At Sherborne House, we recognise that the move from primary to secondary education is an exciting milestone for every child and family. With our pupils progressing to a wide range of secondary destinations, our role is to ensure that each child feels confident, well prepared and supported for the pathway that is right for them.
For some of our pupils, this includes sitting the 11+ grammar school entrance examinations or entrance assessments for independent senior schools. We carefully weave preparation for these assessments into school life, helping children develop the knowledge, skills, and exam confidence they need while continuing to enjoy the rich and varied curriculum that characterises life at Sherborne House.
One additional element of this support is our 11+ Summer Preparation Club, offered to pupils who will be entering Year 6 in September.
Why do we offer a Summer Preparation Club?
The timing of the 11+ grammar school examinations means that pupils return to school in September with relatively little time before sitting their assessments. After a well-earned summer break, even the most confident learners can benefit from an opportunity to refresh their knowledge, sharpen key skills and become accustomed to working at pace again.
Our Summer Preparation Club therefore takes place over three mornings immediately before the beginning of the new school year, with children attending for three hours each day.
The aim is not to introduce large amounts of new content or place additional pressure on pupils. Instead, the sessions provide a focused, positive opportunity to revisit familiar skills, identify areas that might benefit from a little more attention, and help children return to an academic routine before the new term begins.
Most importantly, we want pupils to approach their assessments feeling that they know what to expect and that they have the strategies and confidence to give their very best.
What do the children cover?
Across the three mornings, pupils work on the different skills they are likely to encounter within entrance assessments, including:
- English – developing comprehension, vocabulary, spelling, grammar and the ability to retrieve and infer information accurately from texts.
- Mathematics – revisiting key mathematical knowledge and applying this confidently to problem-solving and reasoning questions.
- Verbal Reasoning – exploring vocabulary, word relationships, codes, sequences and patterns while developing strategies for tackling unfamiliar questions.
- Non-Verbal Reasoning – practising the recognition of visual patterns, sequences and relationships between shapes and diagrams.
Alongside subject knowledge, a significant part of our preparation focuses on exam technique. Children learn how to manage their time effectively, read instructions carefully, eliminate unlikely multiple-choice answers, maintain an appropriate pace and move on when a question is proving particularly challenging.
These may sound like small strategies, but they can make an enormous difference to how calmly and confidently a child approaches a timed assessment.
One part of a much wider preparation programme
Importantly, our Summer Preparation Club is just one aspect of the support we provide. Successful preparation for secondary school entrance assessments does not happen within three mornings in August; it develops gradually through high-quality teaching, carefully targeted practice and a strong understanding of each child.
Throughout Year 5 and into Year 6, pupils encounter opportunities to develop the skills required for different secondary entrance pathways. Within English and mathematics lessons, children strengthen their core curriculum knowledge while also learning to apply it to increasingly challenging and unfamiliar problems.
We provide experience of 11+ and GL-style questions, helping pupils become familiar with the language, structure and demands of different question types. Verbal and non-verbal reasoning practice further develops children’s ability to recognise patterns, make connections, work logically and approach unfamiliar material with confidence.
Timed practice is introduced carefully so that pupils learn to balance speed with accuracy. Rather than simply completing papers, children are taught how to approach them: how to use their time wisely, what to do when they become stuck, how to check their work effectively and how to make sensible decisions within multiple-choice assessments.
Teachers use their knowledge of individual pupils to identify areas of strength and those requiring further consolidation. This allows preparation to be responsive and purposeful, rather than simply completing practice papers for the sake of doing so.
We also recognise that successful preparation has an important pastoral dimension. Children need reassurance, perspective and encouragement alongside academic preparation. We talk openly about assessment experiences, help pupils develop resilience when faced with challenging questions and reinforce the message that an entrance examination is an opportunity to demonstrate their learning – not a measure of their worth or potential.
As children move closer to their secondary school applications, our support extends beyond written assessments too. We help pupils develop the confidence, independence and communication skills that will serve them well through interviews, school visits and the wider transition process.
The Summer Preparation Club therefore complements a much broader programme of support. It provides a valuable final opportunity to refresh and consolidate learning before the September grammar examinations, but it builds upon preparation that has already been taking place over time.
More than examination preparation
While the Summer Preparation Club has a clear 11+ focus, its benefits extend well beyond a single examination.
Three mornings of purposeful learning provide an excellent bridge between the summer holiday and the beginning of Year 6. Pupils have the opportunity to refresh key English and mathematical skills, rebuild their learning stamina and become accustomed once again to concentrating for sustained periods.
There is also an important confidence-building element. Working alongside familiar teachers and classmates allows children to ask questions, make mistakes and practise techniques within a supportive environment. By the time they return for the new school year, the routines of learning already feel familiar again.
Our aim is for children to leave the sessions thinking, “I know what to expect, I have strategies I can use, and I am ready to give this my best.”
Preparing for different secondary pathways
One of the strengths of Sherborne House is that there is no single destination that defines success for our pupils. We prepare children for a broad range of grammar, independent and state secondary schools, working closely with families as they consider which environment will allow their child to thrive.
For families considering the grammar school pathway, pupils may sit the September entrance examinations for the Salisbury grammar schools, including Bishop Wordsworth’s School and South Wilts Grammar School.
Each year, Sherborne House pupils also prepare for entrance assessments and admissions processes at a range of independent schools. These regularly include King Edward VI School (KES), Embley and The Gregg School, alongside destinations such as St Swithun’s School, The King’s School and Churcher’s College, among others.
Different schools have different admissions processes and expectations. For this reason, our preparation is about much more than rehearsing one particular paper. We seek to give children strong foundations in English and mathematics, develop their reasoning skills and, importantly, teach them how to apply their knowledge when faced with something new.
Just as importantly, our support is not limited to children sitting entrance examinations. Our focus is on preparing every pupil for their next step, whatever their chosen secondary destination may be.
Confidence, preparation and perspective
We know that the 11+ and secondary transfer process can sometimes feel daunting for children and parents alike. Our approach at Sherborne House is therefore built around preparation, confidence and perspective.
An entrance examination is an opportunity for a child to demonstrate what they can do; it should never define them. Through carefully structured preparation, regular practice and guidance from teachers who know them well, we help our pupils develop the resilience to tackle challenging questions and the confidence to keep going when they encounter something unfamiliar.
The Summer Preparation Club is another layer of that support: three focused mornings to reconnect with learning, refresh important skills and prepare mentally and academically for the weeks ahead.
After a busy and enjoyable summer, it is always wonderful to welcome the children back through the doors. Seeing them quickly rediscover their routines, encourage one another and grow in confidence across the three mornings is a fitting start to what promises to be an exciting and important final year at Sherborne House.
Whatever secondary pathway ultimately lies ahead, our goal remains the same: to ensure that every child moves forward feeling prepared, confident and excited about their next step.
Considering your child’s next step?
If you are exploring secondary school options for your child, we would be delighted to welcome you to Sherborne House and show you how we support our pupils throughout their journey to senior school.
There are two opportunities coming up to discover more about our school and meet our community:
Senior School Evening
Thursday 17th September 2026 | 5.30pm–7.30pm
An opportunity to meet representatives from a range of senior schools and learn more about the different pathways available to your child.
Open Morning
Saturday 3rd October 2026 | 9am–12pm
Our whole-school Open Morning is an opportunity to explore Sherborne House, meet our teachers and pupils, and discover what makes our approach to education so special.
We would love to welcome you to Sherborne House and help you discover how we can support your child as they prepare for their next chapter.
