--- type: "Article" title: "Should we consider private school as a backup?" description: "Many families use 11+ prep for both grammar and independent school entrance, since the skills overlap. How private school works as a backup option." resource: https://pip11plus.com/should-we-consider-private-school-as-a-backup tags: ["pip"] timestamp: 2026-10-13T19:50:09Z image: https://pip11plus.com/info-hub-cards/appeals-backups-pip.jpg --- 🎓 After the Exam # Should we consider private school as a backup? ![Pip](https://pip11plus.com/media/pip-mark.png) **By the Pip team** Updated June 2026 For many families, an independent school makes a sensible backup, and the reason is practical: 11+ preparation overlaps heavily with independent school entrance exams. The same maths, English and reasoning skills are tested, so preparing once can open both the grammar and the private route at the same time. The main things to weigh are the fees, each school's own entrance test, and the timing, since independents run their own admissions on their own dates. **TL;DR** - Independent schools can be a sensible backup to the 11+. - The preparation overlaps, so the same skills open both doors. - Weigh the fees, plus any bursaries or scholarships. - Each independent runs its own entrance test on its own dates. ## Private school as a backup Lining up an independent school alongside grammar applications gives your child more than one route to a place. If a grammar offer does not come through, a private place can be a strong alternative. If you are weighing which schools to consider, our guide to the [best private schools in the UK](https://pip11plus.com/best-private-schools-uk) ranks the leading independents and explains each one's entrance exam, fees and entry ages. It is one of the calmer options to weigh in our wider guide to [what happens if your child does not pass](https://pip11plus.com/what-happens-if-my-child-doesnt-pass-the-11-plus), because it can be set up in advance rather than scrambled for afterwards. ## Why the prep overlaps The big advantage is efficiency. Independent school entrance exams draw on the same core skills as the 11+, so a child preparing for grammar school is already building much of what private schools assess. That means the work you are doing on [the 11+ subjects](https://pip11plus.com/what-subjects-are-tested-in-the-11-plus) largely does double duty. You may need to add a school-specific element, but the foundation carries over. _11+ practice does double duty: the same maths, English and reasoning skills open both the grammar and the independent school routes._ **Ask about bursaries and scholarships** Fees are the obvious hurdle, but many independent schools offer means-tested bursaries or academic scholarships. If cost is a worry, ask the admissions team what support exists before ruling a school out. ## The cost reality There is no avoiding the main difference: independent schools charge fees, and they are a significant, ongoing commitment. This is the factor that decides it for most families. That said, do not assume it is out of reach without checking. Bursaries and scholarships can change the picture, so it is worth a direct conversation rather than a guess. Our guide to [private school scholarships and bursaries at 11+](https://pip11plus.com/private-school-scholarships-and-bursaries-explained) explains the difference and the deadlines. ## Timing and entrance tests Independents set their own entrance exams and deadlines, separate from the grammar 11+ calendar. Some use their own papers, others a shared format, and dates differ from school to school. Treat each one as its own application with its own timeline, much as you would when tracking grammar [registration deadlines](https://pip11plus.com/when-does-11-plus-registration-open-and-close). A simple grid of schools, tests and dates keeps it manageable. _Weighing an independent school: the fees (ask about bursaries and scholarships), its own entrance test, and its own dates. Track each one separately._ ## Is it right for you? Beyond cost, the question is fit. Visit, get a feel for the culture, and weigh whether the school suits your child as well as your budget. The same clear-eyed thinking in our guide to [choosing which schools to apply to](https://pip11plus.com/how-to-choose-which-grammar-schools-to-apply-to) applies to independents too. And because the skills overlap, steady [daily practice with Pip](https://pip11plus.com/index#get) prepares your child for both routes at once. ![Pip](https://pip11plus.com/media/pip-mark.png) Written by **The Pip team** The Pip team builds Pip, the 11+ and KS2 practice app for children in years three to six. We write these guides from real exam formats and past papers. ## Keep reading [What happens if my child doesn't pass the 11+?](https://pip11plus.com/what-happens-if-my-child-doesnt-pass-the-11-plus): After the Exam Your options, and how to talk about it. 4 min read · After the Exam [What is the 12+ or 13+ transfer test?](https://pip11plus.com/what-is-the-12-plus-or-13-plus-transfer-test): After the Exam A later route into grammar school. 4 min read · After the Exam [How to choose which grammar schools to apply to](https://pip11plus.com/how-to-choose-which-grammar-schools-to-apply-to): School Choice What to weigh beyond league tables. 5 min read · School Choice ## Prepare once, open every door Pip turns 11+ practice into five calm minutes a day across maths, English and reasoning, the same skills grammar and independent schools test. [Download Pip on the App Store](https://apps.apple.com/app/pip-11-practice/id6775690698) [Get Pip on Google Play](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.pip11plus.app) [Available at Amazon Appstore](https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0HKGJ4HTP) [More 11+ guides](https://pip11plus.com/info-hub) Free forever · no sign-up