Entrance Exam Symposium 2026
October 16th, London (near Waterloo)
In a landscape where selective education is shifting, the 2026 Entrance Exam Symposium invites tutors, consultants, and education professionals to step outside familiar frames.
What happens when we view entrance exams through a global lens? When we question our own professional identities? When we sit, just for a moment, on the school’s side of the table?
This year’s theme, Challenging Perspectives: Reimagining Entrance Exams, explores how the independent and grammar school landscape is evolving — and how those of us preparing students for it can adapt, collaborate, and think differently.
Expect a day of panels, practical workshops, and thought-provoking discussion designed to expand your understanding of what “entrance exam preparation” can mean in 2026 and beyond.
Who It’s For
The symposium is designed for entrance exam tutors, educational consultants, admissions professionals, and anyone involved in preparing students for selective schools. Whether you work independently, as part of a tutoring agency, or within a school, you’ll find practical insights and reflective discussions relevant to your role. The day is also valuable for those developing curriculum, assessments, or training programmes within the field of selective education – anyone seeking to deepen their understanding of how entrance exams are evolving and how we can respond thoughtfully.
Programme Highlights
*subject to change*
Panel Discussion: Beyond Borders – Global Perspectives
As British independent and grammar schools attract increasing numbers of applicants from overseas, the entrance exam landscape is becoming truly international.
This panel explores what that means – not only for families navigating admissions across cultures, but also for tutors and schools seeking to uphold fairness, integrity, and accessibility in a global context.
Panel Discussion: Inside the Gate – How Schools Think
Step into the shoes of admissions leaders and school decision-makers.
This panel of school heads and admissions professionals offers rare insight into what happens behind the gate – how schools interpret data, balance intuition with evidence, and make decisions that shape students’ educational journeys.
Inside the Data – Standardised Assessments in a Global Context
A data-led exploration of how standardised assessments such as CAT4, ISEB Pre-Test, Quest, and other benchmarking tools are being used, both in the UK and internationally.
- What data schools actually use and trust
- How international applicants are compared and assessed
- How tutors can interpret this evolving landscape without “teaching to the test”
Workshops: Behind the Role – Rethinking Ourselves
These small-group, practice-focused workshops invite participants to step back from content and technique, and instead consider how and why we teach the way we do.
- Rethinking Maths Pedagogy: Getting it right at 11+
Explore how sequencing, retrieval, and conceptual depth can transform maths teaching. Move beyond topic lists to consider how to build lasting mathematical understanding through distributed practice and multiple representations. - Rethinking the 11+ for Bilingual and Bicultural Learners
In this practical, thought-provoking session, Ilana and Adam delve into what it really takes to support bilingual and bicultural students through the 11+ process. Ilana and Adam will explore the linguistic, cultural, and cognitive challenges these learners face, and share concrete strategies tutors can use to adapt teaching, build confidence, and close hidden gaps. Expect a hands-on discussion that reframes familiar tasks, highlights often-overlooked barriers, and equips you with approaches you can implement immediately in your own practice.
Format and Atmosphere
The Symposium blends formal panels with interactive sessions, creating space for lively discussion, reflection, and connection among professionals. This year, I’m delighted to host the event at 15Hatfields, a modern, purpose-built events venue just moments from the River Thames and Waterloo.
It’s an upgrade from last year’s setting – spacious, light-filled, and designed to encourage collaboration and comfort throughout the day. Expect a balance of thought-provoking presentations, practical workshops, and relaxed opportunities to network with colleagues across the sector.
Join Us
Be part of a community redefining excellence in entrance exam preparation.
