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TheSchoolRun.com closure date

As we informed you a few months ago, TheSchoolRun has had to make the difficult decision to close due to financial pressures and the company has now ceased trading. We had hoped to keep our content available through a partnership with another educational provider, but this provider has since withdrawn from the agreement.

As a result, we now have to permanently close TheSchoolRun.com. However, to give subscribers time to download any content they’d like to keep, we will keep the website open until 31st July 2025. After this date, the site will be taken down and there will be no further access to any resources. We strongly encourage you to download and save any resources you think you may want to use in the future.

In particular, we suggest downloading:

You should already have received 16 primary school eBooks (worth £108.84) to download and keep. If you haven’t received these, please contact us at [email protected] before 31st July 2025, and we will send them to you.

We are very sorry that there is no way to continue offering access to resources and sincerely apologise for the inconvenience caused.

Verbal and non-verbal reasoning: an introduction

Verbal non-verbal reasoning pack cover
If your child is in the last years of primary school you might be thinking about selection tests like the Eleven Plus and how to prepare for them. To help you decide on your approach we've put together an introduction to verbal and non-verbal reasoning, with expert tips, advice and practice questions and answers for you and your child.


Keystage:  KS2, Year 5, Year 6, 11 Plus

Verbal and non-verbal reasoning tests are used in secondary school selection, and in some schools they are also part of CATs at the beginning of Year 7. Reasoning skills are a form of critical thinking; the tests are designed to assess a child's ability with words, numbers, shapes and space. While these skills can be developed and practised, they are non curriculum-based skills, so aren't always taught as part of KS2. The Verbal and non-verbal reasoning: an introduction pack has been written to provide a general overview of these skills, including practical examples of the common types of questions, hints and explanations to help you understand the solutions and play-based ways to help prepare your child at home (be warned, though, you will have to participate - and might even enjoy it!).

Written by headteacher, parent and verbal and non-verbal reasoning expert Stephen McConkey of Learning Together, this 45-page pack is a great way to start planning for your child's move to secondary school.

  • Verbal and non-verbal reasoning: an introduction
  • 10 steps to effective Eleven Plus preparation and practice
  • The no-textbooks way to prepare for the Eleven Plus
  • Verbal reasoning practice: 45 questions
  • Non-verbal reasoning practice: 46 questions

For more verbal and non-verbal reasoning practice look though TheSchoolRun's 11+ Learning Journey, a complete preparation plan for the 11+ exam.

'Today I got out their non-verbal reasoning books from school. Within seconds wails of, "I can't do these" and slumps of hopelessness filled the kitchen so we turned to TheSchoolRun. Several of your sheets later and we have a nine year old who now "gets it". We'll keep using your sheets to build his confidence. Such a relief to be able to help him through and see his mindset change.' – Claire, Hampshire