11+ Scholarships

Is an 11+ Scholarship Achievable for Your Child?

For many London parents, scholarships raise as many questions as they answer. Is my child genuinely suited to this level? How competitive is it really? And how do I avoid putting them under unnecessary pressure?

Having supported prep school families across London for many years, we understand that the scholarship journey isn’t just academic – it’s emotional. Our role is to help you step back, see the bigger picture, and make decisions that feel right for your child.

This guide is based on what we see year after year – what works, what doesn’t, and where expectations often need gently recalibrating.

What types of Scholarships Are Available?

Most independent schools offer scholarships for academic ability, as well as sport and music. Here, we focus on academic scholarships, which tend to be the most competitive and the most misunderstood by parents.

While the financial award can be welcome, families often find the real value lies in the recognition and academic confidence it gives a child. Done well, a scholarship can be motivating and affirming. Done badly, it can feel overwhelming – which is why careful planning matters.

What Type of Child Is Suited to an Academic Scholarship?

Children who tend to thrive in scholarship settings usually:

Enjoy learning for its own sake and think beyond the classroom
Aren’t afraid of getting things wrong and respond well to challenge
Read widely or pursue strong interests outside the school curriculum
Perform consistently well, often at the top end of their cohort

However, this is where context is crucial. Scholarship standards vary enormously between London schools. There is a very big difference between a scholarship at St Paul’s School and one at Emanuel School – in depth, pace, competition, and expectations.

A child may be well suited to one but not the other, and that doesn’t reflect ability, it reflects fit. This is why doing proper research, and getting honest advice early on, can make all the difference.

How We Can Help

Many families begin with our academic assessment, designed by CEM (part of University of Cambridge) and used by many leading independent schools, or book a session with a scholarship assessor.

We consider these results alongside school reports and our own professional judgement, then talk through what they really mean in the context of London scholarships. From there, we help you identify which schools are realistic, which may be a stretch, and whether a scholarship route is genuinely in your child’s best interests.

For parents, this brings reassurance. You gain clarity about your child’s strengths, a realistic sense of scholarship potential, and confidence that you’re not pushing in the wrong direction. Scholarship preparation is demanding, and the best outcomes come when expectations are thoughtful, informed, and child-centred from the start.

Start with an assessment

What 11+ Parents Say…

“Our son performed exceptionally well in the 11+ tests, receiving offers and scholarship from many schools including the prestigious Sadlers Scholarship at Alleyn’s. We attribute this success to Nicholas’s enthusiasm, dedication and expertise as a tutor”

Diana, Balham

Helen, Clapham

How Does the Scholarship Process Work?

While every school has its own distinctive approach, ethos, and entry process, here is a brief outline to help you navigate what to expect.

Entrance Exam: The top 10% of students in the standard entrance exam may be offered a scholarship or invited for an interview. Exam papers will often include more complex questions towards the end, that require quick thinking and advanced problem-solving skills. These are the types of questions a potential scholar will be expected to successfully complete.
Scholarship Interview: Often schools invite potential scholars for an interview with the Head of School, or a member of the Senior Management Team. These interviews will typically include advanced questions, a mental maths challenge, a reading exercise, and curveball questions where they will encourage a child to think out of the box.

Find out more

Scholarship Checklist

Exam Strategy: Encourage your child to tackle easier questions first, saving time for the more challenging ones. Practising timed papers at home builds confidence under pressure, and reviewing mistakes together helps celebrate progress, not just scores.

English at Home: Read a mix of classics (The Secret Garden, Kensuke’s Kingdom, Watership Down) and contemporary stories to build vocabulary and comprehension. Discuss how authors create mood, develop characters, and build tension, and give your child chances to write imaginative, well-structured stories. Word games like Scrabble or Boggle can make learning vocabulary fun.

Maths for 11+ Scholars: Encourage daily practice of mental maths, times tables, and basic calculations. Use puzzles, logic games, or apps to strengthen problem-solving skills, and stretch learning into topics beyond Year 6, such as ratios, algebra, geometry, and negative numbers. Real-life maths — baking, shopping, or planning trips — helps reinforce concepts.

Everyday Learning Habits: Talk about current events and “why” questions to develop critical thinking. Encourage curiosity and exploration together, keep practice short and consistent, and always celebrate effort and problem-solving as much as results.

Our Scholarship Tutors

Our scholarship tutors are some of the most experienced and trusted in London, and they will know exactly what your target schools are looking for. They combine deep subject expertise with exam strategy, helping children develop higher level skills in maths, comprehension, and creative writing — and, just as importantly, the confidence and mindset to succeed.

We will work closely with both children and parents, creating a tailored plan, offering regular feedback, and guiding you through every step of the preparation process.

Book a Scholarship tutor

“Tutor Harry’s maxim is – let’s argue like a lawyer, write like a journalist and express oneself like an artist. His stretch level English teaching goes way beyond the curriculum.”