West London covers one of the broadest and most varied independent school markets in the country — from the 7+ prep schools of Kensington and Holland Park, to the 11+ hotspots of Chiswick, Richmond and Wimbledon, through to families preparing for 13+ Common Entrance for boarding schools further afield. Whether you are in W4, W6, W8, SW13, SW19 or TW9, this guide explains the exam landscape, the key schools, and how to find the right tutor for your child's preparation.
The West London school landscape
West London's geography means different families are preparing for quite different exams. It helps to think of it in three zones:
Kensington, Holland Park and Hammersmith are dominated by prep school families whose children will be assessed at 7+ or 11+ for entry to London day schools, or who will sit Common Entrance at 13+ for boarding. Thomas's Kensington, Glendower Prep, Pembridge Hall and Falkner House all feed children into senior schools at both stages.
Chiswick and Ealing have strong demand for 11+ tutors preparing children for Latymer Upper, St Benedict's and The Twyford Church of England schools. These are competitive but broadly accessible exams compared to the most selective Central or North London schools.
Richmond, Twickenham and Wimbledon have a mix of 11+ and 13+ CE preparation. Lady Eleanor Holles, Hampton School and King's College School (KCS) are the dominant targets — all highly selective, all using their own entrance assessments.
Key schools and their entry points
- King's College School (KCS), Wimbledon — one of the top academic day schools in the country. KCS admits at 11+ and 13+. The 11+ exam covers English, Maths and reasoning; the 13+ uses Common Entrance supplemented by their own scholarship and academic papers. Both routes are highly competitive.
- Wimbledon High School — a leading GDST girls' school. The 11+ tests English, Maths and reasoning, with a strong focus on reading comprehension and analytical writing. Wimbledon High also runs a 16+ entry for sixth form.
- Lady Eleanor Holles (LEH), Hampton — one of the top girls' schools in the country. LEH's 11+ is highly competitive and tests English, Maths, verbal and non-verbal reasoning. The school draws from a wide west and south-west London catchment.
- Hampton School — a leading boys' school in Twickenham. Hampton's 11+ covers English, Maths and reasoning, with interviews for shortlisted candidates. The school is consistently highly ranked and attracts very strong candidates.
- Latymer Upper School, Hammersmith — co-educational with a strong arts tradition alongside excellent academic results. The 11+ covers English, Maths and reasoning. Latymer draws heavily from W4, W6 and W12 and is one of the most popular targets in West London.
- The Harrodian, Barnes — less conventionally academic than KCS or LEH, but a popular choice for families who want a high-quality education in a less pressured environment. The Harrodian assesses at 11+ and 13+ with its own entrance process.
- Radnor House, Twickenham — a co-educational school with a growing reputation and a more accessible admissions process than the most selective schools. A good option for families looking for an ambitious but less intensely competitive environment.
11+ vs 13+ Common Entrance: which applies to you?
This is the most important question for West London families to answer early. The answer depends largely on where your child is currently in school.
If your child is at a state primary or a prep school that ends at Year 6, they will most likely be preparing for 11+ entry. The exam takes place in January of Year 6. KCS, Wimbledon High, LEH, Hampton and Latymer Upper all admit at 11+.
If your child is at a prep school that continues through to Year 8, they may be preparing for 13+ Common Entrance instead. CE is the standard exam for entry to senior boarding and day schools at age 13. Schools such as Eton, Harrow, Wellington and Marlborough all use CE. KCS also admits at 13+ via its own papers.
Some West London families are preparing for both — for example, a child at a Year 6–8 prep who is applying to KCS at 13+ but also has a conditional registration at 11+ as a fallback. Good tutors in this area will be familiar with both routes.
Common Entrance: what it covers
Common Entrance at 13+ covers English, Mathematics, the three Sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Physics), a modern language (usually French), History, Geography and Religious Studies. Some schools also require Latin.
Preparation for CE begins properly in Year 7 and intensifies through Year 8. A tutor specialising in CE will typically focus on the subjects where a child is weakest — often the Science subjects or French — and ensure coverage of the full CE syllabus rather than just the core subjects.
The CE papers are marked by the receiving school, not an external board, so schools vary in the grades they require. Eton and Winchester typically want 70%+ across all subjects; less selective boarding schools may accept 55–60%.
When to start preparation
For 11+ entry to KCS, Wimbledon High, LEH or Hampton, the same principles apply as elsewhere in London: start structured preparation in Year 4 or early Year 5. Registration deadlines at these schools often fall in September or October of Year 5. The exams are in January of Year 6.
For 13+ Common Entrance, formal tutor-led preparation typically begins in Year 7. However, the Pre-Test — used by schools like KCS to register candidates for 13+ entry — is sat in Year 6. This means that children aiming for KCS at 13+ need to be thinking about preparation from Year 5 at the latest.
What to look for in a West London tutor
- 11+ or CE expertise — know which you need. A tutor who specialises in 11+ may have little experience of the CE syllabus, and vice versa. Before engaging a tutor, confirm they have direct experience with the specific exam route your child is on.
- School-specific preparation. The difference between KCS and Latymer Upper papers is meaningful. The best tutors will have access to past papers from your target schools and will tailor preparation accordingly.
- Availability across West London. The area is large. Some tutors operate from one part of West London and travel reluctantly. Check that your tutor is genuinely local to you or offers reliable online sessions.
Finding tutors in West London
You can browse tutors currently available across West London — filtered by exam type (11+, 13+ CE, Pre-Test) and subject — on our West London tutors page. For a personalised match based on your postcode, exam type and target schools, use the parent portal.