--- title: "11 Plus Maths Tuition Hertfordshire | Watford, Dame Alice Owen's" description: "Live online 11 plus maths for Hertfordshire's partially selective schools: the South West Herts maths test, Dame Alice Owen's Part II, and Year 5 mental maths." canonical: https://learn.modernagecoders.com/11-plus-maths-tuition-hertfordshire source: src/pages/11-plus-maths-tuition-hertfordshire.html --- > Live online 11 plus maths for Hertfordshire's partially selective schools: the South West Herts maths test, Dame Alice Owen's Part II, and Year 5 mental maths. In short Hertfordshire County Council says some schools select a percentage of their places by academic ability. The South West Herts Schools Consortium runs an academic test for Parmiter's, Queens', Rickmansworth, St Clement Danes, Watford Grammar School for Boys and Watford Grammar School for Girls: GL papers in mathematics and verbal reasoning of roughly 45 minutes to an hour each, answered on an OMR sheet, with some questions needing two answers. For 2027 entry, registration ran from 1 April to 5 June 2026, the test was on Saturday 5 September 2026, and scores arrive on 15 October. Dame Alice Owen's School runs its own examination: a verbal reasoning Part I on 1 September 2026, then, for the top 325, English and a one-hour maths paper written by the school on 26 September 2026. We teach the maths for both, live online. Try one lesson without charge; if you continue, a small-group place is USD 100 monthly and one to one teaching USD 150 monthly. Hertfordshire starting points ## Three courses for Hertfordshire's tests One route has a GL multiple-choice maths paper; the other a paper the school writes itself. Choose by how flexible your child's maths is. [![11 Plus Maths Prep course thumbnail](/images/eleven-plus-maths.webp) HERTS / 1 Herts 11 plus maths Year 5 maths for the consortium paper and Dame Alice Owen's Part II, both formats. Open the syllabus →](/courses/11-plus-maths-preparation-course-uk)[![Mental Maths for Kids course thumbnail](/images/mental-maths-kids.webp) HERTS / 2 Known facts, used cleverly Mental multiplication and division that makes two-answer questions quick. Open the syllabus →](/courses/mental-maths-mastery-kids)[![Maths Olympiad & Competition Course course thumbnail](/images/olympiad-competition-maths.webp) HERTS / 3 Beyond routine problems For confident children facing a school-written paper with no published samples. Open the syllabus →](/courses/olympiad-competition-mathematics-mastery) A share of places ## Partially selective, not grammar schools The distinction matters, because it changes what the test is for. Read on 26 September 2026 from Hertfordshire County Council, the South West Herts Schools Consortium and Dame Alice Owen's School. ### What the council says On its aptitude and ability testing page, Hertfordshire County Council explains that "Some schools offer a small percentage of their places to children with a particular aptitude. Some schools also select a percentage of their places based on academic ability." It lists the South West Herts Schools Consortium among those that test. So a Hertfordshire ability test fills some of a school's places, not all of them. The rest are allocated by each school's other criteria. That is admissions, which we leave to the schools, but it explains why the tests are described as ability tests rather than an 11 plus for a grammar school. ### Two main routes The consortium describes itself as "a group of seven partially selective schools in Southwest Hertfordshire": Croxley Danes (music only), Parmiter's, Queens', Rickmansworth, St Clement Danes, and the two Watford Grammar Schools. One academic test serves the six with an academic route. Dame Alice Owen's School in Potters Bar sets its own Governors' Entrance Examination. Its determined arrangements for 2027-28 give a published admission number of 200 and "Up to 65 children selected by academic ability". Sources: Hertfordshire County Council, aptitude or ability testing; [South West Herts Schools Consortium](https://www.swhertsschools.org.uk/academic-ability-test/), home page, academic ability test, FAQ, familiarisation and calendar pages; [Dame Alice Owen's School, entrance exam information](https://damealiceowens.herts.sch.uk/sixth-form/admissions/secondary-transfer/entrance-exam-information/) and determined admission arrangements 2027-28. Modern Age Coders has no connection with the council, the consortium, GL Assessment or any school. The consortium test ## Maths and verbal reasoning, and nothing else The South West Herts academic test