Pre-Prep and Prep School Advisory
School Advisory Overview Nursery Advisory Pre-Prep and Prep School Advisory Senior Day School Advisory Senior Boarding School Advisory
Pre-Prep School Advisory for children aged 3-7 and Prep School Advisory for children aged 7-11 or 13
Pre-Prep Advisory
Keystone's advisory team are experienced in providing school-specific support in preparation for school selection and entry from nursery up to 16+. We maintain positive and close relationships with schools both in London and across the UK to make sure that any school recommendations are based off our own knowledge of what different schools can offer.
Pre-Prep schools are private schools for children aged three or four. Children who attend these schools tend to move on to a Prep School at the age of seven or eight, although many Pre-Prep Schools are attached to a Prep School and therefore do not require a change of school.
Pre-Prep selection can be challenging, particularly when families are trying to map out the Prep School/Primary School options that might follow. Amongst other things, parents need to consider whether they want to send their child(ren) to an all through Pre-Prep to Prep, or a standalone Pre-Prep. We consider this key factor alongside all other considerations – including preferred location, co-ed, or single sex environment, SEN, facilities and results and destinations.
At Keystone, our consultants work alongside early years specialist tutors to ensure that we are providing the right advice and preparation for every child we work with. We understand that competition for places can be high, particularly in London, and are on-hand to make the process of finding the right school as trouble-free as possible.
Find out more about our 7 Plus Tutors and 8 Plus Tutors.
Prep School Advisory
Our consultancy team has worked with hundreds of families over the years to help secure the best fit of Prep School for their children. The services we offer range from forward-planning well in advance of entry point, to last-minute Occasional Places. Our Schools Shortlisting service provides a sensible, evidence-led list of appropriate schools based off academic ability and the family's specific requirements. Our full advisory service builds on this by managing the whole process and, where required, liaising with the school on a family's behalf.
We have successfully placed children in Prep Schools both in London and outside of London – working with families to ensure that the school they choose provides their offspring with the best educational environment for them.
Find out more about our 11 Plus and 13 Plus Common Entrance tutors.
Prep School and Pre-Prep Consultancy – Key Services
Initial consultation (in person or online) - Our initial consultations enable us to understand the specific needs of your family, your objectives and key prep school criteria. An initial consultation with a school specialist will either act as a starting point for our Shortlisting or Full Schools Advisory service or will be offered through our Hourly Consultancy service.
Assessments – Keystone's assessments, alongside reviewing school feedback and reports, are a useful tool in determining the schools children should be aiming at. We can provide an initial academic assessment as a standalone service to gain a picture of your child's academic profile, or as part of a more comprehensive consultancy package. Our custom-made assessments indicate a child's level in relation to their peers, and identify the areas to work on so as to reach their academic goals.
Prep School Shortlisting Service - Following your initial consultations, your school specialist will assemble a shortlist of suitable prep schools that meet your requirements. This shortlist will outline recommended school options, will provide a background on each school and will give a clear sense of the next steps you need to take along with any other key information.
Full Prep School Advice – If you are looking for a specialist consultant to oversee your school search and subsequent applications then we can support this through our Full School Advisory service. Within this we will shortlist your prep school options, and following discussion and confirmation of your preferred schools, we will complete registrations, arrange school visits, and undertake any other necessary clerical work.
Ongoing support - For families looking to source the right prep school for their child, and then to look further ahead to senior schools, we can provide a clear educational timeline and strategy.
Ad Hoc Advice (Hourly Consultancy) – If you are looking for an unbiased perspective on schools, or for an experienced education consultant who can give some insight into a specific topic (such as day versus boarding; single sex versus co-ed), we are able to help on an hourly basis. Before a consultation we will collect relevant information, and if applicable, you will receive a summary email with further recommendations following the meeting.
To book a free initial Pre-Prep or Prep School consultation complete our online enquiry form.
"Keystone tutored my son in Latin & Greek for the St Pauls & Westminster scholarship exams last year. He was offered places at both schools and chose St Paul's. I just wanted to let you know that he's doing incredibly well in both subjects and recently came top of the year in recent Latin exams and third in Greek. He's chosen to take both subjects for GCSE and is really enjoying it. Your tutoring made such a difference to his ability, confidence and enjoyment in these subjects so I just wanted to thank you again."
Mother of Scholarship Student
"Robbie was brilliant for my son - they really got on and he was a great teacher. My son was offered a place at his top choice school. In this world of competitive school entrance exams and the proliferation of providers of extra support, as a working parent with not that much time, I have been simply delighted and relieved to have found a quality outfit such as Keystone."
Mother of 13 Plus Student
"Kate was brilliant and just what we were after – someone to nurture a love of English rather than purely focusing on entrance exams. As a tutor, Kate has a wonderful warm manner and is engaging, fun and inspiring; my daughter thoroughly enjoyed her lessons. She was offered places at all the schools she applied to as well as an academic scholarship to one. So thank you for helping us with our tutor search – it's tricky finding the right one but Kate was perfect."
Book an initial free consultation with our consultancy team.
A Guide to Charterhouse Admissions
Founded in 1611, Charterhouse is one of the great historic public schools of England. With four centuries of history behind it, the school is committed to being at the forefront of educational progress in the twenty-first century. Charterhouse has recently undergone huge changes, becoming fully co-educational in September 2021. The school now has the ambition to become 'the best co-ed boarding school in the country'.
A Guide to Dulwich College Admissions
Founded in 1619 by Edward Alleyn, Dulwich College is a boys' selective day and boarding school in London. Dulwich has a strong global brand with 11 outposts in other countries, including China, South Korea and Singapore. While it is certainly a very academically selective school, it also fosters an inclusive educational and social environment, and partners closely with its sister school James Allen's Girls' School.
How an Education Consultant Can Help
Common FAQs on Working with an Education Consultant The decision on where your child should go to school or university is a critical one, and can be exciting, complicated, and even a little overwhelming for any parent. It can be the culmination of years of your child's hard work and careful planning, and can open up avenues for their education and career that enable them to flourish – or close them off.
Webinar: Choosing the Right Prep School for Your Child
Keystone's Director in Asia, Jenny McGowan, was joined by our Head of Consultancy, Harriet Brook, and Ed Richardson, our Director of Education to discuss different Prep school options for your child. They provided a fantastic insight into the junior/Prep school landscape for any parent considering Prep school options for their child.
Webinar: Choosing the Right Senior School for Your Child
Keystone's Director in Asia, Jenny McGowan, was joined by our Head of Consultancy, Harriet Brook, and Ed Richardson, our Director of Education to discuss the different senior school options for your child. They provided their top tips on how to select and apply to a school .
Webinar: Top Tips for School Entrance Interviews
In this webinar Keystone's Director of Education, Ed Richardson, and Head of Consultancy, Harriet Brook, discuss school entrance interviews.