There is a huge range of Independent/private schools spread out over Great Britain, which is why we focus here on 12 Plus Exams to 14 Plus Exams. These schools are fee paying and most of them are members of the ISI (Independent Schools Inspectorate). Private schools are run by governors. They are therefore independent of many regulations that apply to state schools. The biggest of these regulations that they are independent of is the National Curriculum.
Private Secondary Schools
Firstly, private secondary schools cater for children between 11 and 13 to 16 and often has a Sixth Form within the school for children 16-18. Many of these private schools are also members of the Independent Schools Council (ISC). This is a non-profit organisation representing about 80% independent schools in the UK (in 2011).
Secondly, independent schools that belong to the ISC are inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) according to a framework agreed upon between the various assessment bodies including the DfE and Ofsted. Ofsted oversees this. All independent schools in England are however registered with the Department of Education. The Secretary of State for Education therefore regulates these schools.
Thirdly, the best way to search for school options is probably to have a look at the schools in the area and work from there. You can then find the Website and Admissions pages for these schools either through the above links or by going to our various pages like:
Private Secondary School Websites (London)
Admission to Private Secondary School Websites (London)
Firstly, as each private school manages their own admission procedures, these vary greatly. Most private schools are however academically selective and even those that don’t, require an interview to see whether your child would fit into their particular school environment.
Secondly, for academically selective schools various forms of assessment can be used either at 11+, 12+ or 13+. These may include Maths, English, Verbal Reasoning, Non-verbal Reasoning and also exams on various other subjects. The best would be to check the Admissions page of your preferred schools.
Lastly, for specimen papers and past papers have a further look at our vast collection.
Private School Entrance Exams 12+
12+ English (City of London Freemen’s School 2014) also
English (Junior King’s 2014) also
12+ English (Junior King’s 2013) also
English (Junior King’s 2012)
12+ English (Junior King’s 2011) also
Maths (City of London Freemen’s School)
12+ Maths (City of London Freemen’s School 2014) also
Maths (Junior King’s 2014) also
12+ Maths (Junior King’s 2013)
Maths (Junior King’s 2012)
12+ Maths (Junior King’s 2011)
English 13+ exams
Firstly, English – Sample Paper 2 (Alleyn’s), 13+ English – Sample Paper 1 (Alleyn’s)
Secondly, 13+English (Bromsgrove 2013)
13+ English (Charterhouse 2004) 12-13+ English (Colfe’s School 2008-9)
13+English (City of London Freemen’s School)
13+ English (City of London Freemen’s School 2012)
13+English (Colfe’s School 2008-9)
English (Dulwich College Specimen Paper A)
13+ English (Dulwich College Specimen Paper B).
English (Dulwich College Specimen Paper C)
13+ English (Dulwich College 2009)
English (Emanuel School)
English – Spelling, Proof Reading, Punctuation (Harrow)
13+ English Section A (King’s College School Wimbledon Pre-test 2019)
English Section B (King’s College School Wimbledon Pre-test 2019)
Lastly, 13+ English Section C (King’s College School Wimbledon 2017 and Pre-test 2019).
English (ISEB Level 2 Paper 1 November 2014) – with mark scheme
13+English (ISEB Level 2 Paper 2 November 2014) – with mark scheme
13+ English (ISEB Level 2 Paper 1 June 2014) – with mark scheme
13+English (ISEB Level 2 Paper 2 June 2014) – with mark scheme
13+ English (ISEB Level 2 Paper 1 January 2014) – with mark scheme
13+English (ISEB Level 2 Paper 2 January 2014) – with mark scheme
13+ English (ISEB Level 2 Paper 1 November 2013)
13+English (ISEB Level 2 Paper 2 November 2013) – with mark scheme
13+ English (ISEB Levels 1&2 Paper 2 2012)
13+English (ISEB Paper 1 Autumn 2013)
13+ English (ISEB Paper 2 Autumn 2013)
13+English Mark Scheme (ISEB Papers 1 and 2 2013)
13+ English (ISEB Paper 1 2012)
English (ISEB Paper 2 2012)
English 13+ exam papers (continued)
Firstly, 13+English (Shrewsbury 2014)
Secondly, 13+ English (St Edward’s 2016)
English (St Edward’s Scholarship 2016)
13+ English (St Edward’s Scholarship 2015)
English (St Edward’s 2014)
13+ English (St Edward’s Scholarship 2013-14).
