The Kent Test Is Changing Providers in 2027: What That Really Means for Your Year 5 Child
If you have a child in Year 5, the news that the Kent Test is changing provider may have landed at exactly the moment you were trying to make preparation feel manageable. It is understandable if your first thought was, “Does this mean our plans are wrong now?” When families are already weighing up schoolwork, […]
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Bonfire Night Learning: Turning Seasonal Excitement into Reading, Writing and Science
Bonfire Night is more than an evening of fireworks. It gives families a rich opportunity to connect history, science, vocabulary, creative writing and practical safety in ways that feel memorable rather than forced. Children often learn best when a topic is already alive in their imagination. The flash of fireworks, the smell of smoke and […]
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Back After Half-Term: Rebuilding Routines Before the Busy Winter Weeks
The return after October half-term can feel surprisingly difficult. The clocks have changed, mornings are darker and many children come back to school knowing that assessments, GCSE mock examinations and end-of-term expectations are approaching. A hesitant first week does not mean that a child has lost motivation. It often means that their body clock, concentration […]
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GCSE Mocks Are Coming: A Practical November Preparation Plan for Year 11
November mock examinations are approaching in many secondary schools. For Year 11 students, mocks are an important opportunity to practise exam conditions, identify gaps and understand how current performance may translate into grades. They are not the final GCSE examinations—but they should still be taken seriously. The end of October is the right time to […]
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October Half-Term: Rest, Reset and Catch Up Without Ruining the Holiday
By the time October half-term arrives, children have completed a demanding first term. New routines, lessons, friendships, assessments and homework have required sustained effort. Kent’s standard half-term holiday runs from Monday 26 to Friday 30 October 2026, although families should check their own school’s dates and INSET arrangements. The holiday should provide genuine rest. However, […]
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Kent Test Results Day: How to Respond, Whatever the Outcome
Kent Test results will be released on Thursday 15 October 2026. For many families, the day will carry a great deal of emotion. Parents may feel proud, relieved, disappointed, confused or worried about what happens next. Children may be comparing messages with friends before they fully understand their own result. The first conversation matters. Prepare […]
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Kent 11+ Is Changing: What Parents Need to Know About Quest Assessments
How Maidstone Learning Centre is preparing children for the next generation of the Kent 11+ The Kent 11+ examination is entering a new chapter. Kent County Council has appointed Quest Assessments, associated with Atom Learning, to replace GL Assessment as the assessment provider for the Kent Test. For families preparing children for grammar school entry […]
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The Kent 11+ Is Changing!
New Provider. New Developments. The Same MLC Commitment. Kent County Council has announced that Quest Assessments will replace GL Assessment as the provider of the Kent Test. Understandably, parents may have questions about what this means for future grammar school preparation. At Maidstone Learning Centre, we are keeping a close eye on developments and reviewing […]
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How secondary school allocations actually work in Kent (including grammar school preferences and “first choice” myths):
Your first choice does not give you priority over someone else who listed the same school second or third. What matters is whether your child meets the school’s admission criteria. Kent (like the rest of England) uses an “equal preference system.” How the “Equal Preference System” Works You rank your schools on the Kent Secondary […]
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The 11+ Results Are Out. What If Your Child Didn’t Pass?
Ms George’s Musings | Maidstone Learning Centre | October 2026 Well, the results are here! After months of preparation, practice papers, vocabulary lists, mathematical reasoning, verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning, mock examinations and perhaps a few nervous parents along the way, the Kent and Medway 11+ results have finally arrived. First, to every child who achieved […]
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