DECISIONS & SUPPORT AT PRE-PREP AGE
Planning your child’s first steps in their schooling can be an overwhelming experience. London has a wealth of wonderful pre-prep schools; we give families the knowledge and insight needed to make the right decisions for their young family.
We know that parents understand their children better than anyone, however choosing a school that will nurture and encourage them as they grow is not always easy. Johnson Education has successfully helped hundreds of families with these difficult but exciting first decisions, and can offer any level of support from an hour’s discussion of the most pressing questions, to full nursery and school placements.
ENTRANCE TO PRE-PREP SCHOOLS
Pre-prep school is the very first step on the academic journey for most families choosing the independent school system. Children may be put on a waiting list from birth and may be assessed when they are three or four, depending on the school. As many of London’s top prep schools serve as feeder schools to the most prestigious day and boarding secondary schools, children often find themselves making friends for life right from this early age.
EDUCATION AT AGES 7-13
Teaching children from the ages of 7 to 11 or 13, the UK’s prep schools are amongst the best in the world. They offer outstanding education as well as preparing students for the top senior day and boarding schools. Most of the prep schools in London are day schools whilst many schools outside the city have flexible boarding options. Entrance exams to prep schools are either at 7+ or 8+ (Year 2 or Year 3), and prep schools prepare students very effectively for competitive entrance exams to senior school at 11+ (in Year 6) and 13+ Common Entrance (Year 8).
We support children sitting entrance exams and our specialist tutors help prepare for:
- 7+ & 8+ entrance for preparatory schools
- 11+ Common Entrance exams for secondary schools
- Pre-assessment for 13+ Common Entrance taken in Years 6 and 7
- 13+ Common Entrance and school-specific entrance
- Scholarship examinations for top public schools at 11+ & 13+
How we work for you
Selecting a school is an important decision for parents – our school placements consultants work closely with families to determine schools that will be an excellent fit for their child as well guiding them through the admissions process. We have helped children gain places at schools like Colet Court, Wetherby, Pembridge Hall, Bute House, Westminster Under School and The Hall, amongst many others.
Each child is unique and we tailor our approach to match their specific circumstances and requirements. Our help includes:
- Private tuition with experienced entrance exam tutors
- Group and personalised revision courses
- Mock interviews and interview preparation
- Exam and interview confidence and performance coaching
- Academic assessments
- Personalised advice on school choices and admissions
7+ & 8+ ENTRANCE EXAMS
There are two stages of intake to prep schools. Traditionally the exam at 8+ (in Year 3) was used to choose the students who would form the school’s next intake; now, the most selective schools seeking to get first claim on the most promising students test students at 7+ (in Year 2).
At 7+ and 8+ the core areas assessed are English, Maths and Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning. Due to high levels of competition, most of the children taking the exam will be familiar with the exam through one-to-one tuition. Whilst students are only young, parents recognise that a child’s prep school can have a measurable effect on their academic performance and the senior schools they may go on to.
We can help
Our tutors are experienced with the exam format at 7+ and 8+ and have many years’ working with children to pass these exams.
Tuition programmes will:
- Ensure all curriculum areas and subject matter is covered and understood
- Ensure familiarity with exam format and working under timed conditions
11+ ENTRANCE EXAMS
The 11+ exams are used by independent secondary schools to assess students for entry into Year 7. These are usually entrance requirements for the day schools, with many of the boarding schools not starting until Year 9.
The written tests take place in January of Year 6 and children are assessed on Maths, English and Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning. Many schools write their own examinations and differ in their approach. Many schools will also interview candidates as part of the selection process; usually this is not until the child has passed the written entrance exams.
Over the years we have helped hundreds of children prepare for these exams and gain entry to the schools of their choice. We are proud to have helped place students at all of the top UK schools including St. Paul’s Girls School, Godolphin and Latymer, North London Collegiate, City of London School for Girls and Wycombe Abbey.
We can help
We help pupils sitting 11+ Common Entrance and 11+ school entry exams gain the required grades to pass in to their choice of secondary school. Our tutors are experienced with the exam format and have many years’ experience teaching their charges to pass these exams.
Tuition programmes will:
- Ensure all curriculum areas and subject matter is covered and understood
- Ensure familiarity with exam format and working under timed conditions
- Create a positive approach and attitude to the examinations
11+ PRE-TEST & 13+ ENTRANCE
Boys usually enter UK independent schools (traditionally called public schools) into Year 9 at age 13. However, the 13+ entrance process starts much earlier. Many of the major schools run a preliminary 11+ pre-test, taken in Year 6 – often the deadline for registration is two years before the proposed start date. A child’s performance in the pre-test determines whether they are offered a 13+ place, which is conditional on passing the Common Entrance exams in Year 8. They might suggest that a candidate takes the more challenging Common Entrance Scholarship exam.
We have a long and successful track record in helping students prepare for the 13+ Common Entrance and Scholarship exams, as well as helping boys gain entry into major UK schools such as Westminster, St. Paul’s, Winchester, Harrow and Eton among many others.
The Common Entrance and Scholarship exams test a wide range of subjects including science, a modern foreign language and the humanities. They are set by the Independent Schools Examination Board. Many of the most selective schools also have additional entry procedures to distinguish further between the very best candidates.
We can help
We help pupils sitting 11+ Common Entrance and 11+ school entry exams gain the required grades to pass in to their choice of secondary school. Our tutors are experienced with the exam format and have many years’ experience teaching their charges to pass these exams.
Tuition programmes will:
- Ensure all curriculum areas and subject matter is covered and understood
- Ensure familiarity with exam format and working under timed conditions
- Create a positive approach and attitude to the examinations