8 Plus Tutors
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Established in 2007, Keystone Tutors is one of the UK’s leading private tutoring organisations. With offices in London, Hong Kong and Singapore, we work with a range of the UK's most experienced 8+ tutors who specialise in preparing children for entrance exams for leading UK independent prep schools. The tutors we work with have extensive experience in working with young students and have a proven track record of helping children build academic confidence in preparation for the 8+ entrance exam.
Here is a sample of the 8+ tutors we represent:
Professional
Kathleen
Kathleen
Kathleen joined Keystone as a full time professional tutor in 2019 and has successfully prepared hundreds of students both in person and online for 8+ entrance exams. Prior to joining Keystone, Kathleen was a primary school teacher. She has a thorough knowledge of the UK Primary curriculum scope and sequence and how it relates to the 8+.
Professional
Steph
Steph
Prior to joining Keystone Steph was a primary school teacher. She has an excellent grounding in the syllabus required for the eight plus and experienced first-hand what the schools require from the children sitting these entrance exams. Steph is patient and creative and focuses on helping each child build up their confidence and enjoyment in learning throughout her sessions.
Professional
Freya
Freya
Freya is a qualified Primary Teacher who has worked with over 60 Keystone families, teaching more than 900 hours. She is warm and encouraging and aims to help her students become independent learners. Freya has considerable experience in preparing primary children for 8+ school entrance exams; dedicating many hours to assessing children’s progress, pinpointing educational gaps and plotting out next steps.
Professional
Jessica
Jessica
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 5,700 hours with Keystone and worked for over 190 families.
Professional
Isobel
Isobel
Isobel holds a PGCE and comes to Keystone from one of London's top prep schools. She has taught children across the ability spectrum, and brings this wealth of experience from the classroom to tutoring. She is lively and sparky in her approach.
Professional
Amy
Amy
Amy is an experienced tutor having worked across primary year groups in London. She has helped 40 Keystone families and taught 1,800 hours to date. With a passion for theatre, she utilises both her academic background and creative skills to develop a stimulating and enriching learning environment for students.
Professional
Sam
Sam
Sam is a highly personable individual who teaches across the age range. He specialises in English, EFL and 11+. Sam is also a writer and has a love of language that he aims to pass onto his students.
Professional
Jenny
Jenny
Jenny is a qualified teacher who has over twenty years experience in primary education. She enjoys making learning as engaging and fun as possible for her students.
Professional
Naomi
Naomi
Naomi graduated with a first-class degree in 2017. She has a wealth of experience working with young people, teaching over 3,200 hours to Keystone students alone. Her tutees, comprising all ages, describe her as 'very encouraging' and 'motivating'.
Professional
James
James
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. He has taught over 3,900 hours helping around 130 students.
Professional
Cameron
Cameron
Cameron is a playwright and tutors alongside his writing schedule. He is highly personable and as a result his teaching style is very engaging. He has been with Keystone since 2014 teaching over 8,800 hours.
Professional
Natasha
Natasha
Natasha is a first-class English and History graduate with several years tutoring experience - having taught 1,400 hours with Keystone alone. 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.
Professional
Lottie
Lottie
Lottie has a stellar academic background which culminates in a PhD from Oxford University. She is an excellent communicator and aims to instil a love of learning in all of her students - across subjects and levels.
Professional
Lucy
Lucy
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. Lucy has taught over 2,500 hours through Keystone.
Professional
Charles
Charles
Charles has recently completed a Masters at St Andrews and has been tutoring since he was a student himself. He focuses on humanities, as well as teaching English and Maths at 11+. Charles believes communication is key within his lessons, allowing his students to ask questions and develop their ideas.
Professional
Charles
Charles
Charles is a qualified primary teacher who gained a PGCE from the University of Buckingham. He has over a decade of experience in the classroom. Charles is patient, approachable and forms great working relationships with students and parents alike.
Professional
Florence
Florence
Florence is an experienced tutor who has worked across the age range, helping 150 Keystone clients. While first completing a DPhil and then working as a research fellow at Oxford, Florence held several teaching and lecturing roles. However, she also helps primary level students build solid foundations. Florence encourages her tutees to become self-motivated learners with a love for their subjects.
Professional
Alice
Alice
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 and has delivered 2,700 hours of lessons with Keystone families.
Professional
Emily
Emily
Emily is an experienced tutor who joined the team in 2017 and has delivered over 3,700 hours of lessons. 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.
Madeleine
Madeline is a bubbly and enthusiastic tutor who holds a first class degree in Statistics, Economics and Spanish from UCL. She has an encouraging approach to tutoring, which helps her students to find motivation to achieve their best.
