°®ÒºÊÓƵ Tutors Blog
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Upcoming Webinars
Here are details of our upcoming webinars. Do join us live to ask any questions you might have or register below to receive a recording after the event.
A Guide to Oxford University Admissions Tests 2026
Competition for a place to study at undergraduate level at Oxford University is fierce. On average, they receive over 20,000 applications for approximately 3,250 places every year. This of course should not put off the prospective Oxford student, who will be well used to competition and accustomed to embracing a challenge.
A Guide to Chesham Grammar School Admissions
As with other selective Buckinghamshire schools, Chesham Grammar – a coeducational secondary school of around 1,300 pupils, with over 400 in the sixth form – aims to strike a balance between academic achievement and preparing students for their place in a changing world.Parents are impressed and keen to stress the pastoral preparations that the school makes; and that the school foster kindness and humility in addition to creating a challenging academic environment.
How to Get Into a UK Boarding School from the US: A Guide for American Families
British boarding schools have a long history of educating students from all over the world, including the United States. For many American families, the idea of a UK boarding school can feel exciting, but also unfamiliar, given the structural differences in entry points, assessments and curricula. The process can be more formalised than US admissions, with earlier deadlines and assessments that can surprise families unfamiliar with the UK system.
Webinar: Finding the Right Boarding Schools: Expert Tips for Confident Choices
°®ÒºÊÓƵ’s Managing Director, Ed Richardson, and Head of Consultancy, Harriet Brook, provide a comprehensive and accessible overview of how to choose the right boarding school for your child. They highlight the key considerations - from academic ethos and pastoral care to school life and admissions timelines - and offer expert insights to help families feel confident at every step. Perfect for parents seeking trusted guidance in navigating the UK’s vibrant boarding-school landscape.
Are Boarding Schools Still Worth It?
Given the increasing costs and how competitive top universities have become, is sending your child to a boarding school still worth it? .
Webinar: Finding the Right School in London: Practical Tips for Parents
In this webinar, °®ÒºÊÓƵ’s Managing Director, Ed Richardson, and Head of Consultancy, Harriet Brook, guide parents through the key factors to consider when exploring London’s independent schools. They demystify the admissions process, explain what different entry points, from 7+ to 16+, really involve, and share practical advice to help families make well-informed choices.
A Guide to Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School
Buckinghamshire is one of the few English counties to have retained a fully selective grammar school system and is home to a number of outstanding state-funded schools that consistently rival the independent sector for academic results. However, while this education is free at the point of access, securing a place is highly competitive and often demanding for both pupils and parents.
A Guide to Beaconsfield High School Admissions
High-performing state-funded grammar schools are not limited to Kent. Buckinghamshire, which retained its grammar schools during the government closures of the 1960s and 1970s, is home to an impressive number of excellent schools. Four of the county’s state schools ranked in the top ten in the South East of England in the Sunday Times Parent Power survey. Even more notably, these same schools are among the top fifty nationally, across primary, secondary, and independent sectors.
A Guide to The Judd School Admissions
The Judd School is a selective, state-funded grammar school, based in Tonbridge in Kent. Established in 1888, the school admits boys from Year 7 to Year 11, and the Sixth Form is co-educational. Academics-wise, The Judd School has a reputation as being one of the strongest in the county. In the most recent academic year, around 83% of pupils scored between an A* and a B at A Level, which was one of the highest in the county.
A Guide to Dr Challoner’s High School Admissions
Like Kent, Buckinghamshire retained its grammar schools when selective state education was phased out elsewhere in the UK. The county is home to some of the country’s top state-funded secondary schools. Dr Challoner’s High School, alongside its local counterpart Beaconsfield High School, forms a powerhouse of selective state education that rivals the best in the nation, whether state or independent.
How an Education Consultant Can Help
Common FAQs on Working with an Education ConsultantThe decision on where your child should go to school or university is a critical one, and can be exciting, complicated, and even a little overwhelming for any parent. It can be the culmination of years of your child’s hard work and careful planning, and can open up avenues for their education and career that enable them to flourish – or close them off.
A Guide to Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys Admissions
Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys is a selective, state grammar school, based in Tunbridge Wells in Kent. Founded as a technical school in 1956, and becoming a grammar school in 1982, the school admits boys from Year 7 to Year 11, though the Sixth Form is co-educational. Parents considering grammar school education across the county should also see our guide to Kent grammar school admissions.In terms of academics, Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys has a strong reputation.
A Guide to Tunbridge Wells Girls’ Grammar School Admissions
Tunbridge Wells Girls’ Grammar School is a selective, state grammar school, based in Tunbridge Wells in Kent. Founded in 1905 and having since gained academy status, Tunbridge Wells Girls’ Grammar School admits girls from Year 7 to Year 11. Academically, the school has maintained a strong record over the years.
Best Grammar Schools in London
London is home to some of the most academically successful state grammar schools in the UK. For parents searching for the best grammar school in London, this guide explains the leading selective schools, how admissions work, and what you need to know to give your child the best chance of success.
Best Grammar Schools in Buckinghamshire
Choosing the right school for your child is a pivotal decision, and for parents in Buckinghamshire, the selection of grammar schools offers a pathway to exceptional education. With some of the highest-performing selective schools in the country, Buckinghamshire offers excellent options for families looking for a rigorous academic environment, enriching extracurriculars, and strong university progression.
