Independent Schools Year 6

This course is an extension of our Year 5 programme for students sitting independent school exams between November 2026 and January 2027. It can also be of benefit for those sitting second-round grammar school exams.

The core course covers Advanced Mathematics, English, Verbal and Non-verbal Reasoning, with Creative Writing also available as an optional extra.

Parents of external students who have not completed our Year 5 course should note that this is a demanding programme and may not be appropriate for those who have not engaged in substantial preparation during Year 5.

Lessons

Lessons will take place on Sundays, with an additional weekday lesson during the Autumn half-term on Wednesday 29th October (timings to be confirmed for this date).
Option 1 9:00 am to 12:15 pm
(with Creative Writing: 9:00 am to 1:00 pm)
Option 2 10:25 am to 1:40 pm
(with Creative Writing: 9:40 am to 1:40 pm)
Creative Writing is charged separately

Course Dates

Sunday 20th September to Sunday 29th November 2026

This is a 12-lesson course.
Lessons are 3 hours 15 mins (4 hours with the Creative Writing option)
Lessons take place every Sunday and continue during the Autumn half-term break with a mid-week lesson on Wednesday 29th October.
The course fees are non-refundable.

Course Features

All resources are included, including access to our VLE.
Expect approximately 5-6 hours of homework, primarily comprising past papers from a variety of schools that have been pre-selected by our teachers to provide challenging practice.
Two online mocks to cater for ISEB and CEM are included.
Paper-based mock exams will also be also be given in class.

English

The lessons will focus on the core elements of standard-format (written answers) comprehension. These will include:

Standard Comprehension questions – reviewing the different types of questions that can occur and how to respond to them to gain full marks.
Standard Comprehension Mocks – under timed conditions (in class and at home)

Creative Writing (charged separately)

Story Planning – how to develop ideas, characters and settings
Literary Techniques – how to introduce descriptive devices and figurative language into stories
Identifying different question styles – how to respond to different styles of question
Dialogue – how to introduce and punctuate dialogue effectively
Vocabulary – the importance of powerful verbs and adjectives in any sentence
Non-Fiction – how to respond to different styles of non-fiction essays
Creative Writing Mocks – under timed conditions (in-class and at home)

Advanced Mathematics

This will focus on the challenging parts of independent schools’ past papers. Any child enrolling should have a strong competency in maths up to 11 plus standard.
The lessons will delve into more depth on maths topics including algebra, sequences, shapes, area, volume and time, as well as introduce entirely new topics like logical reasoning, permutations, pathing and bases. There will also be class activities and reviews of the most difficult questions from the homework assignments.
The advanced mathematics course will not only help prepare students for the unique elements of independent school maths exams but also provide a good bridge to secondary school maths, especially for the high levels required at top schools such as NLCS, St. Paul’s, Highgate School, City of London School and Hab’s.

Verbal and Non-verbal Reasoning

This will cover a range of question styles that commonly come up in the verbal, non-verbal and general entrance assessments for independent schools, including those for the London Consortium schools. It will also cover the application of reasoning skills in the interview stage.
Reasoning is tested at some point in the process for the majority of target schools, whether in a pre-test, as part of the main test or at the interview stage – even for schools that test only maths and English in their main tests. The reasoning lessons will assume that students have already done our Y5 course or substantial preparation of an equivalent level.
It will guide students through the newer aspects of reasoning and testing in general that they may not have encountered in Y5, like newer question styles and adaptive testing. It will also be a refresher of their core skills, but pitched at a more difficult level, to ensure the students are capable of applying the right logical thinking for any exam that they undertake in Y6.
The reasoning lessons will also cover other aspects of independent schools entrance that do not directly fall under maths or English such as interview technique or problem solving.

Interview Tips

We provide interview tips and guidance during the course lessons.
An optional One-to-One Mock Interview session, which is a 1 hour 15 minute session with feedback, can be booked separately for £95.

Admission Criteria / Conditions

You should not enrol on this course provisionally, whilst waiting for grammar school results, as the fees are strictly non-refundable. The course is for those who envisage completing the course and are genuinely seeking independent school places.
Existing students enrolled in Year 5 are automatically eligible.
External students can only enrol subject to assessment to ensure they are of the same level as our existing cohort, due to the high-level demands of this course.
Usually, there are very limited places that can only be offered to external students once internal bookings are completed, which means external students cannot book until one week before the commencement date.
There are limited places, available on a first-come, first-served basis.