The Brainery is a London, UK-based tutoring service that helps children grow in confidence, strengthen their skills, and prepare for entrance exams including the 7+, 8+, and 11+. Our expert tutors make learning engaging, effective, and enjoyable — helping children reach their full potential.

We’re based in London, UK and offer both in-person and online tutoring. We of Saturday morning group classes in Balham, Wandsworth and Kensal Green. Families from across the country join our small-group or one-to-one sessions to prepare for grammar and independent school entrance exams.

We offer tuition in English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning, and Non-Verbal Reasoning. Our lessons also develop comprehension, creative writing, vocabulary, and problem-solving skills — all crucial for success at 11+ and beyond.
We have tailored programmes for the 11+, including school specific strategies, and ones for grammar school entrance such as the Wandsworth test.

The Brainery offers both one-to-one and small-group tutoring. Group sessions help children share ideas and learn collaboratively, while one-to-one lessons are personalised to focus on specific learning needs.

We support children aged 4 to 13, from EYFS, through KS1 and KS2 to Key Stage 3. Our tailored courses help pupils prepare for selective school exams or simply gain confidence in core subjects.

Our 11+ preparation programme builds every skill children need to approach their exams with confidence. We teach English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning, and Non-Verbal Reasoning, combining strong subject knowledge with timed practice, comprehension mastery, and structured creative writing.

Children learn how to analyse questions carefully, plan under time pressure, and apply clear reasoning strategies. We use mock exams, practice papers, and personalised feedback to track progress, strengthen weaker areas, and develop exam resilience.

We also integrate growth mindset coaching — teaching children to stay calm under pressure and approach challenges positively. The result is not only exam readiness but genuine academic confidence.

The ISEB Common Pre-Test is a computer-based assessment used by many top UK independent schools to evaluate pupils in English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning, and Non-Verbal Reasoning. It typically takes place in Year 6 and is adaptive — meaning the questions adjust to each child’s ability level.

At The Brainery, we prepare students through interactive online sessions that mirror the format and style of the ISEB test. Lessons include:

• Timed digital practice using question types similar to the real exam

• Comprehension and grammar drills to strengthen reading accuracy and inference

• Reasoning strategy coaching for pattern recognition and logical thinking

• Confidence-building mock sessions to help children manage timing and nerves

We also teach exam technique — how to use elimination, manage adaptive question levels, and approach trickier multiple-choice formats — so children enter the test feeling comfortable and confident.

The Brainery prepares children for a wide range of grammar school and independent school entrance exams across the UK.

Our students have successfully gained places to selective and independent schools including:

• London day schools: Dulwich College, Alleyn’s, Whitgift, Emanuel, JAGS, Trinity, City of London School, North London Collegiate, St Paul’s Girls’ School, Highgate School, Latymer Upper, Godolphin and Latymer, GDST schools including Putney, Wimbledon and SCHS.

• Grammar schools: Tiffin School, Sutton Grammar, Wilson’s School, Nonsuch High School, Wallington County Grammar, Colyton Grammar, King Edward VI Grammar, Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar

• ISEB Pre-Test and other independent schools: Eton College, Harrow School, Wellington College, St Paul’s School, Tonbridge School, Sevenoaks School, Charterhouse, Winchester College

We tailor lessons to each school’s exam format and level of challenge, helping children practise the specific paper styleor digital test structure used by their target schools.

Every child is different, but we usually recommend beginning structured 11+ preparation in Year 4 or early Year 5. This allows time to build the key skills — comprehension, reasoning, writing, and arithmetic — before focusing on timed exam practice later.

For families joining later, we offer intensive holiday courses and booster programmes to close skill gaps quickly and efficiently. Starting earlier helps children feel confident, rather than rushed, and allows tutors to focus on deeper understanding rather than last-minute revision.

The Brainery’s 11+ programme combines expert academic teaching with personalised support and confidence coaching, ensuring children excel both in exams and in their wider learning.

Key features that make our programme unique include:

1. Experienced Tutors – All our tutors specialise in 11+ and ISEB preparation, with a deep understanding of exam formats, question styles, and common pitfalls.

2. Tailored Learning – Lessons are adapted to each child’s strengths, weaknesses, and pace, ensuring targeted skill development in English, Maths, and Reasoning.

3. Exam Strategy & Practice – We use mock exams, timed practice, and past papers to build familiarity with the test format and improve time management.

4. Growth Mindset & Confidence Building – We teach children to approach challenges positively, develop resilience, and remain calm under exam pressure.

5. Integrated Skills Development – Beyond exam practice, we focus on comprehension, creative writing, vocabulary enrichment, and logical reasoning skills that benefit children long-term.

6. Parental Support & Feedback – Regular progress updates, clear guidance, and practical home activities keep parents informed and engaged in their child’s learning journey.

7. Holistic Approach – We nurture not only academic ability but also curiosity, independence, and problem-solving, preparing children for school success and lifelong learning.

This combination of academic rigour, personalised tuition, and confidence coaching ensures that children don’t just perform well in exams — they gain skills, self-belief, and strategies they can carry forward in every subject.

Prices vary depending on the programme and class size. Please get in touch for our latest rates and available spaces.

Yes — our online sessions are live, interactive, and engaging. Children can see and speak with their tutor in real time, work on shared documents, and access digital resources for revision and practice.

We provide high-quality worksheets, past papers, comprehension texts, and writing prompts created by experienced teachers. Each student’s resources are tailored to their goals, interests and current level.

At The Brainery, confidence is as important as academic ability. Our approach is tailored to each child, focusing on progress over perfection:

1. Celebrating Small Wins – Children are encouraged to recognise and celebrate every achievement, whether mastering a tricky comprehension passage or solving a complex reasoning problem.

2. Personalised Feedback – Tutors provide clear, constructive feedback after every lesson, highlighting strengths and gently addressing areas for improvement.

3. Growth Mindset Coaching – Lessons integrate strategies to help children embrace challenges, learn from mistakes, and develop resilience, making them more confident learners.

4. Regular Progress Tracking – We monitor each child’s development through assessments, quizzes, and practice papers, adjusting lessons to target gaps and accelerate improvement.

5. Parental Engagement – Parents receive updates on progress, along with guidance for supporting learning at home, creating a consistent, encouraging environment.

6. Skill Transfer – Beyond exams, children learn critical thinking, problem-solving, and self-reflection skills that boost confidence in all areas of learning.

By combining personalised teaching, consistent feedback, and mindset coaching, The Brainery helps children feel capable, motivated, and excited to learn — preparing them not just for exams, but for long-term academic success.

Yes, The Brainery tutors are experienced in supporting children with neurodivergent learning profiles, including ADHD, dyslexia, dyscalculia, and other learning differences. Lessons are tailored to individual needs, using multi-sensory approaches, structured support, and paced learning to ensure every child can thrive.

We use a variety of strategies, such as visual aids, interactive exercises, chunking information, and alternative explanations, to match each child’s preferred learning style. This ensures that every lesson is engaging and effective.

Absolutely. Our tutors work closely with families to adapt preparation strategies, provide extra practice in areas of difficulty, and build confidence so neurodivergent learners can perform at their best in exams.