Entrance Exam Symposium 2025
September 26th
The Lyric, Hammersmith, London
How are selective school admissions evolving across different entry stages, and what does this mean for tutors and other professionals in the entrance exam market? Join leading experts in assessment, selective school admissions, and tutoring as we explore key trends, shifting selection criteria, and how to better support students at every stage of this competitive landscape.
Meet the speakers:
Ilana King
With over 14 years experience as an entrance exam tutor, Ilana is the go-to in this niche market! Ilana helps other educators make an intentional choice to become entrance exam specialists and gives them the skills they need to stand out in a crowded market.
Hayley McLintock – Tonbridge School
Hayley is the Deputy Head (Admissions & Communications) at Tonbridge School, bringing over 20 years of experience in education management. A passionate advocate for student potential, Hayley is dedicated to fostering a strong sense of community at Tonbridge, where high academic achievement is complemented by a broad and rich co-curricular and enrichment experience, underpinned by exemplary pastoral care.
Brodie Bibby – Choiss Coaching
Brodie has been a teacher and leader in schools for over 35 years including Deputy Head at Westminster Under School, Head of North Bridge House Prep, and Head of Wetherby-Pembridge in New York. Brodie founded Choiss Coaching to provide one-to-one interview preparation and small group workshops for children and young adults.
Guy Holloway
Guy has spent 35 years preparing pupils for competitive entrance exams to leading UK schools. He is the co-founder and former headmaster of Hampton Court House. Guy has written widely on education, served as a ‘leading thinker’ with the National Education Trust and lectured on educational leadership at the Institute of Education. A regular voice in the media, Guy has appeared on Sky News, BBC, and ITV. Guy is the author of The A-Z of Independent School Leadership to be published by Hachette in October.
Gemma Ackerley – Atom Learning
Gemma is the Director of Customer Experience at Atom Learning. Gemma has worked in Education and 11+ preparation for over a decade. She began her career working as a tutor, supporting hundreds of students in London with grammar and independent school 11+ preparation.
Adam D’Souza – Select:ed
Adam D’Souza is a full-time professional entrance tutor, focusing on 11+ and 13+ admissions, and an educational consultant to families around the world, helping to select the right-fit schools for children. Adam finds teaching neurodivergent children and students with ’spiky profiles’ particularly rewarding.
Lucy Alexandra Spencer – Education Boutique
Lucy Alexandra Spencer is an education entrepreneur, qualified teacher and 4+ to 13+ tutor. Lucy is regularly requested by her network of global business leaders and international royal families where she either tutors herself or curates specialist teams for entrance exam success.
Alastair Montgomery – Academic Profiling Tests (APT)
Alastair is the Managing Director of Academic Profiling Tests (APT) – an assessment tool used by trusted tutors and academic consultancies worldwide. He was the founding director of UKiset in 2014 – an admissions exam used by UK boarding schools assessing international applicants. Alastair has been working closely with entrance exams during a significant era of change in both technology and methods, he brings his experience of high and low stakes assessments to discuss what impact this has on learners.
Cath Bufton-Green – Bufton Green Education Consultancy
Cath is an Educational Consultant with 29 years of positive influence and impact on young people, staff and school communities. Having worked across both the state and independent sectors, as a teacher, subject leader, senior leader and Head of schools including: Surbiton Junior Girls’ School and Surbiton Boys’ Preparatory School, Chandlings School, and Gateway School; she is best placed to provide support to schools in their desire to promote and provide experiences that aptly prepare pupils for a complex, ever-changing future.
Sarah Logan – Next Steps Education
Sarah is the director of a thriving tuition business working with students across the South West. As a primary teacher of 20 years, she’s passionate about unpicking maths development and tutors maths from 11+ to GCSE using the CPA approach.
Programme Overview
In Conversation on the Role of Assessment – Panel Discussion
What makes an assessment effective in identifying the right students? How do schools decide who will thrive in a selective environment? What support do parents need to navigate the process?
Alastair, Guy, Cath and Adam will explore how assessments are used in admissions, the factors that influence selection decisions, and the challenges faced by families and educators. The panel will also consider the wider impact of assessments on students and how they can be used to support learning, not just selection.
The Future of Selective School Admissions – Panel Discussion
Selective admissions are evolving—so what changes are on the horizon, and how can educators, tutors, and parents prepare?
Gemma, Brodie, and Hayley will explore key trends shaping the future of admissions, from shifts in selection criteria to the growing role of computer-based assessments and the increasing emphasis on critical thinking in later-stage evaluations. With insights from both those guiding students through the process and those actively involved in admissions at a top school, this discussion will offer a well-rounded perspective on how these changes impact students and those who support them.
Decoding Demand: What Parents’ Requests Reveal About Trends
What can parent enquiries tell us about the future of selective school admissions? In this session, Lucy will explore the latest trends emerging from large-scale data collected by agencies working closely with families. By examining patterns in parental concerns, school preferences, and shifting admission requirements, Lucy will provide valuable insights into where the market is heading—and how tutors and educators can adapt to meet evolving demands.
Transforming Maths into an Adventure: Questioning for Entrance Exam Success – Workshop
For many students, entrance exam maths can feel like a high-stakes test at every turn. But what if we could shift the experience from pressure to curiosity? In this interactive workshop, Sarah explores how we can use questioning techniques to turn maths into an engaging adventure—one that encourages exploration, builds confidence, and removes the fear of ‘getting it wrong.’ We’ll focus on strategies tailored to entrance exam preparation, showing how the right questions can deepen understanding, improve problem-solving, and help students approach challenging problems with resilience.
Shaping Future Success: Practical Strategies for Navigating New Trends in Assessments – Workshop
As admissions assessments continue to evolve, how might we best support students in their preparation? In this interactive workshop, Ilana and Adam will explore key trends in selective testing and their potential impact on teaching. We’ll consider areas such as the increasing focus on critical thinking, advanced vocabulary, verbal reasoning logic problems, and the differences between digital and paper-based assessments. Through discussion and practical activities, participants will have the opportunity to reflect on these changes and take away ideas to help students succeed in a shifting exam landscape.
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