Private Tuition in Kingston upon Thames

Leading Tuition provides specialist tutors in Kingston upon Thames for the 11+, GCSE, A-level and university admissions. The borough's two grammar schools set their own tests: for 2026 entry, Tiffin School tested 1,866 boys for 186 places and The Tiffin Girls' School 1,468 girls for 180, and registration for September 2027 entry has now closed at both.

Private Tuition in Kingston upon Thames — Understanding the Local Landscape

Kingston upon Thames sits at the heart of one of the most educationally ambitious corners of South West London. Families here are acutely aware of the academic milestones their children face — from the fiercely contested 11+ examinations through to GCSE and A-Level results that shape university prospects. Tiffin School and The Tiffin Girls' School are heavily oversubscribed: for 2026 entry they tested 1,866 boys and 1,468 girls at Stage One for 186 and 180 places. At the same time, independent schools such as Kingston Grammar School and Surbiton High School maintain high entry standards of their own. Whether you live in Surbiton, New Malden, Norbiton, or anywhere across the borough, the pressure to give your child the best possible preparation is real — and it starts earlier than many parents expect.

At Leading Tuition, we work with families across Kingston upon Thames who want structured, expert support that goes beyond what school can provide. Our tutors understand the specific demands of this area: the exam formats used locally, the schools your child is likely to attend or aspire to, and the moments in the academic year when targeted support makes the greatest difference.

How Do We Support GCSE and A-Level Students in Kingston?

Secondary schools in Kingston upon Thames do not all use the same exam boards, and knowing which board your child's school uses matters enormously. The structure of questions, the style of mark schemes, and the weighting between coursework and terminal examinations all vary between boards. A tutor who understands that your child is sitting AQA GCSE English Language rather than OCR, or studying OCR A-Level Chemistry rather than AQA, will teach to the right specification from the very first session — not waste time on content that will not appear in your child's paper.

Our GCSE tutors support students across all core and optional subjects, with particular demand in mathematics, the sciences, English, and modern foreign languages. At A-Level, we work with students across Kingston's state and independent schools, helping them build the depth of understanding that top grades require. For students aiming at highly competitive university courses, A-Level results are not simply a hurdle — they are the foundation of a strong application, and we treat them accordingly.

Our guide to A-level Maths tutors in Kingston upon Thames covers twelve published value-added figures, the four whose intervals clear zero, and the 219 matched entries behind Tiffin School’s.

Our guide to A-level Biology tutors in Kingston upon Thames compares the exam board, GCSE grade and application route at each of the eleven Kingston sixth forms entering A-level Biology, because DfE's 2024/25 data cannot pick one out.

Our guide to A-level Chemistry tutors in Kingston upon Thames covers all eleven sixth forms entering the subject, 414 matched entries in 2024/25 against 354 for Biology and 271 for Physics, and finds no Kingston department whose progress score clears zero upward.

Our guide to A-level Physics tutors in Kingston upon Thames covers the eleven sixth forms entering the subject and their 279 entries in 2024/25, 190 from male students and 89 from female, with 30.5% of male against 8.7% of female students entering across the eight sixth forms that enrol both.

Our guide to A-level English tutors in Kingston upon Thames shows the borough's state sixth formers taking the combined Language and Literature course at 27.4%, against 13.8% across England, and traces how that mix has moved since 2020/21.

Our guide to GCSE maths tutors in Kingston upon Thames finds that among the borough's nine non-selective state secondaries, the school a pupil attends accounts for 9.5% of the variation in summer 2026 GCSE maths grades, a share that cannot separate intake from teaching.

Our guide to GCSE English tutors in Kingston upon Thames reads DfE's provisional summer 2026 English Language and English Literature grade counts for the 12 Kingston schools with 30 or more entries, where grade 4 or above in Language runs from 72% at Southborough High School to 100% at Tiffin School.

What Do the Kingston 11+ Tests Actually Cover?

The 11+ in Kingston upon Thames is not a single, uniform test. Tiffin School and The Tiffin Girls' School each run their own two-stage process with separate registration, and neither uses a consortium paper. Both are heavily oversubscribed, and children who are offered a place typically combine strong ability with thorough, well-structured preparation.

