Established in 2007, Keystone Tutors is one of the UK’s leading private tutoring organisations. Here is a sample of the 8+ tutors that we represent. They are predominantly based in London and work online with families based outside of London or overseas. Below you will also find details of articles and FAQs relevant to the 8+.
Emily is an experienced tutor who joined the team in 2017 and has billed over 1,800 hours with us. Emily has taught in England as well as abroad. She not only helps students with 11+ and 13+ entrance exams but also with English and Spanish up to A Level.
Alex joined Keystone in 2016 having graduated with a First Class Degree. Since starting at Keystone he has taught over 3,600 hours with more than 100 families and teaches all the way up from 11+ - A Level.
Jonny is an Oxford graduate and is currently studying for a PhD in Italian Studies at Cambridge. He teaches languages as well as English and Maths. He is a passionate actor and writer who loves to work on theatrical projects outside of tutoring.
Seyi studied Geography at the University of Oxford and is a qualified Teacher. She tutors English, Maths and Geography to a wide range of students and also assists with Oxbridge applications. She is has an engaging and encouraging tutoring style.
Robbie is a Professional English Tutor with a love for writing and for the theatre. He teaches from the Primary Level up to A Level.
Alexander has a Masters from UCL and is an experienced tutor with a passion for teaching. He aims to instil a love of learning in all his students and is patient and enthusiastic.
Amy is an experienced tutor having worked across primary year groups in London. With a passion for theatre, she utilises both her academic background and creative skills to develop a stimulating and enriching learning environment for students.
Matilda is an experienced tutor with an impressive track record. She is enthusiastic and encouraging and her students grow in confidence and self assurance under her guidance, really preparing them for their exams.
Abigail has been tutoring since 2012 and has taught a range of subjects and age groups. She has always loved learning and aims to enthuse her students about their studies.
Freya is a qualified Primary Teacher who also has considerable tutoring experience. She is warm and encouraging and aims to help her students become independent learners.
Amy is a tutor and director with a passion for theatre. She aims to equip her students with examination and analytical skills and also to inspire them with a genuine enthusiasm for their subjects.
Naomi graduated with a first-class Drama degree in 2017. She has worked with young people for years and has a very encouraging and motivating tutoring approach. Naomi teaches across the age range and helps students develop confidence in their abilities.
James is an experienced tutor with a PhD in English and a Classics degree from Cambridge. James understands the importance of building strong relationships in order for his students to get the most out of his lessons.
Lucy is a highly engaging tutor with a degree in English and a Masters in Acting. She believes in unlocking the joy of learning and helping her students grow in confidence.
Prior to joining Keystone Steph was a primary school teacher. She has a wealth of experience in working with students in Years 1 to 6. She has tutored over 2,800 hours with us and also assists with our 7+ and 8+ assessments.
Paige is an English graduate from Durham University who teaches from the 7+/8+ level through to A Level. She joined Keystone in 2017 and has taught over 3,100 hours, helping more than 200 families.
Le-My is an Oxford graduate with a great passion for languages and literature. She has considerable tutoring experience and teaches French as well as English, Maths and Mandarin.
A graduate from King's College London, Jessica is an experienced entrance test tutor who joined the team in 2015 but has been teaching since 2011. She has taught over 2,900 hours with Keystone and worked for over 120 families.
Natasha is a first-class English and History graduate with several years tutoring experience. She loves nothing more than sharing her passion for learning with her students. Natasha is an avid reader and writer and is currently working on her first novel.
Sarah is a Cambridge graduate who teaches a wide variety of subjects across a range of ages. Her sessions are goal-focused as well as being engaging and fun.
Alice is an Oxford graduate with a passion for academia and learning. She enjoys working with children across the age range and can also help with Oxbridge preparation. Alice is completing a PhD in archaeology alongside her tutoring work.
Kathleen has been teaching for over 15 years in both primary and secondary schools. She aims to instill self-confidence in her students and also help them develop creative independence.
Anne-Marie is a qualified Teacher and experienced tutor. She has an MA in Educational Leadership and is passionate about helping her students develop and learn.
