Calm preparation. Confidence that lasts.
Specialist GL Assessment 11+ tuition across Bournemouth, Poole and Parkstone — calm, expert, and tailored to your child. Less pressure for them; far less worry for you.
Free & no obligation — a real reply within one working day.
- 1:1 & small-group
- In-person & online
- Enhanced DBS-checked
- Free
- Initial diagnostic assessment
- 1:1
- & small-group lessons
- 100%
- Tailored to your child
Dorset grammar schools
Whichever grammar you're aiming for, we prepare for it.
All four select using the GL Assessment 11+ — and we prepare children specifically for each one.
Poole Grammar School
Boys' grammar · Poole
Selective entry via the GL 11+ — English, Maths & Verbal Reasoning.
View 11+ prepParkstone Grammar School
Girls' grammar · Poole
Selective entry via the GL 11+ — English, Maths & Verbal Reasoning.
View 11+ prepBournemouth School
Boys' grammar · Bournemouth
Selective entry via the GL 11+ — English, Maths & Verbal Reasoning.
View 11+ prepBournemouth School for Girls
Girls' grammar · Bournemouth
Selective entry via the GL 11+ — English, Maths & Verbal Reasoning.
View 11+ prepPass marks and catchment areas vary year to year — always check each school's admissions page. We'll tailor your child's preparation to their specific target schools. Not sure which suit your child? We'll help you decide.
01 / Why Atlas 11+
The name is a promise.
In myth, Atlas carries the weight of the world so others don't have to. That's exactly how we approach the 11+. The exam can feel enormous — for children and parents. Our job is to shoulder the planning, the structure and the strategy, so your family can simply focus on learning.
We don't believe in drilling children into burnout. We build genuine understanding, exam technique and quiet self-belief — the things that last long after results day.
Tailored, never templated
Every child starts with a free assessment. The plan we build is theirs alone.
Specialist GL 11+ focus
Enhanced DBS-checked, and focused entirely on the Dorset GL 11+ — the exact papers your child will sit.
Confidence first
We protect wellbeing as fiercely as we chase marks. Calm children perform better.
Transparent progress
Regular mock scores and honest feedback — you'll always know where things stand.
02 / The 11+, demystified
Three papers. One confident child.
The Dorset grammar schools use the GL Assessment 11+. We prepare children thoroughly across all three core papers — building both the knowledge and the multiple-choice exam technique that sets them apart.
English
Comprehension plus spelling, punctuation, grammar and vocabulary — reading closely and answering with precision.
Mathematics
Arithmetic fluency, problem-solving and the speed-and-accuracy balance exams reward.
Verbal Reasoning
Word logic, codes, analogies and letter patterns — the GL question types that reward a trained eye.
Not sure which schools or test board apply to you? Ask us — we'll talk you through it.
03 / Our approach
From first lesson to results day — one steady plan.
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1
Free assessment
A relaxed baseline session to understand your child's strengths, gaps and target schools.
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Tailored plan
A personalised roadmap across all three papers, paced to your timeline and exam date.
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Weekly tuition
Focused lessons plus light, purposeful homework — building skill without overwhelm.
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4
Exam-ready
Timed mock papers and technique drills so the real exam feels familiar, not frightening.
04 / Free online diagnostic
Know exactly where your child stands — in 25 minutes.
Our free, timed online assessment covers the three core 11+ areas — English, Maths and Verbal Reasoning — in the style of the GL Assessment papers, and gives you an instant, subject-by-subject snapshot of your child's strengths and where to focus next. No cost, no obligation — just a clear starting point.
Enhanced DBS-checked
A current enhanced DBS check, so safeguarding always comes first.
The three GL papers
English, Maths & Verbal Reasoning.
100% tailored plans
Built around your child after their free assessment.
Free first assessment
A relaxed, no-obligation starting point for every family.
05 / Our promise to your family
Serious preparation, without the pressure.
Choosing the right tutor is a big decision. Here's what every Atlas family can count on, from the very first lesson.
