11 Plus Schools Guide: Expert Tutoring for Grammar and Independent School Success

Our 11 Plus School Success Record

At Geek School Tutoring, we’re proud of our exceptional success rate in helping students secure places at prestigious grammar and independent schools. Our tutors have in-depth knowledge of the specific requirements for each school’s entrance examinations, allowing us to provide highly targeted preparation.

Over the past decade, our students have gained places at the following schools:

Grammar Schools

  • St. Olave’s Grammar School
  • Newstead Wood School
  • The Judd School
  • Tonbridge Grammar School
  • Tunbridge Wells Girls’ Grammar School
  • Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys
  • Chatham Grammar
  • The Rochester Grammar School
  • Maidstone Grammar School for Boys
  • Maidstone Grammar School for Girls
  • Invicta Grammar School
  • Sutton Grammar School
  • Wallington County Grammar School
  • Wilson’s School
  • Beths Grammar School
  • Bexley Grammar School
  • Chislehurst and Sidcup Grammar School
  • Townley Grammar School
  • Dartford Grammar School

Independent Schools

  • Bromley High School
  • St Michael’s Catholic College
  • Henrietta Barnett
  • Weald of Kent Grammar School
  • Weald of Kent Grammar School for Girls
  • City of London
  • City of London Girls
  • Dulwich College
  • Alleyn’s
  • James Allen Girls
  • Forest School
  • Eltham College
  • Trinity School
  • Colfe’s School
  • Sevenoaks School
  • Caterham School
  • Whitgift School
  • Croydon High School
  • Royal Russell School
  • Slough Consortium of Grammar Schools

Featured Schools

St. Olave’s Grammar School

St. Olave’s Grammar School is one of the most academically selective grammar schools in the UK. The entrance examination is highly competitive, with typically over 2,000 applicants for approximately 124 places.

Exam Format: The St. Olave’s entrance exam consists of:

  • Stage 1: English and Mathematics papers
  • Stage 2: For those who pass Stage 1, a second round of more challenging English and Mathematics papers

Our Success Rate: Over the past five years, 92% of our students who completed our full St. Olave’s preparation programme secured places at the school.

“The St. Olave’s preparation programme was exceptional. The tutors understood exactly what the school was looking for and provided targeted practice that made all the difference. Our son not only passed but scored in the top 10% of candidates.”

Mr. Patel, Bromley

Newstead Wood School

Newstead Wood School is a highly regarded selective girls’ grammar school known for its excellent academic results and supportive environment.

Exam Format: The Newstead Wood entrance exam typically includes:

  • Verbal reasoning
  • Non-verbal reasoning
  • Mathematics
  • English

Our Success Rate: 89% of our students who completed our full Newstead Wood preparation programme secured places at the school over the past five years.

“The Newstead Wood-specific preparation was invaluable. The practice papers were very similar to the actual exam, and the techniques taught for tackling verbal reasoning questions were exactly what my daughter needed.”

Mrs. Johnson, Beckenham

Eltham College

Eltham College is a prestigious independent school offering excellent academic education and extensive extra-curricular opportunities.

Exam Format: The Eltham College entrance process typically includes:

  • ISEB Common Pre-Test (online adaptive test covering verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning, English, and mathematics)
  • School-specific written papers in English and mathematics
  • Interview

Our Success Rate: 91% of our students who completed our full Eltham College preparation programme secured places at the school over the past five years.

“The interview preparation was particularly helpful for Eltham College. My son felt confident and well-prepared, and the feedback from the school mentioned how well he presented himself.”

Mr. Williams, Bromley

11 Plus Tutoring by Location

We provide specialist 11 Plus tutoring across South East London, with particular expertise in preparing students for schools accessible from these areas:

Beckenham

Our Beckenham tutors specialise in preparing students for:

  • St. Olave’s Grammar School
  • Newstead Wood School
  • The Sutton grammar schools
  • Trinity School
  • Eltham College
  • Bromley High School
  • James Allen Girls (JAGs)
  • Dulwich College

Learn more about our Beckenham 11 Plus tutoring

Bromley

Our Bromley tutors specialise in preparing students for:

  • St. Olave’s Grammar School
  • Newstead Wood School
  • Kent grammar schools
  • Bexley grammar schools
  • Bromley High School
  • Trinity School
  • Eltham College
  • Sevenoaks

Learn more about our Bromley 11 Plus tutoring

Catford

Our Catford tutors specialise in preparing students for:

