While there's no 11+ exam for state schools in Derby, many families here prepare their children for entrance to independent or out-of-area selective schools. These assessments typically cover English, maths, verbal reasoning, and non-verbal reasoning — and the educators we work with help students approach them with confidence.
Scholarship and Entrance Exam Preparation
Independent schools and scholarship programmes set their own assessments. These are often more challenging than the standard curriculum, testing problem-solving ability and breadth of knowledge. The educators we work with in Derby prepare students for these exams with practice papers, timed exercises, and focused teaching on the reasoning and comprehension skills that distinguish successful candidates.
Fitting Tutoring In
Scheduling needs to work for the whole family. In Derby, we offer morning, afternoon, evening, and weekend availability to fit around school, sport, and family commitments. Whether the preference is a fixed weekly slot or a more adaptable arrangement, we accommodate it. During busier periods — mock exam season, for instance — many families increase frequency before scaling back again.
Building the Right Skills
Entrance exam preparation isn't just about practising sample papers. It's about developing flexible thinking — being able to approach an unfamiliar question type calmly and logically. We teach reasoning strategies, vocabulary building, and mathematical problem-solving in ways that give students an edge. Preparation typically takes 6-12 months of regular sessions.
Preparing your son or daughter for a selective entrance exam? Reach out to us to discuss your target school and we'll create a preparation plan tailored to what's required.