Berkshire's independent and grammar schools set entrance calendars that run close together across the year, with 11+ and 13+ preparation often beginning well ahead of the assessment itself. This page sets out the schools families in the county most often prepare for, alongside how Taylor Tuition supports that preparation from primary through to A-Level and the IB curriculum. Families weighing up Eton, Wellington, Kendrick or the local grammar schools tend to want the same thing early on: a clear sense of what each entrance route demands and how tutoring can be paced against it.
Taylor Tuition works with Berkshire families primarily online, matching each pupil with a tutor experienced in the relevant curriculum or entrance exam and holding an enhanced DBS check. Families who prefer face-to-face teaching can arrange in-person sessions in central London, whilst residential placements are arranged internationally on request for those who need more intensive, immersive support. Every arrangement begins with an introductory session with the matched tutor, so families can judge the fit before committing to a longer programme of work.
Beyond entrance preparation, tutoring extends across the school curriculum from primary through GCSE, A-Level and the IB, with progress reports issued after sessions and a dedicated point of contact at Taylor Tuition throughout. There is no registration fee, and the initial consultation is free, so families can discuss a child's needs before any commitment is made. The sections below set out the Berkshire schools most commonly prepared for and the questions parents ask most often.
Schools and entrance exams in Berkshire
Berkshire's independent schools set their own entrance assessments, most at 11+, among them Eton College, Wellington College, Pangbourne College, Reading Blue Coat School, Leighton Park School, Holme Grange School, Long Close School, Luckley House School, St Gabriel's School and Milton Abbey School, all co-educational or boys', alongside girls' schools including Downe House, Queen Anne's, Heathfield, St Mary's School Ascot, Moreton Hall and The Abbey School. Bradfield College is one of the few in the county to assess at 13+, offering both boarding and day places on a co-educational basis.
The county also has a state-maintained and academy grammar sector, with selective entry at 11+ through schools including Kendrick Girls' Grammar School, Reading School, Langley Grammar School, Herschel Grammar School, St Bernard's Catholic Grammar School and Upton Court Grammar School, several of which now hold academy status. Families considering both routes often prepare for grammar and independent assessments in parallel, given the overlap in timing and, in many cases, in verbal and non-verbal reasoning content between the two.
- Bradfield College (13+)
- Downe House School (11+)
- Eton College (11+)
- Heathfield School (11+)
- Herschel Grammar School (11+)
- Holme Grange School (Eaton Grange) (11+)
- Kendrick Girls' Grammar School (11+)
- Langley Grammar School (11+)
- Leighton Park School (11+)
- Long Close School (11+)
- Luckley House School (11+)
- Milton Abbey School (11+)
- Moreton Hall (11+)
- Pangbourne College (11+)
- Queen Anne's School (11+)
- Reading Blue Coat School (11+)
- Reading School (11+)
- St Bernard's Catholic Grammar School (11+)
- St. Gabriel's School (11+)
- St. Mary's School Ascot (11+)
- The Abbey School (11+)
- Upton Court Grammar School (11+)
- Wellington College (11+)
How tutoring works for Berkshire families
Families in Berkshire work with us online, which keeps the choice of tutor national; in-person tutoring is offered only in central London, and residential placements are arranged internationally on request. Fees start from £50 per 50-minute session and depend on tutor level and subject, with no registration fee and a free initial consultation.
Every tutor who works with children holds an enhanced DBS check, and most are registered on the DBS Update Service. More than half of our tutors hold Qualified Teacher Status and around three in five hold a master's degree or doctorate, and the pool includes former heads of department and school leaders, experienced exam-board examiners, teachers from independent and boarding schools, and educational consultants with independent-school admissions experience. Every placement begins with an introductory session with the matched tutor, and we re-match at no extra cost if the fit is wrong; families receive progress reports after sessions and have a dedicated point of contact.
Subjects and levels
Frequently asked questions
- Is tutoring available in person locally in Berkshire?
- Sessions for Berkshire families run online, matching each pupil with a tutor suited to their subject, level or entrance exam; in-person tuition is available only in central London for those who prefer face-to-face teaching, whilst residential placements can be arranged internationally on request. Online sessions cover the same curriculum and exam preparation as in-person tutoring, with progress reports issued after each one.
- How are tutors matched to a child?
- Taylor Tuition matches each family with a tutor based on the subject, level and entrance exam involved, drawing on a pool that includes former heads of department, experienced examiners, teachers from independent and boarding schools and educational consultants with admissions experience. Every placement begins with an introductory session with the matched tutor, and re-matching is available at no extra cost if the fit is not right.
- When should we start preparing for 11+ or 13+?
- Preparation timelines vary by school and by child, though families in Berkshire often begin working with a tutor a year or two ahead of the assessment, particularly where a school's entrance exam covers verbal or non-verbal reasoning alongside English and maths. Starting early usually allows preparation to be paced gradually over a longer period, though tutors also support families preparing over a shorter timeframe.
- Does online tutoring work for younger children?
- Online sessions are used across the age range Taylor Tuition supports, from primary preparation through to A-Level and the IB, with tutors experienced in keeping younger pupils engaged during remote sessions. Families with a dedicated point of contact at Taylor Tuition can raise any concerns about how a younger child is finding the online format, and adjust the arrangement if needed.
- What does tutoring cost?
- Fees start from £50 per 50-minute session and depend on the tutor's level and subject, since tutors are tiered by qualifications and teaching experience. There is no registration fee, and the initial consultation is free, allowing families to discuss a child's needs and likely tutor level before committing to sessions.
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