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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“My Child Is Falling Behind”: What Parents Should Do First
Hearing that your child is below the expected level can feel frightening. Parents may immediately worry about future exams, secondary school, confidence and whether they should have noticed sooner. Pause before responding. “Falling behind” is not a complete diagnosis. It is the beginning of a set of questions. Find out exactly what the gap is […]
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After Parents’ Evening: Turning Teacher Feedback into a Practical Home Plan
Parents’ evening has finished. You may have heard reassuring feedback, identified a concern or received several suggestions in a very short conversation. The important question is: what happens next? Feedback is only useful when it becomes a realistic action. Families do not need an overwhelming new timetable. They need clarity about the most important priority […]
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Preparing for Parents’ Evening: The Questions That Lead to Useful Answers
Parents’ evening appointments can pass very quickly. A short conversation must cover attainment, progress, effort, confidence, behaviour and next steps—often in only a few minutes. Without preparation, parents may leave having heard that their child is “fine” but still not understand what that means. As schools begin their autumn progress conversations and parents’ evenings, use […]
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