Ask five different tuition providers in Croydon how much 11 Plus preparation costs and you may get five very different answers. Some providers publish their prices clearly, while others ask parents to enquire before giving a figure. For parents comparing options, knowing the cost is important, but so is understanding what that cost includes. This guide looks at the different routes families in Croydon and Sutton can take towards the 11 Plus, what they typically pay for, and what to consider when deciding whether a programme offers good value.
What 11 Plus Tuition Actually Costs in Croydon and Sutton
There is no single price for 11 Plus tuition. Costs vary depending on the type of tuition, how often your child attends, the length of each lesson and how much support is included alongside the lessons.
At Students Achieve, we keep our pricing straightforward:
- 4 lessons per month: £160 per month
- 8 lessons per month: £260 per month
- Each lesson: 1 hour 30 minutes
If your child would benefit from more frequent tuition, we can also arrange this. There is no fixed limit on the number of lessons a child can attend, so their programme can be adapted around their needs and your family’s budget.
This means parents can choose a level of support that works for their child without being restricted to a fixed package.
Comparing the Three Main Routes to 11 Plus Preparation
Small Group Centre Tuition
Small group tuition can offer a balance between individual attention and affordability. Children learn alongside other pupils, using their individualised learning plan, preparing for the 11 Plus, while still receiving guidance from a tutor throughout the lesson. They consist of five to seven students per class across Maths, English, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning, usually for an hour and a half to three hours a week.
Because the cost of the tutor and the room is shared across the group, the price per hour is typically lower than one-to-one tuition while still allowing the tutor to track each child’s progress individually. Most centres, including ours, price this on a membership basis rather than charging per session, which keeps the fee predictable across a school year.
One-to-One Private Tutors
Private tutors working one-to-one typically charge a higher hourly rate, because there is no group to share the cost across and the tutor is often self-employed and setting their own rate. The advantage is full personalisation of pace and content. The disadvantage is that cost scales directly with hours, so reaching the same weekly hours as a small group programme becomes considerably more expensive over a school year, and availability can be inconsistent if a tutor is balancing several private families.
National Tuition Chains and Franchises
National tuition providers can offer a structured programme and a familiar format, which some families find appealing.
However, it is still important to look beyond the brand name and compare what is actually included in the price. Consider the lesson length, class size, subjects covered, assessment, parent communication and whether the programme can be adapted to your child’s individual needs.
What an 11 Plus Tuition Fee Should Actually Cover
When comparing prices, the cheapest option is not necessarily the best value. It is worth looking at what you are actually getting for the money.
A good 11 Plus programme should ideally include:
- A structured approach to Maths, English, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning.
- Regular opportunities to assess your child’s progress.
- Teaching that addresses gaps in knowledge rather than relying solely on practice papers.
- Preparation that reflects the exam or exams your child is likely to sit.
- Feedback so you know how your child is progressing and where they still need support.
- Enough time for your child to build knowledge, confidence and exam technique gradually.
The right amount of tuition will also vary from child to child. Some children may thrive with one session a week, while others may benefit from additional lessons as the exam approaches.
Why We Publish Our Pricing Openly
We believe parents should be able to see what tuition costs before deciding whether to enquire. Most tuition providers, local and national, quote a range and ask families to enquire for exact figures. We take a different approach on our 11 Plus tuition programme and publish our actual membership pricing on the service page itself, because we think a parent budgeting for two years of preparation should be able to see the real number before making an enquiry call. Transparency does not mean the cheapest price on the page, it means the price shown is the price paid.
Costs Beyond Tuition Fees: Registration and Exam Costs
Tuition is only one part of the overall cost of preparing for the 11 Plus. Depending on the schools your child is applying to, there may also be registration, application or examination fees. Sutton’s Selective Eligibility Test has its own registration process and deadlines, while independent schools set their own application and assessment arrangements. These costs are separate from tuition, so it is worth including them when planning your overall 11 Plus budget. We keep the current dates in our Sutton 11 Plus SET exam guide, and any family budgeting for 11 Plus preparation should treat registration and exam fees as a separate line item from tuition, not an afterthought.
Budgeting for 11 Plus Preparation Across Year 4, 5 and 6
Starting preparation earlier does not necessarily mean paying for more intensive tuition from the beginning. For many families, spreading preparation across Year 4, Year 5 and Year 6 can make the process more manageable.
It gives children more time to strengthen their Maths and English skills, develop their reasoning ability and gradually become familiar with the types of questions they may face. It can also reduce the pressure of trying to address several gaps in a short period of time.
At Students Achieve, we can discuss the amount of tuition that would be appropriate for your child’s year group, current ability and individual needs. If you are unsure how much support your child needs, you can get in touch, and we can talk through the options with you.
FAQs
Monthly membership pricing depends on the number of weekly hours and the subjects covered, so a single figure quoted out of context can be misleading. We publish our current membership pricing directly on our 11 Plus tuition programme page so families can see the real, up-to-date number before making an enquiry.
It depends on the child. One-to-one tuition offers full personalisation and can suit a child who needs a highly individual pace, but it costs more per hour than small group tuition for broadly similar curriculum coverage, so it is worth weighing whether the extra personalisation is the deciding factor for your child specifically.
Yes. Registration fees for the Sutton SET and application or exam fees for independent schools are separate from tuition costs and should be budgeted for separately, alongside any materials a specific provider charges for outside the core membership fee.
Pricing can vary by location depending on group sizes and local demand, so it is worth checking the confirmed current fee for your specific branch directly with our team rather than assuming the two are identical.
A properly structured small group programme should include Maths, English, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning teaching, regular assessment, and progress communication with parents, rather than practice papers alone.
Most families preparing for a Year 6 sitting begin budgeting from Year 4 or Year 5, which spreads tuition costs over a longer period and avoids the higher intensity, and often higher total cost, of starting preparation late in Year 6.
Not always, but franchise and national marketing costs are often built into chain pricing, so a family comparing a chain quote against a local centre quote should compare the actual weekly hours and curriculum coverage included, not just the headline monthly figure.