Bearwood is one of the closest communities we serve — our Smethwick centre is just over a mile away. Bearwood children have a strong grammar school tradition, with King Edward's Five Ways and Camp Hill the most common targets. Teaching Success prepares them with qualified teachers and real GL Assessment papers from day one.
Location matters when you are committing to weekly sessions for 12–18 months. Our Smethwick centre is one of the shortest journeys of any family we work with.
Bearwood's B67/B68 location sits neatly between some of Birmingham's most sought-after grammar schools. Here is what each school looks for and how Teaching Success prepares for each one.
Mixed grammar in Bartley Green — the closest KE school to Bearwood. Typically the most popular target for B67/B68 families. Strong all-round school with excellent results. Entry requires consistent performance across all four GL Assessment sections.
Boys' grammar in Kings Heath. Strong science and maths tradition. Popular with Bearwood boys who want a mixed-gender catchment area within the KE family. Competitive entry — children need to perform well across all four sections.
Girls' grammar in Kings Heath, adjacent to Camp Hill Boys. Often listed by Bearwood girls alongside Five Ways. Academically demanding — strong on humanities and sciences. Entry at a similar level of competition to Camp Hill Boys.
The flagship girls' grammar — very high entry benchmark. Girls from Bearwood who perform in the top 5% nationally are encouraged to include this. Teaching Success ensures the preparation is thorough enough to make this a genuine rather than hopeful application.
Independent of the KE foundation and popular with Bearwood boys as a strong achievable target. Located in Handsworth, accessible from Bearwood. A respected school that consistently achieves excellent GCSE and A-Level results.
Girls' grammar in Handsworth Wood. A common first or second choice for Bearwood girls given its location. Competitive entry but achievable with consistent Year 5 preparation. Strong community and academic reputation.
The preparation programme is the same for all children — but the pace, emphasis and school targets adapt to each child's starting point.
The free trial lesson is also a diagnostic. Kevin or Serena works through a short section of a GL Assessment paper with your child — not to test them, but to identify exactly where they are strong and where the gaps are. You receive an honest assessment at the end, with a specific plan.
One hour per week, per subject area. Kevin covers maths and non-verbal reasoning. Serena covers English and verbal reasoning. Most families start with one subject and add a second as they progress. Sessions always include timed practice sections using real GL Assessment papers.
Full four-section mock tests at our Smethwick centre — £5 per sitting. Auto-marked with a section breakdown and written teacher feedback. We recommend sitting one every two to three months from Year 5 to track progress against the entry benchmarks of your target schools.
Practical guide · Updated
A child who becomes stuck may spend too long on one item or move on without a clear way to track what remains. Practise the decision in a low-pressure setting.
Use a short original question set with one deliberately unfamiliar problem. Agree a simple way to note the question number during practice, then revisit it only where the relevant test instructions allow. Ask what made the pupil decide to pause.
The method must fit the actual section rules; it is not permission to return to a completed section. Review the unfamiliar skill afterwards rather than calling the question a failure. Bearwood families should confirm the current cohort and lesson arrangements before building a preparation schedule.
Official section instructions · Checked 19 September 2026
On a short untimed practice sheet, ask the child to mark the current question clearly, complete it and move the marker before starting the next. If they check an earlier answer, return to the marker afterwards.
Use this only as a practice routine and adapt it to the permitted tools and instructions of the actual test. The objective is keeping place, not inventing a navigation rule. Notice whether errors come from reasoning or from matching an answer to the wrong numbered item, because those need different support.
Most commonly King Edward's Five Ways, KE Camp Hill Boys and Girls, KE Handsworth (Girls) and Handsworth Grammar (Boys). High-achieving children also apply to KE Boys and KE Girls in Edgbaston. All use GL Assessment format papers.
Our Smethwick centre is approximately 1–2 miles from Bearwood High Street — typically under 10 minutes by car. One of the shortest journeys of any family we serve.
Entry benchmarks vary by year and cohort. Generally, children need to perform in the top 15–20% of GL Assessment entrants for a strong Five Ways application. Teaching Success tracks each child's practice paper scores against these benchmarks and gives honest guidance on where they stand.
Yes. Weekend £5 mock tests at our Smethwick centre — easily accessible from Bearwood. Full four-section Birmingham grammar school format, auto-marked with written teacher feedback. Weekend morning slots available. Use the mock test page to book.
Book a free first lesson at our Smethwick centre to see our approach before committing. Sessions from £15/hr. Call 07909 274901.