English (St Edward’s 2013)
13+ English (St Edward’s 2012-13)
English (St Edward’s 2011-12)
Lastly, 13+ English (St Edward’s 2010).
Also see 13-14+ English (Shrewsbury 2013) and 13-14+English as an Additional Language (St Edward’s 2016)
Maths 13+ exam papers
Firstly, 13+ Maths – Sample Paper 2 (Alleyn’s)
Secondly, Maths – Sample Paper 1 (Alleyn’s) and Maths (Bromsgrove School 2011)
Maths (Charterhouse 2004)
13+ Maths (Charterhouse)
Maths – Revised (City of London Freemen’s School 2014).
13+ Maths (City of London Freemen’s School 2014)
Maths (Colfe’s School)
13+ Maths (Dulwich College Specimen Paper A)
Maths (Dulwich College Specimen Paper B)
13+ Maths (Dulwich College Specimen Paper C)
Maths (Dulwich College)
13+ Maths (Dulwich College) (2)
Maths (Emanuel School)
13+ Maths (Haberdashers’ Aske’s 2015)
Lastly, 13+Maths (Hampton Court House).
Maths 13+ exam papers (continued)
Firstly, 13+ Maths Level 1 Non-Calculator Paper (ISEB January 2015)
Secondly, 13+Maths Level 2 (ISEB January 2015)
13+ Maths Level 3 (ISEB January 2015)
Maths Level 1 (ISEB January 2014)
13+ Maths Level 2 (ISEB January 2014)
Maths Level 3 r (ISEB November 2014).
13+ Maths Level 3 (ISEB June 2011)
Maths Level 3 (ISEB January 2011)
13+ Maths Level 3 (ISEB November 2010)
Maths Level 3 (ISEB June 2010)
13+ Maths Level 3 (ISEB January 2010)
Maths Paper I (ISEB February 2006)
13+ Maths Paper 3 Calculator Paper (ISEB February 2006).
Maths Calculator Paper (ISEB February 2004)
13+ Maths (ISEB February 2004)
Maths Section A (King’s College School Wimbledon 2017 and Pre-test 2019)
13+ Maths Section B (King’s College School Wimbledon 2017 and Pre-test 2019)
Lastly, 13+ Maths (Notting Hill & Ealing High School 2017).
Maths 13+ exam papers (continued)
Firstly,13+ Maths (Oundle School 2A 2011). and 13+ Maths (Oundle School 1 2010)
Secondly, Maths (Oundle School 2A 2010) and 13+Maths (Oundle School 1 2009)
13+ Maths (Oundle School 2 2009)
Maths (Oundle School 2 2008)
Maths (Reigate Grammar School 2010)
13+ Maths (Shrewsbury 2014)
Maths (Shrewsbury Sept 2013)
13+ Maths (St Edward’s Scholarship Paper 2 2016)
Maths (St Edward’s Scholarship Paper 2 2015)
Maths (St Edward’s Scholarship Paper 2 2014)
13+ Maths (St Edward’s 2013-14)
Lastly, 13+Maths (St Edward’s Scholarship Paper 2 2013).
Maths 13+ exam papers (continued)
Firstly, 13+ Maths (St Edward’s 2013)
Secondly, 13+Maths (St Edward’s 2012)
13+ Maths (St Edward’s 2011)
Maths (St Edward’s 2010).
