Holiday Courses

• 1.5 hr hour online lessons

• Max 5 students

• £35 per 1.5 hr lesson

Why Glowfly for ISEB pretest and 11+ and 13+ Prep?

The 11+, 13+, and ISEB Pre-Test aren’t just exams. They’re a system – and you need someone who knows it inside out.

Most tutors teach the curriculum. Lisa teaches the child.

With deep expertise across the UK Maths and English curriculum from Year 4 to Year 9, Lisa doesn’t just cover the syllabus – she extends it, stretching students to the highest level so that nothing in the exam room catches them off guard.

And she knows these tests inside out – every aspect. The ISEB Pre-Test. Any 11+ or 13+ exam format for any school. The digital formats and the paper ones. The differences between them, the similarities, and – crucially – exactly how to move a score.

This isn’t generic tutoring. It’s specialist preparation, from someone who has guided families through every stage of this process – and knows what it actually takes to succeed.

• July 27th
  Session 1 9am (BST) 11+/ISEB Style English Grammar and Punctuation: Sentence types, Tenses, Punctuation, Parts of speech, Clauses and conjunctions Test specific style of application practice
  Session 2 July 27th 12pm  (BST)11+/ISEB Style Verbal Reasoning: Word construction, Letter & Word Manipulation, Word Meaning and Vocabulary, Relationship and Logic Test specific style of application practice
• July 28th
  Session 1 9am (BST) 11+/ISEB Style 11+ Maths –  Number & Place Value: Place Value, Ordering and Comparing, Rounding, Negative Numbers, Powers and Roots,  Factors, Multiples and Primes,  BIDMAS – order of operation, divisibility rules.  Test specific style of application practice
  Session 2 11:30 am (BST)  11+/ISEB Style 11+ Maths –  Fractions: Recognising and writing fractions · Equivalence, comparison, ordering fractions · Adding, subtracting, Multiplying and Dividing fractions · Fractions of quantities · Problem solving involving fractions. Test specific style of application practice

• July 29th
  Session 1 9am (BST) 11+/ISEB Style Decimals: Place value in decimals · Comparing, ordering and rounding decimals · Adding, subtracting, Multiplying and Dividing decimals · Converting between fractions and decimals. Multi-step problem solving · Real-world contexts. Test specific style of application practice
  Session 2 11:30am (BST) 11+/ISEB Style Percentages: Core concepts, key calculations, increase and decrease, Equivalence (FDP), Reverse %, expressing a % as a quantity of another, word problems Test specific style of application practice
• July 30th
  11+/ISEB Pre-test Style NVR Techniques Day!
  Session 1: 9am (BST) Session 1 2D Pattern Recognition
  Session 2: 11:30 (BST) Session 2 NVR 2D Manipulation
  Session 3: 2:30pm (BST) Session 3 NVR Spatial Reasoning
• August 10th
  CAT4 Day!
  Session 1 9am (BST) CAT4 Quantitative Reasoning Battery: Number Analogies and Series
  Session 2 11:30am CAT4 Spatial Ability Battery Figure Analysis and Recognition session
  Session 3 2:30pm CAT4 Verbal Reasoning Battery – Verbal Classification and Analogies Test specific style of application practice
• August 11th
  Session 1 9am (BST) 11+/ ISEB Pre-test style –  Geometry Area and perimeter of 2D shapes, Properties of 2D and 3D shapes, Angles
  Session 2 11:30 am (BST) 11+/ISEB Pretest style Ratio and Proportion: Simplifying and sharing, direct proportion, inverse proportion, unitary method, recipe word problems, converting to fractions and percentages, advanced applications
• August 12th
  11+/ISEB Pre-test Style NVR Techniques Day!
  Session 1 9am (BST) Session 1 2D Pattern Recognition
  Session 2 11:30 (BST) Session 2 NVR 2D Manipulation
  Session 3 2:30pm (BST) Session 3 NVR Spatial Reasoning
• August 13th
  11+ and 13+ English Paper Tests
  Session 1 9am (BST) 11+ and 13+ Stage 2 Creative Writing for Paper Tests
  Session 2 1pm (BST) 11+ and 13+ Stage 2 Written Comprehension for Paper Tests
• August 14th
  11+ Maths – Algebra Skills for Digital and Paper Tests
  Session 1 9am Algebra 1:  Foundation Concepts – Variables and unknowns, terms and expressions, function machines, balancing equations (missing numbers),  number sequences, formulae – substitution, simple algebraic representation, pre-algebra (working backwards), word problems
  Session 2 11:30am – Algebra 2: Advanced algebra Skills – High Stakes Paper Tests
  The language of algebra (terms, variables, constants, expressions, etc), simple formulae, substitution, notation – forming expressions, forming equations, solving simple equations, solving equations with two variables, brackets in algebra, dealing with fractions and indices

