The Bright Minds

Let’s be honest for a second. If you want to dent a 11-year-old’s self-esteem before they’ve even hit secondary school, the post-exams period is prime time. All you have to do is turn every school-gate chat into an interrogation, endlessly compare your child’s mock scores with those of their classmates, and treat the results envelope like a final judgment on their entire worth. Easy, right? If that sounds exhausting and utterly toxic, that’s because it is. Right now, parents across...

Big changes are coming to the 11+ entrance process in Dorset. Starting in September 2027 (for Year 7 entry in 2028), Bournemouth and Poole grammar schools within the Dorset Consortium are officially replacing long-standing provider GL Assessment with Quest Assessments. If your child is currently in Key Stage 2 and aiming for a local grammar school place, understanding what this shift means—and adjusting your preparation strategy early—is essential. At a Glance: What We Know About the New...