Helen
Helen has taught English and Maths up to 11+ since 2011 and also has experience preparing students for 13+. She has a patient and positive approach to teaching which helps her students to engage and find enjoyment in their learning.
Antonia
Antonia is a qualified Teacher who has also worked as a private tutor since 2016. She has an encouraging approach and helps pupils to understand their own abilities and strengths. She also aims to make her lessons fun as well as productive.
Samara
Samara is an experienced tutor who has a logical, concise and sympathetic approach to tutoring.
Laura
Laura is a creative and engaging tutor who teaches English and Maths up to 11+. She is a qualified teacher, who now tutors alongside completing a Nutrition Diploma. Laura's aims to help build confidence in each of her students.
Vina
Vina is a qualified teacher who tutors English, Maths and Mandarin across the primary age range. She is encouraging and patient in her approach and is experienced in helping students of varying abilities, whether they are looking for a confidence boost or to pass an entrance test.
Dominique
Dominique is a qualified teacher who tutors alongside working in a prep school. She believes in placing the tutee at the centre of learning and in tailoring the style and delivery to foster enjoyment and promote a desire to learn.
Laura
Laura is a qualified primary school teacher who is passionate about building a child's confidence and bringing enjoyment to their learning. Laura has worked with children with a range of backgrounds and learning needs.
Shanice
Shanice is a dynamic tutor who teaches across the primary age range. She has experience working with a range of abilities, including those with SEN. Shanice is patient and adaptable, always ensuring her lessons are tailored to the learning style of the student.
Kane
Kane graduated with First Class degree in Modern Languages & Cultures from Durham University and has been tutoring since he was a student himself. As well as teaching French and Spanish, Kane helps prepare students for entrance tests across the Primary age range.
Kristine
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.
Sofia
Sofia teaches across the age range, specialising in entrance exam preparation at 7+, 8+ and 11+ level and English, Drama and Geography beyond this. She balances her tutoring with theatre directing and brings her creativity and enthusiasm with her into all her lessons.
Imogen
Imogen gained a first class degree in Theology from Oxford and has 10 years tutoring and teaching experience. She tutors across the age range from Primary to A Level and specialises in supporting students in entrance tests from 7+ to 13+ level.
Jennifer
Jennifer is a qualified Primary Teacher with years of experience. She has a passion for teaching creatively and is enthusiastic, fun and fair.
Francine
Francine is a patient and encouraging tutor, who teaches English & Maths up to 11+ level. She started her teaching career in instrumental music and subsequently qualified as a primary school teacher. Francine now balances both academic and musical tutoring.
Celina
Celina has been teaching in various prep schools in London and Kenya since 2010. She has gained huge amounts of experience preparing children for examinations and generally supporting them through the primary years. She now tutors online whilst based in Kenya.
Amy
Amy is a qualified primary teacher who has taught at schools in the UK and internationally. She incorporates creativity and fun into her lessons in order to help her students learn and progress.
Mark
Mark is an experienced Maths teacher, who has taught at schools across the world for over 30 years. He teaches Maths up to GCSE and aims to help his students find enjoyment in the subject. His approach is clear, systematic and tailored to the needs of each student.
Sam
Sam is a patient and engaging tutor who believes in creating a bespoke learning experience for each of his students. He is a qualified teacher who helps with Maths up to 11+ and Drama and English all the way up to A Level.
Carlos
Carlos has a first class Music degree from the University of Oxford. He specialises in 7+ to 13+ preparation as well as working with GCSE Music, History and English students.
Sarah
Sarah is a Primary School teacher with almost 18 years of experience. She currently teaches in a central London independent school and has taught in mainstream and specialist SEN schools. Sarah is a supportive and committed tutor.
Roxana
Roxana is a qualified primary school teacher who experienced various different classroom settings as part of her training. She is adaptable and engaging and aims to ensure each student achieves their individual goals. Roxana now tutors alongside her own creative work.
Alexander
Alexander has a History degree from York as well as a Masters in Fine Art. He currently works as an artist alongside his tutoring. He has years of experience under his belt and teaches a wide range of ages and subjects.
Rob
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.
Judith
Judith is a fully qualified primary teacher who specialises in 7+ and 8+ entrance exams. Her main priority when teaching is to ensure that her students develop a genuine enjoyment for the subject and reach their full potential.
Dylan
Dylan is a supportive and diligent tutor, who started his teaching career in Australia. He now tutors alongside working in a London Primary School, teaching Maths & English from ages 6-12.
Peter
Peter is a personable and engaging Primary level tutor. He has a supportive and targeted approach, whether this is for entrance exam preparation or general confidence boosting.
Olivia
Olivia is a qualified primary school teacher and SENCO with a passion for education. She aims to share her enthusiasm with her students and help them find a love for learning. Olivia teaches English and Maths across the primary age range, as well supporting students with Art at all ages.