13+ Maths (The Perse Upper School 1)
Maths (The Perse Upper School 2)
13+ Maths (The Perse Upper School 3)
Maths (The Perse Upper School 4)
13+ Maths Non-Calculator Paper (Winchester May 2012)
14+ Maths (City of London Freemen’s School December 2012)
14+Maths (City of London Freemen’s School 2012)
Biology 13+ exam papers
Firstly, 13+ Biology (ISEB Level 2 2017)
Secondly, 13+Biology Mark Scheme (ISEB Level 2 2017)
13+ Biology Mark Scheme (ISEB January 2012)
Biology Level 2 (ISEB January 2014)
13+ Biology Level 2 Mark Scheme (ISEB January 2014).
Biology Level 2 (ISEB November 2013)
13+ Biology Level 2 Mark Scheme (ISEB November 2013)
Biology (ISEB January 2012)
13+ Biology (ISEB November 2011)
Biology (ISEB June 2011)
13+ Biology Mark Scheme (ISEB June 2011).
13+Biology (ISEB January 2011)
13+ Biology Mark Scheme (ISEB January 2011)
Biology (ISEB November 2010)
13+ Biology Mark Scheme (ISEB November 2010)
Biology (ISEB June 2010)
13+ Biology Mark Scheme (ISEB June 2010).
Biology (ISEB January 2010)
13+ Biology Mark Scheme (ISEB January 2010)
Biology (ISEB June 2009)
13+ Biology (ISEB June 2008)
Biology (ISEB February 2006)
13+ Biology (Haberdashers’ Aske’s 2015)
13+Biology (Merchant Taylors 2017).
Chemistry 13+ exam papers
13+Chemistry (Haberdashers’ Aske’s 2015)
13+ Chemistry (ISEB Level 2 2017)
13+Chemistry Mark Scheme (ISEB Level 2 2017)
Chemistry (Merchant Taylors 2017)
French 13+ exam papers
13+ French (Alleyn’s School)
13+French – Listening Comprehension (Dulwich College)
13+ French – Reading & Writing (Dulwich College)
13+French – Writing (Emanuel)
13+ French – Reading (Emanuel)
13+French (Kent College)
13+ French (Shrewsbury 2014)
13+French (St Edward’s Scholarship 2016)
13+ French (St Edward’s Scholarship 2015)
13+French (St Edward’s 2014)
13+ French (St Edward’s 2013)
13+ History exam papers
Firstly, History (ISEB Autumn 2013)
Secondly, 13+History (ISEB January 2013)
13+ History Mark Scheme (ISEB January 2013)
History (ISEB November 2012)
13+ History Mark Scheme (ISEB November 2012)
History (ISEB June 2012)
13+ History Mark Scheme (ISEB June 2012).
History (St Edward’s Scholarship 2016)
13+ History (St Edward’s Scholarship 2015)
History (St Edward’s Scholarship 2014)
13+ History (St Edward’s Scholarship 2013)
History (St George’s College Scholarship)
13+ General Paper – History, Geography, Theology (Haberdashers’ Aske’s 2015).
Humanities (Merchant Taylors 2017)
Latin 13+ exam papers
Firstly, 13+ Latin (Dulwich College)
Secondly, 13+ Latin 2017 (Eltham College)
Latin (Emanuel)
13+ Latin (Haberdashers’ Aske’s 2014)
Latin Level 1 (ISEB January 2013)
13+ Latin Level 2 (ISEB January 2013)
Latin Level 3 (ISEB January 2013).
13+ Latin Mark Scheme (ISEB January 2013)
Latin Level 1 (ISEB November 2012)
13+ Latin Level 2 (ISEB November 2012)
Latin Level 3 (ISEB November 2012)
13+ Latin Mark Scheme (ISEB November 2012)
Latin (Merchant Taylors 2017).
13+ Latin (St Edward’s Scholarship 2016)
Latin (St Edward’s Scholarship 2015)
13+ Latin (St Edward’s Scholarship 2014)
Science 13+ exam papers
Science (City of London Freemen’s School)
13+ Science (City of London Freemen’s School 2014)
Science (Dulwich College)
13+ Science (Emanuel School)
Science (ISEB Level 1 2017).
