The 11+ examination is one of the most significant academic milestones in your child's education. In Redbridge and the surrounding area, selective grammar schools remain highly sought-after — and competition for places is fierce.

Which Schools Are We Talking About?

From Redbridge, children commonly apply to Ilford County High School for Boys, Woodford County High School for Girls, Valentines High School (partially selective), and independent selective schools such as Bancroft's.

GL Assessment vs CEM: What's the Difference?

GL Assessment papers are more structured and predictable, testing Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning, Mathematics and English in separate papers. CEM papers are designed to be harder to prepare for, testing similar skills in less predictable formats.

When Should You Start?

The ideal starting point is Year 4 — giving your child a relaxed, two-year preparation. Starting in Year 5 is still very effective. Even starting at the beginning of Year 6 is not too late for an intensive programme.

What Does Preparation Involve?

• Verbal Reasoning: word patterns, letter codes, analogies, vocabulary
• Non-Verbal Reasoning: spatial patterns, matrices, sequences
• Mathematics: speed and accuracy on arithmetic plus problem-solving
• English: comprehension, vocabulary, grammar and creative writing
• Timed practice: the 11+ is as much about speed as accuracy

SATs week can feel daunting for both children and parents. With the right preparation and mindset, the vast majority of children perform at or above their expected level.

What Are the Year 6 SATs?

Year 6 SATs take place in May and assess children against expected standards in English and Maths. They inform secondary school setting and provide a national benchmark of performance.

What Papers Will My Child Sit?

• English Reading (1 paper, 1 hour)
• English Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling (2 papers)
• Maths Arithmetic (1 paper, 30 minutes)
• Maths Reasoning (2 papers, 40 minutes each)

How to Support Your Child at Home

The most important thing is to keep the atmosphere calm. Encourage regular reading, practise times tables together, and ensure your child gets adequate sleep in the weeks leading up to exams.

Dyslexia affects around 1 in 10 people in the UK. Many children go through years of school without ever receiving the targeted support that would make a genuine difference.

What is Dyslexia?

Dyslexia is a specific learning difficulty that primarily affects reading and spelling. It is neurological in origin and is not related to intelligence.

10 Signs Your Child Might Have Dyslexia

• Difficulty learning to read despite good general intelligence
• Slow, halting reading with frequent errors
• Poor spelling that doesn't improve with practice
• Difficulty remembering sequences (alphabet, months of the year)
• Confusion between similar letters (b/d, p/q)
• Reluctance to read aloud
• Difficulty following multi-step instructions
• Good verbal skills but poor written work
• Family history of reading difficulties
• Low self-esteem around reading and writing

How Specialist Tuition Helps

The most effective approaches for dyslexia are multisensory — engaging visual, auditory, and kinaesthetic learning simultaneously. The key is working at the child's actual reading level, not their chronological age.

Grade 4 is the GCSE standard pass. Grade 5 is the strong pass that most sixth forms require. Moving from Grade 3 to Grade 5 is entirely achievable with the right approach — extra hours on past papers alone rarely close the gap.

Why Grade 3 Students Often Get Stuck

Grade 3 students usually have shaky foundations in key areas — particularly algebra, fractions, and ratio. They focus revision time on topics they already know rather than those that would gain the most marks.

The Topics That Move Students Most

• Fractions, decimals and percentages — high volume of marks at Foundation tier
• Basic algebra — solving equations, rearranging formulae
• Ratio and proportion — appears across many question types
• Area, perimeter, volume — reliably tested every year
• Probability — often well-rewarded with good technique

The Right Revision Approach

Don't just do past papers — diagnose first. Complete a paper under timed conditions, then categorise every lost mark by topic. That topic list is your revision plan.