For many Year 6 children (and their parents), there’s a big sigh of relief once the 11+ exams are done. All that hard work has paid off, but now comes the wait to see if they will be accepted into their chosen grammar school.

If your child does get in, there’s still almost a year to go, before starting their new school. A lot can change in a year, and it’s essential that children heading to grammar school keep working above the national standard to ensure they’re ready for the next big step.

After finishing the 11+ exam, some children might think they can just coast through the rest of Year 6. Sure, they should celebrate taking the 11+ exam – it’s a big achievement! However, we suggest parents make sure their child keeps pushing themselves in class to prepare for grammar school life.

Here are some tips to keep your Year 6 child on track:

  1. Encourage leisure reading time: Make sure they do their weekly reading homework, but also read for fun. This helps boost vocabulary, grammar and context understanding. Mix up fiction and non-fiction. They can read about hobbies and interests, and they don’t always have to read from books. Magazines and online articles (with limited screen time) are great too.
  2. Play lots of games: Introduce puzzles and brain games to sharpen their problem-solving skills. You can do these at home or outside the home, by booking an escape room for some family fun. The challenges are both fun and rewarding.
  3. Visit museums: Explore museums related to science, history and geography, or niche topics. This broadens their knowledge and sparks interest in various subjects and topics.
  4. Keep learning!: Use our books throughout Key Stage 2. We encourage parents to keep using them after the 11+ exams to make sure children don’t forget techniques, and to continue building their confidence. They can use the books they already had to prepare for their 11+, or you can purchase more books from our Key Stage 2 range.
  5. Maintain routine: Just like 11+ exam prep, stick to a regular daily routine. Routine helps children excel and
  6. Get them involved at home: Starting secondary school is a big leap, not only academically but also in daily life. Child will take on more responsibilities, so teach them practical skills like budgeting, navigating public transport, reading maps, and cooking. This boosts their self-confidence and independence.

We hope these tips help you keep your child engaged and learning in Year 6 to get them ready for a great start at grammar school in September.