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With an 8 Plus tutor by their side, your child will be confident and capable of tackling the 8+ school entrance examination and interview process, thanks to thorough preparation both academically and socially.

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Our Tutors

Experienced 8 Plus tutors

When you partner with Lionheart, you’ll be tapping into the very best tutors for the 8+, whether you decide to have sessions in-person or online. With vast experience teaching primary school children, our tutors are background checked and interviewed carefully to ensure the best tutoring for your child.

Every tutor is carefully matched to your child’s individual needs and personality, ensuring an effective learning dynamic that delivers results. 8 Plus tutors will carry out a full assessment before sessions begin to target areas where your child excels, and discover aspects that require improvement ahead of the examination and interview.

Our Approach

Why partner with an 8+ tutor for school entrance preparation?

  • Why 8+ entrance matters

    Gaining admission to a selective independent school has the potential to transform a child’s life by giving them the very best start. In these early formative years of their life, school entrance examinations can overwhelm a child, and the parents too, as expectations are high. This is especially true if there are limited places at a school and entrance rests largely on the quality of written examinations, as well as an interview.

  • What an 8+ tutor provides

    The 8+ might be your first insight into school placement and assessments, and it can be difficult to know where to start, with lots of questions that need answering. Partnering with an 8+ tutor for your child gives you the support you need when it comes to assessing the level they are currently performing at, administering 8+ past papers, and giving 8+ tips and tricks so you can approach it as a family with confidence.

  • How we approach 8+ preparation

    Most schools will require an English and Maths examination, in addition to a formal interview with your child. We understand that children should not be placed under great pressure in the run-up to a school entrance examination, and Lionheart 8+ tutors are here to assist your child in the most practical way to become secure in all of the core areas.

    Preparation is always age-appropriate, and you’ll be told everything to know about the 8+ to maximise your chances of attaining the school placement of your choice. We balance academic preparation with building confidence in each of our 8+ tutoring sessions, helping your child to approach the school entrance assessment feeling ready and capable.

What does private 8+ tutoring include?

We provide tailored support across all key components of the 8+ process, including:

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English and maths

Our 8 Plus tutors will ensure that your child meets the levels required for an 8 Plus entrance examination across all of the core topics. This includes English comprehension, grammar, dictation, spelling, handwriting, reading, and writing. Maths also features heavily in the majority of school entrance examinations, so you can be sure our 8 Plus tutors will work closely with your child to ensure complete understanding of every aspect likely to be covered, including fractions, decimals, mental arithmetic, and basic geometry.

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Exam papers and reasoning techniques

Lionheart tutors are familiar with the 8 Plus entrance process, and they will deploy a range of learning materials and techniques, such as 8 Plus exam papers from other schools. This gives your child an insight into what can be expected during the assessment, so they can become familiar with the format. Reasoning is a technique that schools often use to assess children, both verbal and non-verbal, so 8+ tutors will dedicate a portion of the sessions to setting tasks designed to demystify this aspect, whether it's grouping objects, completing patterns, or drawing mirror images.

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Interview preparation

One final aspect of school entrance preparation is the interview. Even for an adult, an interview can be nerve-wracking, but our tutors know exactly how to help your child feel comfortable in interview situations and speak naturally. Interviews may be formal one-to-one, but at this age, they may also take on the form of an informal assessment, depending on the school. Our tutors will give your child the confidence to be themselves in any situation, letting their unique personality shine through in the best way.

Every session is conducted with the student in mind and will move at their pace so they never feel overwhelmed by the process.

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About Lionheart 8+ entrance exam tutors

Lionheart Education 8 Plus tutors have been selected from a large pool of talent, with only 1% of tutors who apply being accepted. Each 8 Plus tutor has extensive experience working with children of this age, with a passion for explaining concepts clearly and in an age-appropriate way. In addition, tutors undergo an interview and multiple reference checks before they begin working with families in person in London or online.

Your 8 Plus tutor will give you a valuable insight into the school you wish to apply to, and will go the extra mile to make sure that your child is exam-ready to the best of their ability. Most of our 8 Plus tutors have a background in primary education in state or primary schools, giving them the strong foundations to deliver sessions that exceed more than subject knowledge. Whether you want your child to be better prepared for the examination or just want the reassurance that they are fully equipped for success at this crucial point in their education, a Lionheart 8 Plus tutor will ensure every session is tailored to your child’s needs

Our Tutors

Your 8+ questions answered

  • When should we start preparing for the 8+?

    Ideally, preparation should begin as early as September of Year 1, which allows for a gradual approach that reduces stress and helps children develop the skills they need steadily over time. An early start enables comprehensive coverage of all exam areas without feeling rushed. We can also offer extra sessions in the run-up to the assessment itself to ensure your child is well-grounded in every aspect of the 8 Plus.

  • What happens during 8+ interviews and assessment days?

    For the 8+, interviews can be formal or informal, and they aim to provide a balanced understanding of your child’s unique personality, their skills and interests, as well as how they engage with adults and their peers. Assessment involves verbal and non-verbal reasoning, and may include storytelling and puzzle challenges.

  • Does my child's age within the school year matter?

    Yes, age is a factor that schools look at, as there are developmental differences between older children and younger children within the same year group. Schools are aware of this and will adjust their expectations, as well as the assessment technique, to cater to this difference. 

  • Should we apply to multiple schools for the 8+?

    With so much competition for places at independent schools, it’s natural for parents to apply to multiple schools to increase their chances. Our 8 Plus tutoring covers all of the basics for examinations, but we can also provide specialist advice and sessions if you want to apply to specific, well-known schools.

  • Does my child's age within the school year matter?

    Age can be a factor, as older children within the year group may have a developmental advantage. However, schools are aware of these differences and typically adjust their expectations or scoring based on a child’s birth month.

  • Do 8+ tutors also cover verbal and non-verbal reasoning?

    Reasoning forms a key part of many assessments, whether it’s through a written examination paper where skills are tested, or as part of the interview process, where questions and thought-experiments are more informal. Reasoning can be unfamiliar to a child at first, but through one-to-one sessions with an 8+ tutor, they will be much less daunting with practice. 

  • Will tutoring put too much pressure on my child at this age?

    The best kind of tutoring for 8+ should feel both structured and age-appropriate rather than swamping them with exam technique. 8+ preparation with our tutors will be fun and engaging, building skills and helping them feel more comfortable with the overall process. It’s no surprise that children who are more familiar with the assessment requirements in advance have higher rates of success at school entrance examinations and interviews.

Hear from our families

For over three decades, we’ve had the privilege of supporting families through their most important educational decisions. Here’s what parents say about their journey with Lionheart.

As first-time parents navigating London's prep school landscape, we felt completely out of our depth. Lionheart didn't just prepare our son for his exams - they guided us through the entire process with such expertise and care. The tutor understood exactly how to engage a energetic six-year-old while building the academic foundations he needed.

The Patel Family, son now at Latymer Prep

When we started with Lionheart, our daughter was bright but lacked confidence in formal learning situations. The transformation over eight months was remarkable - not just academically, but in her belief in herself. She walked into her entrance exams with genuine excitement rather than anxiety. We couldn't be more grateful for the patient, expert guidance that helped her secure her place.

Sarah M., Mother, daughter now at Francis Holland School

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