11 Plus Tutor in Orpington: Preparation for St Olave’s, Newstead Wood and Beyond

St Olave’s Grammar School is in Orpington. Newstead Wood School is five minutes away. If you are raising a family in BR5 or BR6, you live closer to two of the most academically outstanding grammar schools in England than almost anyone else in South East London. That proximity does not make the entrance exams any easier. Both schools are heavily oversubscribed, St Olave’s typically receives over 2,000 applications for 128 places, and the children who secure places have been specifically and thoroughly prepared for the exam formats those schools use.

At Geek School Tutoring, we have been preparing children for St Olave’s and Newstead Wood since 2013. Our Beckenham centre on Beckenham Road, BR3 is around twenty minutes from central Orpington by car and the closest specialist 11 Plus tuition centre to Orpington families. More than 1,000 families have trusted us, and our 100% pass rate for Kent and Medway grammar schools is the result of a programme designed specifically around the exams your child will sit. Our founder Joycellyn Akuffo is a journalist and experienced tutor who sat the 11 Plus herself, and understands both the process and the pressure from the inside.

The Orpington Grammar Schools: What the Exams Involve

St Olave’s Grammar School

St Olave’s uses a two-stage entrance process. Stage 1 is the Selective Eligibility Test: a multiple-choice paper covering English, mathematics, verbal reasoning, and non-verbal reasoning. The top 450 children from Stage 1 are invited to Stage 2, which consists of written papers in English and mathematics. The English written paper requires extended analytical writing, not multiple-choice comprehension, but genuine written response to literary and non-fiction material. This is where Geek School’s journalist-led English teaching makes a direct, measurable difference. Children who have practised analytical writing at length, under timed conditions, perform noticeably better at Stage 2 than those who focused only on VR and NVR.

Newstead Wood School

Newstead Wood uses GL Assessment multiple-choice papers covering verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning only. There is no separate English or maths paper. The minimum qualifying score is 210, and the school operates a nine-mile priority radius. Orpington falls well within that radius. The GL Assessment VR and NVR papers test question types that are not taught in the primary school curriculum, so children who have not specifically practised them tend to score below their potential regardless of their general academic ability. Systematic, timed practice from Year 3 or Year 4 produces consistently stronger scores.

The Judd School, Tonbridge Grammar, and Kent Schools

Orpington’s BR6 postcode sits within reach of Kent grammar schools including The Judd School, Tonbridge Grammar, and Tunbridge Wells Grammar. These schools use the Kent Test rather than GL Assessment. The Kent Test covers reasoning and literacy, with verbal and non-verbal reasoning components and a writing element in some stages. For families whose children are sitting both the Bromley tests and the Kent Test, we prepare them for both formats within the same programme.

Year 3: Why Starting Early Matters Most for Orpington Families

We take children from Year 3. For Orpington families with St Olave’s as the primary target, starting in Year 3 is the approach we most strongly recommend. The Stage 2 written English paper is where St Olave’s separates its top-performing applicants from the rest, and the writing ability it tests develops over years, not months. A child who begins building analytical writing skills in Year 3 arrives at Stage 2 writing at a level that is very difficult to reach through twelve months of intensive preparation alone.

Year 3 sessions at Geek School are relaxed: reading thoughtfully, discussing texts, beginning to write with intention rather than just effort, and an early introduction to VR and NVR question types in a low-pressure format. The groundwork laid in Year 3 makes Year 4 and Year 5 preparation significantly more effective and considerably less stressful.

Year 4 and Year 5 Preparation

In Year 4, the full programme begins: English comprehension and extended writing, maths reasoning above curriculum level, and systematic verbal and non-verbal reasoning practice. Timed exercises are introduced early so working under time pressure becomes familiar. In Year 5, we run full mock papers for each school on your child’s list under exam conditions. Every paper receives individual written feedback, and we adjust the programme based on each child’s scores after every mock.

Getting to Our Beckenham Centre from Orpington

Our Beckenham centre is on Beckenham Road, BR3, around twenty minutes from central Orpington by car along the A232. Orpington station has direct services to Beckenham Hill on the Catford Loop line in around fifteen minutes. For families where the journey is not always practical, our live online sessions achieve the same results and all sessions are recorded.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the St Olave’s Stage 2 written exam involve?

Stage 2 consists of written papers in English and mathematics. The English paper requires candidates to respond analytically in writing to passages of literary and non-fiction text, and may include an extended writing task. The level of written response expected is significantly higher than what children encounter in primary school, which is why specific preparation for written analytical English, not just VR and NVR, is essential for children targeting St Olave’s.

Do you take children from Year 3 in Orpington?

Yes. We take children from Year 3, which is earlier than most tutors. For Orpington families with St Olave’s as their primary target, Year 3 is the ideal time to begin building the analytical writing skills Stage 2 requires. It is not pressured preparation at this stage, it is gentle, consistent, and deeply effective over time.

Can my child sit for both St Olave’s and Newstead Wood?

Only one applies per child based on gender. St Olave’s accepts boys; Newstead Wood accepts girls. Many Orpington families also target independent schools in Kent such as Sevenoaks, or independent schools in South East London such as Dulwich College or Eltham College. We prepare children for all schools on their list within one programme.

Is it worth also preparing for the Kent Test from Orpington?

Many Orpington families do apply to Kent grammar schools alongside St Olave’s and Newstead Wood, and BR6’s position on the Kent border makes this straightforward. The Kent Test uses a different format from GL Assessment and the St Olave’s SET. We incorporate Kent Test preparation into the programme for families who want it, covering the additional question types and writing elements without doubling the overall workload.

How many sessions per week does preparation typically involve?

In Year 3 and Year 4, one session per week is typically sufficient alongside the homework we set. In Year 5, many families increase to two sessions per week as the exam date approaches. The free initial assessment gives us a clear picture of where your child is and what preparation schedule is realistic and appropriate for them specifically.

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