Michelle At BrightSparks Tutoring

03/10/2026

02/10/2026

We’ve been working hard on decimals in sessions, particularly place value and comparing numbers.

I know decimals can sometimes be tricky to explain at home, so I’ve put together a couple of simple parent help sheets with examples, quick practice questions and answer keys.

The key thing is to compare one place at a time: whole numbers first, then tenths, then hundredths. Adding a zero can also help, for example 0.7 = 0.70.

A few minutes of practice at home can make a real difference to confidence.

01/10/2026

Please could everyone check their emails or messenger chat for an update on tonight as I am unfortunately having to cancel due to unforeseen circumstances.

01/10/2026

A lot of parents have been asking whether I run 11+ mock exams — yes, I do.

With the Gloucestershire Grammar School test now taking place earlier in Year 5, I’m expecting to begin mock practice with my current pupils around February/March this academic year.

These will give children experience of working under timed conditions, becoming familiar with the test format and identifying any areas we still need to strengthen before the real test.

01/10/2026

One mystery animal led to so much discussion this week!

From a single inference task, we explored classification, vertebrates and invertebrates, animal groups, different types of skeleton, diet, habitat, adaptations, eggs and body features — all while practising how to use evidence carefully and explain our reasoning.

A lovely example of how one question can open up lots of wider learning.

25/09/2026

So, we finally have some updates:

Welcome to the website of Pate's Grammar School

11/09/2026

To all my lovely Year 6 children sitting their 11+ tomorrow,

I just wanted to say the biggest GOOD LUCK to every single one of you. ❤️

I am so incredibly proud of how hard you have worked and how far you have come. Tomorrow is just one exam, on one day, and it could never measure all the wonderful things that make you who you are.

You have worked so hard for this. You have persevered when things have been tricky, celebrated the little wins, grown in confidence and kept going. And please remember that just being brave enough to walk through those doors tomorrow and sit this exam is something to be incredibly proud of.

Whatever happens tomorrow, you should walk out feeling proud of yourselves. I know I will be.

It has been such a privilege to be a little part of your journey. We have laughed a lot, learnt a lot, tackled some very questionable vocabulary, battled our way through tricky maths problems and shared so many lovely moments along the way. I am genuinely going to miss you all greatly.

You are a fantastic group of children and each and every one of you will be an absolute credit to whichever secondary school is lucky enough to HAVE YOU.

And to all the parents — thank you too. Thank you for trusting me with your children and for all the support, encouragement, lifts, homework reminders and reassurance behind the scenes. The 11+ journey is very much a team effort, and it has been lovely sharing it with you.

Thank you also for all the incredibly thoughtful gifts, cards and kind words. They really are so appreciated. But the best gift of all has been getting to meet your wonderful children, getting to know them and having the privilege of working with them. I feel very lucky to have had such a lovely group.

Most importantly, thank you to the children for simply being you. For turning up, trying, making me laugh and making our lessons such a pleasure. You really have been an amazing bunch.

Tonight, there is nothing more to learn. Pack your things, have something nice to eat, get some rest and tomorrow just go in and do your best. Read carefully, don’t panic if something looks difficult, trust what you know and keep going.

Whatever the result, I am already incredibly proud of you. It is just an exam. An exam you have worked incredibly hard for, but it does not define you or all the brilliant things you are capable of.

Good luck, my lovely lot. Be brave, believe in yourselves and go and show them what you can do. ❤️

Michelle
BrightSparks Tutoring

01/09/2026

Our Year 4s have been doing a fantastic job with fractions over the summer!🌻

We’ve been exploring equivalent fractions, simplifying fractions and, more recently, adding and subtracting fractions with different denominators.

I’ve added a few little information sheets below to give parents a snapshot of some of the methods and vocabulary we’ve been using. In our sessions, we explore these ideas in a much more hands-on and activity-based way, with plenty of opportunities to practise, talk things through and build confidence along the way.

There’s a lot to remember with fractions, but the children are making some really lovely progress. Well done, Year 4s! 🤗

01/09/2026

Odd One Out 6– Non-Verbal Reasoning Practice Answers 🙂

1. C
2. D
3. D
4. D
5. E
6. B
7. E
8. D
9. C
10. E
11. E
12. B
13. E
14. A
15. D
16. E
17. E
18. D
19. C
20. C