13+ entrance to British boarding schools
A strategic roadmap towards admissions success for your child, led by renowned educator and school entrance expert Adam D’Souza
In the competitive landscape of top British boarding schools, the objective is no longer simply passing a test: 13+ admissions success comes from equipping your child with the conceptual knowledge, critical thinking tools and learning habits to succeed.
My mission as a specialist tutor is twofold. First, I will work with your son or daughter to build firm foundations that help them secure a place at the right-fit school up to two years in advance. Second, to bridge between primary and senior education so that your child is not simply prepared to attend, but empowered to thrive – intellectually, creatively and emotionally.
Former students are now studying at some of the most in-demand, academically high-flying boarding schools.
A strategic roadmap towards your child’s success
St Edward’s Oxford: a co-ed school with 13+ entry, offering IB and A Level pathways in the sixth form. Former students are doing brilliantly here.
Supporting your entire family, on a multi-year journey leading to your child thriving academically in their senior school education.
The leading, academically selective British boarding schools now make offers as early as Year 6 (ages 10-11). Waiting until Year 8 is no longer a viable strategy for families hoping to secure places at the most in-demand institutions.
I work with your whole family to create a strategic 13+ roadmap for your son or daughter’s admission to a top boarding school. As this journey unfolds over several years, it is vital that your child can build a rapport with a trusted guide; I will evolve the relationship and adapt the learning programme after each milestone.
Stage 1: foundations and pre-test mastery – ages 8-11
Building firm academic foundations especially in terms of vocabulary fluency, logic and reasoning skills to pass adaptive assessments such as the ISEB Pre-Test.Stage 2: bridging towards depth – ages 11-13
With conditional offers secured, we pivot as we look towards Common Entrance or scholarships, aiming for your child to be academically 12 months ‘ahead of the curve’ vs the National Curriculum. At this stage, we work on longer-form written answers, multi-step problems in maths and critical thinking.
The important thing is empowering your son or daughter with a conceptual framework and learning habits that will open doors to multiple offers from leading schools, but, more importantly, thrive academically in their senior school all the way up to 18.
The heart of the my one-to-one educational philosophy is academic value-add: helping your child to make exceptional progress, wherever their starting point.
A track record of outstanding results
Charterhouse: a strong all-rounder co-ed day and boarding school with 13+ entry. Former students are thriving in this school.
They say it is better to travel well than to arrive… I say it is best to travel well, then arrive somewhere amazing
I have supported more than 230 children to apply to academically selective schools. My former 13+ students have received offers and scholarships at some of UK’s most academically competitive boarding schools, including Eton College, Brighton College, Tonbridge School, Sevenoaks School, Wycombe Abbey, Charterhouse, Epsom College, Winchester College, Marlborough College and St Edward's Oxford among others.
As a private tutor, 13+ preparation is my personal specialism. Furthermore, I have taught in premium private schools in London and served as an entrance examiner, across both prep and senior age phases (including 13+ Common Entrance, GCSE and A Level classes) so I know what schools are looking for at this entry point.
One of the most exciting projects I worked on in school leadership was overseeing the development of a new 13+ curriculum approach for Years 5-8, which sought to cultivate independent learning from a young age.
Former students have secured 13+ places at some of the UK’s leading schools…
Beyond the offer: boarding school mindset and learning habits
Woldingham School: a popular single-sex girls’ boarding school in Surrey with 11+ and 13+ entry points. Several alumnae of mine have gained places at this school.
What sets my approach apart, the greatest source of professional pride, is the quality of human relationships.
For every child, emotional wellbeing is key to their academic success. What marks out my 13+ tutoring approach as exceptional is the emphasis I place on developing mindset and learning habits throughout the journey as your child grows from enthusiastic bright-eyed prep schooler into a confident pre-teen.
13+ preparation is a marathon, not a sprint. Securing the place is only the beginning. The transition into a boarding environment requires a level of independence, resilience and intellectual maturity that the standard classroom cannot provide. A significant part of my work focuses on the ‘hidden curriculum’, the character qualities and cognitive habits required to thrive in a fast-paced, independent academic environment.
Critical thinking and curiosity
Top schools look for a spark, an intellectual curiosity. Your child’s tutorials include critical thinking, current affairs and debating that will refine their ability to articulate complex ideas with confidence. This is important for both the 13+ entry interview and the classroom in Year 9 and beyond; many of the leading schools have an academic ethos centred on promoting lively discussion between students and teachers.
Resilience and learning habits
Boarding school is a demanding yet rewarding experience. I will work with your child on the vital, so-called ‘soft’ skills that yield hard results: resilience, perseverance, time management and emotional intelligence. Your son or daughter will be prepared for the rigours of life away from home, ensuring they are emotionally ready to achieve in their new boarding environment, where parental supervision is replaced by personal responsibility.
Alongside teaching experience, I have also gained insight into admissions leadership as a founding member of the management team of an independent schools group. I also invest in CPD as a professional private tutor, including coaching training with Graydin, safeguarding qualifications and Mental Health First Aid. I understand the emotional needs of children at this crucial transition stage of their education, and the pressures facing parents during the 13+ journey.
