10+ entrance for secondary education Sep 2025

[Parent2024]

Hello
wanted to get a thread going for entrance in secondary school for 10+ in Sep 2025. Key questions to know more about include : preparation, mock tests and reading habits, past successful preparation etc.… happy to include other topics. Target schools - Whitgift, Trinity, City Of London and Emanuel.

Hi! We are applying for Trinity & whitgift schools. DS is strong in maths, VR and NVR. English/creative writing is my concern. Currently we have just started the Atom learning trial.
How has your prep been going?

Thanks. English / creative writing / comprehension is a concern for me as well. We have been using Bond books with some Atom. I am unsure of what level to aim at as the material is all aimed at 11+ and not 10+, so getting your thoughts will be good. Also have you thought about some mock tests to help prepare and get an exam feeling - any leads there?

We know friends with DCs that got 10+ Emanuel offers. They said check the school website as they give sample papers and do those timed. So you can see which to focus on. English was their issue so trying to get more descriptive phrases etc.

Hi, don't mean to derail thread but curiosity has got the better of me. I've never come across 10+ entry before. Does it mean that a child joins the senior school at the age of 10 and studies year 6 there, or is it a deferred place to join the school at age 11?

Study Year 6 in senior school. Some kids prefer to move to secondary sooner, or join siblings or come from overseas and parents want to not move them after 1 year. Less competition in 10+ at London day schools and if no offer it is type of way to prep for 11+.

Thank you for explaining it for me. I now understand the advantages.

Joining this thread as my son is applying for 10+. Was anyone at the open day this weekend? We're getting close to the test day and it all feels a bit daunting now!

Are there any past papers available to practice?

There are some that do deferred entry for 10+, so they sit the exam in y5 but don't start until y7. Means they can also apply to other schools for the 11plus but with less stress! Hampton and Kingston Grammar do it. Kings and St Paul's used to but no longer.

The test isn’t too hard (although only experience is with DD’s 11+). DD is very strong at maths, but not as much English, and she is now one of the most academic students in her year. I would recommend getting a tutor (not kumon or some crap, but an actual real life person.) I don’t think Emanuel does NVR, but definitely try with your kid. DD has mixed days, but this year has been a lot better than last year for her. Like any school, there are good days and bad days.

Have been round the school many times, year 6 always seems like a wonderful thing to do. DD joined in year 7 and she said that all of the previous year 6s had a lot more friends - I don’t think they become rude because of their year of experience either. DD certainly not onr of the “Popular group,” and she loves it most of the time. She spends practically every day in a drama/music club, and has managed to take part in every production she can (she had another audition last Wednesday - claims it went, “Great!”

Joining as my son sat Hampton on the weekend

Hope the Hampton exams went well

My son will be sitting the 10+ Trinity exams this Saturday 😐

Me too! How's the prep been going? We were doing pretty well but I think nerves are getting to him now...

Prep was going well then slowed down...
This week we are only reading stories/essays he had previously written and Trinity's Sample Maths paper per the website, although it does state 11+ not 10+!!
Not sure what else to do atm.

We too getting prepared for the next few weeks!!! Starts with Trinity, City of London and then ending at Whitgift.
DS is managing nerves well, we are taking less tests now and more of revisions esp creative writing. Need some luck now on the test day :)

Good luck to all those sitting the 10+ exams at Trinity today 🙂

How did the Trinity 10+ ers do today? My DS seemed happy enough, said he ran out of time for the creative writing (the question about having magical powers) and there was a couple of hard maths questions that he struggled with. Seemed confident on all the computer based questions...but who knows! Now the anxious wait...

My DS said pretty much the same. Although found the Maths paper fairly easy. Did your son remember what the other question was for creative writing (my ds said he forgot)?

Any idea about when they announce the progress to next stage? I got mixed answers from the school prefects and the head of admissions who said a couple of weeks..

How did your DS find the test yesterday?

I spoke to the admissions manager and she said they would try to contact everyone about next steps by end of next week or the following week.

DS found the test hard in pockets esp English and Problem Solving, so overall mixed. Will wait for the results now.

My son also found creative writing a bit challenging and didn’t complete it. Which option did your son choose to write?

i suspect Trinity will make more full fee offers this year and with Labours NIC-employer and the business rates rise and the 20% VAT, expect to pay 20-25% more in 2025. Sister school Old palace had rug pulled because of financial mismanagement.