Our Courses

Shaping futures and building healthy minds
starts at an early age.

Our Courses

We provide weekly courses for children in Years 3, 4, and 5 specifically designed to establish the foundations needed to succeed at the 11+ examinations. Last year, 93% of our students gained the required mark to qualify for entry into grammar schools.

We pride ourselves on our personal face-to-face approach but also utilise technology which means the main teaching concepts for each lesson are available to watch at home, along with valuable insights, explanations, and tips to enhance understanding and reinforce concepts covered in class.

Our Courses

Duration: 2 hours – Once a week.

Content: Establishes solid foundations in English and mathematics along with a gradual introduction to writing skills.

Mathematics – Focus on core mathematical concepts, arithmetic and mental maths skills

English – Focus on vocabulary, spelling, grammar, punctuation, comprehension and reading skills

Writing – Periodic work on the development of written skills

Duration: 2½ hours – Once a week.

Content: Builds on the English, mathematics and writing skills established in the Early Achievers Course and introduces verbal reasoning.

Mathematics – Expanding on mathematical skills and understanding while slowly expanding complexity.

English – Evolving vocabulary, spelling, grammar, punctuation, comprehension and reading skills.

Verbal Reasoning – Introduction to the various techniques required for the 11+ examination.

Writing – Increased development of writing skills.

Duration: 4 hours – Once a week or 2x 2 hour sessions.

Content: Combines and consolidates everything from the two previous courses while expanding into advanced mathematics and more complex reading and comprehension skills. Year 5 also sees the introduction of non-verbal reasoning skills and comprehension techniques that focus on specific skills and strategies in preparation for their 11+ exams.

Additional Creative Writing Course available for Independent School Entrance Examinations.

Module 1 – English and Verbal Reasoning (2 Hours)

English – Emphasis on developing comprehension and reading skills, building advanced vocabulary, spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
Verbal Reasoning – Expanding on the skills learnt in Year 4 and applying these techniques to more complex questions.

Module 2 – Maths and Non-Verbal Reasoning (2 Hours)

Maths—Every KS2 concept is covered in detail, with extended work to challenge the brighter minds. Mathematical skills are consolidated and applied with simple and multistep word problems. Mental maths skills are improved, focusing on speed and accuracy.

Non-Verbal Reasoning – Introduction and consolidation of all techniques required for the preparation of the 11+ exam.

Duration: 1½ hours per week over ten weeks and can be face-to-face or online (June to September or October to December).

Content: As well as testing mathematics, English, and verbal/non-verbal reasoning, all independent schools also include a creative writing course, which is why we dedicate a specific 10-week course to it.

Narrative & Descriptive Writing

Children learn how to effectively write and develop a narrative, introducing essential building blocks such as characters, plot, settings, and resolutions. We’ll also help them bring words to life through vivid imagery that uses adjectives, adverbs, similes and metaphors to describe their work.

Poetry

Students learn various poetic styles, such as rhyming, free verse, and haikus, while introducing them to rhythm, imagery, tone, mood, and syntax.

Character Development

Creating believable and relatable characters is key to creative writing. Through famous examples and, at times, role-playing activities, students are taught how to mould realistic characters that develop over time.

Dialogue Writing

Realistic dialogue is one of the hardest aspects of writing, which is why we place great emphasis on it. Children learn not only the basics but also how to write real dialogue that advances the plot and aids character development.

Planning and Drafting

We emphasise the importance of planning and carefully editing over time. Students are taught how to plan and structure a story so that it follows a narrative ark and then how to fine-tune it until an excellent piece of work emerges.

Our Courses

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Our Courses

The 11+ exam is administered to Year6 pupils in primary schools throughout England. It serves as a method for determining academic suitability for enrolment in grammar or selective schools from Year7.The exam takes place in the beginning term of Year6.

There’s no definitive answer to this question—it varies greatly depending on the child. While some may succeed in the exam with minimal tutoring, given the intense competition of the 11+ exam, many children benefit from a more structured approach.

In our experience, most children typically begin their preparations in Year 4.

However, some start as early as Year 3, while others commence in Year 5 and still achieve success. It truly depends on each child’s individual circumstances.

We offer a range of 11+ courses tailored to children at different stages of their preparation.

Effective exam preparation isn’t something that can be rushed. Our approach is designed to provide continuous support before, during, and after exams.

It’s never too early or too late to start your journey, and we’re here and ready to assist whenever you’re ready!

