A grammar offer is a wonderful outcome and the natural reaction is to relax. But the summer between Year 6 and Year 7 quietly matters for the start of grammar school.
The short answer
The transition from primary to grammar is significant. Class sizes are larger, the pace is faster, and the curriculum jumps in difficulty. Children who arrive having maintained their academic momentum settle in faster.
The longer answer
Read the school's summer reading list seriously. Most grammars publish one; reading even half the list before September signals engagement to the new tutor and gives the child a head start in English lessons.
Refresh the Maths basics. Many grammars start Year 7 with topics from late Year 6 (algebra, ratio, percentages); a few weekly maintenance sessions over the summer keep the gears turning.
What experienced parents do
Set up the practical infrastructure: uniform, equipment, the journey routine. Doing a dummy run of the journey during the summer holiday — including the bus or train at the relevant time — removes a major source of first-day anxiety.
What to avoid
Avoid: over-preparing academically. The summer between primary and grammar is a once-in-a-childhood window for genuine rest. A child who arrives in September burnt out from "getting ahead" starts on the back foot.
Practical next step
Above all, let the child enjoy the achievement. They worked for this; six weeks of low-pressure summer reading and unstructured play is the best preparation for the year ahead. A small, deliberate action this week is worth more than a grand plan for the year ahead.