Start free, no pressure
A relaxed, no-obligation assessment and an honest opinion — even if that's "not yet".
A plan built for your child
No off-the-shelf worksheets. Every programme is shaped around your child and their target schools.
You're never in the dark
Clear, regular feedback and honest mock scores, so you always know how things are going.
No long contracts
Pay as you go, month to month. Stay because it's working — never because you're tied in.
September is closer than it looks
Secure your child's place before the exam
Exact dates vary by school — always confirm with your target school.
We keep places limited so every child gets real, focused attention. Start with a free diagnostic and a no-obligation assessment — and ask about Atlas Summit, our summer intensive built for the run-up to the exam.
Peace of mind
Trusted with your child.
Choosing a tutor means trusting someone with your child. Here's how we earn that — before you've even met us.
Enhanced DBS-checked
A current enhanced DBS check — safeguarding you can rely on.
Specialists in the GL 11+
We prepare children only for the Dorset GL 11+ — the exact papers they'll sit.
Safeguarding-first
Clear safeguarding practices, and parents always kept in the loop.
Founder-led
You work directly with the founder — senior attention on every child, no hand-offs.
Your data, handled properly
Your details are kept private and used only to reply to your enquiry (GDPR).
No lock-in
Free first assessment, pay as you go, and cancel anytime.
06 / Going it alone?
Could you prepare them yourself? Honestly — maybe.
Plenty of parents start with a stack of practice books, and for some that's enough. But the 11+ rewards specialist technique and calm, consistent preparation — and doing it all yourself, while staying your child's biggest cheerleader, is harder than it looks. Here's the honest difference.
On your own
- Working out which books and papers actually match the GL exam
- Teaching exam technique and timing you may never have been taught
- No objective benchmark — is your child on track, or not?
- Fitting it all around work and family life
- Being parent, tutor and exam-coach at once — usually the hardest part
With Atlas 11+
- A plan built to the exact GL format — no guesswork
- Specialist exam technique, timing and question strategy
- Honest mock scores, so you always know where they stand
- We carry the planning — you get your evenings back
- You stay the encouraging parent — we'll be the tutor
Not sure which is right for your family? Start with the free diagnostic — no cost, no obligation.
07 / Programmes
Three routes to a confident exam day.
Every child starts with a free assessment, then we recommend the right path — from steady weekly tuition to an intensive final push before September.
Weekly Tuition
Steady, tailored skill-building — one-to-one or in a small group.
- Weekly lessons across English, Maths & Verbal Reasoning
- A personalised plan after the free assessment
- Regular progress updates and honest feedback
- In person across Dorset, or live online
Atlas Summit
Our five-day intensive — built for the run-up to the exam.
- Five structured days across all three GL papers
- Daily exam technique — timing, answer sheets, nerves
- Finishes with a full timed mock under exam conditions
- Same-day parent & pupil debrief + written Exam-Ready Plan
- Small, capped cohorts across the summer holidays
Mock Exam Experience
Sit a realistic GL mock before the day that counts — because most children come unstuck on nerves and timing, not knowledge.
- Full-length GL-style paper under real conditions
- Official-style answer sheets and strict timing
- A marked breakdown and practical feedback
- Standalone, or a final top-up before exam day
Atlas Summit cohort dates released soon — register your interest to be first to hear. Pricing on enquiry.
08 / The flagship · Summer intensive
Atlas Summit: five days to exam-ready.
Five focused days of teaching, then a full mock and a personal plan — all in one week. Here's how it unfolds.
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Day 1
English
Comprehension technique, plus spelling, punctuation, grammar and vocabulary.
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Day 2
Maths
Problem-solving and the speed-and-accuracy balance the exam rewards.
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Day 3
Verbal Reasoning
Every GL question type, taught with clear methods and shortcuts.
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Day 4
Timed practice
Pacing, answer sheets, eliminate-and-guess, and managing nerves.
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Day 5
Consolidation
Targeting each child's gaps, plus a calm exam-day routine.
