11 Plus Tutor in Dulwich and East Dulwich: Expert Preparation for Dulwich College, Alleyn’s and JAGS

Dulwich College, Alleyn’s, and James Allen Girls’ School are not just nearby, they are the schools SE21 and SE22 families think about from the moment their child starts primary school. The pressure that comes with living within sight of three outstanding independent schools is real, and so is the competition. Dulwich College receives around 1,500 applicants for approximately 180 Year 7 places. Alleyn’s and JAGS are similarly oversubscribed. The children who secure places have not simply been able; they have been specifically and thoroughly prepared for the writing and reasoning tasks those exams set.

Geek School Tutoring was founded by Joycellyn Akuffo, a journalist who spent more than twenty years writing for national media titles including Cosmopolitan and BBC Good Homes. She built our English and creative writing programme from her professional experience with language, and she teaches children to write the way she learned to write: with precision, intent, and a voice that is distinctly theirs. Since 2013, more than 1,000 families have trusted us. Our Catford centre is around fifteen minutes from Dulwich Village by car.

Schools Dulwich and East Dulwich Families Target: What Each Exam Involves

Dulwich College

Dulwich College uses its own written entrance exam at Year 7. The English paper includes a comprehension passage with analytical questions and an extended writing task. The maths paper tests problem-solving and mathematical reasoning at a level above the primary curriculum. The extended writing task is where many able children who have not had specific preparation underperform. They have the intelligence; what they lack is the trained instinct for structure, word choice, and narrative control that makes an extended writing answer stand out.

Alleyn’s School

Alleyn’s uses the ISEB Common Pre-Test as an initial online screening, covering verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning, English, and mathematics in an adaptive format. Children who pass the pre-test are invited to sit Alleyn’s own written papers in English and mathematics. The English written paper requires extended writing alongside comprehension work. Alleyn’s is co-educational and highly selective, with a strong emphasis on intellectual curiosity across the curriculum.

James Allen Girls’ School (JAGS)

JAGS uses a similar process to Alleyn’s: an initial ISEB pre-test screening followed by the school’s own written papers. The English paper includes comprehension and a writing component. JAGS places significant weight on the quality of written English, and the school looks for girls who can write with clarity, accuracy, and genuine engagement with their subject. Children who have learned to write with craft and precision rather than formula consistently produce stronger JAGS papers.

Year 3: Getting Ahead of the Competition

Most tutors start children at Year 4 or Year 5. We take children from Year 3, and for Dulwich and East Dulwich families targeting Dulwich College, Alleyn’s, or JAGS, starting in Year 3 is the most effective approach. The extended writing ability these schools are looking for does not develop through a year of practice. It develops through years of reading carefully, writing regularly, and being taught by someone who understands what good writing looks like and can explain why.

Year 3 sessions are gentle and exploratory. We read together, we discuss what we are reading, we write short pieces and talk about what works in them. There are no mock exams at this stage and no pressure. Children who enjoy Year 3 carry that positive relationship with reading and writing through into the more structured work of Year 4 and beyond, and it shows clearly in their exam papers.

Year 4 and Year 5: Building on the Foundation

Year 4 introduces the full programme: English comprehension and extended writing, mathematics reasoning, and verbal and non-verbal reasoning for families also considering grammar schools. Sessions are structured with regular short timed exercises to build working-under-pressure habits early. In Year 5 we introduce full school-specific mock exams under timed conditions, with individual written feedback on every paper. The programme is adjusted after each mock to focus on the areas where each child’s scores show room for improvement.

Getting to Us

Our Catford centre is on Campshill Road, SE13, a short walk from Lewisham Hospital. From Dulwich Village, it is around fifteen minutes by car via the South Circular or via Lewisham Road. From East Dulwich, the P4 or 363 bus connects to Catford in around twenty minutes. For families where the journey is not always practical, our live online sessions are recorded and achieve the same results as in-person.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should my child start preparation for Dulwich College?

We recommend starting in Year 3 where possible, or Year 4 at the latest. Dulwich College’s extended writing component rewards a level of craft and control that takes time to develop. Children who begin working on reading and writing in Year 3 arrive at their Year 6 exam writing at a noticeably different level from those who start in Year 5.

Do you take children from Year 3?

Yes. We take children from Year 3, which is earlier than most tutors. For SE21 and SE22 families targeting Dulwich College, Alleyn’s, and JAGS, starting at Year 3 is the approach we would recommend. The writing skills these schools test for are not skills you can build in six months.

What is the ISEB Common Pre-Test?

The ISEB pre-test is an adaptive online assessment covering verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning, English, and mathematics. It is used by many independent schools including Alleyn’s and JAGS as an initial screening. The test adapts as the child progresses, making it harder or easier depending on their answers. Children who are unfamiliar with adaptive testing can find the experience disconcerting, which is why we include pre-test practice in our preparation programme.

Is interview preparation available?

Yes. Many independent schools including Alleyn’s, JAGS, and Dulwich College interview shortlisted candidates. Interview preparation is available through our sister site IndependentSchoolInterview.co.uk, which was built specifically for 11 Plus independent school interviews. A child who prepares for the interview arrives noticeably more composed and articulate, and that composure is visible to interviewers.

How does journalism training help with independent school exams?

Journalism trains you to write clearly under pressure, to choose words deliberately, and to structure a piece so a reader stays engaged from first line to last. These are exactly the skills Dulwich, Alleyn’s, and JAGS are looking for in an extended writing paper. Our founder Joycellyn Akuffo spent more than twenty years as a working journalist before building Geek School. She teaches children to write with the same professional intent, and the difference it makes to their exam papers is consistent and measurable.

Related: 11 Plus Tutor Near Me | 11 Plus Creative Writing Course | 11 Plus Tutor in Brockley | Independent School Interview Preparation | 11 Plus Essay Course