ÆÞÓÑÉçÇø Blog
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Upcoming Webinars
Here are details of our upcoming webinars. Do join us live to ask any questions you might have or register below to receive a recording after the event.
Sixth-form School Entry and the 16 Plus Exam
Enrolling your child in a new school for the final two years of their secondary education can be a big change, at a critical time in their pathway toward university. It can also be an enormous opportunity as well, if your child gains a place at a school that is a better fit for their needs and goals.
A Guide to Henrietta Barnett Admissions
The Henrietta Barnett School, a state-funded girls’ grammar school in north London, has earned a place among the most academically successful schools in the UK — including many of the country’s most exclusive and expensive private institutions. It is therefore no surprise that Henrietta Barnett was named State Secondary School of the Year for Academic Excellence 2025 in The Sunday Times Parent Power Guide 2025, alongside several other accolades.
The Best Grammar School in the UK 2025
Readers browsing the Sunday Times Parent Power guide to the Best Schools in the UK 2025 may notice a few unfamiliar names among the usual high achievers.The 2025 Parent Power tables rank schools by their performance in the 2024 A Level, GCSE, and IB examinations.
A Guide to Reading School Admissions
About Reading SchoolReading School is a 900-year-old, selective, boys’ grammar school in Berkshire. Providing both day and boarding options, the school accepts boys from Years 7 to 11. Consistently ranking among the top schools in Berkshire for GCSE and A level results, Reading School is renowned for its academic excellence.
A Guide to Dr. Challoner’s Grammar School Admissions
About Dr. Challoner’s Grammar SchoolDr. Challoner’s Grammar School has consistently been one of the highest performing grammar schools in Buckinghamshire for the last few years. Based in Amersham, it is a selective grammar school (granted academy status in 2011) that accepts boys from Years 7 to 13. Academically, DCGS recently achieved the highest results for both GCSEs and A Levels of every school in Buckinghamshire, and its Ofsted rating was ‘outstanding’.
Webinar: A Guide to University Interviews
Keystone's Managing Director, Ed Richardson, and Director of Asia, Jenny McGown, were joined by Professional Tutor and former Queen’s College research fellow, Florence Curtis. They discussed university interview skills for applicants to Cambridge, Oxford, and courses that typically require interviews, such as medicine and veterinary science.
Boarding School Interviews
In this webinar Jenny (Director, Asia) and Rory (Professional Tutor) talked though boarding school interviews and discussed the common question types and how to prepare international students for these interviews.
The Cost of Hiring a Private Tutor
High-quality private tutoring is one of the most effective and impactful investments you can make in your child’s future. It’s not just about getting through the syllabus, the right tutor can boost confidence, shape ambition, and open doors to life-changing opportunities.
What Makes ÆÞÓÑÉçÇø the Leading Tutoring Agency in London
In the crowded world of private education, few names carry the weight and reputation of ÆÞÓÑÉçÇø. Founded in 2007 by Oxford graduate Will Orr-Ewing, the agency has elevated tutoring into a trusted profession, giving parents the peace of mind that their child is taught by qualified educators. Today, Keystone is recognised as one of London’s most trusted tuition agencies, serving thousands of families across the UK and around the world.
A Guide to Tiffin Boys’ School Admissions
Tiffin School is increasingly becoming one of the most desirable schools in the United Kingdom. Based in Kingston-upon-Thames in South-West London, it is a state-funded, selective grammar school that accepts boys from Year 7 to 11, and its Sixth Form is co-educational.Tiffin Boys’ academic prowess is well-documented; it consistently ranks in the top 10 for UK state schools for both GCSE and A Level results (and within the top 3 for boys-only state schools).
7 Plus Reading List
Reading List for children in Year 1 and Year 2 (Age 6 and 7)Parents often ask us for reading recommendations and so we have compiled the following list below as a good starting point! These are all either personal favourites or recommended on well renowned book lists.
Webinar: The 7 Plus and 8 Plus
In this webinar Keystone's Managing Director, Ed Richardson, was joined by one of Keystone’s most experienced Professional Tutors, Steph Kitson-Smith, to discuss 7+ and 8+ entry processes and considerations. Ed and Steph looked to cover all key aspects of the 7+ and 8+ entry process, from registration timelines to assessments and interview formats. They advise on how and when to start preparing for assessments and interviews, and how to finalise your shortlist of schools.
How to Help your Child Succeed at School
Keystone's Managing Director, Ed Richardson, hosted a practical session that blends educational research on effective parenting with Ed’s own insights as a teacher, tutor, and educational researcher.Ed shares straightforward, achievable strategies parents can use to support their children’s success in school. These tips are designed to work in real life, helping you boost your child’s learning, confidence, and motivation.
Webinar : 11+ London Day Schools
This in-depth webinar on the 11+ entry process for London day schools, was hosted by Ed Richardson, Keystone’s Managing Director. Ed led this webinar with Harriet Brook, Keystone’s Head of Consultancy. Ed and Harriet provided expert guidance on all key aspects of the 11+ entry process, including when and how to start preparing for assessments and interviews, and how to finalise a shortlist of schools.