William is a primary level tutor who worked as a Teaching Assistant at Garden House for 3 years. William uses a variety of learning techniques and helps build confidence, belief and aspiration in his students.
Kayleigh is an English Teacher with seven years of classroom experience. She is now tutoring whilst completing a PhD in English Literature.
Kira has tutored and mentored for over a decade. As an artist, her lessons are creative and engaging. She works across the age range and with students of all abilities.
Lee has been teaching for the past six years, preparing students for a range of schools and exams. Her patience and enthusiasm have been praised by her past pupils.
Throughout Kate's career in teaching she has worked with students from the 7+ level up to degree level. She has a passion for English and has huge amounts of experience working with students both face-to-face and online.
Celina has been teaching in various prep schools in London for the last seven years. She gained huge amounts of experience here preparing children for examinations and during the primary years. She now tutors online, whilst based in Munich.
Kristine has been teaching for many years, with a focus on teaching English as a second language. She has worked with students of different age ranges from all over the world meaning that she works to tailor each lesson to the individuals needs and learning styles.
Holly is a Cambridge educated tutor who covers a wide range of subjects. She aims to instill confidence within her students and encourages them to be intellectually independent.
Kathryn is a qualified Teacher with years of experience. She aims to stretch her tutees' academic ability and to equip them with the tools required to tackle exams with clarity and confidence.
Bryony's engaging and supportive teaching style helps to give students confidence. She began tutoring whilst at school and is committed to tutoring for the long term.
Eleanor is a charismatic and engaging tutor. At interview, we were particularly impressed by her passion for English and History and her desire to enthuse others in these subjects.
Nicky completed the level 5 Diploma in teaching learners with specific learning difficulties in 2014. Over the years she has worked at Emerson House, Laidlaw Education, Highfield and Brookham Prep School.
James tutors alongside reading Dentistry at King’s College London. He believes that tuition should be a team effort between the tutor and tutee and loves to see his students grow in confidence and academic ability.
Gregory is a passionate mathematician who has tutored for over 6 years. He is also an artist and sculptor. He aims to make learning maths interesting and fun.
Rana is an extremely adept Primary Level Teacher/tutor with 13 years of teaching experience under her belt.
Jason is experienced Teacher who has spent over two decades in the classroom. He aims to motivate his tutees and give them the confidence and growth mindset they need to help them realise their academic potential.
Dhananjay is a Cambridge graduate and a gifted linguist. He teaches from the 11+ - university level. He is currently a full-time tutor.
Tristan is a highly enthusiastic and diligent tutor. He possesses strong communicative abilities which enable him to explain even the most difficult things with clarity.
Leo is an Oxford History graduate and has a wealth of experience of teaching the subject, as well as English, Maths, Science, Geography and RS up to the 13+ level. He has worked with Keystone since 2011 and has taught over 1,000 hours since he started.
Sarah is a Primary School teacher with 15 years of experience. She has taught in mainstream and SEN schools and is a very supportive and committed tutor.
Rowland is a passionate Maths tutor who loves nothing more than enthusing his students. His other love is Music and he fits in writing pop songs alongside his teaching.
Jason is an experienced tutor, who has worked with students preparing for the 11+, all the way up to A Level. He encourages students to take an active role in their learning, to ensure they are fully engaged.
Rob is a primary level tutor with a range of teaching experience. He is also a linguist and a qualified lawyer. He has recently returned to tutoring as his passion lies in education.
Annabel is an Oxford educated tutor who has helped students across the age and subject range. She is enthusiastic and motivating and believes that enjoyment is the key to effective learning.
Katie is a first class graduate who is also a qualified teacher, obtaining her PGCE from King's College London. She is personable, diligent and well versed in the school curricula and has taught 2,500 hours through Keystone.
Lydia is a highly experienced and qualified teacher. She tutors alongside her a part-time teaching role at local primary school. At interview we were impressed by her supportive and engaging approach.
Rebecca is an Oxford University educated tutor who teaches English, Modern Languages and Maths. She has taught over 2,000 hours since joining Keystone as a full-time tutor in 2017.
