Private School Entry Course

2nd February - 24th November 2026

Class Times

Mondays - Maths & Non-Verbal Reasoning 6 - 7pm with René

Tuesdays - English & Verbal Reasoning 6 .30- 7.30pm with Rosie

Why book your child onto the

Private School Entry Course?

Competition is high! Private schools are not just looking for children with excellent 11+ scores. They want good all-rounders; creative thinkers, problem solvers, team players. They are looking for candidates who show potential, who value learning and who demonstrate a growth-mindset.
Our curriculum covers all of these areas. We have always prided ourselves on offering courses which teach children how to think and interact rather than simply how to pass exams. This will transform your child into a strong contender for entry, positioning them at the front of the queue, ahead of the competition.
We boost academic skills, creative and critical thinking, empowering our pupils with advanced academic ability and problem solving skills, setting them up, not just for admission to private school, but for life!
We recognise that the path to success is rooted in mindset; we instil in all of our students a positive and growth mindset, resulting in enjoyable and advanced levels of learning.
The course will not only cover Maths, NVR, English and VR. It will also prepare pupils for all of the different styles of exams, such as the ISEB, Quest and CAT 4 tests as well as schools' own exams and interviews.
Our class sizes are small, ensuring optimal attention and feedback for our students. We find that peer support is invaluable for learning and it also helps our pupils develop those crucial teamwork skills that private schools are looking for.
We communicate! We don't just disappear once the courses begin, we encourage conversation and put value on building relationships, not just with our students, but with you as parents as well.
As our name suggests, we super-charge our pupils' confidence so that they approach all learning with positivity and self-belief, enabling them to present as strong candidates for their chosen school.
Our students are high-achievers and go on to secure places at the top private schools.

But why now?

The next round of private school assessment days will take place between November 2026 and January 2027. Starting to prepare in early 2026 will give your child the time they need to build and develop the required skill set and confidence that private schools are looking for.
There have been subtle changes to the entry criteria to private schools which many people may still be unaware of. Acting now puts your child ahead of the competition, boosting their chances of success.
Surprisingly, many classrooms, even in Prep Schools, are not preparing children sufficiently for the private school assessment. This results in a missed opportunity for many children. Don't let your child be one of those who misses out.
We follow a curriculum which runs from February to November (including all school holidays), ensuring you child will be ready to take exams between next November and January. Every school is different and it is important to check the dates for your chosen school.
We fill up fast! Our classes are kept to a limited number of pupils who tend to stay for the full year. Don't miss the boat!

Class Times

Mondays - Maths & Non-Verbal Reasoning 6 - 7pm with René

Tuesdays - English & Verbal Reasoning 6 .30- 7.30pm with Rosie

CLICK HERE TO BOOK YOUR CHILD'S PLACE NOW

£250 per month

The Private School Entry Course provides value-packed learning

with every student benefitting from the following:

All lessons taught by fully qualified, very experienced classroom teachers, who are also lovely people and care deeply about each of their students
Small groups for high ratio feedback/interaction so every child is supported, heard and valued
Regular assessments and detailed feedback on all work submitted
Assessment practice including ISEB & Quest style and a wide range of schools' own past papers
Interview preparation
A private portal full of video and downloadable resources, with lesson recordings for revision and consolidation
Support and advice for parents throughout the process from the very experienced Confident Learners team of teachers
Courses run every week throughout the year, even during the school holidays
Access to CENTURY Tech. CENTURY Tech is an intelligent online learning platform we use alongside our tutoring to personalise each student’s learning. It identifies gaps in understanding, adapts in real time, and provides targeted practice and explanations, helping tutors to focus on best supporting the next steps for every single learner. Parents benefit from clear progress tracking, while students receive a learning experience tailored specifically to their needs. Click here to learn more

The Private School Entry Course with Confident Learners provides comprehensive, fully inclusive tuition package to prepare your Year 5 child for the private school assessments - whilst building confidence and enjoyment of learning.