  • St. Olave’s Grammar School
  • Newstead Wood School
  • Eltham College
  • Colfe’s
  • Dulwich College
  • James Allens Girls
  • Alleyn’s
  • City of London Boys
  • City of London Girls
  • St Dunstan’s College
  • Blackheath High School

Learn more about our Catford 11 Plus tutoring

Lewisham

Our Lewisham tutors specialise in preparing students for:

  • St. Olave’s Grammar School
  • Newstead Wood School
  • Bexley grammar schools
  • Kent grammar schools
  • Medway grammar schools
  • Eltham College
  • Colfe’s
  • Dulwich College
  • James Allens Girls
  • Alleyn’s
  • City of London Boys
  • City of London Girls
  • St Dunstan’s College
  • Blackheath High School

Learn more about our Lewisham 11 Plus tutoring

Hither Green

Our Hither Green tutors specialise in preparing students for:

  • St. Olave’s Grammar School
  • Newstead Wood School
  • Bexley grammar schools
  • Kent grammar schools
  • Medway grammar schools
  • Eltham College
  • St Dunstan’s College
  • Blackheath High School
  • Bromley High
  • Sevenoack

Learn more about our Hither Green 11 Plus tutoring

Our School-Specific Preparation Approach

Our approach to school-specific 11 Plus preparation includes:

1. Initial Assessment and School Selection Guidance

We begin with a comprehensive assessment of your child’s current abilities and provide expert guidance on suitable target schools based on their academic profile, learning style, and personal preferences.

2. Tailored Preparation Plan

We create a personalised preparation plan focused on your child’s target schools, addressing the specific requirements of each school’s entrance examination.

3. School-Specific Practice Materials

Our tutors use practice materials that closely mirror the style and content of each school’s actual entrance exams, ensuring your child is familiar with the specific question types they will face.

4. Mock Examinations

We conduct regular mock examinations under conditions that replicate those of your child’s target schools, providing detailed feedback and targeted improvement strategies.

5. Interview Preparation (for Independent Schools)

For independent schools that include interviews in their selection process, we provide comprehensive interview preparation, including mock interviews and feedback.

11 Plus Schools

School Application Timeline

Understanding the application timeline for different schools is crucial for effective preparation. Here’s a general guide:

Time PeriodGrammar SchoolsIndependent Schools
Year 4 (Age 8-9)Begin general skills developmentBegin general skills development
Year 5 Autumn (Age 9-10)Start focused 11 Plus preparationStart focused preparation, research schools
Year 5 SpringContinue preparation, research schoolsContinue preparation, attend open days
Year 5 SummerIntensive preparation, register for examsRegister for ISEB Pre-Tests, continue preparation
Year 6 Autumn (Age 10-11)Final preparation, exams (Sept-Oct)ISEB Pre-Tests, school-specific exams
Year 6 SpringResults and school allocationInterviews, offers made

We recommend starting structured 11 Plus preparation at least 12-18 months before the examination date to ensure comprehensive coverage of all required topics without creating undue pressure.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do we choose the right schools for our child?

We provide guidance on school selection based on your child’s academic profile, learning style, interests, and your family’s preferences. We consider factors such as academic selectivity, school ethos, location, and extra-curricular offerings to help you identify schools where your child will thrive.

How many schools should my child apply to?

We typically recommend applying to 3-5 schools with varying levels of selectivity to ensure appropriate options. This usually includes one or two highly selective “reach” schools, two “target” schools where your child has a strong chance of success, and one “safety” school where admission is highly likely.

Do you provide preparation for scholarship examinations?

Yes, we offer specialised preparation for scholarship examinations at independent schools. These exams are typically more challenging than standard entrance exams and require additional preparation.

How do grammar school and independent school exams differ?

Grammar school exams typically focus on standardised testing across English, mathematics, and reasoning, often using multiple-choice formats. Independent school exams usually include more extended writing tasks, may cover a broader curriculum, and often include an interview component. Our preparation programmes address these differences.

Book a School-Specific Assessment

The first step in our process is a comprehensive assessment of your child’s current abilities in relation to their target schools. This allows us to create a personalised learning plan tailored to the specific requirements of their chosen schools.

Our school-specific assessment includes:

  • Evaluation of current English and Mathematics skills
  • Assessment of reasoning abilities
  • Creative writing assessment (if relevant to target schools)
  • School selection guidance
  • Detailed feedback report
  • Personalised preparation plan

Explore More 11 Plus Resources

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