Both schools test English and Maths only. Stage One is marked by computer from an OMR answer sheet: the English questions are multiple choice, and the Maths questions are multiple choice or need a numerical answer. Those invited then sit handwritten English and Maths papers of similar length at Stage Two, with some longer written answers in English. Neither school's published description of its tests includes a verbal or non-verbal reasoning paper. Children who have not practised working under timed conditions, or recording answers on a computer-marked sheet, are at a disadvantage whatever their ability. Tiffin School publishes an example OMR marksheet for its Maths tests.

We begin working with most 11+ families in Year 4 or early Year 5, which allows time for genuine skill development rather than last-minute cramming. Our approach includes:

• A careful assessment of your child's current strengths and gaps before any programme begins
• Regular timed practice built around the Tiffin schools' English and Maths format
• Focused work on the areas where children most commonly lose marks, often timed multiple-choice accuracy at Stage One and extended writing at Stage Two
• Honest, ongoing feedback to parents so you always know where your child stands

For families in Tolworth and Ham weighing the Tiffin schools against independent options such as Kingston Grammar School and Surbiton High School, we can help you think through the right preparation for each school's entry requirements. Book a free consultation to discuss a preparation plan for your child's target schools.

Where Do the Tiffin Schools Stand for September 2027 Entry?

Tiffin School (boys) is on Queen Elizabeth Road, KT2 6RL, and The Tiffin Girls' School is at KT2 5PL. They are separate single-sex grammar schools with their own tests and their own area-priority rules, and each runs its own registration.

Registration for September 2027 entry has closed at both. The Tiffin Girls' School closed at 12.00 noon on 1 September 2026, and Tiffin School's registration portal now reads "Registration has now closed". Stage One was sat on 2 October 2026 at Tiffin School and on 1 and 2 October at The Tiffin Girls' School; Stage Two follows on 12 November and 7 November respectively for those invited. Our Kingston 11+ guide sets out the full remaining timetable.

Tiffin School's Stage One papers last about 40 to 60 minutes each; its Stage Two papers are handwritten, and candidates are ranked on a Combined Score of 50% English and 50% Maths. Up to 10% of its 186 Year 7 places (5% Sport, 5% Music), six forms of 31, go to boys ranked in its aptitude assessments, who still sit both academic stages with a slightly lower cut-off; only boys inside the Priority Area are invited to those assessments. The Tiffin Girls' School's Stage Two English paper includes a reading comprehension and a creative writing task, and its 180 places are six forms of 30.

The two schools use different area-priority rules. Tiffin School's Priority Area is everyone living within 10km of the school, measured in a straight line, and for 2024, 2025 and 2026 every place went to a boy inside it. The Tiffin Girls' School uses a Designated Area of 44 postal districts: KT1 to KT10, KT12, KT13, KT17 and KT19; TW1 to TW5 and TW7 to TW17; SW13, SW14, SW15 and SW17 to SW20; W3, W4, W5, W7 and W13; SM4; and CR4. Inside it is an Inner Area of 13 electoral wards, including Berrylands, Coombe Hill and Ham, Petersham and Richmond Riverside. After looked-after and previously looked-after girls, up to 60 of its 180 places go first to girls at or above the 350th-ranked Stage Two mark, Pupil Premium girls in the Designated Area first and Inner Area girls second. Our Tiffin School Priority Area guide and Tiffin Girls' Designated Area guide go into more detail.

Which Independent Schools in Kingston Admit at 4+, 7+, 11+, 13+ and 16+?

The Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames has private schools that admit at 4+, 7+, 11+, 13+ and 16+, and each describes its own route in. Kingston Grammar School sets two 50-minute papers at 11+ and has no entrance exam at 16+. Surbiton High School tests girls for Year 7 and Year 9 entry on Saturday 21 November 2026. Rokeby School and Shrewsbury House School assess boys at 7+ and 8+ in November 2026.

