Considering 11+ exams for independent schools? If your child is currently in year 4 or year 5, I run an 11+ programme. Please click here for more information. If your child is in year 6, please send me an email so that we can arrange to speak.
Children from the 11+ group have received offers from a range of competitive schools including St John’s Leatherhead, Tormead, Guildford High School, Royal Grammar School, Sir William Perkins, Epsom College, Freemans and many other schools. Very proud of them all!
Why do you run an 11+ programme?
In the 11+ programme, the main focus is on verbal reasoning (VR) and non-verbal reasoning (NVR), which are assessed in most independent school exams at 11+. For children in the state sector, this is a new type of exercise and way of thinking. For those in the prep sector, I have heard that it has been useful to have specific teaching and individual support in this area even if there is a lesson at school.
Whilst these tests are designed to be ‘unteachable’, I believe that all children can benefit from familiarisation before any exam. There are a number of different types of questions, formats and styles. Whilst you cannot “learn” these (like 6 x 5 = 30), you can teach some strategies to tackle them. You can also help build resilience and flexility of thinking. Helping children feel prepared should help them feel calm and confident.
I also cover some aspects of maths and English, depending on the child, the needs and the exams. It can be helpful to fill in gaps in learning; to secure recent maths topics; and to ensure the format of English testing is covered.
In addition to the 11+ programme, I also offer
- Ad hoc writing workshops with a focus on 11+ assessments
- Interview practice
- Bespoke work and feedback
Alternatives to the 11+ programme
I created this programme because I felt it would be a good way to prepare for 11+ exams. However, if this is not for you, you can support your child with this process in other ways. For example, you could tutor or you could support your child yourself. If doing the latter, I would recommend using online resources – a good starting point is Bond 11+ though there are many excellent resources including online offerings such as Atom or Bofa. I also offer parent mentoring to support you as a parent through 11+ preparation. If this is of potential interest, I would suggest you contact me to discuss what I can offer to see if it fits your needs.
Please do contact for more information on what is currently available or for references.