Sophie
Sophie is a warm and creative tutor who has been teaching since she qualified in 2011. She has worked in a variety of settings and can help students across the Primary level.
Rowland
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.
Julia
Julia is a patient and engaging tutor who helps prepare students in Maths, English and Reasoning for 7+, 8+ and 11+ exams. She also teaches English, Drama and History of Art up to A Level. She is an experienced ISEE and US university entrance tutor. Julia aims to shape an environment that allows students to own their abilities and encounter challenges with curiosity.
Kathryn
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.
Emma
Emma is an experienced tutor with a stellar academic record. She teaches Maths and English from 7+ to 13+, as well as Economics, Politics and Business at A Level. Emma's approach is clear and focussed, always keeping the student's needs in mind.
Lee
Lee is a qualified teacher with over 25 years experience working in independent schools. He teaches English and Maths at primary level, as well as Spanish up to GCSE. In addition to his PGCE, Lee also holds a Postgraduate Certificate in Special Educational Needs.
Feedback on our 8 Plus Tutors
"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"We just wanted to say a big thank you for all your help over the years, and especially recently. Our son was offered a place at Westminster Under, Sussex House, The Dragon and Wetherby Prep - a 100% hit rate. I don't think it would have been possible without some help, and importantly we felt like all that talent and effort was aimed in the right direction - which is largely thanks to you! We'll doubtless be coming back to you soon for advice on Public Schools, but for now we're in the wonderful position of having our son on his way to our first choice prep school."
ParentRequest a Tutor
Want to know more about our tutors? Contact us today to discuss your requirements.
How our 8 plus tutoring works
At Keystone Tutors, we recommend that 8 plus 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.
The tutors we represent have experience in supporting children to succeed at the 8 plus exams, tailoring their approach to suit the needs of each child. They can focus on ensuring your child covers all the core 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.
At 8 plus we provide comprehensive tuition covering the core curriculum content for Maths, English, Verbal and Non Verbal Reasoning, along with test practice and honing of exam technique through the use of past papers and interview preparation.
All tutoring is tailored to the individual needs of each child based on their strengths, weaknesses, learning style, and the schools they are applying to.
ABOUT KEYSTONE TUTORS
Established in 2007, Keystone have helped over 10,000 students fulfil their educational potential. Uniquely, Keystone exclusively employs 60 full-time UK based tutors and also represents a highly select pool of freelance tutors. With offices in London, Hong Kong and Singapore and recommended by head teachers of top independent schools, we have an exceptional reputation for helping students achieve their best; delivering outstanding results, building confidence and instilling life-long intellectual curiosity.
Finding the right tutor for each child
At Keystone Tutors, we know that every child is different. When you request a tutor through us we spend a significant amount of time learning about your circumstances. Priding ourselves on how well we know the varying strengths of each tutor, we ensure that we put forward the very best tutor for your child’s requirements.
1. Detailed Consultation
2.Academic Assessment (optional)
3.Rigorous tutor selection process
4. Regular feedback & reporting
Request a Tutor
Want to know more about our tutors? Contact us today to discuss your requirements.
FAQs
The 8 plus 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 in our 8+ exam guide.
Our tutors conduct monthly assessments to track your child's progress.
Tutors submit a monthly report detailing:
- the focus of that month’s tutoring
- the form of assessment used
- the student's achievements and areas for further work
- the focus for the coming month
The regular, rigorous reporting of the tutors we represent is frequently praised by parents.
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.
Tuition for the 8 plus exams would normally start in the January of Year 2, 12 months before the examinations, though some families may wish to start earlier. Our tutors will start by reinforcing the primary literacy and numeracy curriculum being taught at school before looking to stretch students academically. They will then look to develop students’ abilities to sit examinations and the skills associated with being successful test takers during their lessons (e.g., time keeping, exam vocabulary and structuring their answers).
Yes, we offer a trial lesson. With Keystone, you are not required to sign up for any minimum number of lessons, and we offer one-off paid trial lessons so that your child can determine if the fit is right for them. This allows students and parents tutoring through Keystone before committing to regular sessions. The trial lesson is charged at the tutor’s full hourly rate and there is no obligation to continue if you feel it's not the right match.
Articles on 8 Plus Exams
A Guide to the 8 Plus
The 8 Plus – like its cousins the 7 Plus, 11 Plus, and 13 Plus – is an important hurdle to overcome in gaining entry to some of the UK’s best independent schools.In the article below, Keystone Tutors cover the basics of the exam, its format, and the best ways to prepare for and succeed at this competitive assessment.
7 Plus or 8 Plus Exam?
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.
Request a Tutor
Want to know more about our tutors? Contact us today to discuss your requirements.