For families in Bromley aiming for grammar school placements, understanding the specific requirements of each school’s entrance exam is crucial. While some schools emphasise creative writing, others focus solely on reasoning skills. This guide provides clarity on these expectations and offers strategies to enhance your child’s writing abilities where necessary.
Understanding 11 Plus Creative Writing Bromley: Popular Schools That Children In The Borough Apply For
Newstead Wood School (Girls) – Orpington, Bromley
Newstead Wood School’s 11+ entrance exam comprises two multiple-choice papers: verbal reasoning and nonverbal reasoning, both administered by GL Assessment. The assessment does not include creative writing.
St. Olave’s Grammar School (Boys) – Orpington
St. Olave’s employs a two-stage 11+ examination process:
- Stage 1: Multiple-choice questions covering English, math, verbal reasoning, and non-verbal reasoning.
- Stage 2: Includes a written English paper featuring a creative writing task, alongside a standard-format maths paper.
The creative writing component in Stage 2 assesses a candidate’s ability to construct coherent narratives, use rich vocabulary, and demonstrate technical accuracy.
Dartford Grammar Schools (Boys & Girls) – Kent
Both Dartford Grammar School and Dartford Grammar School for Girls participate in the Kent Test, which includes:
- English and Mathematics papers (multiple-choice).
- A separate 40-minute writing task, which, while not marked, may be considered during the headteacher assessment stage.
This writing task offers students an opportunity to showcase their expressive abilities and creativity.
Bexley Grammar Schools – Bexley Borough
The Bexley Selection Test assesses:
- Verbal Reasoning.
- Non-Verbal Reasoning.
- English Comprehension.
- Mathematics.
While the test does not include a separate creative writing section, strong writing skills can enhance performance in the English comprehension component.
Enhancing Your Child’s Writing Skills
For schools where creative writing is a component of the 11+ exam, developing your child’s writing proficiency is essential. Even for schools without a dedicated writing section, strong writing skills can benefit overall academic performance.
We offer specialised courses to support your child’s writing development:
- Creative Writing Crash Course: An intensive program focusing on narrative construction, character development, and descriptive techniques.
- Write and Bloom Weekly Online Tuition: Ongoing support to nurture and refine writing skills through regular practice and feedback.
- Transactional Writing Course: Focuses on writing letters, speeches, and articles—skills beneficial for various exam formats.
- Recount Writing Course: Teaches students to effectively recount events, enhancing clarity and engagement in writing.
- Descriptive Writing Course: Enhances the use of sensory details and vivid imagery in writing.
- Creative Writing Mini Course: A concise program targeting key elements of storytelling and expression.
These courses are designed to build confidence and competence in young writers, equipping them with the tools needed for success in their 11+ exams and beyond.
Understanding the specific requirements of each grammar school’s entrance exam allows for targeted preparation. By focusing on developing strong writing skills where necessary, you can enhance your child’s chances of success.
Feel free to reach out if you need further guidance or have specific questions about preparing for these exams.
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