is narrower than most 11 plus tests. That makes the maths paper a large part of it. | | South West Herts Consortium | Dame Alice Owen's School | | --- | --- | --- | | Registration | 1 April to 5 June 2026; no late entries | 29 April to 10 June 2026 | | Papers | Maths; verbal reasoning (GL) | Part I verbal reasoning (GL); Part II English and maths | | Maths paper | Prepared for the consortium, Key Stage 2 | One hour, written by the school | | Test dates | Saturday 5 September 2026 | Part I 1 September; Part II 26 September 2026 | | Who sits the maths | Every academic candidate | The top 325 from Part I | | Scores | Notified 15 October 2026 | Combined and ranked | The consortium says: "Children applying under the Academic Criterion will take Mathematics and Verbal Reasoning tests, provided by GL Assessment." Maths papers "are prepared specifically for the Consortium and are based on the Key Stage 2 curriculum". Its test details page says each test takes "approximately 45 minutes to one hour", with a short break between. The familiarisation page is explicit: "English and Non-Verbal Reasoning are not required for the test." It also warns that the practice materials "are not intended to replicate the timings or number of questions on the papers candidates will take on test day". Answers go on an OMR sheet, and the instructions include a line that deserves attention: "Two Correct Answers: Some questions may require marking two answers. Be sure to read the instructions carefully." A child who marks one answer on a two-answer question, or two on a one-answer question, loses the mark whatever their maths. At Dame Alice Owen's, maths is only in Part II, a one-hour paper written by the school for the 325 highest-ranked from the verbal reasoning in Part I. No samples of that paper are published, so depth across the Key Stage 2 curriculum is the only preparation. The lesson ## Mental maths from known facts, including choose-two questions The Year 5 curriculum asks children to "multiply and divide numbers mentally, drawing upon known facts". Known facts make ordinary questions quick, and they make two-answer questions manageable. | Question | Known fact used | Answer | | --- | --- | --- | | 25 × 16 | 25 × 4 = 100, and 16 = 4 × 4 | 400 | | 36 × 5 | × 5 is half of × 10 | 180 | | 4,800 ÷ 40 | 48 ÷ 4 = 12, then adjust for the zeros | 120 | | 99 × 7 | 100 × 7 minus 7 | 693 | | Choose two: which are multiples of 12? 84, 94, 108, 112 | 12 × 7 = 84; 12 × 9 = 108 | 84 and 108 | Each of the first four rows can be done with long multiplication or division, slowly. Each can also be done in a few seconds from a fact the child already knows. 25 × 16 becomes 25 × 4 × 4, which is 100 × 4. Dividing 4,800 by 40 becomes 48 divided by 4, with the zeros handled by place value. That speed matters on a paper whose length and question count are not published, and it matters more on the two-answer questions, where every option has to be checked rather than just the first plausible one. The last row shows the two-answer format. Looking at four numbers and deciding which two are multiples of 12 means testing all four: 84 and 108 are (12 × 7 and 12 × 9), while 94 is not even divisible by 4 and 112 is 12 × 9 plus 4. A child with the twelve times table secure does it in seconds; a child without it guesses. We practise two-answer questions deliberately, with the instruction in bold at first and then in ordinary type, so reading "choose two" becomes automatic. Marking exactly two, no more and no fewer, is part of the skill. Sources: [national curriculum in England, mathematics](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-curriculum-in-england-mathematics-programmes-of-study/national-curriculum-in-england-mathematics-programmes-of-study), Year 5 multiplication and division (statutory requirements); South West Herts Schools Consortium, academic ability test instructions. The questions are our own. Our approach ## Two routes, one curriculum A GL paper with published samples and a school paper with none need the same thing underneath: Year 5 maths known deeply. ### Depth in Key Stage 2 Every Year 5 topic taught until it is quick and flexible, since neither route publishes question counts or weightings. ### Read the instruction Two-answer questions, single-answer questions and written answers practised side by side, so the instruction always gets read. ### Unseen problems For the school-written Dame Alice Owen's paper, problems in unfamiliar forms, so nothing on the day looks alien. The consortium provides a free download of GL familiarisation booklets for