English A – Literature

Three Sessions: 13, 17 and 20 August, pm
(suggested time 14.00 – 15.00 UK time, but there could be some flexibility)

Session 1: Roadmap

1. Stepping Up: Transition from Key Stage 4 to IB Diploma Programme.
2. Holistic vision of English in IBDP: ethos, Learner Profile, Learner Portfolio
3. Overview of English A Literature: Paper 1, Paper 2, Individual Oral, HL Essay; Extended Essay in English

Session 2: Preparation for Assessment 1

1. Paper 1 Guided Analysis – skills for tackling an unseen text; understanding Assessment Criteria

Session 3: Preparation for Assessment 2

1. Paper 2 Comparative Essay, tackling the question, understanding Assessment Criteria
2. Guidance on Individual Oral – global issues, choices of texts, structure, understanding Assessment Criteria

Doug brings exceptional depth and breadth to his teaching of History and Politics. A UK-qualified educator with a BA (Hons) in History and a PGCE in Secondary History, he has spent over 15 years teaching GCSE and A Level across both the state and private sectors, earning recognition as an Advanced Skills Teacher and BT Secondary Teacher of the Year for the Northeast. He has held senior leadership roles throughout his career, previously as Head of History and currently as Head of Politics, and actively shapes the subject at a national level as a current Edexcel Examiner for A Level Politics. Students on this summer course will benefit not only from Doug’s academic expertise but from the insight of someone who knows exactly how the very highest marks are awarded.

Edexcel A Level Politics

Masterclass for consolidation and exam technique

• 17 August 11am (BST) Paper One UK Politics
  Content review and exam masterclass
• 18 August 11am (BST) Paper Two UK Government
  Content review and exam masterclass
• 19 August 11am (BST) Core ideologies
  Review of ideologies and a bridge to Year 13

A UK educated teacher of Biology and Dr of Palaeobiology, Frederica has taught IB for 18 years and is currently responsible for overseeing the IB programme in her current school. She is an examiner for Bio HL Paper 2 and Biology IA Two.

Preparation for DP1, starting and being ahead.

• Content – Basic Science skills (especially good for those that did not do GCSEs), basic research skills, what is Theory of Knowledge, how to cite and reference, carrying out research and an intro to CAS.
• When – 20th August 9am and 1pm  (BST)
• Audience – students starting DP1 in September

The DP science IA criteria unpacked

• Content – what an examiner sees when reading an internal written by an unknown student
• When – 21st August 9am and 1pm BST
• Audience – ALL DP students preparing the final drafts of their science IAs

Teresa is a UK-qualified Mathematics specialist with a BSc (Hons) in Mathematics and a PGCE in Secondary Mathematics, and twenty years’ experience at a top-tier independent school in the South West. She teaches the full range from 11+ to A Level – including Statistics and Mechanics – and brings rare insider knowledge as a marker for a leading independent school’s entrance exams. Accredited by the British Dyslexia Association and holding a Level 5 qualification in Dyscalculia and Maths Difficulties, Teresa is committed to inclusive teaching that supports every learner; she is currently completing a Level 7 qualification in the Screening, Assessment, and Support of Dyscalculia and Maths Learning Difficulties.

