How to prepare for the Read Academy Education 11+

The exam at a glance

Read Academy Education is an independent coeducational school in Ilford. For primary and secondary admissions, the school’s published process is broader than a single one-off 11+ test. The admissions page says applicants complete an admission form, attend a taster day, sit entry assessments aligned to age-related expectation in core subjects, provide a written reference from their current school, and attend an interview with senior management.

For 2028 entry, the safest way to think about this is as a school-set assessment process rather than a standardised grammar-style exam. The school’s admissions page does not currently publish a detailed paper format, timings, number of papers or whether the assessments are written, computer-based or a mixture. It also does not set out the exact content beyond saying that assessments are aligned to age-related expectation in core subjects.

That means parents should prepare for a process that may include:

an application form;
a school visit or taster day;
age-appropriate assessment in core subjects;
a school reference;
an interview with senior staff.

Because the school does not publish a detailed exam specification on its admissions page, it is best not to assume a particular 11+ style. Instead, build secure Year 5 and early Year 6 foundations in the core subjects, and check the school’s admissions page regularly for any updated guidance for your child’s entry year.

Registration and key dates

Read Academy Education says that primary and secondary applicants should complete an admission form as part of the admissions process. The same page also says applicants attend a taster day, complete entry assessments, provide a written reference from their present school and have an interview with senior management.

At the time of writing, the school’s admissions page does not publish a clearly dated 2028 entry timetable for Year 7 admissions. I could not verify an opening date, closing date, assessment date or results date from an official page fetched for this guide, so parents should treat the admissions page as the main source and contact the school directly for the current sequence and deadlines.

Based on the school’s own process, you should expect to prepare the following:

the school’s admission form;
a written reference from your child’s current school;
availability for a taster day;
availability for assessment and interview.

If your child is aiming for September 2028 entry, a sensible approach is to check the school site from the start of Year 5 onward and again through Year 6, then sign up for updates here: Free email alerts for this school's key dates.

For a general overview page you can bookmark, see The Read Academy Education 11+ guide (format, catchment, dates).

Who can apply: catchment and admissions

Read Academy Education is an independent school, so its admissions process is run by the school rather than through a local-authority grammar-school testing system.

The official admissions page I reviewed does not publish a Year 7 catchment area, distance rule, priority map or oversubscription ranking for secondary entry. It also does not publish a fixed number of Year 7 places on that page. Because those details are not published in the fetched sources, it is best to assume that parents need to ask the school directly how places are prioritised if applications exceed places available.

What the school does publish is the admissions sequence itself. For primary and secondary applications, parents should expect:

submission of the admission form;
a taster day;
entry assessments aligned to age-related expectation in core subjects;
a written reference from the child’s present school;
an interview with senior management.

The school also states that a child’s place is secured once the admin fee, holding deposit and first term’s fee have been received. The admissions page I fetched did not clearly publish the amounts within the text reviewed for this guide, so parents should check the latest fee schedule directly with the school.

As with many independent schools, the key question is usually not catchment but whether a child is considered suitable for the school’s curriculum and whether a place is available. That makes steady preparation in the core subjects, plus calm interview readiness, more useful than trying to second-guess a published cut-off score.

A month-by-month preparation plan

Because Read Academy Education describes assessments aligned to age-related expectation in core subjects, the best preparation is steady, school-based learning rather than heavy test drilling. For most children, short and consistent practice works better than intense bursts.

12 months before the likely assessment point

Focus on reading fluency, spelling, number facts and written accuracy.
Aim for about 2 to 3 hours a week in short sessions.
Build routines: regular reading, mental arithmetic, vocabulary review and one longer written task each week.

9 months before

Check the school’s admissions page and note what documents may be needed, especially the school reference and admission form.
Increase practice to 3 hours a week if your child is coping well.
Start mixing skill work with gentle assessment-style tasks: comprehension, arithmetic, problem solving and extended writing.

6 months before

Move onto more structured weekly preparation.
Aim for 3 to 4 hours a week, still split across several sessions.
Include one timed task every week or two, but keep most work untimed so understanding stays secure.
Begin simple interview preparation: speaking clearly, answering about school life, interests and learning habits.

4 months before

Use short mixed papers or teacher-made tasks covering the core subjects.
Start practising stamina: two tasks back to back with a brief break.
Review any weak areas from school reports or classwork rather than trying to cover everything at once.

3 months before

Increase familiarity with timed work. One properly timed paper or section each week is usually enough at this stage.
Practise presentation: careful handwriting, showing working, reading instructions twice and checking answers.
If your child tends to worry, rehearse the likely flow of a taster day and interview so it feels normal.

2 months before

Keep weekly hours realistic at 4 to 5 hours maximum for most children.
Alternate between timed practice and targeted repair work.
Ask your child’s current school for honest feedback on core strengths and gaps, since a school reference forms part of the process.

1 month before

Do not suddenly double the workload.
Use light review, one or two timed sessions a week and regular reading.
Practise interview confidence: polite greetings, listening carefully and answering in full sentences.

Final week

Keep work short and confidence-building.
Prioritise sleep, routine and calm.
Make sure your child knows that the school is looking at the whole admissions process, not just one moment in one paper.

Subject by subject: what to practise

The school states that assessments are aligned to age-related expectation in core subjects. It does not, on the admissions page fetched for this guide, publish a detailed subject-by-subject breakdown for Year 7 entry. In practice, parents should focus on the core areas most commonly assessed in school admissions: English and mathematics, with wider communication skills also worth preparing because the process includes a taster day and interview.

