Getting your child into an independent school can appear challenging at first, but with the right approach and preparation, it can be the route to academic and personal success. In this guide, we offer ten useful tips and hints to help you understand the admissions process, ranging from choosing the right school through to ensuring your child is properly prepared.
AuthorHollyRead4 minutes
Choosing the right prep school for your child is a crucial part of their educational journey to future success. With so many areas to consider, from admissions and entrance exams to safeguarding and pastoral care, it's essential to make the right choice. This short guide will help you understand the process, ensuring you find a prep school that aligns with you and your child's needs and future aspirations.
AuthorHollyRead3 minutes
In this blog post, Meredith explains the different types of reading comprehension questions you can expect in the ‘comprehension’ part of an entrance exam, with examples and tips for answering each. This is a must-read if your child will be sitting the 7 Plus or 8 Plus entrance exam.
AuthorMeredithRead6 minutes
In this blog, we set out a step-by-step guide to phonics: a method which teaches children to read by identifying the individual sounds in a word and blending them together.
AuthorOwl TutorsRead3 minutes
How does handwriting impact performance at 7+, 8+ and beyond? If your child is preparing for a handwriting assessment such as that expected for St Paul's School as part of the English test, handwriting practice is essential. Read on to discover why this skill forms an essential component of your child's progress towards success at entrance examinations.
AuthorHollyRead2 minutes
Choosing a boarding school is an important decision which involves more than simply selecting an educational institution. Instead, it involves complex factors from costs to personal choice. All schools will have both benefits and challenges. This comprehensive and useful guide aims to answer some of those all-important questions you may have regarding boarding schools, particularly focusing on UK schools.
Parents looking into private schooling for their children often have many questions about the costs involved. From tuition fees to additional expenses for boarding and day schools, understanding the financial commitment is essential. This guide breaks down the various factors and ranges to help you make an informed decision.
This article explores the benefits of one to one tuition with a tutor on the lead up to exams.
AuthorOwl TutorsRead4 minutes
Given the deep and varied history of UK Independent Schools, it is no surprise that over the centuries many have developed unique turns of phrase. To help decipher these terms we have put together a comprehensive glossary to help you navigate the admissions process for these schools. If you'd like to know your 'Exeat' from your 'Oppidan', read on!
AuthorOwl TutorsRead6 minutes
In this article, Greg, an experienced teacher and tutor, shares his top tips to help applicants who might be nervous about the school entrance exams. Whether it is a 7 plus applicant or a 16 plus one, here are six ways to help channel those nerves.
AuthorGregRead3 minutes
The UK has a great reputation for top-quality schooling and attracts a number of international students every year. Moving to a new school can be challenging, but moving to an entirely new school system can feel overwhelming. Chloe, a qualified teacher with experience teaching in the UK and overseas, shares her thoughts on the key differences.
AuthorChloeRead8 minutes
In this article, Alison shares her 6 top tips to help your child engage with their tuition. As all Owl Tutors are qualified teachers, we believe learning and education always beats teaching to the test. Check out Alison's 6 top tips below.
AuthorAlisonRead6 minutes
In this article, experienced school entrance tutor and qualified teacher Ali, explains the best way to approach family interviews.
In this article, Cecilia sets out her reasons why qualified teachers make excellent personal tutors. An experienced teacher and private tutor herself, she is well placed to set out the top reasons for working with an education professional.
AuthorOwl TutorsRead5 minutes
In this article Grace explains what the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) is and outlines its role in ensuring quality of provision and regulatory standards of independent schools, both in the UK and overseas. Grace draws on her expertise as a former Headteacher of three independent schools and has first hand experience of ISI inspections
AuthorGraceRead5 minutes
Choosing a school can seem like a daunting decision for any parent. Not only are there many, varied entrance requirements to navigate, but added to this are questions over whether a school is ‘right’ for your child. Holly, an experienced teacher, examines what to look out for and what to ask, to make your visit as informative as possible
AuthorHollyRead9 minutes
In this blog, school entrance expert and teacher, Holly, outlines top tips to tackle reasoning tests. Verbal and Non-verbal reasoning tests are used by most independent and grammar schools to help with their selection process. These handy hints should help your child tackle what can be quite challenging questions.
AuthorHollyRead7 minutes
Struggling with Phonics? In this blog, Laura sets out simple but effective strategies you can try at home to boost your child's confidence with phonics
AuthorLauraRead4 minutes
In the final part of the ‘Types of’ 7 Plus preparation series, Meredith describes some of the different interview questions that could come up and offers some tips to prepare for them.
AuthorMeredithRead4 minutes
In this blog, the second in a series of 'Types of...' 7 Plus preparation posts, Meredith outlines a range of different creative writing prompts that can appear in the English paper and offers some useful insight and handy tips for preparing for each one.
AuthorOwl TutorsRead7 minutes
In this blog, Laura sets out five ways to help your child prepare for the 7 Plus or 8 Plus school entrance exam and interview. Using these five activities as part of a long-term strategy will build your child's confidence in speaking, reading and writing and ensure their skills and personality shines through on the day.
In this blog, Alexandra outlines the necessary steps in preparing your child for a move from a state school to an independent school. Whilst this can be a daunting process, there are also many exciting opportunities that shouldn't be forgotten!