24th August 10am (BST) Session 1 Algebra & Functions

A strong algebra foundation is essential for success in Year 11. This session revisits and strengthens:

• simplifying and manipulating algebraic expressions
• indices, including negative and fractional powers
• expanding and factorising (including quadratics)
• solving quadratic equations

25th August 10am (BST) Session 2 Graphs: Linear, Quadratic, Cubic & Reciprocal

Students learn how to interpret, sketch, and analyse the graphs that appear frequently in IGCSE exams. We cover:

• gradients, intercepts, and equations of straight lines
• quadratic graphs: roots, turning points and symmetry
• Using graphs to solve simultaneous equations

26th August 10am (BST) Session 3 Number & Proportion

A high‑yield session focusing on the number skills that often cause marks to be lost. We cover:

• reverse percentages
• compound interest and depreciation
• ratio and proportion in multi‑step problems
• standard form
• upper and lower bounds, error intervals, and significant figures

27th August 10am (BST) Session 4 Geometry, Right Angled Trigonometry & Similarity

This session strengthens the geometry and trigonometry skills that become more demanding in Year 11. We cover:

• Pythagoras and trigonometry in 2D and 3D
• Similar Shapes
• Surface area and Volume including Scale Factors

Key Features:

• Delivered live via Zoom
• Interactive modelling using OneNote.
• Clear explanations with visual scaffolding
• Exam‑style questions woven into every session

By the end of the four sessions, students will:

• Feel more confident and prepared for Year 11
• Have strengthened the core skills needed for IGCSE success
• Start the new school year with momentum, clarity, and confidence

Helen is a UK-qualified English specialist with a BA (Hons) in English Literature and a PGCE in Secondary English Education, currently teaching across the full range from 11+ to A Level. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted, she has held curriculum leadership roles as Head of English, Leader of Literacy, and member of the Literacy Action Group. As a current AQA GCSE Examiner in English Literature and a qualified Cambridge Assessor of Speaking and Listening, Helen brings active examining experience that gives her students a genuine advantage –  she knows precisely what examiners expect at every level. Her teaching spans IGCSE and GCSE Language and Literature through to A Level English Literature, and she has a proven track record of outstanding results across the full ability range, from students who need targeted support to those pushing for the very highest grades. She is committed to continuous professional development, ensuring her practice remains current and responsive to every learner she works with.

Students about to enter Y10 September 2026

Is your child starting Year 10 in September? The jump from Year 9 to GCSE can feel sudden –  and the students who hit the ground running are almost always those who’ve had a head start. A few focused sessions with Helen over the summer can sharpen the core skills in English Language and Literature that examiners reward, build confidence before the course begins, and set the tone for two successful years ahead.

Bridging the Gap between KS3 and GCSE:

• Monday 20th July – 10am (BST) – An Introduction to IGCSE English Language
• Tuesday 21st July – 10am (BST) – ⁠An Introduction to GCSE English Language with focus on AQA and Edexcel exam boards
• Wednesday 22nd July – 10am (BST) – ⁠An Introduction to Shakespeare’s ‘Macbeth’ – preparation for GCSE Literature
• Thursday 23rd July – 10am (BST) ⁠An Introduction to J.B. Priestley’s ‘An Inspector Calls’ – preparation for GCSE Literature
• Students about to start Y11 September 2026 – unhappy with Y10 mock grades?
• Monday 3rd August 10am – Y11 (BST) Reaching for an 8 or 9 in GCSE English Language – focus on AQA
• Tuesday 4th August 10am⁠ – Y11 (BST) Reaching for an 8 or 9 in GCSE English Literature – with key focus on ‘Macbeth’ and ‘An Inspector Calls’
• Wednesday 5th August 10am – ⁠Y11(BST) Reaching for an 8 or 9 at GCSE English Literature – with key focus on poetry
• Thursday 6th August 10am – ⁠Y11(BST) Reaching for an 8 or 9 at IGCSE English Literature – with a key focus on the Poetry Anthology and ‘Of Mice and Men’