4+ (Reception)

At Surbiton High Girls' Prep, registration for September 2027 Reception entry is due by 12.00 midday on Monday 2 November 2026, and registered girls are invited to a ‘Stay and Play’ session in school on Saturday 7 November 2026. Surbiton High Boys' Prep takes Reception registrations at any time. Shrewsbury House School admits boys to Reception through its 4+ Observed Play Session on Saturday 30 January 2027, with registrations for it due by Friday 22 January 2027. Rokeby School accepts 4+ registration at any time from birth and allocates Reception places on a first-come, first-served basis to registered boys. Holy Cross Preparatory School says most children begin in September, following their fourth birthday, places every registered child on a waiting list and gives priority to Catholic families and siblings of current pupils. Westbury House School names Nursery and Reception as its usual admissions points.

7+ and 8+ (Years 3 and 4)

Rokeby School holds its Year 3 (7+) assessment mornings for September 2027 entry on Wednesday 11 and Wednesday 18 November 2026, with each boy invited to one of them, and its Year 4 (8+) morning on Thursday 12 November 2026. The assessment includes an English paper, a Mathematics paper, a computer-based verbal and non-verbal reasoning test, a group music or drama activity and an informal interview, and the school says it does not publish past papers. Shrewsbury House School's 7+ and 8+ assessment is on Friday 13 November 2026, with outcomes published on Wednesday 18 November 2026; registrations were due by Monday 5 October 2026, and boys complete Maths and English based assessments in small groups. Surbiton High School's two prep schools both ask for Year 3 (7+) registration by 12.00 midday on Monday 2 November 2026, and the Boys' Prep describes its Year 3 places as occasional. Both assessments cover Mathematics (number operations, fractions and shapes) and English (reading aloud, creative writing and comprehension); the Boys' Prep sits on Thursday 19 November 2026 and the Girls' Prep in January 2027, date to be confirmed. Our 7+ tuition guide compares 7+ assessments at schools across London. Book a free consultation to talk through your child's target schools.

11+ (Year 7)

Kingston Grammar School sets an entrance assessment of two papers, English (comprehension and creative writing) and Mathematics, of 50 minutes each. Registration for September 2027 entry has closed, and the next exam is in November 2027, for September 2028 entry. Candidates who show potential in the written assessments are invited to an interview, and the school says it strongly discourages interview coaching. On preparation, its admissions FAQ says the papers are “broadly in line with the expected knowledge gained from National Curriculum teaching” in English and Mathematics and adds: “We do not recommend tutoring in these subjects.” Our Kingston Grammar School 11+ guide covers the papers in more detail.

Surbiton High School's Senior School entry pages are written for girls, and boys' entry is through its Boys' Prep, at Reception and Year 3. The Senior School holds its Year 7 entrance exam for September 2027 entry on Saturday 21 November 2026, with general registration closing at 12.00 noon on Monday 2 November 2026. The Mathematics assessment is online and approximately 30 minutes long; the English assessment is approximately 50-60 minutes, an online comprehension followed by a handwritten creative writing task. All candidates then take part in a small group discussion with up to three candidates. The school says it usually has approximately 550 girls sitting the exam, offers approximately 100+ external places and does not make past or sample papers available, and it states: “We do not support or encourage tutoring prior to the Entrance Examination, nor do we support or endorse any tutor.” Our Surbiton High School 11+ guide covers the format, the interview and the timeline.

Marymount International School welcomes applications throughout the year, wherever places are available, and also runs a main Grade 6 (Year 7) Assessment Day. Its assessment may include English and Mathematics assessments, aptitude testing, small-group activities, an individual interview and a school reference, and the school says: “We do not recommend intensive preparation.” Canbury School, which the register lists as an independent special school, accepts Year 7 applications throughout the year, lists assessment days for September 2027 entry up to Wednesday 13 January 2027, and includes an online assessment on the day.

13+ (Year 9)

Surbiton High School's Senior School, whose Year 9 page is written for girls, runs a Year 9 (13+) entrance exam for September 2027 entry on Saturday 21 November 2026, and applications close at 12.00 noon on Monday 2 November 2026. Candidates sit a 50-minute handwritten Mathematics paper in three sections (non-calculator knowledge, awareness of patterns and calculator-based questions) and a one-hour handwritten English paper of text review and comprehension tasks, then a one-to-one interview with a senior member of staff in early January 2027. The school says places for Year 9 entry are very limited, and it has opened a seventh form for the Year 9 cohort joining in 2027, which adds 24 pupils. Kingston Grammar School names 11+ and 16+ as its two main entry points; for Year 8, Year 9 or Year 10 it asks families to contact its admissions team before applying, to confirm whether exams will be taking place. Our 13+ tuition guide sets out how 13+ routes differ school by school.

