Specialist preparation for QE Boys Barnet, Henrietta Barnett and Highgate School
Book a Free ConsultationHighgate is one of North London's most academically competitive areas. Families in N6 are typically working towards two very different sets of selective school applications simultaneously: the state grammar sector (led by Queen Elizabeth's School for Boys in Barnet and Henrietta Barnett School for Girls) and the independent day school sector, with Highgate School itself as a prominent local option. The pressure on families begins early, and the parents who call us most often are those in Year 4 or early Year 5 who have become aware of how competitive the process is and want to understand what realistic preparation looks like.
We work with Highgate families across the full academic journey, from early 11+ preparation through GCSE and A-Level, and into Oxbridge and medicine applications. Our tutors are DBS-checked, the majority hold degrees from Oxford or Cambridge, and we're rated 4.8/5 on Trustpilot by families across the UK. Book a free consultation to discuss your child's needs.
The two grammar schools most relevant to Highgate families are both super-selective, meaning they take only the highest-scoring applicants from across a wide area with no catchment restriction. This makes them significantly harder to enter than traditional grammar schools that prioritise children living nearby.
Queen Elizabeth's School for Boys (QE Boys Barnet) is consistently ranked among the top five state secondary schools in England. It uses the GL Assessment format -- verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning, and mathematics -- and receives well over 2,000 applications each year for around 180 places. The standardised score required to receive an offer typically sits in the 118-122 range, though this varies year to year. Being a boy's school, QE Boys is relevant only to Highgate families with sons.
Henrietta Barnett School (HBS) is one of only three super-selective grammar schools for girls in London and is similarly oversubscribed. It uses the London Consortium GL Assessment paper, which tests verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning. The exam format, standardised scoring methodology, and competition level are comparable to QE Boys. HBS families also consider South Hampstead High School, NLCS, and Channing School as alternative independent or selective options.
For both schools, preparation needs to begin in Year 4 or early Year 5. The GL Assessment format -- particularly verbal reasoning -- is unfamiliar to most children who have not been exposed to it. Regular practice with timed papers, alongside genuine development of reading comprehension and numerical fluency, is the combination that produces the highest scores. See our QE Boys Barnet preparation guide and Henrietta Barnett preparation guide for detailed school-specific information.
Highgate School (independent) is a leading independent day school in the same N6 area. Entry at Year 7 is via the school's own assessment rather than GL Assessment, and competition is intense. We have a dedicated Highgate School 11+ preparation guide that covers the entry process in detail. Families often prepare for both the grammar and independent routes simultaneously in Years 4-5, given the overlapping skills involved.
Other grammar schools within reasonable reach of Highgate include Latymer School Edmonton (girls, GL Assessment), Woodford County High School for Girls (Essex, GL Assessment), and Dame Alice Owen's School in Potters Bar, which uses its own entry process with a selective component.
Beyond the 11+ years, Highgate families continue to use tutors intensively at GCSE and A-Level. The local school mix is varied: students at Highgate School (independent) sit IGCSEs and then A-Levels in a highly academic environment, while students at local state schools and sixth forms (including Parliament Hill, Fortismere, and others nearby) sit standard GCSEs and A-Levels.
The most requested GCSE subjects in the area are Maths, English Language, Chemistry, Biology, Physics, and History. At A-Level, Chemistry, Maths, Biology, and Further Maths are most common, particularly among students preparing for Medicine, Engineering, or Oxbridge applications. Our tutors cover all mainstream GCSE and A-Level subjects across AQA, Edexcel, OCR, and Cambridge International specifications.
For students approaching their GCSEs, we focus on exam technique alongside content knowledge. Most GCSE grades are lost not through ignorance of the subject but through poor mark scheme literacy, inadequate time management in exams, and failure to complete past paper practice under timed conditions. Our approach builds fluency in both the content and the assessment format simultaneously.
A significant proportion of Highgate students aspire to Oxbridge and medicine. The schools in and around the N6 area have strong records at placing students in these destinations, and Leading Tuition has a specific track record supporting exactly these applications. Our specialist tutors support UCAT preparation (required for all UK medical schools), Oxbridge admissions test preparation (including TMUA, ESAT, and the newly introduced TARA from 2027), personal statement coaching, and Oxbridge interview preparation.
For medicine applicants, we recommend starting UCAT preparation in Year 12, typically from Easter onwards. See our Medicine Prep Hub for full guidance on the UK medical school application process, UCAT strategy, and MMI interview preparation.
For Oxbridge applicants, subject-specific interview coaching is one of the most valuable investments a student can make. Our tutors who conduct mock interviews include Oxford and Cambridge graduates and current students with direct experience of the process. See our Oxbridge interview preparation pages for subject-by-subject guidance.
The parents we work with in Highgate typically have high expectations and a clear sense of what their children need. They want tutors who understand the specific demands of the schools and exams their children are targeting, not generic tutors who apply the same approach to every student. Our tutor matching process ensures that every student is paired with someone who has direct experience of the relevant exam board, school, or application process.
All tutors are DBS-checked and are interviewed by our team before being placed with students. The majority hold first or upper-second class degrees from Oxford, Cambridge, or other leading universities. We're rated 4.8/5 on Trustpilot by families across the UK, and our students achieved a 95%+ offer rate at selective schools in 2025.
Sessions are available online (via video platform) or in-person, according to family preference. Online sessions are popular with Highgate families because they allow access to the widest possible range of specialist tutors, particularly for niche subjects or highly specific exam preparation. Book a free consultation to discuss which format works best for your family.
When should we start 11+ preparation for QE Boys or HBS?
We recommend starting no later than the beginning of Year 5, and Year 4 is better for the most competitive schools. QE Boys and Henrietta Barnett are super-selective: they take only the top 8-9% of all applicants nationally. Reaching that level requires both genuine academic development and familiarity with the GL Assessment format, which most children have not encountered before tutoring. Starting early allows for steady, sustainable preparation rather than intensive last-minute cramming.
My daughter is at a North London independent school. Can you still help with the 11+?
Yes. Many children at private prep schools in the Highgate area still benefit from specialist tutoring for grammar school applications, particularly for QE Boys and Henrietta Barnett. Independent schools provide strong general academic preparation, but GL Assessment-specific practice -- timed verbal reasoning papers, non-verbal reasoning drills, standardised scoring awareness -- is often not part of their standard curriculum. We supplement rather than replace the school's provision.
What is the difference between GL Assessment and the independent school assessment process?
GL Assessment (used by QE Boys, Henrietta Barnett, and most state grammars) is a standardised test assessing verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning, and sometimes mathematics, with results given as age-adjusted standardised scores. Independent schools like Highgate School run their own assessments, which typically include English and Maths papers designed to the school's own standard, sometimes alongside a group activity or interview. The skills overlap significantly but the exam formats are different, and preparation should address both explicitly if your child is applying to both types of school.
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