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 in 2028 and beyond, this raises understandable questions.

Will the examination be different? Will children need new resources? Is online learning now essential? And how should parents prepare?

At Maidstone Learning Centre (MLC), we are carefully reviewing these developments and updating our 11+ preparation programme to ensure our pupils continue to receive structured, effective and personalised support.

What is changing?

The Kent Test has traditionally assessed English, mathematics, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning.

The appointment of Quest Assessments represents a change in assessment provider, but it does not automatically mean every element of the examination will change.

The final Kent-specific examination structure, question formats and assessment arrangements will determine exactly what children need to prepare for.

Until those details are confirmed, parents should be cautious about claims that the new examination will be entirely computer-based, significantly harder or only accessible through one particular learning platform.

Does my child need Atom Learning?

No particular commercial learning subscription should be regarded as compulsory simply because Quest Assessments is associated with Atom Learning.

Digital learning can be valuable. Online practice can help children strengthen skills, develop independent working habits and identify gaps in their knowledge.

However, software alone is not the same as personalised teaching.

A child may repeatedly answer a question incorrectly without fully understanding the underlying misconception. A skilled tutor can identify the difficulty, explain the reasoning and adapt the lesson accordingly.

At MLC, we believe the strongest preparation combines expert teaching, purposeful practice and meaningful assessment.

How is Maidstone Learning Centre preparing?

We are undertaking a comprehensive review of our 11+ programme, including:

• Reviewing the existing curriculum against available Quest familiarisation materials.
• Strengthening English comprehension, vocabulary and inference.
• Increasing opportunities for mathematical reasoning and unfamiliar problem-solving.
• Developing additional verbal and non-verbal reasoning activities.
• Reviewing our mock examinations and assessment methods.
• Exploring online learning and progress-tracking tools.
• Enhancing individual feedback to parents.

Our programme will continue to evolve as official information about the new Kent Test becomes available.

Introducing the MLC Hybrid 11+ Academy

We are also developing an enhanced approach to 11+ preparation that combines the strengths of face-to-face teaching with the flexibility of digital learning.

Our proposed MLC Hybrid 11+ Academy will bring together small-group tuition, structured independent practice, targeted academic support and regular progress monitoring.

Our aim is to provide children with the benefits of modern learning technology while retaining the personal teaching relationships that make MLC distinctive.

Further details will be announced as the programme is finalised.

Why personalised preparation still matters

Every child learns differently.

Some children are naturally confident with mathematics but struggle with comprehension. Others have strong vocabulary but find timed assessments challenging.

At Maidstone Learning Centre, our approach is built around understanding the individual child, not simply working through large volumes of practice questions.

We focus on building secure foundations, developing reasoning skills, identifying misconceptions and helping children become increasingly confident and independent.

Our philosophy is simple: we teach children how to think, not merely how to answer familiar questions.

Preparing for the Kent 11+?

Whether your child is in Year 3, Year 4 or Year 5, the right preparation begins with understanding their current strengths and learning needs.

Maidstone Learning Centre offers structured 11+ preparation, small-group teaching and personalised academic guidance.

Contact Maidstone Learning Centre to enquire about our 11+ programme or arrange an initial placement discussion.

Independent 11+ preparation. Maidstone Learning Centre is not affiliated with Kent County Council, Quest Assessments or Atom Learning.

Maidstone Learning Centre
Expert Teaching. Smarter Practice. Real Progress.