While many of our pupils choose to stay on and thrive within our own Senior School through to Year 11, we also recognise and fully support families who are considering alternative senior school options at the end of Year 6. For those seeking 11+ entry, we offer expert guidance and tailored preparation to ensure every child is equipped to succeed.
Each year, we celebrate the achievements of pupils who secure places at selective schools such as Colchester Royal Grammar School and the County High School for Girls through the highly competitive 11+ assessment, which typically targets the top 4% of the national cohort.
Our teaching and learning programme is carefully designed to meet the expectations of senior independent schools. In keeping with our commitment to working in close partnership with families, we also offer additional targeted support for those preparing for entrance exams.
A Holistic Approach to 11+ Preparation
At Holmwood House, our 11+ preparation focuses on developing strong literacy, reasoning, and study skills within an aspirational and nurturing environment. We provide specialist teaching across all subjects, giving pupils rich exposure to language, broadening their vocabulary, and building problem-solving confidence.
To further support their progress, pupils can join our dedicated 11+ stretch activity clubs, run collaboratively by our English and Maths teams. This targeted provision ensures that children are well-prepared for the verbal and non-verbal reasoning demands of the 11+ process.
Digital Support with Century Tech
In addition to in-school preparation, we provide access to Century Tech – an AI-powered online learning platform. This resource allows pupils to consolidate their skills at home, working at their own pace through high-quality teaching videos, slideshows, and a wide range of practice activities. Century Tech covers all key 11+ areas, including English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning, and Non-Verbal Reasoning, helping to build confidence and familiarity with the test formats.
