The traditional 11+ senior-school exam season is in full swing. If your son or daughter is gearing up for their assessments, pre-tests or interviews in January, the Christmas holidays can – regrettably – be a time of high stress and anxiety. But that doesn’t need to mean Christmas is cancelled. We spoke to some of our favourite prep schools to get their tips on how to survive the Christmas holidays, keep the whole family’s sanity intact and equip your child with the confidence to bounce into the exam hall or interview room on the big day.
Kelly Gray, head of Prospect House School
I know it feels stressful (believe me - I have twins in Year 6 this year myself!) but trust the process and trust your prep school; they've been preparing children to get into the best schools for many years - they've got this. Trust their methods, even if it involves the occasional quirky activity that seems unrelated to algebra, because here's the kicker: success comes from an approach that is measured, relaxed and designed to bring out the pupils' natural brilliance without overwhelming them.
Fergus Simpson, Year 6 teacher and assistant head assessment and scholarship at The Cavendish School
There’s more to life than the 11+ and a relentless focus on it does not necessarily bring about the best results. Keep up all the things your child enjoys: their swimming, gymnastics, guitar, gardening, baking or going outside and getting their blood pumping. Let them curl up with a favourite book. See friends and family. Try not to stress. The pupils have been well prepared and if they go into their exams and interviews feeling secure, they will do brilliantly and receive offers from the schools that will be right for them in the next stage of their education.
Christina Tupper, deputy head and head of curriculum at Barfield Prep School
Create a fun game like ‘12 Days of Christmas’ mini-challenges for low-stress, high-impact fun:
Create a simple list -
- Five quick maths puzzles
- Five short vocabulary tasks
- Two reading challenges
Done in 10 minutes. Stick to 10–20 minutes max, once or twice a day. Consistency is more important than intensity!
Nadia Ward, head of Park School
- Turn reading into a daily 'story safari' where your child roams through new books, discovers adventures and meets interesting characters, all the while building vocabulary, comprehension and confidence without it feeling like homework.
- Create a 'word of the day' jar, pick a new word each day, pop it in a jar and challenge your child to use it in conversation by the end of the day.
Sophie Green, head of St Helen’s College
Remember that reading and completing puzzles and games keep brains very active. Most importantly of all, remember that the school will have already ensured that your child is ready for whatever is put in front of them.
Cecilia Beylefeld, head of L'Ecole de Battersea
Advice for parents:
- Make your child’s primary school your ally and inform them of everything your child is involved in and of any interests and hobbies the school might not be aware of. It is so helpful when it comes to writing school references and preparing for interviews.
- Make sure you double check exam dates when registering to ensure there are no clashes. If there are, get in touch with the senior schools as soon as you can, so you can ask for an alternative date (many senior schools will offer this).
Advice for pupils:
- Focus on the task, not the result – chances are that if you tackle one problem at a time, you will remain calmer and more focused rather than worrying if you are getting it right or wrong.
- In the weeks before the exam, do lots of shorter timed tasks, rather than full length papers - especially for maths and creative writing. It will improve your pace during the actual exam without tiring you out. Working through full papers (online or on paper) should be done up to two to three weeks before and not so much as you get closer to exam time – it is like tapering for a marathon!
Sophie Banks, head of Pembridge Hall School
Keep perspective
Highly academic schools can be a great fit for some children but are not the only path to success. What truly matters is that your child ends up in a place where they will thrive, grow and feel confident.
Prioritise wellbeing
A child who is rested, supported and emotionally balanced performs far better than a stressed or exhausted one. Celebrate small wins, encourage breaks and make space for play and downtime.
It is a marathon, not a sprint!
Every child learns differently. Comparing your child with others can create unnecessary pressure. Trust your child’s pace and know that steady, consistent effort beats sudden bursts of intense study.
Sara Williams-Ryan, head of Heathside School
- Take a proper rest first. Children need downtime after a long term. The first week of the holiday should be for relaxation, family time, and recharging. Starting revision too early risks burnout.
- Create a festive revision schedule - plan 25-45 minute sessions with regular breaks. Slot them around family activities and seasonal activities - baking, games, outings - to provide natural breaks and reduce stress so revision feels manageable, not overwhelming.
And a few tips from the TE team...
- Use the school holidays to let your child regroup, get into a good sleeping pattern and familiarise themselves with their exam and interview timetable. And make plans together for something fun once it’s all over.
- Ignore Christmas-party chit-chat and try to avoid talking about the exam process and revision techniques outside of your immediate family. Everyone learns and prepares differently: remember, this is about your child, not somebody else’s.
- Fill your children up on good food!
- Encourage your son or daughter to choose one news article a day and write it up in a nice notebook. By the time interviews come around, they’ll have accumulated a great selection of topical things to talk about.
- Let them get bored – it’s great for their minds.
- Fuel their brains with trips to a museum, an exhibition or the theatre.
Good luck – and have a very happy Christmas!