"My son has enjoyed working with William and looks forward to his sessions with him. He is great at engaging my son and helps him see the goal and to help him feel he has the tools to achieve them. We feel William has been great for our son's confidence and to feel he is ready to take on the 8+. William has a lovely manner - directed but not too stern, and a kind and encouraging approach. "
Mother of a Year 2 student"The lesson was great, thanks! My daughter said she was 'amazing' (this is high praise from a quiet 7 year old)."
Mother of Year 3 studentWant to know more about our tutors? Contact us today to discuss your requirements.
The Seven and Eight Plus simplified
Originally, the 7+ was designed for girls who traditionally mature quicker than boys, for whom the 8+ was designed. However, some boys’ schools now use both examinations. We would recommend opting for the 8+ if your child is a relatively slower developer, giving another year to grow in confidence and prepare for assessment. Remember that failure at this age can be damaging to confidence so, unless your child is a robust character, trying the 7+ first may not be wise.
How do I Know Whether My Child Should Take the 7 Plus or 8 Plus?
Historically boys would sit for the 8+ and girls for the 7+. This was based around the fact that it was traditionally accepted that boys mature a little later than girls at this age. Assessing them later meant that they had more time to develop and show their true potential. However, nowadays many schools offer both 7+ and 8+ entry and as such parents have the option to consider which might be most suitable.
Webinar: Choosing the Right Senior School for Your Child
Keystone's Founder and Director, Will Orr-Ewing, will be joined by Keystone's Director of Education, Ed Richardson, and our special guest Sophie Langdale, Director of Admissions and Communications at Radley College, to discuss different senior school options. Sophie has previously run Admissions at top day school Magdalen College School and top all-girls boarding school Wycombe Abbey so brings a wealth of experience and expertise to this discussion.
Webinar: School Closures and 2021 Exams
Keystone's Head of Consultancy (Harriet Blomefield) was joined by our Director of Education (Ed Richardson) and Director of Keystone Asia (Jenny McGowan) to discuss what they know so far in relation to summer 2021 exams and what this means for student preparation. They also shared their top tips for setting up effective home schooling.
The 8+ exams are a competitive entrance exam used by top independent schools in the UK, for entry into Year 4. Typically, students sit two exams, one in English and the other in Maths, although some schools also include a reasoning component and the academic assessments is often combined with an interview and/or a group based activity. Most English exams include English comprehension, a short creative writing piece as well as some grammar tasks. The Maths exam tends to focus on basic number operations. The tasks will have their roots in Key Stage 1 of the UK national curriculum.
The exams are typically taken in January, while your child is in year 3. However, it is important to note that the timings of the exams does differ from school to school, so do check the admissions page on their website!
Read more about the 8+ exams here.
Harrodian (15 – 20 places)
Garden House (small intake)
Sussex House (36 places)
Dulwich College (7+: 45 places / 8+: 6-10 places)
King’s College School (7+: 54 places / 8+: 14 places)
St Paul’s Junior School
St Philip’s School (7+: 10 places / 8+: 10 places)
Wetherby Prep (7+: 20 places / 8+: 60 places)
Westminster Cathedral Choir School
Westminster Under School
Keystone Tutors has a proven track record of helping students who are approaching 8+ exams. At Keystone Tutors we recommend that 8+ tutoring is thoughtfully targeted and delivered by a tutor with knowledge of the primary curriculum, experience of working with students of this age group and detailed knowledge of the differences between each school's assessment format.
Tutors we represent have experience in supporting children to succeed at the 8+ exams, tailoring their approach to suit your child’s needs. They can focus on ensuring your child covers all the topics they will be examined on, and work to develop their confidence and speed at answering questions under time pressure. They will take your child through relevant sample papers, help them to practice and provide detailed feedback to keep you informed of their progress.
You can read more about the Keystone Approach here.
The tutors we represent are able to deliver in-person tuition within central London. For those outside of central London we offer online tutoring.
The tutors we represent are well versed in delivering online tuition, using videoconferencing and an interactive whiteboard. This gives students, wherever they are in the world, access to experienced, high quality tutors who are familiar with the requirements of 8 plus exams.