What Makes Confident Learners Special?

Our unique teaching and learning strategy is rooted in many years of classroom teaching experience:

Mindset
Fostering a Growth Mindset in each child, boosting their confidence. Confidence is the willingness to TRY.

Confidence is the root of all success.

Teaching
Qualified, experienced, expert 11+ tutors to teach, challenge and support your child, as an individual, every step of the way.

Teaching is professional and effective - not just workbooks!

Environment
A fun, safe and productive working environment with a small group of like-minded children on the same path as your child. Groups are small and fully interactive.

The Confident Learners' 3 Steps To Success:

1. Mindset and Confidence

We create a positive, growth mindset and build each child's confidence so they can achieve their full potential.

2. Firm Foundations

We identify and then improve knowledge gaps to develop core skills and lay firm foundations for the 11+ curriculum knowledge.

3. Accelerate and Apply

Through expert teaching, we accelerate each child's learning and teach them how to apply knowledge, strategies and technique to 11+ exams with confidence and speed.

CLICK HERE TO BOOK YOUR CHILD'S PLACE NOW

£250 per month

A Highly Experienced Team of Expert Tutors

We only work with highly qualified and experienced tutors who.....

Understand the needs of individual children

Communicate directly with you about your child, so you always know how they are doing

Know their subject inside out AND how to teach it to your child effectively

Build your child’s confidence in every lesson

Make learning fun so that your child wants to join each week!

Genuinely care about your child so that he/she feels seen heard and valued

Have over 100 years of combined experience in teaching and preparing children for entrance exams to schools all over the country

Advise and support you every step of the way

Are available on email for any questions you might have, at any stage of the process

Have endless resources in the Confident Learners' files that we have created and collected over the years to make your child’s learning varied and tailored

Are DBS checked and trained in Keeping Children Safe in Education, so you know your child is safe online

A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ME....

Hello! I'm Marion and after graduating from Cambridge University with a PGCE Teaching Qualification in 2000, I have taught in some of the top Independent Prep Schools in the country.

Since being Head of London Prep School where we prepared children exclusively for 11+ exams, I have spent the last few years teaching children online, specialising in supporting children through their 11+ exams, so that they can get into top Independent or Grammar Schools.

Having spent so many years working with probably thousands of children of all different ages, abilities and backgrounds, I have learned that whilst every single child is unique, the one thing that is the same for every single child is that confidence is at the root of all success.

So I, with my small team of qualified teachers at Confident Learners, ensure that every child we teach develops their own, personal inner-confidence and self-belief, whilst learning skills such as resilience, critical thinking and independent working which will last them a life-time.

A few of the schools our pupils have received offers from...

A little bit about Marion...

Hello! I am Marion and after graduating from Cambridge University with a PGCE Teaching Qualification in 2000, I have taught in some of the top Private (Independent) Prep Schools in the country.

Since being Head of a London prep school, where we prepared children exclusively for 11+ exams, I have spent the last few years teaching children online, having founded Confident Learners, specialising in supporting children through their 11+ exams, so that they can get into top Independent or Grammar Schools.

Having spent so many years working with thousands of children of all different ages, abilities and backgrounds, I have learned that whilst every single child is unique, the one thing that is the same for every single child is that confidence is at the root of all success.

FAQs

What if we miss a class?

Don’t worry! Life happens! All of our classes are recorded so, if your child is unable to attend, they can watch the replay and still submit homework. If you can't make a live class as a one off, due to a medical appointment (for example) then we do our best to accommodate you in another class for that week, upon request, if there are other classes available.

Which subjects are covered?

We cover the whole 11+ curriculum for almost all private school entry exams which includes: Maths, English (including comprehension and creative writing), Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning. We prepare children for all exam boards including ISEB, Quest, CAT 4 and schools' own papers. Note that we do not cover Science, which a small handful of schools require, but can arrange 1:1 teaching for this.

