11 Plus Tutor in Greenwich and Charlton: Expert Preparation for Eltham College, City of London and Grammar Schools

Greenwich and Charlton families often come to us with the same question: their child is clearly capable, their school reports are excellent, but they have no idea how that translates into a realistic chance at their target school. The honest answer depends entirely on which schools you are targeting and what those schools specifically test. A child who would comfortably pass Beths Grammar’s GL Assessment might struggle with Eltham College’s written English paper, simply because the skills required are different. Our free initial assessment is exactly how we answer that question before it becomes an exam-day surprise.

Geek School Tutoring has been preparing children across South East London since 2013. More than 1,000 families have trusted us with their preparation. Our founder Joycellyn Akuffo is a journalist, experienced tutor, and parent of two children who both went through independent school entrance herself. She built the programme that children at Geek School follow, and she leads the creative writing and English teaching that makes the biggest difference in competitive independent school exams.

Schools Greenwich and Charlton Families Target: What Each Exam Involves

Eltham College

Eltham College uses a two-stage process. Stage 1 is the ISEB Common Pre-Test: an adaptive online assessment covering verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning, English, and mathematics. Children scoring above the school’s threshold are invited to sit the school’s own written papers in English and mathematics. Eltham College also interviews shortlisted candidates, which is something many families do not prepare for specifically. We offer interview coaching through IndependentSchoolInterview.co.uk.

City of London School and City of London Girls

Both City of London schools use their own written entrance papers. The assessments are academically rigorous and include English comprehension, extended writing, and mathematics. City of London Boys is one of the most selective independent schools in London, and the writing component is where thorough preparation most directly pays off. Strong analytical writing, precise vocabulary, and clear argument structure are what these papers reward.

Beths Grammar and Bexley Grammar

Both schools use GL Assessment multiple-choice papers covering English, mathematics, verbal reasoning, and non-verbal reasoning. The VR and NVR elements are not taught in the primary school curriculum and require specific, timed practice to score well. Both schools are heavily oversubscribed, and the children who place in the top band have almost always had systematic preparation across all four subjects from Year 4 or earlier.

Year 3: Getting Ahead of the Competition

We take children from Year 3, earlier than most tutors. For Greenwich and Charlton families targeting Eltham College or City of London, starting in Year 3 is particularly worthwhile. The extended writing skill these schools test for develops over time. A child who begins writing with intention and precision in Year 3 arrives at their Year 6 exam writing at a level that is genuinely hard to replicate through a year of intensive preparation alone.

Year 3 sessions are relaxed: reading widely, building vocabulary, understanding how good writing works, and beginning to develop an ear for language. There is no pressure at this stage. The goal is building habits and enthusiasm that carry through into the more structured work of Years 4 and 5.

Year 4 and Year 5: Building on the Foundation

In Year 4 we cover the full programme: English comprehension and creative writing, maths reasoning, and systematic VR and NVR work. Timed exercises are introduced gradually. In Year 5, we run school-specific mock exams under timed conditions, provide individual written feedback on every paper, and adjust the programme based on each child’s results. We spend more time on the subjects and question types where each child needs the most improvement.

Getting to Us

From Greenwich station, Lewisham is twelve minutes by train, then a short bus or drive to our Catford centre. From Charlton, the journey takes around fifteen minutes by car via the South Circular. Our live online sessions achieve the same results as in-person and are ideal for families where the journey is not always practical. All sessions are recorded for review.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should my child start 11 plus preparation if we live in Greenwich?

For independent schools such as Eltham College and City of London, we recommend starting in Year 3 where possible, or Year 4 at the latest. The writing and analytical skills these schools test take time to develop properly. Year 5 is workable but requires more focused and intensive preparation to cover the same ground.

Do you take children from Year 3?

Yes. We take children from Year 3 onwards. For Greenwich families targeting Eltham College and City of London, Year 3 is a good time to start building the reading habits and writing foundations that these schools’ exams reward. It is gentle and exploratory at this stage, not pressured.

What does the ISEB Common Pre-Test involve?

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 Eltham College as an initial screening. The test adapts in difficulty as the child progresses. Familiarity with the format and question types is important because children who have not encountered adaptive testing can find it unsettling, regardless of their ability.

How do children from SE10 get to the Catford centre?

From Greenwich station, Lewisham is twelve minutes by train, then a short bus or drive to Catford. From Charlton, the journey is around fifteen minutes by car. Many Greenwich and Charlton families use our online sessions, which achieve the same results and remove the travel altogether.

Is exam technique something you teach separately?

Yes. We treat exam technique as a subject in its own right, not an afterthought. This includes managing time across papers, deciding when to move on from a question, checking work efficiently, and writing at the right length for different question types. These skills are practised in every mock exam session and reviewed in the feedback afterwards.

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