If your child needs creative writing prompts to practise on, this article is the bank we use with our own students. Twenty five prompts grouped by type, plus a quick reminder of how to turn a prompt into a piece …
Two weeks out, one week out, the night before, the morning of. A practical checklist for 4+ exam day, by phase. Tick through it and you will have done everything that matters. Two weeks before Confirm the date, time and …
Knowing what actually happens on 4+ assessment day removes a lot of the unknown that makes the day stressful. Here is the honest walk through, from arrival to collection, with what is happening at each point and what your child …
Creative writing is the part of the 11+ that worries parents most. They tell me, “My child is great at maths but really struggles with writing.” Or, “She writes lovely stories but cannot finish in the time.” Or, “He just …
If you have ten minutes and a tired Year 5 child, this is the article I wish someone had handed me when I first started teaching 11+. Ten things that genuinely move comprehension scores forward, in the order I would …
Comprehension is the part of 11+ English where the gap between competent children and exceptional children is widest. Almost any well-taught child can answer the simple retrieval questions. The marks that decide places at the most selective schools are the …
If your child can read for pleasure, write a structured paragraph, hold a wide vocabulary, and notice how a writer is using language, they are well on the way to a strong 11+ English result. The trouble is, none of …
By the time you are in the final weeks, the underlying preparation has already done its work. Whatmatters now is calm parenting, sensible routines, and small final calibrations. Here is the advice I giveevery family in the run up. Six …
If my other piece on 4+ mistakes is about the structural decisions made over months and years, thisone is about the day itself. The morning of, the arrival, the goodbye, the few hours after. Small choicesthat matter. 1. A rushed …
Some 4+ mistakes happen on the day. I cover those in my piece on what mistakes parents make at the4+ exam itself. This article covers the structural mistakes, the ones made in the months and yearsbefore the day, that quietly …