KEWLIFE 108 October 2022

11+ PROCESS IS NOTHING TO FEAR
The Year 6 Autumn Term: a time which can cause fear across London. Traditionally, it is the final term before the 11+ exams. However, as assessment dates
have crept forward over the last couple of years, it is now the term in a large percentage of pupils take their exams. Nevertheless, with excellent preparation
and practice alongside strong pastoral care and positive mindsets, there really is nothing to fear. At KGPS, all pupils have a practice Maths and English
paper once a week, with results analysed, discussed and with effective feedback given to support progress and outcomes. Preparation and confidence
with exam technique is further developed in the twice-weekly after-school study skills sessions in Maths and English for our Year 6 pupils. So far this term,
we have held one of the two mock exam sessions in St Anne’s Church, with the second taking place in January to revive and re-focus pupils post-Christmas
holidays. In English, alongside regular past paper practice and consolidation opportunities in comprehension, creative writing, writing for a practical
purpose and spelling, punctuation and grammar, each English set continues to read a core text. Reading is the best form of revision and preparation for
exams as it expands the students’ vocabulary, knowledge of
spelling and punctuation, and provides them with ideas for
creative writing and structure and gives them experience of a
variety of texts for comprehensions. In Maths, the 11+ curriculum
has been completed and the Autumn Term focuses on
consolidation and, as in English, fine-tuning exam technique. It is a
time when pupils focus on applying their knowledge and skills to
solve different types of word problems and engage in high order
thinking puzzles and challenges, reflective of the end of paper
questions in Maths. To support high aspirations and achievement
in Maths at KGPS, pupils in Year 5 and Year 6 enter the Primary
Maths Challenge; the weekly Lower School and Upper School
Maths Challenge is met with huge engagement and excitement
each week; and all pupils are part of the Times Table Rockstar and
enjoy taking part in the London Rocks times table challenge at the
end of the Autumn Term. The Autumn Term prioritises time to go
through specific topics and areas in Maths, English and Reasoning
which require further consolidation. Through consolidation
opportunities, more experience with different types of questions
and championing the growth-mindset, the higher the self-esteem
and the better equipped our pupils are to tackle new and
challenging questions.
In addition to exam practice and consolidation opportunities in Maths, English and Reasoning, all Year 6 pupils receive a weekly interview practice session
with the Headteacher, Mrs Davies. The 11+ interview process compliments the three C's of curiosity, creativity and confidence which underpin what we are
aiming to achieve at KGPS. Alongside their academic learning, our pupils maintain and celebrate their passions and interests outside of the 11+ areas of
focus. They can talk articulately and with confidence about who they are and their hobbies, eager to share their knowledge and able to participate in
insightful conversations and debates. At KGPS, through our championing of curious and creative mindsets, our pupils can confidently explore abstract
questions; they are able to think 'outside of the box'; they are unafraid to predict the unexpected; and they are unafraid to take educational risks, asking
bigger and better questions as part of their answers. Each Year 6 pupil enters their November – January 11+ exams with the knowledge and skill-set
required to achieve. They have the full support of the school behind them, reflected in the lengthy and glowing school references and when the time
comes for an interview, they are able to shine and stand out because of who they are.
Huge congratulations to our Year 6 cohort of 2021/2022 on achieving excellent 11+ offers. Below is a list of some of the Senior school offers achieved at Kew
Green Preparatory School.
CO-EDUCATIONAL GIRLS BOYS
Latymer Upper School
Emanuel School
Kingston Grammar School
Ibstock Place School
Epsom College
St.John’s School, Leatherhead
Kew House School
Harrodian
Radnor House
St. Benedict’s School
Claremont Fan Court School
Godolphin & Latymer
Putney High School
Wimbledon High School
Surbiton High School
Lady Eleanor Holles School
Notting Hill & Ealing High School
Francis Holland, Sloane Square
Francis Holland, Regents Park
St. Paul’s Girls’ School
St James’s Girls’ School
City of London for Girls
King’s College Wimbledon
Hampton School
Westminster School
Reed’s School
St Paul’s School