Our Passion

At Optimise Education, we are dedicated to helping children succeed.

As parents who have guided our own children through the 11+ process, we understand the commitment required and the challenges families face. That’s why we're here to support you.

Our mock 11+ exams give your child a chance to practise in real test conditions, boosting their confidence and allowing you to track their progress. This insight helps you adjust their study plan, address weaknesses, and seek further resources or tuition if needed.

Additionally, our exams provide a benchmark, allowing you to see how your child is performing compared to others—an essential factor in securing a grammar school place.

Our Drive

Katie and Ryan are the Directors of Optimise Education Ltd, and both had their own reasons for coming together to set up the company.

Katie

With over ten years of experience as a teacher in an "outstanding" school, I’m truly passionate about helping young people reach their full potential.

When my own daughter was preparing for the 11+, I couldn’t help but notice that Warwickshire and Worcestershire seemed to have fewer resources and opportunities compared to nearby areas like Birmingham. This really inspired me to do something about it.

That’s why I'm committed to making 11+ mock exams more accessible for local students, giving them the tools, experience, and confidence they need to succeed.

Ryan

Choosing the right school for our child was a big decision, and after carefully exploring all the options, we felt confident that our local grammar school would be the best fit for him.

To help him prepare for the entrance exam, we invested in a variety of books and practice papers to give him the tools he needed to succeed. We also worked with a wonderful local private tutor who had a great track record of supporting students through the 11+ process.

One suggestion we received was to have him take a mock 11+ exam to help him get used to the format and feel of the real test. However, living in Redditch, we discovered that there weren’t any local opportunities for this, and further afield venues were already fully booked.

After Katie shared a similar experience, we recognised an exciting opportunity to combine our expertise. Drawing on my background in the IT industry and Katie’s extensive experience in education, we founded Optimise Education — a service focused on providing local students with essential resources, such as practical, real-world mock exams, to support their success.

Our Location

Our mock exams take place at Trinity High School in Redditch, a convenient and easy-to-reach location with great train and bus links. If you're driving, there's plenty of parking available to make your visit stress-free.

We kindly ask parents to drop off and pick up their children at the venue. During the exam, your child will be fully supervised by our team, ensuring they’re safe and well looked after until it’s time for collection.

What we Provide

After your child completes the 11+ mock exam, you’ll receive your child's scores across each subject area, giving you a clear idea of their strengths and where they might need a little more practice.

We’ll also provide comparative data, so you can see how your child’s performance measures up against other students who’ve taken the same exam.

For parents looking for deeper insights, we also offer an enhanced exam analysis for an additional fee. This service highlights specific areas where your child might benefit from extra attention. If you're interested, just get in touch and we’ll be happy to discuss how this could support your child’s progress.

It is important to note however that we wouldn’t recommend opting for the enhanced exam analysis on your child’s very first mock test. Usually, children are a bit nervous the first time around, so their performance might not really show what they’re capable of. In that case, the analysis might not be all that helpful – and we don’t want you spending money on something that isn’t really useful.

Exam Access Arrangements

If your child requires special access arrangements for the 11+ exam, we are committed to accommodating these needs wherever possible.

To ensure we can provide the appropriate support, please contact us with details of your child’s usual working adjustments. We’re more than happy to chat with you about any arrangements your child may need, and we’ll work closely with you to make sure everything is set up smoothly.

What Is The 11+?

The 11+ is the entrance exam for grammar schools and consists of two papers covering English comprehension, verbal reasoning, mathematics, and non-verbal/spatial reasoning.. The test consists entirely of multiple-choice questions, with no written sections. Students will record their answers on a separate answer sheet. The test results are weighted as follows: 50% for English/verbal reasoning, 25% for non-verbal reasoning, and 25% for mathematics.

There are many grammar schools in the West Midlands that use the GL Assessment format for their 11+ exams, which is exactly what our mock exams are designed to reflect. This includes the six grammar schools in Warwickshire, eight in Birmingham, and six in the Shropshire/Wolverhampton/Walsall consortium.

Warwickshire:
- King Edward VI School, Stratford-upon-Avon (boys)
- Stratford Girls’ Grammar School, Stratford-upon-Avon
- Alcester Grammar School, Alcester
- Lawrence Sheriff School, Rugby (boys)
- Rugby High School, Rugby (girls)
- Ashlawn School, Rugby

Birmingham:
- Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School, Sutton Coldfield
- King Edward VI Aston School, Aston (boys)
- King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Boys, Birmingham
- King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls ,Birmingham
- King Edward VI Five Ways School, Birmingham
- King Edward VI Handsworth School for Boys, Birmingham
- King Edward VI Handsworth School for Girls, Birmingham
- Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls, Sutton Coldfield

Shropshire/Wolverhampton/Walsall:
- Haberdasher' Adams, Newport
- Newport Girls' High School, Newport
- Queen Mary's Grammar School, Walsall
- Queen Mary's High School, Walsall (girls)
- Wolverhampton Girls' High School, Wolverhampton

We strongly encourage you to visit the West Midlands Grammar Schools website for further information.

Key Dates:

-Registration for 2026 entry opens in May. It’s really important to register on time, as late applications will not be accepted.
- The official exam will take place in September, when your child enters Year 6. They will be assigned an exam date within the 2-3 week period during which all 11+ exams are scheduled.

The Parent’s Role

Preparing for the 11+ exam requires a significant commitment, not just from the child but from the entire family.

It’s important to recognise that this process can sometimes bring stress or anxiety, especially if children feel pressure to meet expectations.

As parents, our role is to offer support and encouragement in a way that keeps things calm and positive, helping to reduce any extra pressure.

Remember, every child wants to make their parents proud—so fostering a relaxed, reassuring environment is key.

The Impact of the Exam

Sitting the 11+ without proper preparation can have a big impact on a child's confidence, wellbeing, and even how they feel about school. That's why we believe every child should have the chance to practise and build their skills through mock exams, giving them the experience they need to feel more prepared and confident.

Research shows that high anxiety can have a real effect on exam performance[1], but mock exams can help ease some of that nervousness. By creating a realistic, exam-like experience in a stress-free environment, your child will have the opportunity to familiarise themselves with what to expect, helping them reduce their worries and focus their efforts.

In fact, studies suggest that regular practice exams can improve both learning and exam results[2], often more so than relying purely on revision[3]. The opportunity to experience multiple mock exams, complete with exam conditions, can make all the difference in not just exam performance but your child's overall learning journey.

The Importance of Wellbeing

Mock exams can play a huge role in helping children feel more comfortable and calm on exam day.

For some children, their first mock exam might feel unfamiliar, and they might not perform as well as expected—that’s perfectly normal. However, with each mock exam taken, your child is likely to feel more at ease, giving them a clearer understanding of their progress over time and highlighting any areas that need a bit more focus.

By building this familiarity and reducing any anxiety, mock exams can significantly improve your child’s wellbeing during their 11+ preparation—helping them to approach the 11+ with confidence and peace of mind.

References:
[1] Cassady, J.C. and Johnson, R.E., 2002. Cognitive test anxiety and academic performance. Contemporary educational psychology, 27(2), pp.270-295.
[2] Roediger III, H.L. and Karpicke, J.D., 2006. Test-enhanced learning: Taking memory tests improves long-term retention. Psychological science, 17 (3), pp.249-255.
[3] Adesope, O.O., Trevisan, D.A. and Sundararajan, N., 2017. Rethinking the use of tests: A meta-analysis of practice testing. Review of educational research, 87 (3), pp.659-701.