The Progress Hub

30/09/2026

📚 5 things to consider when preparing for the 11+
Every child is different, but there are some key areas that can make a real difference to a child's confidence and progress as they prepare for the 11+.
1️⃣ Build strong foundations
Secure knowledge and understanding in English and maths provide an important foundation as children progress.
2️⃣ Focus on English and vocabulary
Strong English skills and a wide vocabulary support children across many different areas of the 11+.
3️⃣ Develop mathematical understanding
A clear understanding of number, problem-solving and mathematical reasoning is more important than simply working quickly.
4️⃣ Learn to apply knowledge
Children need to be able to think, reason and use what they know when faced with new and unfamiliar questions.
5️⃣ Build confidence through consistent preparation
Regular, structured practice, combined with the right support, helps children develop the skills and confidence they need.
The right preparation makes a real difference. 💚
At The Progress Hub, our aim is to build knowledge, skills and confidence step by step, helping children become confident learners for grammar school and beyond.

24/09/2026

📚 The Trafford 11+ is changing — so what does that mean for preparation?
With the Trafford Grammar Schools introducing the new FSCE entrance assessment from 2027, many parents will understandably be wondering what children should be focusing on now.
The assessment format may be changing, but strong foundations still matter.
Children will need strong English and vocabulary, secure mathematical understanding, the ability to think and reason, and the confidence to apply what they know to unfamiliar questions.
These skills don't develop overnight. They are built through good teaching, consistent practice and carefully developed understanding.
At The Progress Hub, we believe that the right preparation starts with getting those foundations secure and then building on them as children progress towards the assessment.
The right preparation makes a real difference.
Our aim is to give children the knowledge, skills and confidence they need to approach the new assessment well prepared and ready to do their very best.

19/09/2026

✏️ A little maths tip from The Progress Hub

At this stage of the year, we often notice that children sometimes copy a question incorrectly into their exercise books.
They may then do the maths perfectly and arrive at the correct answer — but if they have copied the question incorrectly, they haven't actually answered the question they were asked!
We often hear, “But my maths was right!”

And that's exactly the point we're trying to teach them. Getting the calculation right isn't enough if you haven't answered the actual question.

A simple habit to encourage at home:
Read → Copy carefully → Check → Solve → Read the question again.
It only takes a few extra seconds, but developing this habit now can make a real difference to accuracy and independence.

13/09/2026

Good luck to all of our Year 6 pupils sitting their 11+ exam tomorrow. 🍀

After a year of hard work, practice and preparation, the time has finally arrived.

We know how much effort you have all put in, and we hope you go into the exam feeling calm, confident and ready to do your very best.

Whatever the outcome, you should be proud of how far you have come.

Good luck everyone — we're all rooting for you! 💚

17/07/2026

It's been a busy week at The Progress Hub.

Since the announcement that Trafford's 11+ entrance examination will move to FSCE (Future Stories Community Enterprise) from 2027, we've been carefully researching the changes and reviewing the information released so far.

While the assessment format may evolve, one thing remains the same: children still need strong English and Maths skills, confidence and excellent teaching.

We're already adapting our resources and planning ahead so that every child who learns with us receives the very best preparation.

We'll continue to keep our families updated as more information about the new FSCE assessment becomes available.

💜💙💚 The Progress Hub

15/07/2026

Big changes to the Trafford 11+ have been announced!

Yesterday's announcement has understandably raised lots of questions for parents.

Although the format of the examination is changing, one thing remains the same: strong English and maths skills are the foundation of success.

At The Progress Hub, these have always been at the heart of our teaching. As experienced 11+ tutors and qualified classroom teachers with many years of KS2 teaching, we're already reviewing the information released by FSCE and updating our programme where needed.

We'll continue to share advice and guidance as more details become available to help parents understand what these changes mean

14/07/2026

Trafford 11+ Update

The Trafford Grammar Schools consortium have confirmed a move to the FSCE test format — no VR/NVR, more curriculum-based English and maths.

Here’s the official announcement.

A major shake-up to the local grammar school entrance process is coming.

18/06/2026

🌟 Parent Feedback 🌟

We recently received this lovely feedback from one of our families.

Their son has made enormous progress during his time with us and has grown significantly in confidence. His school has also noticed the improvement, and the parents are delighted with his pace of learning.

We’re very proud of his progress and the effort he’s put in. 🌟

05/11/2025

🧮 Oops! Wrong Numbers, Right Maths! 😅

It happens all the time — your child’s working is spot on... except they copied the question down wrong! 🙈

Maybe they swapped a 6 for a 9, or wrote 42 instead of 24 — and suddenly they’re solving a completely different problem! Their maths is great, but the answer doesn’t match the one on the paper.
✨ The fix? Slow down, check the numbers, then start solving!
A few seconds of care can save a whole mark (or two!) in the 11+ exam.
At The Progress Hub, we remind our pupils to “copy carefully” — because even brilliant maths can go astray with the wrong numbers! 💪

24/09/2025

📚✨ Why Times Tables (and Division!) Matter for 11+ Success ✨📚

Strong, fast recall of times table facts is one of the most powerful tools a child can have when preparing for the 11+.

Division is just as crucial as multiplication. The two go hand in hand, and quick recall of both means smoother progress across the whole maths paper.

Encouraging your child to master times tables and the related division facts will give them a huge advantage — not just for the 11+, but for all areas of maths.