While we can’t promise specific outcomes for your child’s performance on the 11+ exam, our free, face to face initial assessment can provide insight into your child’s current standing relative to past students. This enables us to offer specific and honest recommendations for your child.

Our tuition is very reasonable and varies depending on year groups.

Year 3 – £40 (2-hour Session)

Year 4 – £45 (2½ -hour Session)

Year 5 – £65 (4 hours)

We accept payment through 3 different options:

-Direct Debit via our partner GoCardless

-Bank Transfer

-Cash

Balancing a personalised approach with small class sizes and preparing children for the realities of secondary school education can be tricky. While 1:1 or 1:2 classes may yield excellent results, they do little to prepare children for grammar school classes that often have up to 30 students.

Our classes include between 12 and 15 students, smaller than most primary school classes, which allows us to foster academic growth and bolster confidence at the same time in that all-important group environment.

With over two decades of experience, we’ve found that this is the optimal size for producing outstanding results that don’t hinder a child’s long-term development when adjusting to larger class sizes.

Definitely, YES! The parents are the most important part of the 11+ process. They need to support, encourage and manage the child throughout the 11+ journey. Inspire will be right next to you to guide you.

Your child will be formally tested after each cycle (6-7 weeks). This test is based on the knowledge gained from the teaching of that cycle. A written report, detailing the percentages for each subject, is given to the child and parent.

Our bespoke curriculum is designed to prepare pupils for the GL 11+ Exam, and various Independent School exams. It covers all 4 subject areas with the GL exam: English, Verbal Reasoning, Maths and Non-Verbal Reasoning whilst also closely following the national curriculum for English and Maths. We also offer creative writing courses which provide additional support pupils applying to Independent Schools.

Yes, there is homework to complete every week. This will consist of:

Year 3 : Spellings, Vocabulary, Maths and English.

Year 4 : Spellings, Vocabulary, Maths, English, and Verbal Reasoning.

Year 5 : Spellings, Vocabulary, Maths, English, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning (some weeks).

This can vary depending on the child’s ability and concentration level. The timings below are a guidelines only but it is important to ensure the child has an appropriate environment to work in and that they are not tired when completing the work.

Year 3 : 45 minutes per day.

Year 4 : 1 hour per day.

Year 5 : 1-1½ hours a day.

Parents have access to weekly video explanations which include the main teaching points from the classwork and can be used by parents to help their child. If there is anything outstanding, the tutor is there to assist in the next session.

Notice must be given for missed sessions. Any sessions missed can be caught up at other available times in the week or on an online session. If this is not practical, then there is a charge for the missed lesson/s and the work must be collected from the center and completed in time for the next lesson. It is the responsibility of both parent(s) and pupil to ensure attendance.

The charges are as follows:

Year 3 – £20

Year 4 – £25

Year 5 – £35

A grammar school is a state secondary school which requires your child to take an entrance exam called the 11+. If they gain a place, there are no fees to pay, and the grammar schools a strong focus on academic achievement as they select pupils based on ability. They are very similar, academically to a good Independent School, however they are free.

Private schools are institutions where tuition fees are required, although scholarships may be an option. Similar to grammar schools, they typically require an entrance examination, but with an emphasis on creative writing and extended written responses rather than multiple-choice questions. Unlike grammar schools, private schools are not obligated to adhere to the national curriculum, affording them the flexibility to establish their own educational programs.

The West Midlands Grammar School partnership is a collaboration between the 3 West Midlands consortiums: Birmingham, Warwickshire, and Shropshire, Wolverhampton, and Walsall. Although each group maintains its own identity and grammar schools, they now work together as part of this partnership. This means that there is just one GL entrance examination for every Grammar School across the West Midlands.

A strong vocabulary is essential for comprehension, and this can be improved by reading a range of texts for a minimum of 30-45 minutes every day. Inspire provide a recommended reading list for all year groups. It is also important for your child to practice recognizing synonyms and antonyms and to learn how to skim and scan the text for key information.

We recommend using an electronic dictionary and thesaurus regularly to increase awareness of synonyms and antonyms. However, remembering words becomes easier when encountered in context, underscoring the importance of maintaining a consistent reading routine. In addition, practise using the new word in conversation to retain the meaning of that word.

Practice, Practice and Practice! Some children are naturally very good at doing NVR questions while some find it more difficult. Use the videos provided to understand the techniques and use a variety of questions to practice. However, if your child if finding it difficult to improve, focus on the Maths, Verbal Reasoning and English areas where improvement can be easier to attain and more useful on the long run for their overall education.