Learning Steps

Chemsford County High school For Girls and Reading School

Based on the new FSCE (Future Stories Community Enterprise) 11+ format being introduced for schools such as Chelmsford County High School for Girls and Reading School, here’s an updated summary you can use for parents and to adapt your teaching.
New FSCE-Style 11+ Exam Information (2026 onwards)
What is changing?
The traditional grammar school exam is changing for some schools. Instead of only testing Maths, English, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning, the new assessment tests how well children can apply knowledge across the whole Key Stage 2 curriculum.

The aim is to assess:
* Critical thinking
* Problem solving
* Creativity
* Application of knowledge
* Communication skills
* Real-life reasoning

Children are not expected to learn new topics but they must confidently apply what they already know.
Subjects that may appear
Questions can come from any KS2 subject, including:
* English
* Mathematics
* Science
* History
* Geography
* Computing
* Art & Design
* Design & Technology
* Music
* Physical Education
* Languages

Four Examination Papers
1. Adventure Paper
Format
* Multiple-choice
* Questions from any KS2 subject
Tests:
* General knowledge
* Reading information
* Logical thinking
* Quick decision making
*
1. Beacon Paper
Short written answers.
Children explain their thinking instead of selecting an option.
Tests:
* Accuracy
* Written explanations
* Vocabulary
* Subject understanding
1. Compass Paper
Another multiple-choice paper covering KS2 curriculum.
Focus:
* Applying knowledge
* Reasoning
* Interpreting information
* Solving unfamiliar problems

1. Discovery Paper
This is completely different from traditional 11+ exams.
Children complete an extended creative response.
It may involve:
* Creative writing
* Designing solutions
* Explaining ideas
* Solving real-world problems
* Imaginative thinking
This paper rewards originality as well as clear communication.
Skills Schools Are Looking For
Children should be able to:
* Think independently
* Explain their reasoning
* Solve unfamiliar problems
* Use creativity
* Apply knowledge from different subjects
* Read carefully
* Analyse information
* Write clearly

How Preparation Should Change
Instead of practising only:
* English
* Maths
* VR
* NVR
Children should also revise:

Science
* Animals
* Plants
* Electricity
* Forces
* Human body
* Materials
* Space

History
* Romans
* Vikings
* Ancient Egyptians
* Ancient Greeks
* World War II
* British history

Geography
* Rivers
* Mountains
* Climate
* Maps
* UK geography
* World geography

Computing
* Coding basics
* Algorithms
* Online safety
* Digital technology

Art & Design
* Artists
* Colour
* Shapes
* Design ideas

Music
* Rhythm
* Instruments
* Musical terms

PE
* Healthy lifestyle
* Fitness
* Teamwork
* Sports knowledge

Languages
* Basic vocabulary
* Grammar
* Understanding simple language patterns
Creative Thinking Will Become More Important
Children should practise:
* “What would happen if…?”
* Designing inventions
* Improving everyday objects
* Environmental solutions
* Story writing
* Persuasive writing
* Explaining ideas logically

Problem-Solving Questions
Children may be asked to:
* Interpret charts and graphs
* Use information from different subjects together
* Analyse evidence
* Draw conclusions
* Make justified decisions

Key Message for Parents
The new FSCE-style exam is not about memorising facts. It rewards children who can:

* Think critically
* Apply KS2 knowledge confidently
* Communicate clearly
* Solve unfamiliar problems
* Show creativity and reasoning

Preparing for this format requires broader revision across the KS2 curriculum alongside the traditional English and Maths skills, helping children become confident, adaptable learners rather than simply practising standard 11+ question types.

Tiffin Girls’, Nonsuch & Wallington High School Catchment Guide

This letter announces an important change to the Slough Consortium 11+ exam but not for this year’s candidates.
Key points
* From September 2027, the Slough Consortium (Langley Grammar, Herschel Grammar, Upton Court Grammar and St Bernard’s Catholic Grammar School) will change its 11+ assessment provider to Quest Assessments.
* This change only affects children who are currently in Year 4, who will sit the 11+ in September 2027 for entry into Year 7 in September 2028.

If your child is taking the 11+ in September 2026

Nothing changes.
The letter clearly states:

“There is no change to the test provider for the 11+ examination taking place in September 2026, for pupils transferring to secondary school in September 2027.”

So pupils entering secondary school in September 2027 will still sit the current exam.

What will stay the same?
Even with the new provider:

* ✅ Mathematics will still be tested.
* ✅ English will still be tested.
* ✅ Verbal Reasoning (VR) will still be tested.
* ✅ Non-Verbal Reasoning (NVR) will still be tested.
* ✅ Scores will continue to be age-standardised.
* ✅ A score of 111 or above will still be the qualifying score for consideration.
* ✅ The admissions process and application deadline (31 October) remain unchanged.

What isn’t known yet?
The consortium says it will provide more information next academic year about:

* Familiarisation materials.
* The format of the Quest Assessments papers.
* Admissions arrangements.
the subjects remain the same, Quest Assessments may have:

* a different question style,
* different timings,
* different English comprehension or reasoning formats.

Once sample papers are released, it will be worth reviewing your teaching materials to see whether any adjustments are needed.

For your current Year 5 students (sitting September 2026), no changes are required, continue preparing them using the existing Slough Consortium format.

Bexley Grammar Schools – 11+ Selection Test

Parents who wish their child to apply for a place at a grammar school in the London Borough of Bexley must register their child online to sit the Bexley Selection Test.

The Bexley Selection Test is provided by Quest Assessments and consists of two papers. Each paper contains a mixture of question types and is divided into timed sections. Children will be given a set amount of time for each section and will then be instructed to move on. An invigilator will guide candidates through the test and inform them when to begin and end each section.

All questions are in multiple-choice format and answers are recorded on an Optical Mark Reading (OMR) answer sheet. There is a short break between the two papers.

Test Content and Weighting

The test assesses three key areas:

• Verbal Ability – 50%
• Numerical Ability – 25%
• Non-Verbal Ability – 25%

Raw scores (the number of correct answers in each section) are converted into age-standardised scores to ensure younger children are not disadvantaged.

The average weighted age-standardised score is 200 with approximately two-thirds of candidates scoring between 170 and 230.

Grammar School Qualification

Achieving the selective standard does not automatically guarantee a grammar school place unless a child is among the 180 highest-scoring candidates.

The majority of grammar school places are allocated according to each school’s admissions criteria and home-to-school distance plays an important role for most applicants.

Bexley Grammar Schools

• Beths Grammar School (Boys)
• Bexley Grammar School (Mixed)
• Chislehurst and Sidcup Grammar School (Mixed)
• Townley Grammar School for Girls