As youngsters, we take many memorable steps on the path to adulthood but none perhaps more nerve-wracking than the first day we start high school.

The transition from primary to secondary school can be an anxious time for both pupils and parents but thankfully there is help available to prepare children for their new learning environment and ensure they adjust well to the new syllabus. 

Brentwood’s Kip McGrath Education Centre – a professional learning centre providing children aged between six and 16 with extra tuition – is holding no fewer than five summer schools throughout the holidays to help keep children’s brains active and help those struggling in maths or English to catch up and start the new academic year with confidence. 

The tuition centre, based in Hutton Road, Shenfield, Brentwood, has been helping youngsters throughout Brentwood strengthen their academic skills and competence for almost a decade and is now regarded as one of the largest and most successful Kip McGrath tuition centres nationally and internationally. Its team of highly-trained and inspirational tutors have been invited as guest speaks at conferences across the UK and New Zealand and have motivated scores of youngsters to achieve academic success. 

This year’s summer school programme is perfect for those youngsters who are waving goodbye to primary education and would benefit from a short refresher course in preparation for their new academic timetable at high school. They are also highly recommended for those due to sit the 11+ exam after the summer holidays as the exam dates have recently been moved forward from November to September, which means pupils will have less term time than previously to prepare.  

The Eleven plus test is a test given to pupils in their last year of primary school (year 6 in England) and is often used as a means to determine whether that pupil is suited to a grammar school education.

Schalk Meyer, Director of the Kip McGrath Education Centre in Brentwood, said: “The 11+ is one of the reasons why we decided to run five summer schools this year rather than our usual three. The change places a bigger demand on the youngsters and their parents are understandably worried that their children will not have enough time to prepare for the exam.

“The summer schools are also beneficial for those who find themselves behind on the syllabus in maths and English and children who are not performing that well. It’s a real confidence booster and allows us to focus on those weaker areas of knowledge so that they don’t feel overwhelmed on their return to either secondary or primary school. Other children who simply want to keep their brains ticking over during the holidays and remain active for the coming year will find them very useful.”

The summer schools consist of five 80-minute lessons over the course of five days starting at either 9.30am or 4.30pm and run from July 30 to September 2.

For more information, call the Kip McGrath Education Centre Brentwood on 01277 724642.