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11+ Success

Preparing pupils for their 11+ exams

Our commitment to academic excellence is embedded in every facet of our educational approach. We are dedicated to providing children with the essential tools, skills, and the unwavering confidence needed to unlock their full potential.

Our dedicated pastoral care team works closely with pupils during their assessment preparations, ensuring they not only thrive academically but also maintain their happiness and effectively manage the pressures associated with exam periods.

Academic success

The success rate for pupils gaining places in selective state and independent schools is unrivalled in the area. This year is no exception with the majority passing the 11+ going onto our highly sought after local Grammar schools and securing external scholarships.

We understand that such places are not suitable for all pupils and our regular tracking and monitoring enables us to support all pupils to the journey to success.

Our results

Destination schools

We are extremely proud of all of our pupils and bid them a fond farewell as they move on to pastures new.

The majority of our pupils go on to one of the local grammar schools, Colchester Royal Grammar School for boys and Colchester County High School for Girls, while other pupils secure places at local independent schools and distinguished comprehensive secondary schools.

Pupils choosing to continue their education with Cognita have the option to join Colchester High School.

Our Year 6 pupils are given guidance and support through the whole transition phase including the daunting tasks of the various entrance requirements for each individual school.

Leavers Destinations
Our pupils have gone on to attend many schools, including:

World Ready

Preparing for the future

In Year 6, our oldest pupils transition into a phase that goes beyond the 11+ examination. This marks a crucial juncture in their educational journey, where they reach the peak of their learning abilities. At Oxford House School, we embrace this milestone by nurturing a culture of exploration, challenging our young intellectuals to broaden their horizons, and preparing them not only for secondary education but for life beyond.

Year 6 is a transformative year, serving as a platform for practical application and the contextualisation of our pupils' academic achievements thus far. We meticulously cultivate their aptitude by delving into diverse areas, including team building, , socio-political discourse, life skills, and relationship dynamics.

Proudly exceeding national curriculum standards, especially in mathematics, we empower our pupils to explore concepts of self, their place in the world, and the fortification of knowledge and awareness, ensuring they are well-prepared to embrace both success and happiness. As they graduate from Year 6, our pupils emerge as what we proudly call 'future-ready' individuals.

Join us on a personal tour of the School

We would be delighted to invite you to our wonderful school and share with you what makes Oxford House School the best educational start you can give your child.

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I have peace of mind when my kids are at school. They are safe, get quality academic education and have good relationships with fellow pupils and staff.

– Parent, Oxford House School

Preparing for entrance exams

1

An academic head start



We build skills into class activities throughout our pupils’ educational journeys. For example:

  • In Nursery, daily one-to-one support helps children become confident readers and mathematical skills are taught using the Montessori thousands, hundreds, tens and units equipment.

  • Reception class teachers put emphasis on learning to ‘read to retrieve’, not just decode, building pupils’ comprehension skills.

  • From year 1 onwards, pupils complete age-appropriate 11+ Bond papers, including Maths, English and Verbal Reasoning. These papers, completed on a weekly basis, provide exam competence in problem solving and comprehension.

  • Year 5 pupils attend a weekly after school 11+ club to become familiar with the format and timings of past papers.

  • Year 6 pupils return early from the Summer break for intense 11+ exam practice in the few weeks leading up to the exam in September.

The ‘heightened’ curriculum we offer at Oxford House School ensures children are ahead of what is expected for their age groups.

2

Differentiated learning to fast-track academic development



All of our children take part in the 11+ preparation programme, however, we recognise that children learn at different speeds. To ensure pupils are learning to the best of their ability, they follow a targeted curriculum to enhance their personal development. This helps them realise their full potential and gives them the best possible chance of getting a top score in the 11-plus exams.

3

Expressing emotions and learning new skills



The arts are embedded into the curriculum and form an essential part of pupils’ personal development. Apart from giving them the opportunity to develop new skills, creative subjects such as Dance, Drama, Art and Music boost children’s self-esteem and encourage them to unleash their imaginative side.

4

Stress-free environment centred on wellbeing



Maintaining pupils’ wellbeing is important to their development and ensures they’re in the right mindset to get the most out of their time at school. Our pupils take part in activities such as yoga to calm their mind and keep the pressure off and year groups have access to a multi-sensory wellbeing room.

We also offer a superior PSHE curriculum, helping children understand how to keep safe and healthy as well as preparing them for life after education.

At Oxford House School, we recognise the importance of promoting positive mental health and emotional wellbeing to our pupils, their families and our staff. We aim to create an open culture around the discussion of mental health and wellbeing and to empower our children to be able to regulate their emotions.

The Zones of Regulation TM curriculum teaches our pupils to identify emotions in themselves and others and provide them with bank of strategies to help regulate their emotions and improve their wellbeing.

5

Joy in achievement



Our ethos is centred around ‘Labore Confecto Gaudentes’ or ‘Joy in achievement’. We aim to maintain high standards in all manners of education, whilst creating a fun, enjoyable learning environment for all.

As much as we help children reach their potential and get into their dream school, it’s just as important that they enjoy their education and leave as confident, articulate and well-rounded individuals.

The majority of our pupils get top marks in the 11-plus exams and go on to attend the local grammar schools, Colchester Royal Grammar for Boys and Colchester County High School for Girls.

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