maths and verbal reasoning. Use them to see the format; the consortium itself warns they do not match the real timing or question count. We do not reproduce them. Verbal reasoning is the other consortium paper, and Dame Alice Owen's Part I is verbal reasoning too. We do not teach it. Families should plan for it separately. Dame Alice Owen's School describes its tests as designed to identify the most able candidates and warns that children of average or below average ability are likely to find them very challenging. We will be honest with you about where your child stands. We give no advice on which schools to apply to, the share of places each fills by ability, or priority areas. The council and schools publish those. Watford, Rickmansworth and Potters Bar ## The schools this page covers The council and the consortium name the schools. We list them only to make the scope of this page clear. | School | Ability route | | --- | --- | | Parmiter's School | South West Herts academic test | | Queens' School | South West Herts academic test | | Rickmansworth School | South West Herts academic test | | St Clement Danes School | South West Herts academic test | | Watford Grammar School for Boys | South West Herts academic test | | Watford Grammar School for Girls | South West Herts academic test | | Dame Alice Owen's School | Its own two-part examination | Croxley Danes School belongs to the consortium but tests for music only, so it does not use the academic test. The council lists other Hertfordshire schools that test for aptitude or ability, and families should check each school's own arrangements. Whether home is Bushey, Abbots Langley, Chorleywood or Hatfield, the lesson arrives the same way: on a screen, live, in a class of up to ten children working at the same stage. For families just over the London border, see our pages for [Barnet](/11-plus-maths-tuition-barnet) and [Enfield](/11-plus-maths-tuition-enfield). None of these schools, nor the consortium, GL Assessment or the county council, is connected with Modern Age Coders. Towards September 2027 ## Four stages for early-September tests Both routes test in the first weeks of Year 6, and registration closes in June of Year 5. Here is the year before. | When | Stage | You will see | | --- | --- | --- | | Autumn, Year 5 | 1. Known facts | Tables to 12 × 12 and their divisions instant | | Winter, Year 5 | 2. Mental strategies | Multiplies and divides mentally from facts, confidently | | Spring, Year 5 (register by early June) | 3. The rest of Year 5 | Fractions, measures, shape and data as secure | | Summer holiday | 4. Formats | Two-answer questions, timed GL-style papers, and unseen written problems | ### Starting late The consortium test falls in the first week of September, so the summer is the last chance. Facts first, formats second. By the end of the trial lesson you will know, frankly, how much of that summer is needed. ### After the tests Mental agility carries straight into secondary algebra. Some children continue with [maths through coding](/courses/maths-through-coding). Others try the national challenges on our [competitions calendar](/uk-coding-maths-and-ai-competitions-calendar). Courses ## Maths and coding for Hertfordshire families Arranged by stage, each linked to a syllabus. I ### For the ability tests Years 3 to 5 HTM / 1 #### 11 plus maths, Hertfordshire Year 5 maths for both routes. [Open the syllabus](/courses/11-plus-maths-preparation-course-uk) HTM / 2 #### Mental maths from known facts Speed for two-answer questions. [Open the syllabus](/courses/mental-maths-mastery-kids) HTM / 3 #### Challenge problems For a school-written paper. [Open the syllabus](/courses/olympiad-competition-mathematics-mastery) HTM / 4 #### Primary foundations Years 1 to 5, secured. [Open the syllabus](/courses/elementary-mathematics-complete-masterclass)II ### Secondary Year 6 onwards HTM / 5 #### Key Stage 3 maths course The first secondary years. [Open the syllabus](/courses/comprehensive-middle-school-mathematics-mastery) HTM / 6 #### GCSE maths across boards Foundation and higher. [Open the syllabus](/courses/gcse-mathematics-mastery) HTM / 7 #### Abacus for younger siblings Number sense by hand. [Open the syllabus](/courses/abacus-mental-maths-course-for-kids)III ### Coding Facts into programs HTM / 8 #### Maths through coding Multiples and factors, found by code. [Open the syllabus](/courses/maths-through-coding) HTM / 9 #### Scratch, first programs Logic for young coders. [Open the syllabus](/courses/scratch-programming-complete-course) HTM / 10 #### Python