13+ Science Mark Scheme (ISEB Level 1 2017)
Science (St Edward’s Scholarship 2016)
13+ Science (St Edward’s Scholarship 2015)
Science (St Edward’s 2016)
13+ Science (St Edward’s 2014).
Science (St Edward’s 2013)
13+ Science (St Edward’s 2013-14)
Science (St Edward’s 2013)
13+ Science (St Edward’s Scholarship 2011)
Lastly, 13+Science (Whitgift).
Spanish 13+ exam papers
Firstly, 13+ Spanish 2017 (Eltham College)
Secondly, 13+ Spanish – Writing (Emanuel)
Spanish Reading and Writing (ISEB January 2011)
13+ Spanish Speaking (ISEB January 2011)
Spanish Speaking – Examiner’s Copy (ISEB January 2011)
13+ Spanish Mark Scheme (ISEB January 011)
Spanish Reading and Writing (ISEB November 2010).
13+ Spanish Speaking (ISEB November 2010)
Spanish Speaking – Examiner’s Copy (ISEB November 2010)
13+ Spanish Mark Scheme (ISEB November 2010)
Spanish Speaking (ISEB May 2010)
13+ Spanish Speaking – Examiner’s Cpy (ISEB May 2010).
Spanish Mark Scheme (ISEB May/June 2010)
13+ Spanish Speaking (ISEB January 2010)
Spanish Speaking – Examiner’s Copy (SEB January 2010)
13+ Spanish (St Edward’s Scholarship 2015)
Spanish (St Edward’s Scholarship 2014)
13- 14+ Past Papers
13-14+ English (Shrewsbury 2013)
13-14+English as an Additional Language (St Edward’s 2016)
13-14+ English as an Additional Language (St Edward’s 2013)
13-14+ French (Shrewsbury 2013)
14+ Past Papers
14+ English (City of London Freemen’s School)
14+English (St Edward’s 2016)
14+ English (St Edward’s 2015)
14+English (St Edward’s 2013-14)
14+ English (St Edward’s 2012-3)
14+ Maths (City of London Freemen’s School 2012)
14+Maths (St Edward’s 2016)
14+ Maths (St Edward’s 2015)
14+Maths (St Edward’s 2014)
14+ Maths (St Edward’s 2013)
14+Maths, English & French (Monmouth School)
14+ Science (City of London Freemen’s School 2014)
14+Science (St Edward’s 2016)
14+ Science (St Edward’s 2014)
14+Science (St Edward’s 2013)
14+ Spanish (St Edward’s 2013)
11 PLUS MATHS
Firstly, here are some excellent 11+ Maths tips.
Next, the School Entrance Tests 11+ Maths Practice.
11 PLUS VERBAL REASONING
In our opinion these are some of the best 11 plus tips for Verbal Reasoning.
Next, the School Entrance Tests 11+ Verbal Reasoning Practice.
Our book on Passing Verbal Reasoning Tests book.
11 PLUS ENGLISH
Firstly, to improve your literacy skills.
Secondly, practice to improve your spelling and grammar.
Thirdly, some general 11 Plus English Practice.
11 PLUS NON-VERBAL REASONING
We are very proud of our 11 Plus work with the City Kids magazine.
11 PLUS TIPS
Firstly, our top Maths test tips. And here are some useful mental Maths practice.
Also, we hope you enjoy our top tips to improve your literacy skills.
11 PLUS PRACTICE
You will find this to be useful mental Maths practice.
Also, here’s some extra practice to improve your literacy skills and your Spelling and Grammar.
OUR 11 PLUS BLOGS
So, for anyone aspiring to become an 11-plus tutor this blog explains how to do just that.
Next, this blog explains the differences between the GL 11+ CEM 11+ and the Essex 11+ exams.
8 Study Apps to achieve top grades! / CAT Practice Tips Intro. / Everything you need to know about differences in Grammar School applications.
