Birmingham's grammar and independent schools set some of the most competitive entrance exams in the country, and this page sets out how families preparing for them work with Taylor Tuition, from King Edward VI Camp Hill and Five Ways through to Warwick School and Edgbaston High. Sessions run online, drawing on tutors matched to the specific exam a child is sitting, whilst covering the school curriculum from primary through to A-Level and IB alongside entrance preparation.
Where a family in Birmingham would prefer face-to-face teaching, sessions are arranged in central London, with online tuition remaining the usual arrangement for the region; residential placements can also be organised internationally on request. Tutors are selected for the school or exam in question, whether an 11+ paper set by one of Birmingham's grammar or independent schools or the assessment used elsewhere, with sessions building towards whichever date the family is working to.
Getting started begins with a free consultation, after which the family typically hears back within one working day with recommended tutors, drawn from a pool that includes qualified teachers, examiners and former heads of department alongside graduates of Russell Group universities. Every placement begins with an introductory session with the matched tutor, giving Taylor Tuition room to re-match at no extra cost should the fit be wrong. Progress reports follow sessions, with a dedicated point of contact at Taylor Tuition staying in touch as preparation continues, whether the family is working towards 11+, 13+ or ongoing curriculum support.
Schools and entrance exams in Birmingham
Birmingham's selective state schools include several bearing the King Edward VI name: Five Ways, Camp Hill School for Boys, Camp Hill School for Girls, Handsworth Grammar School, Handsworth School, Aston School and the High School for Girls, each setting an 11+ entrance exam, with Handsworth Grammar operating as an academy within the King Edward VI Academy Trust. Independent day schools sit alongside this network, among them Edgbaston High School for Girls, Warwick School, Solihull School and Bromsgrove School, the last two educating boys and girls together while Warwick remains a boys' school with boarding places.
Further selective grammar schools serve the wider region, among them Bishop Vesey's Grammar School, Wolverhampton Grammar School, Wolverhampton Girls' High School, Alcester Grammar School and Queen Mary's High School, all admitting at 11+. The King Edward VI name recurs beyond Birmingham too, attached to independent and grammar schools in Bath, Southampton and Louth, each admitting separately at 11+ and administered independently of the city's own King Edward VI schools despite the shared name.
- Alcester Grammar School (11+)
- Bishop Vesey's Grammar School (11+)
- Bromsgrove School (11+)
- Edgbaston High School for Girls (11+)
- King Edward VI Aston School (11+)
- King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Boys (11+)
- King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls (11+)
- King Edward VI Five Ways School (11+)
- King Edward VI Grammar School Louth (11+)
- King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School (11+)
- King Edward VI Handsworth School (11+)
- King Edward VI High School for Girls (11+)
- King Edward VI School Southampton (11+)
- King Edward's School Bath (11+)
- Queen Mary's High School (11+)
- Solihull School (11+)
- Warwick School (11+)
- Wolverhampton Girls' High School (11+)
- Wolverhampton Grammar School (11+)
Grammar schools and the 11+ in Birmingham
The region's grammar-school entry works differently from independent-school admissions, with a single test window and local-authority deadlines, and we keep a separate guide to it.
How tutoring works for Birmingham families
Families in Birmingham 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
- Do you offer in-person tutoring in Birmingham?
- Taylor Tuition's in-person tutoring is offered only in central London, so sessions for Birmingham families run online, with tutors matched to the child's school, exam board and year group. Families across the UK and internationally are taught the same way, and residential placements can be arranged on request for families wanting a tutor to live in for a period.
- How do you match a tutor to my child?
- After a free initial consultation, Taylor Tuition replies with recommended tutors, drawn from a pool that includes qualified teachers, exam-board examiners, school leaders and graduates of Russell Group universities, selected for the specific school, subject or exam a child is preparing for. Every placement opens with an introductory session, and the family can request a different tutor at no extra cost if the match does not feel right.
- When should we start preparing for the 11+ or 13+?
- Preparation timelines vary by school and by child, and families often begin a year or so before the exam, though some start earlier where a subject needs longer to build confidence. Taylor Tuition's tutors, many of whom have marked papers or taught in the schools themselves, help judge pace against the specific exam a child is sitting, whether an 11+ paper set by one of Birmingham's grammar or independent schools or a 13+ assessment for a school elsewhere in the country.
- Is online tutoring suitable for a younger child?
- Online sessions work well for most primary-age children once a routine is established, with short, focused sessions and regular breaks suiting younger learners better than long blocks of teaching. Taylor Tuition's tutors adjust pace and material to the child's age, covering the primary curriculum alongside 11+ preparation where relevant, and progress reports after each session give parents a clear view of how a younger child is settling into online learning.
- How much does tutoring cost?
- Fees start from £50 per 50-minute session and depend on the tutor's level of qualification and experience as well as the subject being taught, with more experienced examiners, heads of department and specialist tutors set at a higher tier. There is no registration fee, and the initial consultation is free, so a Birmingham family can discuss a child's needs and receive tutor recommendations before deciding whether to go ahead.
Enquire about Tutors for families in Birmingham
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Ellis A.
Master TutorI'm Head of Computer Science at a secondary school in Cornwall, where I lead staff CPD, after seven years in technology consulting. I teach GCSE and A-Level Computer Science, and I'm known for explaining the algorithms pupils find hardest in plain terms, little and often.
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Michael M.
Master TutorI taught Economics for nine years, latterly as Head of Economics at Winchester College, and I examine for AQA and Edexcel. I teach Economics and Business Studies to A-Level and prepare Oxbridge and UCAS applicants, working from Rosenshine's principles of direct instruction.
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Michael O.
Master TutorI have a First in Economics from York and an MSc from UCL, and have tutored for seven years, including SEN students. I teach maths, economics, physics, chemistry and biology to GCSE, A-Level, IB and AP. I build strong foundations so advanced questions feel intuitive.
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