English

Build strong reading and writing habits rather than chasing a guessed paper style. Useful practice includes:

reading comprehension from fiction and non-fiction;
retrieval, inference and vocabulary in context;
accurate spelling, punctuation and grammar;
short and longer writing tasks with clear structure;
speaking in full sentences about a text or idea.

Good preparation looks like regular reading, discussing meaning, learning to support answers with evidence and writing neatly under light time pressure.

Mathematics

If assessments are aligned to age-related expectation, secure basics matter a great deal. Practise:

number fluency and mental arithmetic;
the four operations;
fractions, decimals and percentages at the level taught in primary school;
worded problems;
measurement, shape and data handling from the Key Stage 2 curriculum;
showing working clearly.

Children often benefit from a mix of quick arithmetic review and one or two deeper reasoning questions each session.

Interview and taster-day readiness

This is not a separate academic subject, but it is part of the school’s published process. Prepare your child to:

introduce themselves politely;
talk about what they enjoy learning;
listen carefully before answering;
join in positively during a school day;
show curiosity, good manners and resilience.

A calm, conversational approach is best. There is no need for rehearsed speeches.

Practice papers and mock exams

Because Read Academy Education does not currently publish a detailed paper specification on the admissions page, practice should be used to strengthen core skills rather than to mimic an unconfirmed format.

A sensible approach is:

Start with untimed work to make sure methods are secure.
Move to short timed sections once accuracy is steady.
Review every mistake properly: was it knowledge, vocabulary, attention or timing?
Keep a notebook of repeat errors and revisit them weekly.
Use mock-style practice to build confidence and stamina, not to frighten your child.

You can use ElevenReady’s school-specific resources here:

If you use general independent-school papers as extra practice, treat them as skill-builders only. Do not assume they match Read Academy Education’s exact assessment style unless the school later confirms that style itself.

On the day

For this school, the published process may include a taster day, assessment and interview, so think beyond pencils and papers.

Make sure your child knows the day is about showing how they learn, behave and cope in a school setting.
Pack the night before and aim to arrive in good time.
Choose comfortable, smart clothing if the school gives no separate instruction.
Remind your child to listen carefully, ask if they do not understand practical instructions, and stay calm if a question feels unfamiliar.
For written work, encourage them to read instructions twice, keep handwriting clear and check answers if time allows.
For interviews, a greeting, eye contact and thoughtful answers matter more than polished performance.

Parents can help most by keeping the morning low-pressure. Avoid last-minute cramming. A normal breakfast, a calm journey and a reassuring tone usually do far more good.

After the exam: results, allocation and appeals

Because Read Academy Education is an independent school, the post-assessment process is handled by the school rather than through the local authority’s National Offer Day system used for state secondary places.

The school’s admissions page says the process includes assessment, a written reference and an interview, and it also says that a place is secured once the admin fee, holding deposit and first term’s fee are received. However, I could not verify from the fetched official page a published results date, offer timeline or formal appeals procedure for Year 7 entry.

In practical terms, parents should expect the school to communicate directly if a place is offered, if further information is needed or if a waiting process applies. If your child is not offered a place, ask politely whether feedback is available and whether there is a waiting list. For the exact process in your year, check the admissions page and contact the school office.

If you are applying to both independent and state schools, keep those timelines separate in your planning. Independent-school offers and deposits often run on their own timetable.

What has changed recently

From the official sources fetched for this guide, I did not find a clearly published announcement in the last two years setting out a change to Read Academy Education’s Year 7 assessment format, catchment, places or key dates.

The current admissions information available on the school’s site presents the process for primary and secondary applicants as an admission form, taster day, entry assessments aligned to age-related expectation in core subjects, a written reference from the present school and an interview with senior management. If the school publishes a more detailed Year 7 timetable or assessment format for 2028 entry, parents should rely on that later update.

Frequently asked questions

Does Read Academy Education use a standard 11+ exam board?

For 2028 entry, treat it as a school-set admissions assessment. The school’s admissions page does not currently publish a standard external exam-board format for Year 7 entry.

What subjects should my child prepare for?

The school says entry assessments are aligned to age-related expectation in core subjects. In practice, strong English and maths preparation is sensible, alongside interview and taster-day readiness.

Is there a catchment area for Read Academy Education?

I could not verify a published Year 7 catchment or distance rule from the official admissions page fetched for this guide. Ask the school directly if you need clarification on admissions priority.

How do we apply?

The school says primary and secondary applicants complete an admission form, attend a taster day, complete entry assessments, provide a written reference from their current school and have an interview with senior management.

When is the assessment for 2028 entry?

I could not verify a published 2028 assessment date from the official sources reviewed. Check the school’s admissions page regularly and contact the school for the latest timetable.

Are fees payable before the place is confirmed?

The school states that a child’s place is secured once the admin fee, holding deposit and first term’s fee are received. For current amounts and deadlines, check directly with the school.

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Sources

Read Academy Education - Admissions: For primary and secondary applicants, the process includes an admission form, taster day, entry assessments aligned to age-related expectation in core subjects, a written reference from the student's present school, and an interview with senior management; the school states that a child's place is s
Read Academy Education - Home: Read Academy Education is an independent coeducational school in Ilford.

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Written by ElevenReady from the school's published information and reviewed by a person before publishing. Last reviewed 20 October 2026. Exam arrangements change. Check the school's admissions page for the current year.