Questions parents ask

The group sessions at English Matters are focused specifically on 11+ English preparation for London Grammar and Independent Schools. This focus is deliberate — it allows every session to be targeted, relevant and at the right level for all children in the group.

If your child needs more general English support or KS2 consolidation rather than 11+ preparation, please get in touch to discuss what might be available.

The best way is to message directly on WhatsApp. Group places are strictly limited to five pupils, so availability varies depending on the time of year and which groups are currently running.

Pricing is shared on enquiry. There is no obligation to commit after getting in touch — a conversation costs nothing and I am happy to answer any questions before you decide.

All sessions are delivered live on Zoom. Each group has a maximum of five pupils, so every child receives focused attention throughout. Sessions run for one hour.

Zoom is free to download and straightforward to use. All you need is a device with a camera and microphone — a tablet, laptop or desktop computer all work well — and a stable internet connection.

Any device that can run Zoom works — a laptop, desktop computer, iPad or tablet. A phone screen is generally too small for a comfortable session.

Your child will need a quiet space to work, ideally with a table and good lighting. They will be writing in their exercise book during sessions, so having paper and a pen or pencil to hand is important.

Five is a deliberate ceiling, not a guideline. With five pupils, every child can be seen, heard and responded to within the session. Work can be discussed, questions can be asked, and the teaching remains genuinely interactive rather than passive.

Beyond five, the dynamic changes. The focus and quality of individual attention that defines these sessions cannot be maintained in larger groups — so the cap will not be exceeded.

No. Sessions are not recorded. The live, interactive nature of the sessions is central to how they work — children engage, respond and learn in real time. Recordings would not capture that, and are not offered.

If your child misses a session, the homework for that week will still be shared and feedback will be provided on their written work.

Yes. Sessions are calibrated to the specific demands of the schools each group is targeting — the question styles, the marking standards, the difficulty level and the format of the paper. Preparation at English Matters is not generic.

Over twelve years of focused London 11+ preparation, an in-depth understanding of what Henrietta Barnett, QE, NLCS, Haberdashers, St Paul's, Merchant Taylors' and the other leading schools expect has been built up and is applied directly to every session.

Yes — and creative writing is treated as a priority, not an afterthought. It is where the highest marks and the greatest variation between pupils are found at selective schools, and it is where children who are well prepared can genuinely stand out.

Sessions develop structure, vocabulary, originality and control under timed conditions. There is also a dedicated Creative Writing Group for children who want to focus specifically on this area.

Vocabulary is built actively through every session — through reading, writing, discussion and use in context. Word lists are not used. A word that is memorised from a list is rarely applied with confidence; a word that has been encountered, discussed and written with is far more likely to appear naturally in exam work.

The goal is a rich, working vocabulary that children reach for instinctively — not one that feels bolted on.

Yes. The preparation is designed to cover all the major London Grammar and Independent School papers — including GL, ISEB and school's own bespoke papers. Children applying to several schools in the same intake are very common, and the sessions prepare them for all of the papers they are likely to sit.

After each session, children receive a homework task directly related to what was covered. This is returned with individual written feedback — specific, honest and actionable, not just a mark.

This feedback loop is central to how progress is made. Work between sessions is where consolidation happens, and the feedback ensures children understand not just what to improve but how.

Parents are always welcome to discuss their child's progress directly. The written feedback on homework gives a clear, ongoing picture of where your child stands and what is being worked on.

If there is a specific concern or question at any point, the best way to raise it is on WhatsApp. Communication is always kept open — you will never be left wondering how your child is getting on.

Yes, short-term booster sessions can be arranged when needed — for example, if a child needs targeted support in a specific area ahead of an exam, or has joined later in the year and needs additional preparation.

Please get in touch on WhatsApp to discuss what would work best for your child's situation.

Regular group sessions do not run during school holidays, including half-terms. This gives children time to rest and consolidate what they have learned.

However, exam-focused workshops are sometimes offered during school breaks for children who would benefit from additional targeted preparation. If this is relevant to your child, please ask when you get in touch.

New groups typically begin at the start of the academic year in September, although new intakes can also start at other points in the year depending on availability.

To find out about the next available start date, message on WhatsApp. If a group is full, it is worth expressing interest early as places for the next intake are often reserved in advance.

Sessions are not recorded, so missed sessions cannot be replayed. However, the homework task and any materials for that week will be shared, and written feedback will be provided on your child's work as normal.

Consistent attendance matters — both for your child's progress and for the continuity of the group. If absences are likely to be frequent, it is worth considering whether the timing of the group is right.

Message on WhatsApp to find out about current availability. Places are allocated on a first-come basis and are strictly limited to five per group — once a group is full, no further places are available until the next intake.

If you are interested, it is always worth getting in touch sooner rather than later. Places for new groups are sometimes reserved before they are formally announced.

Please get in touch on WhatsApp to discuss this. Every child and situation is different, and the best way to understand what is available is a direct conversation.

Yes. Because all sessions are delivered online, the physical location of your family does not matter. Pupils join from across London, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire and the wider Home Counties — and families from further afield are welcome too, provided the school targets are aligned with the preparation on offer.