer.  If you’ve read our story, you’ll know that we did not use tutors when we started the 11+ journey with our eldest child. At the time, we were not specialist 11+ tutors.  Eagle-eyed readers will point out that myself and … Continue reading Is tuition absolutely necessary to pass the 11+ exam?

‘VR’ stands for verbal reasoning. The topic is called verbal reasoning because it tests a student's ability to understand, analyse and logically solve problems using words and language, rather than just relying on learned knowledge. The ‘verbal' part refers to the use of words, and reasoning refers to the process of using logic and critical … Continue reading VR: Word-based verbal reasoning

In the UK education system, a 'grammar school' is a selective state-funded secondary school. Selection is based on pupils’ academic ability and entry is determined by a competitive exam, commonly known as the '11 plus', which children usually sit in their final year of primary school (Year 6). Pupils are typically tested on English, Maths, … Continue reading What are grammar schools? 

The way Ofsted reports on its inspection of schools in changing. The video below explains how the new-look report card works. https://youtu.be/xLoNDw96ct0 Looking for downloadable resources? Head to our downloads page.

The term ‘Ofsted’ is a shorthand for Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills. It is the government agency responsible for inspecting the quality of educational providers in the United Kingdom and makes its reports available to the general public. These reports are often a key source of information for parents when choosing … Continue reading A look at Ofsted’s new grading system

According to gov.uk, the services Ofsted inspects and reports on include:    • Schools: Including state-funded schools, academies, and some independent schools.    • Early Years Education: Such as nurseries and childminders.    • Further Education Colleges and Skills Providers.    • Local Authority Children's Services.    • Other Services: Including prison education and adoption and fostering agencies. The term … Continue reading What is Ofsted and why is it so important for parents?

Pupils that do not manage to pass the 11+ test will need to attend a non-grammar school (otherwise known as a state school). There are plenty in Bexley, which are mostly very good. This article draws on information from Ofsted as well as other publications and highlights the Ofsted rating as well as the 'value … Continue reading A brief guide to non-selective secondary schools in bexley

With around 6,000 pupils competing for 600-800 grammar school places in Bexley alone, and other boroughs attracting similar numbers, the reality is that sadly most students will not get a place in a grammar school of their choice.  We understand this can be an upsetting time for both pupils and parents, but it’s important to … Continue reading My child didn’t pass his/ her exam, what do I do?

The 11 plus test day is often nerve-racking for both parents and students, and understandably so. The results day is another nerve-racking day - this time for parents.  Whatever the result, we would like to say a massive congratulations to all the children who sat their 11+ exams this year.  As parents who have put … Continue reading 11+ RESULTS DAY: 2025

‘NVR’ and ‘VR’ will be two unfamiliar terms to parents new to the 11 plus journey. VR stands for Verbal Reasoning.  VR is to do with words and numbers (as opposed to shapes, which is what NVR is concerned with) and always follows a logic.   Number-based VR To really understand VR, we need to look … Continue reading What is VR?

For any parent new to the 11+ journey, the term ‘NVR’ may be completely unfamiliar. NVR stands for non verbal reasoning. In simple terms, NVR is about recognising patterns based on shapes.  For many 11 plus exams, NVR is a critical component. In fact, there are some schools that only test a pupil’s ability in … Continue reading What is NVR?

“Where can I find the 11+ curriculum?” This is the question a parent asked me recently. I wish the answer was straightforward.  Before trying to answer where an 11 plus curriculum might be found, we first need to understand what the 11 plus is.  Ultimately, the 11 plus is an exam that children in Year … Continue reading The 11 plus curriculum

As the school term progresses, students aged studying towards their 11 plus exams may start to feel tired, less engaged, or overwhelmed by academic demands. Parents play a crucial role in helping them stay motivated and focused until the very end. Whilst motivation is not specific to 11+ pupils, the reality is pupils studying towards … Continue reading Keeping your 11+ child motivated towards the end of the school term

Year 5 pupils preparing for their 11+ exams in the hope of securing a place in a grammar school inevitably use books produced by one of the major publishers, such as Bond, CGP, Collins or Letts.  We would recommend every parent use one or more of these books alongside regular tuition. These books can be … Continue reading 11+ Digital books and resources

Most parents aiming to get their children into a grammar school have probably looked into physical 11+ books or 11+ digital resources .  And parents might have noticed 11+ books usually have the terms ‘for GL assessment', or ‘for CEM assessment’ or some other similar wording.But what do terms such as GL, CEM, SET, CSSE … Continue reading What are 11 plus ‘exam boards’?

Grammar schools in Bexley follow a selective admissions process based on academic ability, as outlined by the Bexley Council and individual school policies. The key factors considered include the 11+ test results, catchment areas, sibling policies, and other oversubscription criteria. Below is a breakdown of how places are allocated. 1. Performance in the 11+ Test … Continue reading How do grammar schools in Bexley decide who to offer a place to?

In today’s digital age, many children use screens for learning. This includes at the primary school level (e.g. Times Table Rock Star), 11 plus preparation stage (e.g CGP online) and even at the secondary school level (e.g GCSE Pod).  Some experts, however, argue that traditional pen & paper methods are still better. Both digital and … Continue reading Screen v Pen & Paper: how should my child prepare for their 11+ exam?

All schools use timetables to schedule their lessons and this is also the case for Bexley primary schools, state secondary schools and grammar schools (as well as Kent grammar schools). But what about at home? Should your child have a study timetable? And is using a timetable at home especially important for pupils due to … Continue reading What is a study timetable and does my child need one?

Parents interested in Bexley grammar schools and Kent grammar schools may also be interested in Medway grammar schools. All three boroughs use the GL assessment board, which means preparing for a GL exam will give pupils a good chance of getting into a Bexley, Kent or a Medway grammar school.  The table below shows the … Continue reading Grammar schools in Medway

There are some 32 grammar schools in Kent. This makes Kent the borough with the highest concentration of grammar schools anywhere in the United Kingdom.  If you’re interested in both Bexley grammar schools and Kent grammar schools, you may wish to also take a look at the Bexley grammar schools page. As a general rule, … Continue reading Grammar schools in Kent

If you’ve read the ‘about us’ page, you’ll know we moved to Bexley some years ago. One of the main reasons for this was due to the grammar schools.  [map credit] Of course, Bexley isn’t the only London borough to have grammar schools, but it is one of the London boroughs with the highest number … Continue reading An Overview of Grammar Schools in Bexley

Every parent knows their child should be reading books, but are there particular books children trying to get into grammar schools should be reading? Or is it okay to read anything…as long as they are reading something?  Good question.  From our experience, it does matter what books children read. It matters quite a lot.  Children … Continue reading What type of books should my child be reading to help pass the 11+ exam?

Registration for the Medway Test for September 2026 secondary transfer will be open 19 May - 13 June 2025. In other words, if your child is in Year 5 now and you are considering sending your child to a Medway grammar school in September 2026, you will need to register your child for the 11+ … Continue reading Medway: When should I register my child for his/her 11+ exam?

Kent County Council typically publishes their test dates in May on their website and they usually open registration for the 11+ test in early June. Year 5 pupils then sit the 11+ test in September.  At the time of writing this article, Kent County Council had not published the relevant dates. However, every year the … Continue reading Kent: When should I register my child for his/her 11+ exam?

If your child is due to start secondary school in September 2026, they may need to take the Bexley Selection Test (11+) in 2025 to apply for a grammar school place. Below are all the essential details, including registration deadlines, test dates, and what to consider before signing up. Important Dates for the Bexley 11+ … Continue reading Bexley: When should I register my child for his/her 11+ exam?