A Guide to Tonbridge Grammar School Admissions
Tonbridge Grammar School is a selective, state secondary school, based in Tonbridge in Kent. Having been granted academy status in 2011, Tonbridge Grammar was founded in 1905, and admits girls from Year 7 to Year 11, with a co-educational Sixth Form. Tonbridge Grammar sits within the highly competitive group of Kent grammar schools.Having recently ranked as the top grammar school in Kent (based on exam results), Tonbridge Grammar’s reputation for academia is well-established.
A Guide to Sutton Grammar School Admissions
Sutton Grammar School is a selective, state secondary school, based in Sutton in South London. Granted academy status in 2011, Sutton admits boys from Year 7 to Year 11, with a co-educational Sixth Form.Sutton Grammar’s academic standards have been consistently high for many years.
A Guide to Tiffin Girls’ School Admissions
Tiffin Girls’ School is a top, selective state school, based in Kingston upon Thames in Southwest London, accepting girls from Year 7 to Year 12. Tiffin Girls sits within the highly competitive group of South West London grammar schools.Tiffin Girls’ is known for its high academic standards. Most recently, 94% of A levels ranged from an A* to a B, and 81% of students who applied to university were awarded places at a Russell Group university, with 15 students gaining places at Oxbridge.
Webinar: A Level vs IB and GCSE vs IGCSE
In this webinar, Harriet Brook (Head of Consultancy) was joined by Ed Richardson (Managing Director) and Jenny McGowan (Director of Asia) to discuss the similarities and differences between A Levels and the IB as well as IGCSEs and GCSEs and which qualifications might suit students best. They will covered how to choose subjects to study at the different levels and the consequences of these choices for university entrance.
A Guide to The Skinners’ School Admissions
The Skinners’ School is a selective, state secondary school, based in Tunbridge Wells in Kent. Granted academy status in 2010, Skinners’ admits boys from Year 7 to Year 11, with a co-educational Sixth Form.Consistently ranking within the top 5 grammar schools in Kent, Skinners’ has a strong reputation for academic achievement.
A Guide to Wallington High School for Girls Admissions
Wallington High School for Girls is one of the most successful state schools in the UK, both in terms of its academic results and the ethos - which visitors and parents alike are keen to comment on. The school is variously described as warm, purposeful and ‘listening’. All of which contribute to its popularity and selective rigour.
A Guide to Queen Elizabeth’s School Admissions
Queen Elizabeth’s School is one of the top state secondary schools in the United Kingdom. Based in Barnet in North London, Queen Elizabeth’s is a selective day school with academy status, and it accepts boys from Year 7 to Year 12. Read more about London Grammar Schools admissions.Queen Elizabeth’s is well known for high academic achievement, with students historically performing exceptionally well at GCSEs and A Levels.
A Guide to Cranbrook School Admissions
Cranbrook School is highly unusual within the UK education system. It is a state-funded, co-educational grammar school that also offers boarding. Many families are surprised to learn that state boarding schools exist at all; in fact, Cranbrook is one of only seven such schools in the country. Cranbrook is part of the wider Kent grammar school admissions system.In practice, this means that families pay fees only for boarding.
A Guide to Pate’s Grammar School Admissions
Pate’s Grammar School has consistently been one of the top performing schools in Gloucestershire. Based in Cheltenham, Pate’s is a selective grammar school with academy status that accepts boys and girls from Year 7 to 13, after Pate’s Grammar School for Girls and Cheltenham Grammar School merged in 1986 — over 400 years after Cheltenham Grammar was founded.One of seven grammar schools in Gloucestershire, Pate’s places a strong emphasis on academia.
A Guide to Wallington County Grammar School Admissions
Wallington County Grammar School in the London Borough of Sutton consistently ranks as one of the top performing state schools in the UK. In 2025 the school ranked 26th countrywide. Wallington has a history stretching back to 1927 when it was founded as an all-boys school. This tradition maintains today although girls are also admitted to a co-educational Sixth Form.
A Guide to The Latymer School Admissions
The Latymer School in Edmonton, north-east London, is unusual among high-performing grammar schools in that it has been co-educational from the start of students’ time at the school. It is also notable that, unlike other grammars which routinely rival the top private schools in the country—such as Henrietta Barnett and Wilson’s School—it places geographical restrictions on applicants. Only students living within specific local postcodes are eligible for a place.
A Guide to Wilson's School Admissions
Wilson’s School is one of several state-funded selective secondary schools that consistently rival the most academically minded independent schools in the UK. Located in the London Borough of Sutton, it forms part of a wider network of high-performing grammar schools in London, a region that far outperforms others in Britain for educational attainment.
A Guide to St Olave's Grammar School Admissions
St Olave’s Boys’ Grammar School is a selective secondary school in Orpington, London, founded by Elizabeth I in 1571. It is one of London’s highest-performing state schools—ranked the fourth best state provider nationally in 2024, and 20th overall when private schools are included.Unsurprisingly, the school is heavily oversubscribed and extremely competitive. Each year, more than 1,400 students apply for around 130 Year 7 places, and the academic selection process is notably rigorous.
Webinar: Top Tips for School Entrance Interviews
In this webinar, °®ÒºÊÓƵ’s Managing Director, Ed Richardson, was joined by Head of Consultancy, Harriet Brook, to discuss school entrance interviews. They share their insights on tackling school entrance interviews for independent schools and cover the following topics: What interviewers are looking forHow to present yourself effectivelyWhat makes a good answerExample question typesThis webinar is appropriate for all students with upcoming school entrance interviews from 7+ to 16+.