Lucid Reading Test Results. / Top Tips for Successful 11-plus Preparation. / School Open Days. / Now is the best time to start your 11+ Prep for 2019.
How should I prepare for the 11+ Test? / Excelling at the 11+ Verbal Reasoning Test? / Percentage pass marks for the 11-plus.
Scholastic Aptitude Tests. / Some last minute 11 Plus Strategies. / Taking it to the Next 11 Plus Exam.
Numerical Reasoning Test practice
Firstly, Brilliant Passing Numerical Reasoning Tests has plenty of numerical reasoning test practice.
Finally, all my practice aptitude test books are all available on my Author’s Amazon page.
School News
Giving children a say in what and how they learn has shown great benefits, not only to the students but also helps teachers relay information more effectively. This seems to be a very viable approach, especially within the independent school system. As independent schools are not bound to the National Curriculum, they can use this feedback from appointed ‘Dons’ to shape how and what they teach.
Some independent schools appoint learners as what they call a ‘Don’. A ‘Don’ will give feedback to the teacher on what they (and those in their class) are learning and how they are learning. A Don is a student leader in important departments of the school. They are usually associated with academic departments. You would, therefore, get a Don for Maths or Biology, but there may also be a Don for other departments like Library. These Dons can then do the following
- Lead activities for younger learners
- Organise external speakers and organise extracurricular societies
- Pop up at A level choices fairs to tell potential subscribers “what it’s really like”
- Offer heads of department feedback on lessons and curriculum
- Lobby for changes in what and how they are taught
Our Passed Papers 11 plus test papers
Our first 11 plus practice test bundle contains the following 11 plus practice tests:
11 Plus English Test One || 11 Plus Maths Test One || 11 Plus NVR (Non Verbal Reasoning) Test One || 11 Plus Verbal Reasoning Test One.
Our second advanced 11 plus test bundle contains the following 11 plus advanced tests:
11 Plus English Test Two || 11 Plus Maths Test Two || 11 Plus NVR (Non Verbal Reasoning) Test Two || 11 Plus Verbal Reasoning Test Two.
Extra 11 plus English test practice.
Access to the 11 Plus Practice Test Bundle 1:
– 11 Plus English Test One.
– and the 11 Plus Maths Test One.
– 11 Plus NVR Test One.
– and the 11 Plus Verbal Reasoning Test One.
Additional 11 plus verbal reasoning test practice.
– 11 Plus English Test One.
– and the 11 Plus Maths Test One.
– 11 Plus NVR Test One.
– and the 11 Plus Verbal Reasoning Test One.
More 11 Plus Maths test practice.
– 11 Plus English Test One.
– and the 11 Plus Maths Test One.
– 11 Plus NVR Test One.
– and the 11 Plus Verbal Reasoning Test One.
Extra 11 Plus non- verbal reasoning test practice.
– 11 Plus English Test One.
– and the 11 Plus Maths Test One.
– 11 Plus NVR Test One.
– and the 11 Plus Verbal Reasoning Test One.
Extra 11 plus English test practice.
Access to the 11 Plus Practice Test Bundle 2:
– 11 Plus English Test Two.
– and the 11 Plus Maths Test Two.
– 11 Plus NVR Test Two.
– and the 11 Plus Verbal Reasoning Test Two.
Additional 11 plus verbal reasoning test practice.
– 11 Plus English Test Two
– and the 11 Plus Maths Test Two.
– 11 Plus NVR Test Two.
– and the 11 Plus Verbal Reasoning Test Two.
More 11 Plus Maths test practice.
– 11 Plus English Test Two.
– and the 11 Plus Maths Test Two.
– 11 Plus NVR Test Two.
– and the 11 Plus Verbal Reasoning Test Two.
Extra 11 Plus non- verbal reasoning test practice.
– 11 Plus English Test Two.
– and the 11 Plus Maths Test Two.
– 11 Plus NVR Test Two.
– and the 11 Plus Verbal Reasoning Test Two.