11+ & Independent School Entrance Exams Tuition

At Another Level Tutors, we strongly believe that there is no such thing as a “one size fits all” school. Every child is unique, and the school environment that helps one child thrive may not be the right fit for another.

Over many years, Ofsted judgements such as “outstanding” or “requires improvement” — although now changing — have created the impression that some schools are automatically better than others for every child. In reality, the best school is always the one that meets your child’s individual needs, learning style and wellbeing.

Grammar schools are often seen as offering “the best” education. For some children, this can absolutely be true. However, grammar schools are not the right choice for every child, and success there often depends on much more than academic ability alone.

If you are considering the grammar school route for your Year 4, 5 or 6 child, it is important to reflect carefully on the following questions:

• Does your child enjoy competition and being compared with high‑attaining peers?
• Are they resilient and able to cope emotionally if they experience setbacks or don’t achieve the results they expect?
• Are they consistently strong across Maths, English and Science, not just at times?
• Most importantly, does your child themselves want to attend a grammar school?

If you can confidently answer yes to these questions, then preparing for grammar school may be a positive and worthwhile option. If you are unsure — or if the answer is no to some — it may be worth exploring the many excellent non‑selective state schools available, where children can still achieve highly in a supportive and balanced environment.

Choosing a secondary school is a significant decision, especially during the important Years 4–6 stage. Taking time to consider your child’s personality, confidence and happiness alongside academic ability will help ensure they are placed in the environment where they can truly thrive.

The 11+ examination is the standardised entrance test used by grammar schools in England to assess pupils’ academic ability and potential. 

Competition for grammar school places is especially intense in the South East and Surrey families face particular pressure. Unlike many neighbouring authorities, Surrey County Council does not administer any grammar schools, meaning pupils must apply to schools in adjacent Local Authorities such as Kingston upon Thames and Sutton.  This has led to significantly higher application numbers than the national average. For example:

•The Tiffin School (Kingston upon Thames) received an average of 1,666 applications per year between 2023 and 2025
•There are just 180 available places
•This equates to an acceptance rate of around 11%, or roughly 9 applicants per place

By comparison, many grammar schools elsewhere in England receive 4–6 applicants per place, highlighting just how competitive this local area has become.

With the introduction of VAT on independent school fees, global economic uncertainty and the continued rise in living costs, more families are now considering selective state education as an alternative to private education. As a result, the demand for grammar school places shows no sign of easing.

Even the most able students need to be adequately prepared before sitting the 11+ as:

1. The exam format is unfamiliar (especially for chlidren in the state-maintained sector)

The format of the 11+, particularly Verbal Reasoning (VR) and Non‑Verbal Reasoning (NVR), is very different from the assessments children typically encounter in state‑maintained primary schools. Conversely, the vast majority of independent schools incorporate regular standardised test preparation study skills into the timetable. 

While mathematics tends to follow the KS2 National Curriculum certain elements of English - most notably advanced vocabulary and high-level comprehension skills - are not routinely covered and must be developed separately.

2. Ability alone is not enough

When there are nine applicants for every place, even highly able pupils need to be fully prepared. Success depends not only on academic strength, but also on:

•Familiarity with question types

•Speed and accuracy under timed conditions

•Exam technique and confidence

The 11+ is not an exam that can be ‘crammed’ for in the final weeks. Consistent preparation over time is crucial.

There are several ways to prepare for the 11+, and tuition is only one option. The most common approaches include:

Self‑study

There are a wide range of high‑quality practice books and past papers available. For children who are academically strong, highly motivated, resilient, and well organised, self‑study can be a sensible and cost‑effective choice.

Parent‑led study

If you have the time, are familiar with the 11+ format, and your child requires minimal supervision, parent‑led preparation can work well.

Tuition

Tuition has become increasingly popular, particularly in highly competitive areas. The most effective type of tuition depends on a child’s personality and learning style:

•Small group tuition: 

With small group tuition the size of group varies widely depending on the provider and can range from as few as 2 - 10 students studying either in a classroom style setting or online.  This type of tuition can be very effective and is often (but not always) slightly cheaper than 1:1 tuition.  It is a option to consider if your child is learns best in the traditional classroom environment ad if they are motivated by the competition of  learning alongside peers. 

•One‑to‑one tuition

As he name suggests, this tuition is based on a tutor focusing solely on the academic needs of your child for the duration of the lesson and can take place in person or online.  It can be (but is not always) a more expensive option.  This option allows the tutor to offer a 100%  personalised 11+ preparation package .  Children who learn best without the distraction and competition of having peers present or who have learning styles better suited to personalised support and pacing benefit from this approach.

There is only one right approach -  the one that for your child keeps pressure to a minimum whilst building competence in the execution of the test and confidence in their ability. 

• Experienced tutors who are familiar with the formats of CEM, GL test formats
• Significant library of resources including past papers from local grammar and independent schools
• 1:1 tuition.  Lessons personalised to focus on the areas of greatest need for your child
• Online or in your home
• Lessons between 90 minutes and two hours
• Ongoing assessment to inform planning and track progress
• Regular 'real time' practice tests
• Explicit teaching of skills needed to complete the test
• Option for interview coaching if required
• Regular feedback to students and parents

We have tutors experienced at supporting students with preparation for many of the local Independent School entrance examinations and interviews.  These include: St George's College (Weybridge),  Halliford School, Surbiton High School and Claremont Fan Court.  Please contact us for further details.