Contents
Preparing for the 11+ can feel like a daunting journey, and starting secondary school is a big step for any child. At Atom Learning, we’re here to make that process easier. To show what’s possible with the right support, we caught up with some of our Year 7 students who used Atom to prepare for their 11+ exams.
From grammar to independent schools, these stories show how Atom’s personalised learning approach helps children build the confidence and skills they need – not just for 11+ success, but for Year 7 and beyond.
Amelie at Colyton Grammar
Amelie has fully embraced school life at Colyton Grammar. She has joined the school girls’ football team, sign language club, choir, and piano, while also excelling in her academic subjects.
Amelie’s favourite things about her new school include her friendships and passion for learning new subjects. Right now, she is loving History and Spanish, approaching both subjects with curiosity and enthusiasm.
Thanks to solid preparation, her family told us Amelie’s transition to Colyton Grammar has been smooth and positive, with no significant challenges.
How Atom prepared Amelie for success in the 11+ exam
Amelie’s family credits Atom with playing a key role in her success at Colyton Grammar.
The practice tests helped Amelie focus on the specific skills she needed to strengthen, and features like the pass level indicator boosted her confidence as she progressed. They also found the tailored tests for their chosen schools especially valuable in the lead-up to the exam.
Looking back, they said they’d change nothing. Atom provided exactly what they needed, making Amelie's 11+ journey enjoyable and effective. They’ve already recommended Atom to other families and plan to use it again for Amelie’s younger brother as he prepares for the 11+.
Antonio at Alleyn’s School
Antonio has had a great start at Alleyn’s School after earning his place with Atom's support. While the longer days took a bit of getting used to, Antonio has embraced life at secondary school with a positive attitude and an eagerness to learn.
He has joined the football, hockey, and tennis teams, making the most of the school’s incredible facilities and expert teachers. His love for Maths continues to grow, and he is especially enjoying the variety of subjects on offer.
Settling in with confidence: how Atom helped Antonio get ready for Year 7
Thanks to Atom’s tailored resources, Antonio’s parents told us that they felt he was academically and emotionally well-prepared for the transition.
The little online videos that explain particular topics were really helpful, and Atom’s structured approach made the preparation journey less stressful and more manageable.
He started Year 7 with confidence in core subjects like Maths, English, Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning, and Science and with valuable independent study skills that are helping him stay on top of his new workload.
James at Hall School Wimbledon
James is settling in well at Hall School Wimbledon, enjoying school life and getting involved in clubs like football and djembe.
Although Religious Studies has been a bit more challenging, James has found a new favourite subject, Science! He approaches all his subjects with determination and curiosity, always eager to learn something new.
Feeling prepared and positive: how Atom supported James’ transition
James’ parents told us they felt James was really well-prepared for the transition into secondary.
Thanks to Atom, he had built strong foundations in core subjects and effective independent learning that have set him up for success.
They have already recommended Atom to friends, and some have signed up to start their own journeys.
Interested in doing the same? Click here to sign up for a free trial with Atom.
Krish at St Margaret’s
Krish’s transition to St Margaret’s School has been very positive. He has already been making the most of the school’s fantastic sports facilities, joining athletics and football, and building new friendships.
Krish is loving the independence and variety that secondary school brings. He is particularly enjoying Maths, Science, Design, and Food Technology, and is excited by the new opportunities available to him.
While the number of subjects and independent learning initially felt overwhelming, Krish settled in nicely thanks to his preparation.
Click here for some tips to help you prepare your child for the transition to secondary school.
Finding his feet: how Atom boosted Krish’s confidence for the 11+
Krish’s family told us that Atom was key in helping Krish build his knowledge in Maths, English, time management, and general academic skills.
They mentioned that they found Atom’s practice papers and incentive-based learning journey particularly helpful for preparing Krish for his 11+ exam. They appreciated how similar Atom’s platform is to the real entrance exam experience, helping to reduce Krish’s anxiety by making preparation feel more familiar.
Upon reflection, they felt that dedicating more time to working through challenging topics together would have been beneficial. However, they’ve already recommended Atom to other families, praising its adaptive learning and clear progress tracking as standout features for both parents and children.
Tim at Lockers Park
Tim secured a place at Lockers Park Prep School and is fully embracing his new school, participating in the swimming club and enjoying the supportive school culture.
His favourite subjects so far are Maths and Latin, and he is enjoy the opportunity of learning new subjects at secondary school.
Tim’s family shared that he was very well-prepared, especially after more than two years of preparation for his entrance exams. They felt his previous school helped ease the transition emotionally and socially, giving him the confidence to step into this new environment smoothly.
