11 children sitting the 11+ exams for every grammar school place: Here’s our expert guide for grammar school success

11 children sitting the 11+ exams for every grammar school place: Here’s our expert guide for grammar school success

Did you know there are currently 163 grammar schools in England, with around 5% of secondary pupils attending these schools? The even more shocking statistic is that around 100,000 pupils sit the 11+ each year. This means on average eleven pupils are sitting the 11+ for every place! This hasn’t been helped by the new 20% tax on independent school places and general rise of fees, both of which are playing a part in the increased competition to get into a grammar school.

These statistics are overwhelming for parents when considering grammar school education for their child. It can feel unreachable and hard to gain the right advice to navigate yourself around the grammar school application process. These pressures also make parents and children fixate on the 11+ exam itself, rather than being ready for grammar school education; passing the 11+ is only the start of what is yet to come.

For over 35 years, we have been supporting parents and our pupils not just with passing 11+ exams, but also advising on the grammar school process to make sure they have all the information they need to make the right choices for their child.

Here are some key questions we ask our parents before their child starts at AE tuition, so we can help support them and get them ready to begin the grammar school process:

 

What are your options of grammar school for your child?

We consistently advise parents to be realistic when selecting a grammar school. Our concern is not just whether your child will gain admission, but whether the school is suitable for your child, and if its location is practical for your family’s daily life and within your catchment area. We advise attending open evenings as early as possible (even as early as infant school). Being realistic early on will help you plan and give you a clear focus for preparation for the 11+ exams.

What is the 11+ exam process?

Each grammar school has a different way of running 11+ exams. It’s important for you to gain this information via the grammar school website and by talking to the school directly. For example, some grammar schools only test children on English and maths. Other grammar schools will test them on verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning as well.

Also, be aware that grammar schools can make changes to the 11+ exam or criteria, so it’s important that you are updated with any changes. For example, Reading Boys have introduced creative writing to their 11+ exam process.

When are you going to start preparing your child?

For a child to do well in the 11+ exams, they need to be exceeding above the average national standard in state school education. We have always recommended that parents start preparing their child from Year 3 (the start of junior school). Starting early gives the child time to really understand the topics, and gives them the space to enjoy what they are learning. Also, starting early means your child will gain more knowledge and confidence to support them in their primary education as well.

In the academic year 2023/24, AE Tuition’s pupils achieved an overall pass rate of 86% for grammar or independent schools. However, this includes all children who have attended any length of 11+ course with AE Tuition. The pass rate for those attending the Year 5 one-year course was 72%. Children who attended a Year 4 course prior to Year 5 achieved a pass rate of 87%, and those who attended both Year 3 and Year 4 courses prior to Year 5 achieved a pass rate of 90%. From these results (and previous years’ results), it’s clear that starting early gives children a real advantage.

Are you preparing your child for the 11+ exams or getting them prepared for attending grammar school with confidence?

Passing the 11+ exams is just the beginning of grammar school education. Grammar schools require pupils to maintain a high academic performance throughout their education, so it is necessary for children to be prepared for this level of performance.

The preparation for the 11+ exams should be treated as an introduction to what is yet to come. Parents need to not only really understand where their child is struggling, but also assess what they enjoy and find out how they can motivate them in key areas where they need a boost. For example, a child may not enjoy reading, but an enjoyment of reading is key to improving their vocabulary skills and will support them in every subject they learn at school. We recommend using their interests as a hook to encourage them to read more. Also, introduce a time in the day for reading time. The more children see their parents read, the more it will encourage them to do so as well.

What support are you gaining?

Balancing everyday family commitments and work can make it challenging to tutor your child for the 11+ exams, especially if you don’t have personal experience of the preparation and process. AE Tuition has a unique partnership with our parents and pupils, offering structured weekly tuition of 2 to 2.5 hours, either in the classroom or remotely, with all materials included. We provide parents with tools and advice to support their child’s preparation for the 11+ exams and grammar school applications, including appeals if necessary. Our tuition is delivered by experienced UK-qualified teachers using our proven AE Tuition methodology, trusted for over 35 years.

Are you ready for the 11+ process?

We hope you have found this article useful and that it has given you the direction needed to decide if you would like your child to go to grammar school. If you are a parent considering grammar school for your child, please contact us for further advice and to learn how we can support your child’s educational journey. Enrolment for our 11+ One Year courses are now open. Find out more here