and AI, age 9 upwards The first typed language. [Open the syllabus](/courses/python-ai-kids-masterclass)IV ### Later Teenagers HTM / 11 #### Vedic mental methods More shortcuts, built on facts. [Open the syllabus](/courses/vedic-maths-course-speed-calculation-mastery) HTM / 12 #### AI for 13 to 18 year olds Maths in modern tools. [Open the syllabus](/courses/ai-ml-masterclass-teens) Lesson times ## After school, or at the weekend We teach live from India and book Hertfordshire primary pupils into early-evening or weekend-morning slots on the UK clock; clock changes are handled by our teachers. After school Early in the evening. Weekend morning When children are fresh. Summer holidays Useful before an early-September test. ### One teacher all year Who knows your child's habits. ### Honest notes A few frank lines after lessons. ### Classes of five to ten Grouped by level. ### Our own questions No GL or school material copied. ### One to one For specific gaps. ### Maths only No verbal reasoning or English coaching; no admissions advice. Student work ## Known facts, later put to work Four published projects by our students, all of whom once learned their tables. More on the [student labs](/student-labs) page. ![NutriLife AI nutrition coach project screenshot](/images/projects/nutrilife.webp) AI and ML #### NutriLife An AI nutrition coach that reads what you eat and works you toward a target. by Bhavya · [Open it](https://nutrilife-bhavya.lovable.app) ![Misti AI chatbot for maths and coding screenshot](/images/projects/misti.webp) AI and ML #### Misti A chatbot that answers mathematics and programming questions, built and deployed by a student. by Harshit · [Open it](https://misti.modernagecoders.com) ![GuardianX AI internet safety assistant screenshot](/images/projects/guardianx.webp) AI and ML #### GuardianX An assistant that helps a young person recognise unsafe situations online. by Vivaan · [Open it](https://guardianx-cybersaver.lovable.app) ![SkyCast weather forecast application screenshot](/images/projects/skycast.webp) Web app #### SkyCast A weather forecasting site with live conditions for any location. by Krish Fees ## Fees Families outside India pay one monthly US dollar price. No joining fee; stop any month. Free first class USD 0 no card required - A taught lesson - A frank view - No card needed Book it Group batch USD 100 a month, billed in US dollars - Five to ten children, one level - A regular teacher - Work reviewed together - Certificate at the end Start here One to one USD 150 a month, billed in US dollars - A teacher for one child - Aimed at gaps - Flexible timing Enquire What families say ## Rated 4.9 across 547 Google reviews Straight from parents' Google reviews. ★★★★★ "The one step solution for my son. Modern Age Coders make learning coding so simple that kids love it. The teachers explain complex concepts clearly with practical exercises and interactive content." Ria Mukherjee Parent ★★★★★ "Modern Age Coders has been a game-changer for me. I struggled to grasp IT concepts and coding before joining, but their classes transformed everything. I can now confidently write complex programs with ease." Samriddha Mondal Student ★★★★★ "One of the most wonderful education centres out there. Education is not limited to school syllabus but focuses on skill development." Vansh Agarwal Student ★★★★★ "My child Dhairya is really enjoying the Modern Age Coders classes. This is his first online class and he eagerly looks forward to it. I can already see his improvement, and the teachers are very cooperative." Sonam Oswal Parent of Dhairya ★★★★★ "Modern Age Coders have wonderful teachers who teach in a clear, easy and practical way. The teacher boosts students' confidence and inspires them to learn without hesitation." Sonu Goyal Parent ★★★★★ "I highly recommend this computer coding class! The teachers are incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about coding." Ritu Kedia Parent Hertfordshire questions ## What Hertfordshire families ask us ### Does Hertfordshire have grammar schools? Not in the usual sense. The county council says some schools select a percentage of their places based on academic ability. The South West Herts Schools Consortium describes its members as partially selective. ### What is in the South West Herts academic test? The consortium says academic candidates take mathematics and verbal reasoning tests from GL Assessment, of roughly 45 minutes to an hour each. English and non-verbal reasoning are not required. ### What does "two correct answers" mean? The consortium's instructions