A positive start: how Atom helped Tim feel ready for Year 7
Atom played a key role in his journey, providing everyday practice materials that kept him on track. His parents found the targeted practice especially helpful for supporting Tim with the topics he struggled with.
They highlighted the reliability and high quality of Atom’s online resources, noting that starting to use Atom earlier could have been even more advantageous for Tim’s 11+ preparation.
Sophie at Lady Eleanor Holles School
Since joining Lady Eleanor Holles, Sophie has embraced every opportunity, participating in a wide range of clubs and activities, and making like-minded friends who have helped her feel right at home.
Sophie’s favourite things about the school are the exciting opportunities available, and most importantly… lunch! Her current favourite subjects include German, Latin, English, and Food and Nutrition.
Her parents felt she was very well-prepared and settled quickly, finding supportive friends and staff along the way.
Building confidence: how Atom supported Sophie’s next step
Sophie’s family shared that Atom played a vital role in her 11+ journey.
They found Atom to be fun and effective, helping Sophie feel more confident throughout the 11+ process.
In particular, they loved the interactive “islands” feature for topic progression, the ability to revisit areas, and the school comparison tool, which gave them reassurance throughout the process.
They used Atom flexibly, starting with practice across topics before moving into test mode closer to the exam and couldn’t be happier with the outcome. Sophie received offers from three out of the four schools she applied to, and her brother received offers from two out of three.
Pictured: Examples of Atom Learning’s islands that guide students through key topics.
Andrew at St Olave’s
We’re so pleased for Andrew, who earned a place at St Olave’s and is settling in well at his new school. He is already making the most of the fantastic sport facilities and is part of the school hockey team.
Andrew has enjoyed the hands-on learning and the new subjects that are available to him. Currently his favourite subjects are Design Technology, PE, and Art.
Starting strong: how Atom prepared Andrew for secondary school
Andrew’s family feel that Atom played a key role in building strong foundations and boosting his confidence for the 11+.
One feature they particularly appreciated was the ability to customise lessons and focus on specific subjects that needed extra attention.
Reflecting on their experience, they noted that more science revision with Atom after the 11+ would have helped Andrew prepare for the broader secondary curriculum.
They recommend Atom to other families, describing it as an essential guide through the 11+ journey and highlighting its pivotal role in supporting their child’s progress.
Poppy at Simon Langton Girls’ School
Poppy has joined Simon Langton Girls’ School and is loving her new school! She has thrown herself into school life, joining STEM club, classics club, netball, and library club, whilst making plenty of new friends along the way.
Poppy’s favourite things about Simon Langton include exploring new subjects, meeting new friends, and even discovering new food in the canteen. Her current favourite subject is Science, and she is enjoying the opportunity to challenge herself academically.
The biggest challenges have been managing the long bus journey to school and keeping up with the faster academic pace, which requires more effort than in Year 6. Despite this, her parents shared that she has adjusted well, thanks to being well-prepared for the transition.
Getting stuck in: how Atom helped Poppy feel ready for new challenges
Atom played a very helpful role in her journey. Her family particularly valued the benchmarking against schools, the gap analysis, and the wide range of resources available.
Atom made Poppy’s learning more exciting and accessible, whilst also helping to identify and fill knowledge gaps before the exam.
They enthusiastically recommend Atom, praising it as a valuable investment that delivers engaging and effective learning in a motivating format.
Morris at Caistor Grammar
Since joining Caistor Grammar School, Morris has excelled both inside and outside the classroom. He has taken up the violin and piano and is fully engaging with his favourite subjects. Maths is a particular favourite!
He had made great progress academically and has settled in socially, making new friends and feeling confident right from the start.
A smooth start: how Atom helped Morris adjust to secondary school
Morris’ parents credit Atom with helping Morris build a strong foundation across key subjects, independent study skills, and time management. The wide range of question types and access to practice papers made a real difference in his preparation.
They also found Atom’s resources engaging and effective, keeping Morris motivated and making his learning experience enjoyable. Praising Atom for its comprehensive preparation, they would recommend Atom Home to other families looking to support their child through the 11+ journey.
Final thoughts: preparing your child for secondary school
These stories remind us that the 11+ journey isn’t just about exam success. It’s about building lifelong skills that help students thrive well beyond test day.
At Atom Learning, we’re proud to support families not only through the exam process but also for the challenges and opportunities that come with starting secondary school. By fostering independence, resilience, and a love of learning, Atom learners are equipped to make the most of their new environments. They’re confident, curious, and ready to succeed.
Support your child’s journey to 11+ success. Start learning for free today!
Contents