Programmes built around the exam your child is actually sitting
From early groundwork in Years 3–4 to the flagship Year 5 push and a premium independents track, every programme is small-group, streamed by diagnostic and priced in the open. No mystery class sizes, no hidden fees.
The four GL strands — and where each programme fits
Redbridge's super-selective grammars (Ilford County High for boys, Woodford County High for girls) test two GL papers, all multiple-choice: Paper 1 covers English and Verbal Reasoning, Paper 2 covers Maths and Non-Verbal / Spatial. Every strand is taught explicitly.
English
Comprehension, inference, vocabulary and accurate written technique.
Verbal Reasoning
Word logic, codes and sequences — the type-by-type GL question bank, drilled.
Maths
Curriculum-plus arithmetic, problem-solving and speed under timed conditions.
Non-Verbal / Spatial
Pattern, rotation and spatial reasoning — the most coachable strand, taught systematically.
Choose the right track
Every programme is genuinely small-group and capped — we never quietly grow a class to fill seats. Pricing below is published in full; nothing is hidden until you enquire.
Foundations
Builds reading age, vocabulary, mental-maths fluency and gentle reasoning. No exam papers — the groundwork that makes Year 5 work.
- Sessions
- 1 × 1.5 hr / week
- Max class size
- 8 children
- From
- £105/mo
What’s covered
- Reading age built deliberately — wide reading, inference and comprehension stamina
- Vocabulary, spelling and synonym/antonym work that feeds straight into Verbal Reasoning
- Mental-maths fluency: number bonds, times tables and quick written methods
- Gentle introduction to reasoning puzzles — no timed papers, no pressure
Intensive 11+
The flagship. Full GL coverage across all four strands, type-by-type reasoning drilling and timed mocks. Streamed into Core (B1) and Higher (B2) by diagnostic.
- Sessions
- 2 × 1.5 hr / week
- Max class size
- 6 children
- From
- £185/mo
What’s covered
- Full GL Assessment coverage across all four strands — English, Verbal Reasoning, Maths and Non-Verbal / Spatial
- Type-by-type reasoning drilling: every GL question type taught, practised and revisited
- Streamed into Core (B1) and Higher (B2) by your child's diagnostic — taught at the right level, not the average
- Termly timed mocks in true exam conditions, with per-strand benchmark bands plotted against the 104 floor and the 115–125 offer zone
- Weekly marked homework feeding the progress dashboard parents can actually see
Essex CSSE add-on
For families hedging towards Chelmsford, Colchester and Southend grammars — the written, creative-writing format GL multiple-choice prep does not cover.
- Sessions
- 1 × 1.5 hr / week
- Max class size
- 6 children
- From
- £95/mo
What’s covered
- Written, long-form comprehension — the format GL multiple-choice prep simply does not cover
- Creative and continuous writing: planning, structure, vocabulary and timed composition
- Shown-working maths: full method marks, not just the right answer bubbled in
- Designed to run alongside Intensive 11+ for families hedging towards Chelmsford, Colchester and Southend grammars
Independents & Scholarship
Premium track for Chigwell, Forest, Bancroft's and scholarship routes — fronted by our Habs founder, who knows the independent process from the inside.
- Sessions
- 2 × 1.5 hr / week
- Max class size
- 4 children
- From
- £255/mo
What’s covered
- Chigwell, Forest and Bancroft's entrance formats — each prepared to its own paper style and standard
- Interview preparation: confident, articulate answers and mock interviews
- Academic-scholarship preparation for candidates aiming above a standard offer
- Fronted by our Habs founder, who knows the independent admissions process from the inside
Taught at the right level — not the average
Before a child starts Intensive 11+, a written diagnostic places them into Core (B1) or Higher (B2). Grouping by ability means the teaching pitch, homework load and pace all match the child in front of us. We re-test every term, so a child who jumps ahead moves up — streaming is a starting point, not a label.
- Core (B1): securing the strands and building exam stamina
- Higher (B2): stretch work targeting the 115–125 offer zone
- Per-strand benchmark bands tracked against the 104 qualifying floor
Genuinely small groups — and we publish it
Intensive 11+ is capped at six children and the Independents & Scholarship track at four. That is a promise, not a marketing line: we would rather open a second class than overfill one. Small groups mean every child is heard, every piece of work is marked and no one hides at the back.
Founded by a Haberdashers’ Aske’s School for Girls alumna and a Chigwell School 90% academic-scholarship winner — the standard we hold every class to.
Not sure which programme fits?
The clearest first step is a mock and diagnostic. You’ll see exactly where your child stands across the four strands, and we’ll recommend the right track — honestly, even if that means CSSE or independents rather than the lead grammar. The exam sits Friday 18 September 2026 for Year 7 entry in September 2027, so the effective preparation deadline is the end of Year 5.
Classes run at Fullwell Cross Library, Barkingside High Street, Ilford IG6 2LL, near Barkingside and Fairlop Central-line stations.