Are the classes live or recorded?

Both! All our lessons are delivered live, on Zoom, by our highly experienced teachers. Lessons are fully interactive, with teachers asking and answering questions with the children. You will have access to live and/or recorded classes. For all our students, recordings can be accessed 24 hours after the end of each class. Usually, you will attend a live lesson and use the recordings to help consolidate learning and assist with homework tasks.

Do you teach Creative Writing?

Yes! We do. All Independent Schools test children on Creative Writing (sometimes called Free Writing) at some point in the assessment process, and learning it will support their vocabulary, comprehension, spelling, grammar and punctuation - all of which are vital skills needed to excel in the Comprehension and Verbal Reasoning papers.

What is the group size?

We limit all classes to a maximum of 10 children. This is the optimal class size to allow for peer learning, engagement and fun, whilst allowing the teacher to attend to each child individually.

Is there homework?

Yes. Homework is set after every lesson. If it is submitted within the week that it is set, it will be marked and returned to your child with feedback. We suggest this will take around an hour each week, but it may be more or less, depending on your child. We also provide support and extension work for those needing a little more foundational work, or those who need to be stretched and challenged a little further.

Can I book in for just Maths OR English, rather than both?

We do not recommend this because, although you may feel that your child is particularly strong in one subject area and only needs tutoring in the other, they still need to learn the skills and topics that are in the 11+ curriculum, so they still need to be taught more than they already know.

Do you prepare pupils for all exam boards?

Yes. The curriculum that is included in the different boards is largely the same and our courses cover all of the topics that are likely to be tested for all Independent Schools, including ISEB and schools' own papers. We then provide a wide range of practice papers in various styles so you can pick and choose which style to practise. We also highly recommend Atom Learning or Century Tech to practise the online papers.

Do you do interview practice?

Yes! In early December, your child will be invited to attend a mock interview with one of our highly experienced team.

Are your teachers qualified?

Yes. All of our teachers are qualified (QTS) and experienced teachers who have spent many years in UK classrooms and have an in-depth knowledge of the 11+ process. Click here to read their profiles.

Do you run classes during school holidays?

Yes! We run continuously all calendar year (with the exception of the Christmas to New Year week), which helps avoid gaps in learning and keeps momentum high.

Is there a discount for siblings or if we pay up front?

YES, there is a discount. Please enquire.

Is there a minimum commitment or a contract?

We ask for an initial commitment of one month although most pupils stay with us for the full duration of the course. If at any point you feel you would like to discontinue with Confident Learners, we will cancel your membership and subscription at the end of that paid month.

Do you guarantee a pass?

No. We don’t guarantee that every pupil will pass, though most of our students do! Our courses offer comprehensive training, enabling your child to navigate all areas of the 11+. Our goal is to give your child the best chance possible of passing the Private School Entrance Exams and attending their chosen school. Exams are important and are our main focus, however, we also recognise the value of learning; our training offers a path to enhancing your child’s ability to think critically and approach problems in a methodical manner. We build core skills, teach time management and prepare students to think flexibly under pressure, putting them ahead not only for the 11+ but for life in general. Time spent learning is never wasted!

How involved do I, as a parent or guardian, need to be?

We encourage partnership! While we handle the teaching, we do like to keep parents informed with guidance for home support. Whilst parents do not need to (indeed are encouraged not to) attend the lessons with your child, you should ensure that he/she is prepared, in a quiet place, has a computer and any resources needed for the lesson and submits their homework.

Can I speak to someone before I decide?

We’d love to help. Click here to contact us.

What our pupils and their families think of us...

We wanted to take a moment to express our sincere gratitude for your support and guidance throughout Z's preparation. Your help has been invaluable in her journey.

Sameer's daughter worked so hard throughout Year 5 with us and made enormous personal progress. We could not be more proud of who she has become and know that she will succeed in all her future education with her new amazing confidence and mindset.