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Mock & Mapping Day
Mock + parent debrief
A full timed mock under exam conditions, then a same-day debrief with a written Exam-Ready Plan.
09 / Free resources
Your free 11+ resource hub
Everything we wish every Dorset parent had from the start — clear, honest and genuinely useful. No sign-up needed to read or use them.
The free online 11+ diagnostic
A short GL-style assessment that shows you exactly where your child stands today — and which areas to focus on next. The single best place to begin.
The Parent's Guide (PDF)
Our free guide to the Dorset GL 11+ — what's tested, how to help at home, and the mistakes to avoid.
Get the guideThe 11+ year, step by step
When to register, when the exam is sat, and how the application year unfolds.
See the timelineReading that builds 11+ skills
A short, curated list — reading widely is the best way to grow the vocabulary the GL papers reward.
Browse the list11+ jargon, explained
GL, VR, standardised scores, catchment… every key term in plain English. Searchable.
Open the glossaryThe 11+ year, step by step
A rough map of how the application year runs in Dorset. Exact dates change each year — always confirm with the school and your local authority.
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1
Year 4 – early Year 5 · Build the foundations
Strengthen reading, core maths and word skills calmly — long before any exam pressure. This is where the real advantage is won.
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Summer before Year 6 · Register for the test
You register your child directly with the grammar school or local authority (often June–July). This is separate from your main secondary-school application.
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Start of Year 6 · Sit the GL test
The GL Assessment 11+ is usually sat in September — English, Maths and Verbal Reasoning.
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Autumn · Results, then apply
Scores typically arrive in October — in time to name your preferred schools on the national application (the deadline is 31 October).
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1 March · Offer day
National Offer Day for secondary places. If things don't go to plan, you have the right to appeal and to join waiting lists.
Reading that builds 11+ skills
Wide, regular reading is the single most powerful thing you can do at home — it grows the vocabulary and comprehension the GL English and Verbal Reasoning papers reward. A starting point, not a checklist:
Build confidence
Age ~8–10 · fluent, fun
- Roald Dahl — Matilda, The BFG
- Michael Morpurgo — Kensuke's Kingdom
- Dick King-Smith — The Sheep-Pig
- The How to Train Your Dragon series
Stretch & vocabulary
Age ~9–11 · richer language
- Katherine Rundell — Rooftoppers
- Philip Pullman — Northern Lights
- Frances Hardinge — The Lie Tree
- Eva Ibbotson — Journey to the River Sea
Classics & comprehension
Timeless · exam-style language
- C.S. Lewis — The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
- Frances Hodgson Burnett — The Secret Garden
- E.B. White — Charlotte's Web
- A good children's poetry anthology
Tip: keep a notebook of new words your child meets while reading — looking them up together does more for Verbal Reasoning than any worksheet.
See the full reading list & reading habits11+ jargon, explained
The terms you'll come across, in plain English.
- GL Assessment
- One of the main 11+ exam boards. It's what the Dorset grammar schools use.
- Eleven Plus (11+)
- The selective entrance exam sat at the start of Year 6 for entry to grammar school.
- Verbal Reasoning (VR)
- Problem-solving with words — synonyms, codes, letter and number patterns.
- Non-Verbal Reasoning (NVR)
- Problem-solving with shapes and patterns. Not part of the Dorset GL papers.
- Comprehension
- Reading a passage and answering questions on it — a core part of the English paper.
- Cloze
- A fill-in-the-gap exercise that tests vocabulary and grammar in context.
- Standardised score
- A score adjusted for your child's age, so younger children aren't disadvantaged.
- Qualifying score / pass mark
- The score needed to be eligible for a place. It varies from year to year.
- Catchment area
- The geographic area a school prioritises when offering places.
- Super-selective
- A school that admits purely on exam score, regardless of where you live.
- Mock exam
- A full practice exam under real conditions — the best way to build familiarity.
- National Offer Day
- 1 March — when families are told which secondary school place they've been offered.