When should you start preparing for the 11 plus?
When should you start preparing for 11+? Starting 11 plus exam preparations in Lower KS2 (Year 3 or Year 4) is highly beneficial, providing ample time for children to thoroughly grasp the 11 plus syllabus within a realistic timeframe. During this stage, children can be introduced to fundamental maths concepts and problem-solving techniques, practice comprehension skills, develop their creative writing and vocabulary and familiarise themselves with various reasoning questions.
11 Plus Maths Exam Guide
Understanding the expectations of Maths in the 11 Plus 11 Plus Maths is a staple of every child’s experience throughout years 5-7 of school, whether they sit an ISEB 11 Plus, Common Entrance Paper or a pre-test for 13 Plus entry.
11 Plus Interview Questions
Preparing for 11 Plus interviews for independent schools is a crucial step for students aiming to secure a place at their chosen secondary school. In this guide, Keystone’s 11 Plus tutors share valuable advice and practical tips to help students showcase their full potential at interview.In this video Keystone's founder, Will Orr-Ewing, and Managing Director, Ed Richardson, share their insights on tackling the 11 Plus entrance interviews for independent schools.
What is the CEM Test?
As a parent looking for information about how best to prepare your child for the 11 Plus exams, you may have encountered the terms CEM and GL and wondered what on earth they refer to! When it comes to the 11 Plus, these terms refer to two of the assessment manufacturers who develop and provide the 11 Plus tests.
11 Plus Independent Schools’ Entrance Exam Guide
If your child is planning to take the 11 plus exam, and is looking for ways to prepare this comprehensive guide is for you! Keystone’s expert tutors have helped students excel at taking the 11 Plus, and the guidance below aims to distil their best practice into a simple, practical set of top tips.
Children's Writing Competition 2025
ÆÞÓÑÉçÇø are excited to launch of our very first Creative Writing Competition and we warmly invite young writers aged 5-13 to get involved! Whether your child is already a passionate storyteller or just beginning their writing journey, this is a wonderful opportunity to develop their imagination, sharpen their writing skills, and gain creative confidence. Free Online Creative Writing Workshop On Sunday 14th September, we hosted two creative writing workshops for children.
Guide to the CAT4 Test
What is the CAT4 test?Made by GL Assessment, it is one of the world’s most widely use cognitive ability tests. CAT stands for Cognitive Ability Test and it is used in schools to understand developed ability (i.e. where a child is now) and likely academic potential (i.e. where a child could be).The CAT4 is used by some independent schools as a part of their admissions process, assessing a candidate’s verbal, non-verbal, mathematical, and spatial reasoning ability and academic potential.
Webinar: How to Support Your Child Through Sixth Form
This webinar was led by our Managing Director, Ed Richardson. The session blended the latest educational research on effective parenting strategies with Ed’s own experience as a teacher, tutor, and educational researcher. The aim is to equip parents with practical, achievable, and impactful ways to support their children through the sixth form years.
7 Plus Vocabulary List
Six to seven year olds expand their vocabulary at a rapid rate, learning 5-10 words a day. While these are mostly learnt indirectly through everyday experiences, such as through discussion and reading, direct teaching can consolidate and improve a child’s vocabulary knowledge in readiness for the 7+ exam.
7 Plus or 8 Plus Exam?
Historically boys would sit for the 8+ and girls for the 7+. This was based around the fact that it was traditionally accepted that boys mature a little later than girls at this age. Assessing them later meant that they had more time to develop and show their true potential. However, nowadays many schools offer both 7+ and 8+ entry and as such parents have the option to consider which might be most suitable.
11 Plus Vocabulary List
In order to excel in the 11 Plus, children need to have a wide vocabulary to draw on. Good vocabulary knowledge will help in all aspects of the English exam (reading, writing, verbal reasoning) as well as in the interviews.Comprehending the reading part of the exam requires knowledge of what the individual words mean and what they mean within the context of the particular comprehension.
8 Plus Reading List
Reading List for children in Year 3 and Year 4 (Age 7 and 8)Children studying for the 8 plus exams are moving on from the initial chapter books and early reading series they may have looked at during seven plus preparation and are starting to choose more sophisticated titles. Books at this age are starting to get longer and tackle a broader range of subjects.
11 Plus Reading List
Reading List for children in Year 5, Year 6 and Year 7 (Age 9 to 11)Children studying for the 11 plus exams are at a key point in their school reading journey. They are starting to develop the independence and autonomy to seek out their own reading books and decide how to incorporate reading into their daily routine.
A Guide to the 8 Plus
The 8 Plus – like its cousins the 7 Plus, 11 Plus, and 13 Plus – is an important hurdle to overcome in gaining entry to some of the UK’s best independent schools.In the article below, ÆÞÓÑÉçÇø cover the basics of the exam, its format, and the best ways to prepare for and succeed at this competitive assessment.
Pre-Preparatory School (Reception – Year 3) Reading List
Parents often ask us which books their children should be reading. In some respects, it’s the wrong question to ask – are there any books children shouldn’t be reading? – but with children’s free-time seeming ever to shrink, there is certainly merit in searching out the best.
