If you’re considering Alleyn’s School in Dulwich for your child, you’re looking at one of South London’s most sought-after independent schools — a place known for academic excellence, creative energy, and warm community values. At Clarendon Tutors, we’ve helped dozens of families secure offers from Alleyn’s and Alleyn’s Juniors, providing specialist 7+ tutoring, 11+ tutoring, and interview preparation tailored to the school’s distinctive admissions process.
Alleyn’s: A Leading South London School
Founded in 1619 by the actor and philanthropist Edward Alleyn, Alleyn’s began life as part of the “College of God’s Gift.” Over the centuries, the foundation evolved and, in 1882, separated into independent schools — Alleyn’s and Dulwich College. Today, Alleyn’s is one of the UK’s top co-educational day schools, offering a rich academic curriculum and outstanding opportunities in music, drama, sport, and the arts.
Modern facilities such as the Edward Alleyn Building and Michael Croft Theatre reflect the school’s blend of tradition and innovation. Its ethos combines academic rigour with genuine care for each pupil — one reason it’s consistently among the most competitive schools in London.
Alleyn’s Juniors
The Junior School (Alleyn’s Juniors) takes children from 4+ to 11+ and is widely seen as a direct feeder into the senior school. Entry into the Juniors all but guarantees a place in the Senior School, provided pupils continue to meet internal academic expectations. This makes early entry — particularly at 4+ or 7+ — highly desirable.
The Juniors admit around 36 children at 4+ and 8–10 new pupils at 7+ each year. Entry at these stages gives families a strong advantage: once your child is inside Alleyn’s Juniors, they benefit from continuity of education, familiarity with the ethos, and a seamless transition to Year 7 at Alleyn’s Senior School.
At Clarendon Tutors, our early years specialists and 7+ tutors focus on the foundational literacy, numeracy, and reasoning skills that Alleyn’s looks for — as well as the social and emotional confidence children need to shine in group activities and interviews.
Entrance Points
The main entry points to Alleyn’s are:
- 4+ (Reception) – assessments in January, entry into Reception in September.
- 7+ (Year 3) – assessments in January of Year 2, with around 8–10 places available.
- 11+ (Year 7) – entrance exams in the autumn of Year 6, entry into Year 7 the following September.
While the 11+ route is the most common for families joining later, those entering through the Juniors enjoy a far smoother path to the senior school.
Our team at Clarendon Tutors supports every stage of this journey — from 4+ readiness and 7+ creative writing tuitionto 11+ maths reasoning and interview preparation.
7+ Entrance Exam
The 7+ assessments are age-appropriate but competitive. They include:
- English: comprehension and creative writing
- Maths: reasoning and problem-solving
- Non-verbal and practical reasoning tasks
- Group and interview assessments
Our Clarendon 7+ tutors use bespoke materials that mirror the Alleyn’s Junior 7+ format, helping children gain familiarity and confidence.
11+ Entrance exam
At 11+, candidates face written exams and interviews covering:
- English – reading comprehension and creative writing
- Maths – arithmetic, logic, and problem solving
- Verbal and non-verbal reasoning
- Interview / assessment day tasks
To see the school’s own resources, review:
Our Clarendon 11+ specialists build tailored programmes around these exact topics, using authentic materials and past-paper practice. We also run mock interviews to prepare students for Alleyn’s distinctive conversational assessment, ensuring they perform with poise and confidence.
Why Choose Clarendon Tutors for Alleyn’s Preparation?
At Clarendon Tutors, we understand Alleyn’s — its ethos, exam format, and what admissions teams look for. Many of our tutors are former Alleyn’s pupils or teachers who know the process inside out. We offer:
- Personalised 7+ and 11+ tutoring programmes
- Targeted English and maths practice based on Alleyn’s sample papers
- Specialist interview preparation and confidence coaching
- Continuous feedback for parents on progress and readiness
Our results speak for themselves: year after year, Clarendon students achieve success at Alleyn’s, Alleyn’s Juniors, and other leading London independents.
If Alleyn’s is your goal, we can help your child get there — calmly, confidently, and successfully.
Photograph by Edward Alleyn