- Waiting list
- If your first choice is full, you can be held in rank order should a place free up.
- Appeal
- Your right to formally challenge a decision if your child isn't offered a place.
Questions, answered
The questions parents ask first.
When should my child start preparing for the 11+?
Most families begin in Year 4 or early Year 5, which gives plenty of time to build skills calmly without cramming. That said, we regularly support shorter, focused programmes too — book a free assessment and we'll advise honestly on the right timeline.
Do you tutor in person or online?
Both. We offer in-person tuition across the Bournemouth, Poole and Parkstone area, as well as live online lessons using an interactive whiteboard. Many families mix the two. Online works brilliantly and gives you complete flexibility.
Which schools and test boards do you cover?
We prepare children for all the Dorset-area grammar schools — including Poole Grammar, Parkstone Grammar, Bournemouth School and Bournemouth School for Girls — which use the GL Assessment 11+. We focus on the three papers these schools test: English, Maths and Verbal Reasoning.
How do you keep the experience low-pressure?
We set realistic, bite-sized homework, celebrate progress, and never compare children to one another. Tutors are warm and encouraging, and we keep parents informed so there are no surprises. A confident, settled child simply performs better on the day.
What happens at the free assessment?
It's a relaxed, no-obligation session (around 45 minutes) where we gently gauge your child's current level across the three GL papers and chat with you about goals and target schools. You'll leave with a clear, honest picture and a recommended plan — whether or not you choose to continue with us.
What is Atlas Summit?
Atlas Summit is our five-day summer intensive, built for the run-up to the exam. Each day combines focused teaching across English, Maths and Verbal Reasoning with real GL exam questions and daily technique work. It finishes with a full timed mock under exam conditions, followed by a same-day parent-and-pupil debrief and a written Exam-Ready Plan. Cohorts are small and run across the summer holidays — see the full week.
Is it too late to start for the September exam?
Almost certainly not — and a focused final stretch can make a real difference. Start with the free diagnostic to see exactly where your child stands, then we'll recommend the right intensity, whether that's weekly tuition, the Summit intensive, or a mock to sharpen exam technique. We'll always give you an honest view of what's realistic in the time you have.
How much does it cost?
Because every child's plan is different — one-to-one or small group, weekly or intensive — we quote based on what your child actually needs rather than a one-size-fits-all rate. Our pricing is fair and transparent, with no long contracts. Get in touch and we'll talk you through the options after a free assessment.
How do I book and pay?
Start with a free assessment — tell us about your child and we'll arrange a time to talk. If we agree it's the right fit, we send a secure payment link for the agreed plan. There's no online checkout, so places are never booked by strangers. One-off sessions and the Atlas Summit intensive are paid by card link; ongoing weekly tuition can be set up by Direct Debit.
Free download
The Parent's Guide to the Dorset GL 11+
A free, no-nonsense guide for Dorset parents — what the exam tests, when to start, how to help at home, and the mistakes to avoid. Pop in your email and we'll send it over.
- A realistic prep timeline
- How to help at home
- 10 common parent mistakes
- Exam-day confidence tips
How it works
Securing a place is simple.
No online checkout, no obligation. We only take payment once we've spoken and agreed the right plan for your child.
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1
Book a free assessment
Tell us a little about your child and pick a time that suits you.
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A quick, honest chat
We look at where they stand, your target schools and the timeline.
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3
Secure the place
Happy to go ahead? We send a secure payment link for the agreed plan.
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4
You're all set
Payment confirms the place — then we get started.
Get started
Book a free, no-pressure assessment.
Tell us a little about your child and we'll be in touch within one working day to arrange a convenient time. No commitment, no hard sell — just honest, expert advice.
- Call us 01202 029352
- Email us hello@atlas11plus.co.uk
- Message us Chat on WhatsApp
- Serving Bournemouth · Poole · Parkstone & online
Prefer to pick a time?
Book your free assessment instantly — choose a slot that suits you.
or send a message