• English Literature and Language teacher
• 10 years + of teaching experience.
• Literature examiner so valuable mark scheme insight
• Particular strength : helping learners who require additional support to pass

Romeo and Juliet

3rd August

Romeo and Juliet – Theme and Character

Lesson 1 – 9am–10:30am
Love and Conflict: How Shakespeare Turns Passion into Tragedy – Exploring how love and violence are intertwined throughout the play.

Lesson 2 – 10:45–12:15pm
Romeo: Impulsive Youth or Doomed Romantic? A character study of Romeo’s motivations, flaws, and emotional intensity.

Lesson 3 – 12:45–2:15
Juliet’s Journey: From Obedient Daughter to Defiant Heroine – Tracking Juliet’s development and her challenge to family and society.

Lesson 4 – 2:30–4:00
Fate vs Free Will: Who Really Controls the Tragedy. A thematic investigation into destiny, choice, and the role of the stars.

Lesson 5 – 4:15–5:45
The Power of Family and Honour: The Montagues, Capulets, and the Cost of Loyalty. Analysing how family expectations fuel conflict and shape character decisions.

An Inspector Calls Revision: Theme and Character

10th August

Lesson 1 – 9am–10:30
Responsibility on Trial: How Priestley Exposes Moral Failure – A thematic deep dive into personal vs collective responsibility, using key character moments.

Lesson 2 – 10:45–12:15
Sheila Birling: From Naïve Daughter to Social Conscience – Exploring Sheila’s transformation and how she becomes Priestley’s moral voice.

Lesson 3 – 12:45–2:15
Power, Class, and Privilege: The Birlings Under the Microscope – Analysing how class structures shape the characters’ actions and Priestley’s message.

Lesson 4 – 14:30–16:00
The Inspector as Priestley’s Voice: A Catalyst for Change, understanding the Inspector’s role, symbolism, and dramatic function.

Lesson 5 – 4:15–5:45
Gender and Expectations: How Women Are Treated in 1912 Society – A thematic look at gender roles through Eva Smith, Sheila, and Sybil.

Y6 to Y7 Summer Curriculum English Transition Course

The move from primary to secondary school is one of the most significant transitions in a child’s education – and English is where that shift is felt most sharply. The pace quickens, the texts become more challenging, and expectations around writing, analysis, and independent thinking rise considerably. This course is designed to bridge that gap, giving Year 6 students a confident, well-prepared start to secondary English before they set foot in the classroom. Working with an experienced Y7 secondary specialist, students will strengthen their reading comprehension, develop their writing skills across different forms, and begin to engage with texts in the more analytical way that secondary school demands – so that September feels like a natural next step, not a steep climb.

30th July – *Lesson 1: exploring descriptive writing*

We explore how writers create vivid descriptions using sensory language, similes, metaphors, imagery, personification and powerful adjectives and verbs. Students analyse extracts and apply these techniques to their own descriptions.

6th August – *Lesson 2: Analysing Narrative Writing Techniques*

We examine how writers structure narratives to engage readers. Including openings, hooks, character introduction, building tension and tone. Students analyse extracts and discuss how language and structure shape meaning.

13th August – *Lesson 3: language analysis and analytical responses*

We develop analytical skills by learning how to identify techniques, select quotations, explain effects and write evidence based analytical paragraphs.

20th August – *Lesson 4- Crafting Effective Description and Narrative Writing*

Students combine their skills to write an extended piece focusing on atmosphere, structure, character, vocabulary and literary techniques.