say some questions may require marking two answers, so children must read each question's instructions carefully. ### When is the South West Herts test? For 2027 entry it was on Saturday 5 September 2026, with registration from 1 April to 5 June 2026 and scores on 15 October 2026. Dates for 2028 entry are published by the consortium. ### How is Dame Alice Owen's different? It runs its own examination: Part I verbal reasoning for all candidates, then Part II English and a one-hour maths paper written by the school for the top 325. It admits up to 65 children by academic ability. ### Which schools use the consortium test? Parmiter's, Queens', Rickmansworth, St Clement Danes and the two Watford Grammar Schools. Croxley Danes is in the consortium but tests for music only. ### Are the familiarisation papers the real format? The consortium says its familiarisation materials are generic and not intended to replicate the timings or number of questions on the day. ### Do you teach verbal reasoning? No. Verbal reasoning, English and every question about places sit outside our lessons, which are about mathematics. ### Do you use GL or school papers? No. We write our own questions. ### What do lessons cost? Lesson one is on us. Continuing pupils pay USD 100 per month for a class place or USD 150 per month for individual teaching, month to month. Related ## More for Hertfordshire and north London Two boroughs over the border, a fully selective county next door, and the wider picture. ### [11 plus maths in Barnet](/11-plus-maths-tuition-barnet) Three schools just over the border. ### [11 plus maths in Enfield](/11-plus-maths-tuition-enfield) Latymer's test, changing for 2028 entry. ### [11 plus maths in Buckinghamshire](/11-plus-maths-tuition-buckinghamshire) A fully selective county to the west. ### [11 plus maths tuition](/11-plus-maths-tuition) The national overview. ### [UK competitions calendar](/uk-coding-maths-and-ai-competitions-calendar) Maths challenges through the year. ### [All our UK pages](/coding-classes-in-united-kingdom) Every UK area we cover. Start here ## Book a free Hertfordshire maths lesson Tell us your child's year and which route you are considering. We teach a real lesson and then give you an honest account of it. If you would like to look around before talking to us, the [courses](/courses) each carry a syllabus, [our method](/how-we-teach) is written up, and a [roadmap](/coding-roadmap) links primary maths to programming. [WhatsApp us](https://wa.me/919123366161?text=Hello%20Modern%20Age%20Coders%2C%20I%20would%20like%20a%20free%20maths%20lesson%20for%20my%20child%20for%20the%20Hertfordshire%20ability%20tests.) · [+91 91233 66161](tel:+919123366161) · [contact@modernagecoders.com](mailto:contact@modernagecoders.com) WhatsApp is the quickest way to reach us. Our team, teachers and phone number are all in India; there is no Watford or Hertfordshire office. ## Keep exploring Modern Age Coders ### More maths tuition - [11 Plus Maths Tuition Kent](/11-plus-maths-tuition-kent) - [11 Plus Maths Tuition Gloucestershire](/11-plus-maths-tuition-gloucestershire) - [11 Plus Maths Tuition Kingston](/11-plus-maths-tuition-kingston) - [11 Plus Maths Tuition Essex](/11-plus-maths-tuition-essex) - [11 Plus Maths Tuition Medway](/11-plus-maths-tuition-medway) - [11 Plus Maths Tuition Plymouth](/11-plus-maths-tuition-plymouth) - [AP Statistics Tutoring Online](/ap-statistics-tutoring-online) - [11 Plus Maths Tuition Wolverhampton and Walsall](/11-plus-maths-tuition-wolverhampton-and-walsall) - [11 Plus Maths Tuition Wirral](/11-plus-maths-tuition-wirral) ### Learn more - [College Maths Course: Calculus, Linear Algebra to Analysis](/courses/college-mathematics-complete-masterclass) - [Coding & Maths Classes near Diamond City South](/coding-classes-in-diamond-city-south) - [Coding & Maths Classes near South City](/coding-classes-in-south-city) - [Business & Finance Mathematics: Investment to Risk](/courses/complete-business-finance-mathematics-mastery) ### From the blog - [Maths Learning Guides](/blog/topic/maths) - [10 Mental Maths Tricks for Kids, With Worked Examples](/blog/mental-maths-tricks-for-kids) - [How to Get Better at Maths: 8 Methods That Actually Work](/blog/how-to-get-better-at-maths) - [Abacus vs Vedic vs Mental Maths: A Clear Comparison](/blog/abacus-vs-vedic-vs-mental-maths) ### Start here - [Book a free demo class with Modern Age Coders](/book-demo) - [Real projects built by Modern Age Coders students](/student-labs) --- *Canonical: https://learn.modernagecoders.com/11-plus-maths-tuition-hertfordshire*