Planning your year

Planning the year to help support and prepare your child for the Secondary Transfer tests (11+) can be daunting. Too little, will they be ready? Too much will they burn out and peak too soon?

 

Our structured programme aims to help parents support their child, offering a range of events over the year. 

 

As parents ourselves, we realise the importance of balancing studies with family life.  The following offers advice and guidance for parents to view. 

Examples:

The following are examples for each subject, as each student has different needs, they may benefit from more or less sessions. Students are required to take the academic test (VR & Maths), Sports and Music are optional.

Academic Test 
Test Awareness   >  MTT March  >  MTT  May  >  Summer course  >  Revision & Prep >  MTT Aug

Sports Test 
Test Awareness   >      Test Awareness April    >       Test Awareness June   >     Test Awareness Aug

Music Test 

Test Awareness   >          MAT April        >        MAT  June       >       MAT  July       >       MAT Aug      

 

Bookings

To select and book any of our events, please visit our website and follow the links to our online booking system.

 

Parents can select and pay online using a credit or debit card, or select to pay on the day (There is an additional Admin fee for paying on the day). Parents will receive an emailed confirmation and receipt of their booking.

 

We know things change – flexible bookings

As parents ourselves, we know how difficult it is to juggle family schedules and recognise that things can change. To help, we have enhanced our booking system which offers a more flexible booking process.  

 

Where parents have booked and paid online, we are now able to move the booking to an alternative date should the need arise. This will help parents to take advantage of our discount if 3 or more MTT are booked, knowing they have the option to move a date.

 

We ask that parents put their request in writing no later than 72 hours prior to the event, once amended parents will receive a new confirmation.  Late notice (Less than 72 hours)  may not be possible or result in additional fees as test papers are pre-printed with students’ details.  (An admin fee may also be applied for multiple requests.)

 

VR & Maths                       The following helps support the academic test.

Test Awareness

 Half Term Mon 15th Feb (AM)

Or Saturday 27th Feb

Informal environment, gentle introduction, explains format & content, sample papers, puts tutoring into context, “Makes it real”

Recommended

 

Mock Transfer Test

Recommend students attend tests early i.e. 20th  March

 

MTTs available each month

Formal exam environment, GL Assessment multiple choice papers, helps reduce nerves and anxiety, adds confidence and self-esteem, helps identify learning gaps.

 

3 is the magic number, 1st test nerves, 2nd test more aware, 3rd delivery & ability.

 

10 MTT tests available. All different. Attend 3 or more save £5 per test, spread bookings.

Recommended

Paper Review

Parents and students attend after each MTT

Access to papers, constructive opportunity for students to review their papers

 

Qualified staff available to offer support and methods to help students learn from
their mistakes

 

Attend next MTT (Mock) put into practise lessons learnt in paper review

Recommended

 

Holiday Support

Holidays are important – end of school year, children may be tired and lose focus.

 

For those who wish to practise while away, we can support children with our Online service & range of 10-minute test books.

Summer Courses

July - August

2-day subject specific courses (2 Verbal Reasoning courses & 2 Maths courses)

 

Formal environment offering mock papers, instant feedback opportunity to refine and improve test technique.

 

10% discount if 2 or more courses are booked and paid for at the same time.

 

Summer School

July – August

Informal classes covering VR & Msths

 

Please book online Mon - Fri 10am - 12.00

 

Attend as many classes as you wish, Discount for weekly bookings

 

Revision & Preparation

August 23rd – 26th

A must for all. Blow away holiday cobwebs, high energy subject focused days to help remind students how successful they can be.

 

Helps them re-focus, fine tune test techniques ready for the tests. (Those attending in 2019, increased score by 20%. based on a test prior to R&P sessions)

Recommended

 

Mock Transfer Test

27th August

Final Mock Transfer Test before the actucal SW Herts / 11+ tests

 

Put into pracise the techniques learnt from the Revision & Preparation sessions

Recommended

 

Queens Sports Test    The following help support the Sports test.

Sports Awareness

Half Term 16th Feb

 

4 sessions April - August

Queens' Sports Test awareness for those considering Queens Secondary School

 

Attend early in the year to gain knowledge of each activity in the test, receive training booklet, have time to train, attend future Sport Awareness Sessions to track progress.

 

Sessions are supported by Queens 6th Form PE students with awareness of the actual test.

 

Excellent track record, at least 8 students have gained places at Queens through sports.

 

SW Herts Music Stage 1   The following help support the SW Herts Music Test Stage 1

Music Test Awareness

Half term 15th Feb (PM)

 

Mock Music Tests (MAT) take place every month starting Feb 2021

Unsure if your child has an aptitude for music?

 

Music Awareness and Mock Music Aptitude Tests (MAT) offer the opportunity to find out.

 

Attend early sessions to allow children time to learn an instrument or practice a performance piece. 

 

Excellent track record with a  high percentage of students passing the Stage 1 music test to be called back for Stage 2.