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The Parent's Guide to Selective School Admissions in London and Beyond for Children under 10
A clear, research-based roadmap for parents navigating selective school admssions in London & beyond. It distils months of expert insight, prep-school experience, and successful parent strategies into one guide, helping you understand what schools value, how to plan ahead, and how to prepare calmly, without burnout.
The Challenge Parents Face:
Every parent who's been through the selective entry process says the same thing:
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Information comes late and in pieces from multiple sources - a tutor's opinion here, prep school guidance months before exams, and the occasional snippet from a successful parent or two once deadlines have passed.
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It's a gate-kept, often conflicting system that leaves families reacting instead of planning.
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Along the way, children are over-tutored or over-scheduled with clubs, and activities that drain energy rather than build genuine readiness which leads to fatigue, frustration, burnout and assessment failure in many cases.
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Many parents spend thousands on resources and tutoring, often with the wrong people, creating noise without clarity on what actually leads to successful selective admissions.
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Others delegate everything to the school or a tutor, not realising that understanding their own child, their temperament, learning style and pace, is what truly shapes a successful outcome.
The Promise - A Clear Roadmap for Parents
Whether you're in a a nursery, prep school or state school, or simply wondering when to start, this guide gives you the whole picture in one place early - showing you what to expect and what to place less focus on.
It brings together insights from top prep schools, successful parents, and educators in one calm, evidence-based reference you can return to again and again.
You'll be able to plan ahead with key timelines, learn how the most selective schools assess, what they value, and how to prepare with balance, protecting your child's confidence and curiosity along the way whilst being able to personally assess their readiness.
The Value - Clarity that Saves Energy, Time and Cost
Families spend hundreds, sometimes thousands on tutoring and resources, often piecing together advice after the pressure hits.
This guide condenses months of research, school comparisons, and insider insights, by showing the entire journey early - for less than the cost of one tutoring session - helping you build confidence instead of panic amidst a competitive process.
Reduced from £75 to £55 as a launch offer for a limited time.
Instant download. Watermarked for your security
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When our family began this journey, we were part of a successful preparatory school - yet, even there, the advice came late and missed critical pieces, so we were as lost as many other parents.
We discovered that even the best prep schools and tutors held only part of the puzzle - each focused on their own framework, often narrowly defined. It took months to piece together how the system really worked, what schools actually value, and when to act.
Parents were all asking the same questions, at different stages: Which schools would suit my child's personality and learning style? When should we start preparing - and how much is enough? What do these schools actually look for at each entry stage? How do the assessments differ between 4+, 7+, 8+, 9+, and 10+? What is expected? How do I balance readiness without over-tutoring or burnout? What truly separates the children who thrive from those who struggle? Why do those children succeed?
Behind these questions sits a huge emotional and financial toll. Families pour in time, energy and money, often piecing together conflicting advice that comes in too late. It's a draining, confusing process even for the most organised parents.
Those conversations shaped this guide. It's the resource I wish we'd had: calm, practical, and structured. It combines consultancy-level insight with lived experience so other parents can move through the process with confidence and clarity, not panic and pressure.
It's not about doing more; it's about understanding better, learning what truly matters for your's child's readiness, curiosity, and balance, so you can make confident choices long before deadlines loom.
Why This Guide Exists - A Parent's Journey
Inside the guide:
Here's what you will find inside - everything organised for each stage your child moves through. Over 100 pages reveal how the system actually works, what truly matters, and when to act.
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A tiered breakdown of leading selective schools in London and surrounding areas — what Tier 1, 2, and 3 really mean for your child’s temperament, fit and long-term options.
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Entry routes (4+, 7+, 8+, 9+, 10+) explained clearly with timing, readiness, and opportunities mapped out.
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Preparatory timelines and key registration windows — how they differ and when transitions make sense.
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What admissions teams actually look for — the balance of academic depth, reasoning ability, and composure.
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The Parent Roadmap & Mindset Framework used by successful families to stay ahead calmly.
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Checklists and frameworks to guide decisions, track readiness, without overwhelm.
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Common pitfalls and how to avoid them - Prepare your child without burnout or over-tutoring, so your child stays balanced and confident throughout.
This guide isn't just one family's experience - it reflects the collective frustration of parents who wanted clarity long before anyone could share it.
It brings a full picture forward for less than the cost of a single tutoring session - a one time resource you can keep, revisit and use at your own pace.
"We finally understood what each stage actually meant and what to expect- it allows us to plan our 7+ journey with knowledge we haven't yet received elsewhere"
- Parent of a 7+ candidate
Reduced from £75 to £55 as a launch offer for a limited time.
Instant download. Watermarked for your security
Secure checkout via SendOwl· Instant delivery via email · Licensed for single household use
Having trouble? Use this direct link to access the guide: https://sowl.co/p/bic3Xq
From The Kensington Diary × Intentional Studio™ — for parents who want to guide their child's education with clarity, confidence, and calm.
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Where intellect, behavioural science, and emotional intelligence converge.
Where intellect, behavioural science, and emotional intelligence converge — a framework that redefines what academic excellence really means.
At the heart of Intentional Education™ is the Intentional Growth Zone — where cognitive, emotional, and behavioural development overlap.
This approach is grounded in evidence-based learning and neurodevelopmental research, translating academic achievement into lifelong learning ability.
Intentional Education™ moves beyond test preparation. It builds the habits, mindset, and resilience that allow children to thrive once they’re inside the school — not just gain entry.
It’s the philosophy that underpins The Parent’s Guide to Selective School Admissions, shaping both the content and the lens through which every recommendation is made.
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Intentional Studio™ was created for ambitious, thoughtful individuals and families seeking calm, clarity, and purpose in the way they live, learn, and grow.
We believe in conscious choices over comparison — in shaping a life that feels grounded and meaningful, even in a world that moves quickly.
Our work spans the moments that shape modern ambition: how we learn and educate, how we work and pursue careers, how we raise children and build family life, and how we create spaces and rhythms that support wellbeing and connection.
Through curated guides, reflections, and frameworks, across the pillars of education, career, parenting and lifestyle, The Kensington Diary × Intentional Studio™ explores how ambition and discernment can coexist - offering perspective, structure, and calm for those shaping intentional lives in a fast-moving world.
