Now enrolling Year 4 & Year 5 · Orpington & online

The calm way through the 11+.

Small-group preparation classes for Year 4 and Year 5. Every subject the papers test, assessments built into the calendar, and classes small enough that no child gets left behind.

Book a free consultation See the programmes

400+: Families supported
700+: Students mentored
10+: Years of experience
98%: Parent satisfaction

Accredited The Tutors' Association

A mentor working through a paper with a pupil at a table

No obligation We will tell you honestly which programme fits your child, or whether one does at all, with nothing to pay and nothing to sign.

St Olave's Newstead Wood The Kent Test Bexley Sutton Slough Queen Elizabeth's

The bit nobody warns you about

The 11+ rarely feels like it is going to plan .

Most parents we speak to are not short of effort. They are short of information, and running out of patience with the guesswork.

You cannot tell if you are on track Papers get done, marks bounce around, and nothing tells you whether that is normal for the time of year.

The same mistakes keep coming back Worksheets pile up, but the gap underneath never gets named, so it never gets fixed.

Homework has become a fight What started as extra practice is now the tense hour before dinner that everybody dreads.

Children rarely fail the 11+ for lack of work. They struggle when the work is aimed at the wrong thing, or when confidence runs out before exam day arrives.

Our approach

One plan, from Year 4 to exam day .

One planned route from September to exam day, with progress checked on the calendar rather than when someone panics.

Tuition booked week to week

Whatever topic came up at school that week
More papers, with the same errors repeating
Progress described as "fine", with nothing behind it
Reasoning papers left until it is nearly too late

The Focused Mentoring programme

A planned sequence from September to exam day
Written assessments that show what has actually changed
A feedback meeting with you every six to eight weeks
Reasoning taught from the start, not bolted on late

Meet our co-founder

"What's truly best for this child?"

Before I became a founder, I was simply a parent trying to make the right decisions for my daughter. Like many families, we wanted excellent academic preparation, but we also wanted her to enjoy learning and believe in herself.

That experience shaped everything I wanted Focused Mentoring to become. Today, every programme we create is built around the same question I asked myself then: "What's truly best for this child?"

Praveen Gupta Co-Founder, Focused Mentoring

Praveen Gupta, co-founder of Focused Mentoring

Trustpilot 4.7 / 5 4.8 / 5

Parents in Orpington and Kent

What families tell us.

Praveen comes across as someone who is genuinely invested in helping everyone who approaches him. He really cares about his students. He really wants to help and doesn't approach tutoring just as a business venture.

Jutika Gehani

The 11 Plus journey felt overwhelming at first, but their structured preparation from Year 4 gave us clarity and confidence right from the start. What could have been a stressful experience became organised, supportive, and motivating.

Ashwini Kesarwani

We’ve just received the results, and our son got into his first-choice grammar school! Thank you, Praveen, for your dedication and for leading us through this journey. We truly appreciate everything you’ve done

Nazlı Psyllakis

Watch Anita's Video Testimonial — **Parent's Testimonial**

Watch Helen's Video Testimonial — **Parent's Testimonial**

How it works

Four steps to a September place.

Step one
A free 20-minute call

Tell us your child's year group, school and where things are sticking. You get a straight view of which programme fits. Nothing to pay, nothing to sign.
Step two
Choose your class times

Year 4 or Year 5, in the Orpington classroom or on Zoom, with two timetable options for each session. Places are held on a first come, first served basis.
Step three
Weekly lessons from September

Ninety-minute lessons in Orpington or on Zoom, with homework set each week and access to the learning portal at home.
Step four
Mocks, then exam day

Topic exams through the spring, then full mock papers under timed conditions, so exam day is not the first time it feels real.

Programmes

Two programmes, one for each stage.

Both start in September 2026 and run in our Orpington classroom or on Zoom. Places are limited to keep classes small.

Orpington or Zoom

Year 4 Programme

Building the foundations, without the panic.

From £120 per month

One 90-minute lesson every week
English, maths, verbal and non-verbal reasoning
Weekly homework and online assessments every four to six weeks
Parent feedback meetings every six to eight weeks
Learning portal access until August 2027, one-off fee
Monthly rolling, one month's notice

Weekly class times

Option A: Wednesday · 4:30pm – 6:00pm
Option B: Thursday · 6:00pm – 7:30pm

Enquire about Year 4 places

The exam year Orpington or Zoom

Year 5 Programme

Complete preparation through to exam day.

From £300 per month

Two 90-minute lessons every week
English, creative writing and vocabulary in one session
Maths and both reasoning papers in the other
Five holiday intensive courses included in the fee
Assessments, topic exams and full mock papers included
Learning platform access, one-off fee
Monthly rolling, one month's notice

Weekly class times

English, writing & vocabulary: Wednesday · 6:00pm – 7:30pm; or Thursday · 4:30pm – 6:00pm
Maths & reasoning: Sunday · 11:00am – 12:30pm; or Monday · 6:00pm – 7:30pm

Enquire about Year 5 places

Questions parents ask

Fair questions, straight answers.

Which programme does my child need?

Year 4 is about foundations: one lesson a week across all four subjects, without the pressure of an imminent exam. Year 5 is the exam year: two lessons a week, holiday intensives, topic exams and full mocks. If your child sits somewhere between the two, say so on the call and we will be straight with you.

Do you guarantee a grammar school place?

No, and we would be wary of anyone who does. Outcomes depend on the cohort, the paper on the day and each school's admissions criteria. What we commit to is a planned programme, honest feedback and a child who walks in prepared rather than pushed. If your child is struggling, we tell you at the feedback meeting and adjust rather than piling on more work.

What if the programme is not right for my child?

One month's notice is all we ask if you decide to stop. Year 4 enrolment also includes an option with reassurance built in over the first couple of classes, which we will explain on the call.

What happens after I submit the form?

We will be in touch to arrange the 20-minute call at a time that suits you, usually in the evening.

September 2026 places

Book a free 20-minute consultation.

Classes are capped and places are allocated first come, first served. Tell us a little about your child and we will get back to you.

Which programme fits your child, and whether either does
Where your child is now, and the first thing worth addressing
Exactly what the fees cover, with no obligation to enrol

Ready to chat now? Call 07531 337421 or email hello@thefocusedmentoring.com .

Thank you, that is with us.

We will be in touch to arrange your call. If it is urgent, ring 07531 337421 .