Question 1

When should my child start 11+ tutoring in London?

Accepted Answer

Most London families begin formal 11+ preparation in Year 4, roughly 18–24 months before the exams. However, the strongest candidates typically have a solid foundation built from Year 3 onwards — regular reading, creative writing practice, and mental maths. If your child is naturally strong in English and maths, starting in the autumn of Year 4 is usually sufficient. For superselective targets like Tiffin or St Olave's, earlier preparation can help, but be careful not to burn your child out with an overly intensive programme too soon.

Question 2

How much does 11+ tutoring cost in London?

Accepted Answer

London is the most expensive area in the country for 11+ tutoring. One-to-one sessions typically cost between £45 and £75 per hour, with rates at the upper end for tutors specialising in Tiffin, St Olave's, or other superselective schools. Small group tuition is more affordable at around £20–£35 per child per session. Many families combine weekly tutoring with daily self-directed practice using platforms like PenLeap, which provides structured creative writing and English exercises at a fraction of the cost of additional tutoring hours.

Question 3

Which London borough should we apply to for grammar schools?

Accepted Answer

This depends on where you live, as distance-based tie-breakers apply at many schools. Sutton has four grammar schools (Nonsuch, Wallington County, Wallington Girls', Wilson's), Bexley has five, and Bromley has schools like Newstead Wood and St Olave's. Kingston's Tiffin schools do not use distance criteria — they are purely superselective and open to applicants from any borough. Many families apply to schools in two or three boroughs to maximise their chances. Check each borough's admissions criteria carefully, as the rules vary.

Question 4

How does the Tiffin two-stage process work?

Accepted Answer

Tiffin School and Tiffin Girls' School operate a two-stage admissions process. Stage 1 is a screening test held in October, typically covering English and mathematics. Around 1,500–2,000 candidates are shortlisted from the initial pool of 3,000+ applicants. Shortlisted candidates then sit Stage 2 in November, which is a more demanding paper used to determine the final offers. There is no distance-based criterion — offers are made purely on exam performance, making these schools genuinely open to families across London.

Question 5

What is the difference between a superselective and a regular grammar school?

Accepted Answer

A superselective grammar school (such as Tiffin, St Olave's, Newstead Wood, or Nonsuch) admits pupils purely on the basis of exam performance, regardless of where they live. A standard grammar school (such as Bexley Grammar or Beths Grammar) still requires children to pass a qualifying test, but uses distance from the school as a tie-breaker when more children qualify than there are places. In practice, superselective schools are significantly harder to get into because they draw applicants from a much wider geographical area.

Question 6

Is online 11+ tutoring as effective as face-to-face in London?

Accepted Answer

For most children in Year 4 and above, online tutoring is equally effective — and in London it offers the significant advantage of eliminating travel time across the city. The key factor is the quality of the tutor, not the medium. Online sessions work particularly well for verbal reasoning, comprehension, and essay review, where screen-sharing makes it easy to annotate work together. For younger or less focused children, in-person sessions may be preferable. Many London families use a hybrid approach: fortnightly in-person sessions plus regular online practice.

Question 7

How many schools should we apply to?

Accepted Answer

There is no single right answer, but most London families apply to between three and six selective schools across multiple boroughs, alongside at least one or two strong non-selective options. Applying too broadly can be stressful for your child — each additional school may mean a different exam format to prepare for. Applying too narrowly, especially if you are only targeting superselectivtes, carries real risk given the competition. A sensible strategy is to include a mix: one or two aspirational schools, two or three realistic targets, and at least one solid backup.

Question 8

How much weight do London grammar schools give to creative writing?

Accepted Answer

It varies by school and exam board, but creative writing is increasingly important across London's selective landscape. GL Assessment papers include a writing task that contributes meaningfully to the overall English score. Tiffin's English papers assess both comprehension and writing ability, with examiners looking for genuine originality, control of language, and an ability to engage the reader — not just mechanical accuracy. This is precisely why daily creative writing practice through PenLeap can give your child an edge: it builds the fluency and confidence that exam-day prompts demand.

11+ Tutoring in London

11+ Tutoring in London

11+ Tutoring Statistics for London

Grammar and Selective Schools in London

Exam Format and Timeline in London

What to Look for in an 11+ Tutor in London

Experience across multiple London exam boards

A strong track record in creative writing coaching, not just maths and reasoning. Many London grammar schools now weight the English paper heavily, and examiners at schools like Tiffin look for genuine flair and originality, not formulaic responses.

Familiarity with the two-stage Tiffin process if you are targeting Kingston schools. The Stage 1 exam is a screening test, but Stage 2 requires different preparation

Willingness to coordinate with your child's primary school teacher. The best tutors communicate openly about a child's progress and avoid overloading children who are already receiving homework from school.

A clear assessment and progress-tracking system. With London's competitive landscape, you need to know where your child stands against realistic benchmarks

Online vs In-Person Tutoring in London

Preparation Timeline for London Families

Year 3 — Foundation building

Year 4 — Structured introduction

Year 5 — Intensive preparation

Year 6 (September–November) — Exam season

Common Challenges for London Families

How PenLeap Helps London Families

Expert Creative Writing Coaching

Tailored to Greater London Schools

Affordable Daily Practice

Progress Tracking for Parents

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Pages

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