About Mathsgo 11+ Clubs

The Mathsgo 11+ Clubs in Canterbury are for children in Year 5 to help them prepare, not only for the Kent Test but for Secondary education generally. The classes provide a learning environment where they will: develop both their knowledge and reasoning skills; understand the positive effect and future learning benefits from making mistakes; and gain the self-belief that they are capable of learning and achieving. In all of the classes I have a teaching assistant, usually providing an adult to child ratio of 1:8.

while the Year 5 classes are for 2 hours (4:45 – 6:45).

Both of the classes provide tuition, revision and support for all of the subjects assessed as part of the Kent Test:

Maths,
English,
Verbal Reasoning,
Non-Verbal Reasoning,
Spatial Reasoning,

and the use of activities, alongside more traditional workbooks, make it an enjoyable yet productive part of the week for many children. I believe that Maths teaching should be less about rules and speed and more about understanding; I use the principles of Mastery and Singapore Maths; exploring new concepts and ideas in a visual or pictorial way, before linking these with standard symbols and notations. 

After Easter the Year 5 children practise one exam paper every week, and have the opportunity to attend Exam Practice Days, where they sit all four papers back-to-back, just like they will in September. In August they are further supported with the opportunity to attend Summer School Revision Classes and/or have 1-1 tuition.

Some facts about the Kent Test:

• Schools are not allowed to use curriculum time to help children prepare;
• Reasoning (1/3 of the Kent Test) is not taught in schools as it is not part of the National Curriculum;
• Much of the maths tested is in advance of what they will have experienced in school;
• The test is sat at the beginning of Year 6 in September - within a week of returning after the summer holidays;
• All questions are multiple choice;
• The writing task is only used, (in conjunction with the child’s Year 5 school books) to help a panel of headteachers’ decide whether a Grammar School place should be offered, when a child has missed the pass mark by just a few points.