Welcome to Smart Learning Tuition

Unlock your child's future and go green!

How can we help?
At Smart Learning Tuition, we provide uniquely designed courses to train children in the four main subject areas tested in grammar and independent school entrance exams. Our aim is to stretch each child's ability and academic performance to a level 1-2 years higher than that taught at Key Stage 2. We run courses for Year 4 and Year 5 children. The Year 5 course has an optional element that continues into the start of Year 6 so that we can continue to provide support and guidance to both parents and children right up to the last stages of the entrance exams.

What are grammar schools?
Grammar schools are FREE state schools which select their pupils on the basis of academic ability. They are the only state schools that are allowed by law to select all their pupils on the grounds of high academic ability. Pupils in Year 6 of primary school can choose to sit an exam known as the 11-plus which determines whether or not they get a place.

Why do grammar schools select?
The selection procedure allows grammar schools to pick the brightest children in the local area. Consequently, these schools produce some of the best performance in examinations and can usually be found ranked high up in the official government Schools and Colleges Performance Data. According to the National Grammar Schools Association, pupils in England's 164 grammar schools produced more than half the total number of A grade A-levels in 'harder' A-level subjects than those produced by pupils in up to 2,000 comprehensive schools.

How do grammar schools compare with independent schools?
Grammar schools usually have high academic results on account of their selection process. They are the only type of school in the state system that perform anywhere near as well as independent schools, with their performance often better than their independent counterparts. However, as grammar schools are state funded, they may not have the same resources and quality of facilities as independent schools.

What sort of child would be best placed in a grammar school or independent school?
The children who are most likely to thrive at grammar or independent schools are those who:

• are hard-working and persevering
• are self-motivated
• display a genuine love for learning, e.g. read avidly for pleasure and choose to read to deepen their understanding of newly acquired knowledge
• are able to grasp new concepts quickly
• have a healthy sense of competition and are resilient enough to make progress alongside other high achieving pupils
• thrive on high expectations and challenges

Which grammar schools should you choose?
While we prepare for all grammar schools, you should have some idea of the the grammar schools you wish to target for your child. These will be based on your location, the schools' catchment policies and the distance you or your child are willing to travel. In many instances there are private minibus companies that provide a door-to-door service, but this may be an expensive option. You will need to do your own research and decide which schools are practical for your family and child. While we can guide you once your child has enrolled with us, please spend some time reviewing the information in our Grammar Schools section, which contains a summary of the key information you will need to know for schools local to us. This information is updated annually around April. You should also review the national League Table as a guide to each grammar school's performance and ranking. The key statistic to focus on is the percentage of A/A* grades achieved at A-level.

Here is a list of the closest Grammar Schools to us:

Tiffin School (Boys)
The Tiffin Girls' School
Langley Grammar School
Herschel Grammar School
St Bernard's Catholic Grammar School
Upton Court Grammar School
Queen Elizabeth's School (Boys)
The Henrietta Barnett School (Girls)
Sutton Grammar School (boys)
Wilson's School (boys)
Nonsuch High School for Girls
Wallington County Grammar School (boys)
Wallington High School for Girls
Greenshaw High School (mixed) – this is a partially selective school
Buckinghamshire Schools

Who determines the admissions procedure for grammar schools?
Each school decides its own admissions procedure, including: the style and content of the exams that pupils sit; catchment policies; pass mark thresholds; the procedure for allocating places; etc.  Some schools that are in close proximity may group together into a consortium to have a common entrance procedure and/or a common set of 11+ exams which are held on the same day at each school.

What does the 11+ test consist of?
The main subject areas tested by schools are English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-verbal Reasoning. 11+ exams will usually consist of at least two of these subjects, although many schools are now opting to include three or all four subjects.

Who sets the 11+ exams?
Some schools use external examining bodies to set their exams (e.g. GL Assessment, The Centre for Evaluation and Monitoring – known as CEM); others write their own exams; or it could be a combination of both.