AuthorAlexRead6 minutes
In this blog, Alanya shares her top tips for supporting your child to overcome the blank page. A careful balance of structured support whilst encouraging independent thinking is key to solving writer's block in young learners!
AuthorAlanyaRead4 minutes
Sitting the 7+ and 8+ exam can be a daunting prospect, so it is important that children become familiar with working under strict time constraints before the exam. There is significant competition for entry into schools at both 7+ and 8+. For example, for every one place at Westminster Under or Colet Court, 8 or more boys sit the entrance exam.
AuthorJudithRead5 minutes
As most of us struggle with home schooling (myself included!) we are all facing challenges we never imagined! Mindfulness activities can help children to focus and calm their minds. What better time to dip your toes into the water and explore a range of fun activities which help support emotional well-being for children and adults alike.
AuthorRachelRead2 minutes
For all the new home-classrooms that have sprung up following school closures, Claudia shares her favourite online and interactive English resources for ages 5-11.
AuthorClaudiaRead3 minutes
In this blog, Lulu outlines simple ways to build a routine at home whilst your children's schools are closed. Do you have a timetable? Do you need resources? Find all you need to know here!
AuthorOwl TutorsRead2 minutes
In this blog, Alanya sets out five resources to help your child develop confidence and fluency in their reading while having lots of fun along the way!
AuthorAlanyaRead3 minutes
Wondering if your child’s special educational needs (SENs) will be taken into consideration during school entrance exams? This blog outlines who may be eligible for exam concessions, which arrangements can be made to assist your child in their exams and how to get your child the best support available for them to succeed.
When preparing students for the 9 Plus school entrance exams, you may find that there aren't a great number of resources out there (especially compared with the 7 or 8 Plus). This blog suggests a few resources which can be used by students as a starting point for 9 Plus preparation.
Finding high-quality books which your child enjoys reading is the first step to ensuring they become good readers and writers. This blog gives some 'must-reads' for children aged 6 to 8. The books listed are both good quality texts and highly popular with children of this age group.
AuthorRosieRead4 minutes
In this blog, Hannah shares her top lessons learned from the 2018/2019 round of 7 Plus and 8 Plus exams. If you are entering your child for the 7+ or 8+ in the next couple of months, these helpful tips and observations from a full-time, professional tutor will give you a flavour of the kinds of things to expect from these assessments.
As both a teacher and a tutor, Hannah has worked with many children who present as reluctant writers or who appear to not have many ideas to begin a story. "Talking Pictures" is a simple yet highly effective 4 step strategy to get your child’s creative juices flowing and to kick-start the story writing process.
This year, St Paul’s School are changing things up for the 7 and 8 Plus entrance exams, and the English paper will now include a dictation rather than a creative writing task (composition). It is worth considering that other schools may follow suit, and in this blog, Meredith sets out how best to prepare for this exam format.
In this blog Sobia discusses the daunting process of interviewing for a school place, and outlines possible questions asked as well as tips and techniques for success.
AuthorSobiaRead5 minutes
Children are naturally curious and inquisitive creatures who love to learn. However, the high expectations set by schools and the pressures created by exams can often lead children to see their learning as a chore. This post gives some tips and advice on how to foster a child’s natural enthusiasm for learning and keep exam preparation fun.
In this blog, Hannah sets out five activities which can help your child to prepare for their 7 Plus or 8 Plus school entrance interview. Using these five activities as part of a long-term strategy will build your child's confidence in speaking and ensure their personality shines through on the day.
In addition to structure and content, the writing composition section of the 7 plus exam is designed to test a candidate's use of interesting vocabulary in their writing. This blog - written by Meredith, a professional school entrance tutor - explains how ‘wow’ words can enhance a piece of writing and sets out five ways to generate them.
Seven plus entrance exam preparation can be a stressful experience for both parents and students. This blog post outlines 5 mindfulness techniques to add some calm and joy to the process. It has been written by Meredith, an Owl Tutor with a background in psychology and counselling.
AuthorMeredithRead5 minutes
In this blog, Rosie talks all things "Phonics", and sheds light on key terminology used by teachers, which some parents may find unfamiliar.
Are you hoping for your son to win one of the places at St Paul's Junior School at 8+? Read on! This blog tells you everything you need to know about the application process: from registering your son, to pre-tests, exams and the interview.
Are you hoping for your son to win one of the places at Kings College Wimbledon at 8+? This blog tells you everything you need to know about the application process, from registration to the assessment day itself.
Many entrance exams at 7+, 8+ and 11+ ask children to write a story – usually giving around half an hour for this part of the assessment. In such a short time, the beginning of the story should be captivating! In this blog, Cecilia sets out how you can help your child to develop their story writing skills and grab the attention of the examiner.
Parents often ask what I think about children and their use of technology at home. Should I let my child read a book on the Kindle? Are learning apps any good? My child spends a large amount of time watching videos on YouTube, should I be concerned?
AuthorSarahRead4 minutes
Home-schooling is becoming an increasingly popular choice for parents all over the UK and internationally, and having worked both in schools and with children in their own homes, it is clear that children are able to access a well-rounded education whatever the setting! These tips aim to give some practical advice to those who are either currently, or considering, home-schooling their children.
AuthorJudithRead7 minutes
We store some data to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with this. You can learn more here
