Which grammar schools do you prepare children for?

We prepare children for Reading School and Kendrick School, the two super-selective state grammar schools in Reading, and for grammar schools in nearby counties. Reading School and Kendrick use different exam boards and formats, so we teach for each school specifically.

When are the 2027-entry 11-plus tests?

For 2027 entry, Kendrick School's test is on Friday 18 September 2026, and Reading School's main test is on 16 July 2026. Registration for Reading School runs 27 March to 17 May 2026, and applications for Kendrick run 1 May to 1 July 2026. We rewrite these dates each admissions cycle.

Do you run group classes or one-to-one?

Both. We keep groups small so a tutor can see how each child thinks, and we offer one-to-one where a child needs focused support.

Is my child likely to get a place?

It depends on the school and where you live. Kendrick has offered no place to a child living outside its designated area since 2013, whatever the score. We will tell you the honest position for your address before you commit.

11-plus · Reading

11-plus tuition in Reading, with the honest odds included

Learn to Excel prepares Reading children for 11-plus entry to Reading School and Kendrick School, and to grammar schools in nearby counties. For 2027 entry, Kendrick's test is on Friday 18 September 2026 (GL Assessment, no creative writing) and Reading School's main test is on 16 July 2026 (FSCE Ltd, 138 day places). We teach for each school specifically, because the two use different boards and formats. Every exam fact on this site is dated and linked to the school's own admissions page.

The two Reading grammar schools

Reading has two super-selective state grammar schools. They select purely on assessment, and both are heavily oversubscribed. The tests, the boards and the timelines differ for each. A child preparing for Kendrick is not automatically prepared for Reading School.

Kendrick School

Girls' grammar. GL Assessment, no creative writing. Test on 18 September 2026 for 2027 entry.

Kendrick 11-plus guide →

Reading School

Boys' grammar. FSCE Ltd assessment, 138 day places. Main test 16 July 2026 for 2027 entry.

Reading School 11-plus guide →

How we prepare children

We teach the concepts behind each paper, not just the paper. A child who understands why an answer is right can handle a question they have never seen, which is exactly what these tests are designed to find. Drilling past papers alone does not build that, and parents tell us repetition centres are the main reason they move their child.

We work in small groups and one-to-one. Verbal and non-verbal reasoning, English and maths are taught in the format each school actually uses, and we are honest with you at every stage about how your child is progressing.

Guides for parents

Three questions come up more than any other. We have answered each one plainly.

Standardised scores explained, and why there is no 11-plus pass mark.
Does my child need a tutor? A structured way to assess your own child.
When not to hire an 11-plus tutor, from a tutoring centre.

The honest part

The 11-plus is a ranked, competitive test, not a pass-or-fail exam, and no school publishes a fixed pass mark. Where a child lives can matter more than any score. We would rather tell you that early than take a fee for preparation that cannot lead to a place.

This admissions cycle