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.
