Hi!
I’m Lee Mottram, a primary teacher, dad and tutor. I love teaching.
I had the time of my life teaching my son prepare for his11plus entrance exams, so much so that I wrote a kindle book about the experience. (Before that, I had enjoyed teaching him about the world so much that I became a primary teacher; it’s because of his endless questions and my endless love of learning that you’re reading this.)
My son was, thankfully, successful in securing a place in his first choice grammar.
It was then my daughter’s turn. Another two years later, and she, too, managed to gain a place into her first choice grammar. (It was not as straightforward a journey, and I will share this story in the hope it will help you, but by heavens, did she rocket and blossom and succeed at her grammar school!)
Then came another 4 books: the 11plushappy ebooks available on this website.
After being a class teacher and primary music specialist, while offering tuition after school and on weekends (you can take the grown-up away from teaching but you can’t take the teaching out of the grown-up!), I’m now a full-time tutor for the 11plus (Grammar and Independent schools); KS1 & KS2 tuition; and secondary school English up to GCSE. I believe again and again that the chance to study for and gain a place in a good secondary school is a life-changing moment in a child’s life. I believe a love of learning is the ultimate super-power, the ultimate source of freedom, growth and happiness.
When I’m not teaching, I’m writing more books, both fiction and non-fiction.
In my blog, you’ll find insights and practical tips taken from my books, as well as learning and insights from my ongoing tuition. Every child is a teacher, and I have never yet left a lesson without feeling like I have learned something. (Hopefully, my students feel the same way.)
You can find all the insights and tips in the books themselves.
I’ll also share links to sites, books and resources that help me teach. I’ve also started a youtube channel: 11plushappy on Youtube .
I hope to share longer video content on the channel, which will eventually find its way into a video course. If you have areas of learning you think would really help your child, please let me know at lee@11plushappy.com
Most of all, this site exists to cheer you on and remind you are doing the right thing by putting your child first and jumping into the amazing marathon that is preparing for the 11plus. We know all success comes not from the big day, but from the thousands of small days that lead to it.
Even more special than the outcome is perhaps the greatest gift of all: the extra time you spend alongside your child. Being together as you learn together, creating fun learning moments – a maths cafe under the table, measuring the garden with spaghetti sticks…the opportunities for fun and relationship building are endless. I know that all the time I spent alongside my own children has given us strongly rooted friendships and trust. Similarly, seeing current parents and students on their path is hugely rewarding. Watching our children learn and grow is among our most special, privileged, peak life experiences. If this site can help you and your child along your journey, it will have succeeded.
Start learning, stay learning and stay 11plus happy.
To your child’s education, to your child’s future,
My best, Lee Mottram
London 2022
When the second edition is comming out? What are the other books you are working on?
Hi Waleed, The second edition will be ready by the end of May, as will another two books. One is on recognising and beating the tricks tests play in Multiple Choice English, while the second book is a much-expanded version of the writing guide in the 1st edition, crucially with lots of modelled examples stories and non-fiction writing to help children see the tips in action. These will be ready at the same time, the idea being to offer children and parents a truly helpful, practical kit to conquer 11 Plus English.
Thank you,Lee, your book is an inspiration to me and my son. The resources are still relevant. I look forward to your new books.
In the recommended books, Is it just the books recommended found in your blog, or all the books in the series. The Bond definetly had more books as well as CGP than the links in your website.
It is a shame, I couldn’t access them directly from your book.
Thanks again. I look forward to your reply.
Best Regards,
Hi Waleed, I would honestly try all the books in the series, with one proviso. Supposing your son is 8, for example, perhaps try him on an age below to gain early success, but if he finds the age below him too easy, I wouldn’t buy any more in that series. Move to to the 8-9 yrs. Within his age bracket, I would recommend as many in the series as you can find and budget for, simply to gain wider practice with speed and different texts. The assessment papers, stretch papers and ten minute tests I all find very useful. Equally, there are lots of books, as you rightly point out, in the Schofield & Sims series. Again, these offer fantastic range – the Mental Arithmetic series I absolutely love. Other titles focus on one topic, e.g. Fractions. Perhaps be a little more discerning and specific in choosing from these titles according to your son’s needs. There’s little point in times tables books, for example, if he is managing these very well – there is a lot of available material elsewhere, and you would be better using funds for other titles down the road. It is a marathon.
I agree completely that it’s frustrating not to be able to access the titles direct. Amazon don’t allow links to their website from within kindle titles -perhaps this will change at some point. This is why I thought the pages of links might still be helpful, as they do allow links to other websites. In our time-poor lives, however, I appreciate there is close to no time to add even one extra click to our lives!
I hope the Easter period is a happy time of rest and learning, and I’m over the moon to think a parent and child could get inspiration from the book to help their journey.
My very best, Lee
Hi Waleed, how is your 11 plus journey with your son? Is it over yet, or are you still preparing for next year? I wanted to follow up and let you know at last – a lot longer than I planned – the multiple choice and creative writing books are out at last. I hope all is well with you, my best, Lee
Hello Lee,
My daughter has been looking at some bits for taking her Eleven plus exams in September, We haven’t had a tutor but saw your link for your course material
The exam boards for the Grammer schools we have local to us are as follows
One school does the verbal reasoning standard paper and the multiple choice paper set by
The other set by GLA and covers both verbal and non verbal papers
Are your publications suitable for both please
Hi Shirley, Thank you so much for asking about the suitability of the materials for your daughter’s entrance exam.
If only verbal and non-verbal reasoning are being tested, then definitely not. If the multiple choice is an English exam, then the Happy Hacks Multiple choice book would definitely be a huge support, but it doesn’t discuss verbal and non-verbal reasoning. Similarly, The Creative Writing models focus on specific creative writing must-haves, which are not tested in verbal and non-verbal.
I’m really happy you thought to ask first. What materials are you using to rehearse verbal and non-verbal?
My best, Lee Mottram