I recently had the chance to chat with a parent who had been preparing her daughter for the Grammar School tests. The conversation didn't just give us information about the test process; it also brought an inspiring story for many parents.
Because they felt their local schools weren't very strong academically, the family started looking at alternatives early. “I'd done a bit of research and felt the local schools weren't that great,” she began, explaining that they wanted to prepare their daughter a little and that it paid off in the end.
After arriving in England, their daughter started in Reception , though not at the start of September but towards the end of the term, just before Christmas. Despite factors like settling in and the language barrier, everything fell into place over time.
Their daughter has now won a place at Altrincham Grammar School for Girls. It's one of the most sought-after grammar schools in the Manchester area, and entry is very competitive. Although the family had no priority under the oversubscription criteria, the child secured a place. That really shows the decisive role of academic achievement in the system.
Distance to the school also came up in our conversation. “By their calculation it's about 2.5 miles. If you go by the map route it's a bit further, maybe 3.5 miles. I think they measure in a straight line,” the parent said, pointing out that distance can be calculated in different ways in the admissions process.
So how did the preparation go?
- When did preparation start? At the start of Year 4 they bought practice books such as Bond . But regular, serious preparation really began in Year 5.
- What was the study routine like? There were no fixed daily or weekly study hours, but they worked with their daughter regularly at home.
- Tutoring or courses? They didn't use any tutor or tutoring centre. Her mother supported her one-to-one at home.
- Mock tests: They took part in mock tests run by different organisations. She stressed how useful these were, especially for getting the child used to test conditions and overcoming nerves.
- Resources: Bond, CGP, GL and other widely used resources, along with a range of practice paper books.
This story shows that success is possible with a systematic approach, without intensive tutoring or expensive prep programmes. Most important of all is keeping the child motivated and creating a healthy learning environment at home.
If you're also thinking about preparing your child for the Grammar School tests, you can take inspiration from this experience. Every family's circumstances are different, but with dedication, consistency and the right guidance, a lot is possible!