Why choose Smart Learning Tuition?
Preparing for grammar school 11+ exams is an anxious and stressful process for most parents and children. At Smart Learning Tuition our philosophy is simple: we treat each pupil like our own child. We take this responsibility very seriously and we are extremely passionate about ensuring that each child passes. Your child will, therefore, have the same experienced tutor for the whole academic year, who will guide you through the process and provide continual feedback to you as necessary.

Our aim is to build a relationship with each child and parent, so that we all work together as a team.  We advise parents from the outset that without this commitment and involvement in the process, no child can pass the 11+ exam. If we feel that there is a problem, we will inform you immediately. In some cases we may even advise that a child is withdrawn from tuition if we feel he/she is not capable of competing in an 11+exam or if the child is not receiving the necessary home support. It is this upfront and honest approach that has made us successful at what we do.

Live lessons using Zoom but face-to-face mock exams
During the Covid-19 pandemic of 2020, we switched from face-to-face lessons to providing live tuition lessons via Zoom videoconferencing, with all materials posted in advance. This method of teaching proved to be extremely effective and our Grammar School results surpassed previous years, with many children also securing places at top Independent Schools with scholarships. During this time we also developed online testing capabilities, which are now a vital part of our teaching toolkit. Based on this, in 2021 we took a decision to provide ALL lessons permanently using Zoom. The exception to this are mock exams. Mock exams for Years 5 and 6 will continue to be conducted in a hall environment to simulate real exam conditions.

Benefits of online teaching
The pandemic has permanently changed the way we all now work and communicate. Video conferencing and tele-working has now become the norm. Many companies now do not require their employees to be in offices five days a week. GPs now regularly conduct remote consultations. News interviews are often done via Zoom. These are all examples of how technology can be employed to facilitate a better experience for all concerned. For us, the use of Zoom has provided many benefits, with little or no downsides. Some of these benefits include:

• Getting parents involved when necessary: Teaching in a classroom is all very well. However, imagine as a parent, if you could listen into the lesson when required so that you could help your child later with their homework. Or, if a child is too shy to ask questions, you could assist and give them the necessary encouragement to contribute, thereby enabling them to grow in confidence. Zoom makes this practical and easy to do.
• We can hold ad hoc meetings with parents as often as we like to discuss issues and misunderstandings your child has.
• Zoom allows us to focus entirely on teaching during lessons, leaving tests to be completed online after the end of the lesson.
• The tests can then be computer marked and the results uploaded to the child's profile page on our website, giving instant feedback to parents and allowing them to go through their child's mistakes and focus on their child's weaknesses.
• The sessions can be interactive, with children looking up the meaning of words immediately when required.
• All of this can be done from the comfort of your own home and saves considerable amount of time and money by not having to drop off and pick up your child to and from a physical centre. Prior to the transition to Zoom, we had children travelling 1-2 hours each way to our centre. Think about the journeys you save on cold, dark, wet winter nights!
• You are also reducing your carbon footprint and helping to save the environment, which is, frankly, something we should all be quite passionate about nowadays!

Given all of these positive benefits with no tangible drawbacks, teaching via Zoom is clearly a no-brainer!

However, in the end, there is only one deciding factor: Can we help your child get into the top grammar and independent schools in this country? If you are reading this after being recommended by another parent, then the answer is clearly, yes!

Face-to-face lessons

Despite the advantages of online teaching mentioned above, we appreciate some parents are still keen on face-to-face lessons for their children. To cater for these parents, we offer limited face-to-face sessions at Wolf Fields Primary School, Norwood Road, Southall, UB2 4JS at weekends. We are happy to provide further information when we speak to you.

How can your child join Smart Learning Tuition?
To register your interest in your child joining us for either our Year 4 or Year 5 course, please first complete our New Enquiry form. We will then contact you to go through the enrolment process.