16+ (Sixth Form)

Kingston Grammar School says “There are no entrance exams involved in our Sixth Form process”: applicants supply a confidential school reference with predicted GCSE grades and a personal statement, and are interviewed if invited. It asks for at least grade 7 in four separate subjects and at least grade 6 in Mathematics and English, plus grade 7 in the subject, or a closely related one, a student wants to study at A level, with grade 8 for Mathematics and grade 9 for Further Mathematics. Applications for 2027 entry have closed. Surbiton High School's girls' Sixth Form closed applications for 2027 entry at 12.00pm on Wednesday 30 September 2026 and invites candidates to a Taster and Assessment Day on Wednesday 4 November 2026, with a taster lesson, a Maths and English assessment and an interview with a senior member of staff. For automatic entry its requirements are a GCSE grade 8 for A-level Maths, a grade 8 in Maths and the relevant science for the science courses, and at least a grade 7 in the relevant subject for other A levels. The school adds: “Those who don’t achieve a grade 8 may only be permitted onto their chosen courses after discussion with a member of SLT.” Marymount International School's Sixth Form is IB-only, with students following the full IB Diploma Programme or IB Diploma Courses, and Canbury School offers a one-year sixth form with places allocated first to its current Year 11 students. Our Kingston GCSE tuition guide covers GCSE results across the borough's schools.

Leading Tuition is rated 4.8 out of 5 on Trustpilot from 59 reviews, read on 3 October 2026, and 91% of our students achieve their desired grades.

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Which Other Local Schools Should Kingston Families Know?

Not every academically selective school near Kingston is a state grammar school. Kingston Grammar School (KT2 6PY) is an independent, fee-paying school; despite the name, it is not part of the state 11+ system, and it gives its own ratio at 11+ as approximately 800 to 900 candidates for 150 places. Its fees for 2026–27 are £9,750 a term, or £29,250 a year, including VAT. Registration for September 2027 entry has closed; its entrance exams are English and Mathematics papers of 50 minutes each, and the next 11+ exam is in November 2027, for September 2028 entry. Surbiton High School (KT1 2JT) is also independent; its senior-school fees for 2026–27 are £9,276.84 a term including VAT, about £27,830 a year across three terms.

For families who want a strong non-selective option, Coombe Boys' School in New Malden (KT3 6NU) was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection on 12 September 2023. Families weighing the Tiffin schools, the independent options above and strong local comprehensives often ask us to help think through which route, and which combination of applications, suits their child; our tutors support preparation across all of these entry routes, not just the Tiffin 11+. Our guide to the grammar schools in Kingston and Richmond sets out both Tiffin schools' admissions records.

What Support Is There for Oxbridge and Medicine Applicants?

For sixth-form students with ambitions beyond a standard university application, the demands increase considerably. Students applying to Oxford or Cambridge face subject-specific admissions tests and interviews that require preparation well above A-Level standard. Those applying to medical school will need strong performance in the UCAT — the admissions test now used by Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial, and the majority of UK medical schools — alongside a personal statement and interview preparation that reflects genuine clinical awareness.

We support students with UCAT preparation, Oxbridge admissions tests, personal statement drafting and interview technique, treating each application as the individual case it is.

How Do Our Tutors Work with Kingston Families?

We know that parents in Kingston upon Thames are busy. Many are managing school runs across the borough, balancing demanding careers, and trying to make informed decisions about their child's education without always having the time to research every option in depth. Our role is to make the process straightforward and the progress visible.

All of our lessons are delivered online, and Kingston upon Thames families join from home. Our specialist tutors teach the subject, the level and the school or examination your child is preparing for. You will receive regular updates on progress, and if something is not working, we address it promptly rather than waiting for an end-of-term review.

Reviewed September 2026: every figure and date checked against its source, the Tiffin schools' Year 7 pages, 2027 admissions policies, FAQs and admissions tables, Kingston Grammar School's and Surbiton High School's own fees and admissions pages, and Ofsted.

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