Pennyfeather Education

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Pennyfeather Education

Pennyfeather EducationPennyfeather EducationPennyfeather Education
  • Home
  • 11+ Entrance Exams
  • 13+ Scholarships
  • Educational Advice
  • About
  • Contact

About Pennyfeather Education

Pennyfeather Education is a boutique UK educational consultancy that specialises in 11+ entrance exam preparation and 13+ school admissions, helping families navigate the independent school admissions process. Based in Cambridge, we advise families seeking thoughtful, long-term educational planning rather than short-term exam coaching.  

  

We assist with applications to academically selective schools, including Westminster School, Eton College and The Perse School Cambridge. Our focus extends beyond simply securing offers; we aim to help children thrive once they arrive. Passing an 11+ entrance exam or a 13+ school admissions test is just one part of the overall picture; factors such as trajectory, independence and confidence are equally important.  

  

Our advice is honest and considered. We will inform families when a school may not be the right fit for their child—even if exam success seems likely. Placing a child in a highly competitive environment may yield short-term success, but it often leads to challenges later on. We take a measured view, prioritising sustained progress over early peaks.  

  

We provide expert 11+ entrance exam preparation, clear 13+ admissions guidance and structured academic support. We do not follow a tutoring-forever model. Our goal is to develop confident, independent learners and to step back when our input is no longer needed.

Mitchell Byrne, Director

Young man with glasses smiling in a gray sweater and white shirt.

Mitchell Byrne is an Oxford University graduate and a leading specialist in 11+ entrance exam preparation and 13+ school admissions in the UK, boasting over 15,000 hours of one-to-one teaching experience. He provides educational consultancy for both UK and international families, focusing on selective independent school admissions with a strong emphasis on long-term academic fit and readiness.


Mitchell advises families on navigating selective school admissions and fostering long-term academic development. Previously, he served as an educational governor for a Mayfair-based family, successfully securing offers from 15 prestigious UK boarding schools. He has also guided students toward academic scholarships at highly selective institutions such as Eton College and Tonbridge School. 


Mitchell’s approach to 11+ and 13+ preparation is tailored and thoughtful, prioritising sustained academic development over short-term results. He is recognised for his careful school matching, precise curriculum design and clear academic benchmarks that enable families to track progress with confidence. These principles underpin Pennyfeather Education's work with every family.


Alongside holding an undergraduate degree from the University of Oxford and a Graduate Diploma in Law, Mitchell is also fluent in French and speaks intermediate Italian.

Testimonials

11+ Entrance Exams

11+ Entrance Exams

11+ Entrance Exams

“Mitchell is also going to teach my kids for the 11+.” - an 11+ student


“He’s been offered a place at Eton College. We are so proud; thanks to you, he got through to this stage of the 11+ entrance exam preparation!” - Mother of an 11+ student


“Luke enjoys your 11+ lesson very much as always. You are wonderful!” - Father of an 11+ student


“You guys are wonderful. I cannot tell you how much easier you have made my life over the last two years. My daughter is going to Cheltenham Ladies' College for 11+ Entry! I will have to buy one of their hats!!” - Father of an 11+ student


“THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOUR HELP THIS YEAR. You have really been a lifesaver for both Petr and us. I hope you will have seen the 11+ report we got on his exams yesterday from school which clearly shows how much you have helped him with his educational consultancy – so thank you again.” - Parents of an 11+ student


“We are extremely grateful to you for your continued support of our son. I have no doubt many tutors would have walked away once they learned he had been rejected by Eton. But, to your credit, you have stuck with Peter, and it is thanks to you that he now has an unconditional offer from Radley College. Thank you so much.” - Father of an 11+ student: 


“Euan has offers from Hampton School, King's College Wimbledon, and made the reserve list at St Paul’s. Your unique, approachable style was exactly what he needed to achieve his potential during the 11+ entrance exam preparation. Thanks again for your very thorough and diligent approach to guiding him both tactically and strategically through his 11+ entrance exams. I was always impressed by how organized your sessions were and how easy it was to keep on track with homework through your exceptionally clear communication. I will be passing on your details to others in a similar predicament!” - Father of an 11+ student


“Thank you very much for the detailed account of your lesson and of your initial thoughts on Lewis. Even after one 11+ session, you have Lewis down to a T. I find the depth and style of feedback on your lesson very useful indeed. I just spoke to Lewis and he said that he learnt a lot from you and is looking forward to his next lesson. Your support is invaluable as we prepare for 13+ school admissions.” - Mother of an 11+ student

13+ Scholarship

11+ Entrance Exams

11+ Entrance Exams

 “He got the KS at Eton, thank you so so so much! Everything you advised, we did, and it worked. You showed us how to perfectly calibrate his workload for 13+ success and scholarship preparation. He felt so much more confident after your first 13+ session with him, and he just kept getting better and better. It was incredible. Thank you.” - Mother of a 13+ Eton King's scholar


“Please allow me to express our deepest appreciation for making time for Sabrina in your busy schedule and for the extraordinarily thoughtful, thorough, and insightful feedback you provided during her 13+ preparation. Everyone we spoke with spoke highly of you, and having now experienced your guidance firsthand, we see not only why but that they were in fact being modest on your behalf. Your track record in 13+ entrance exams and scholarship support is remarkable.” - Father of a 13+ scholar


“You are clearly an excellent teacher. I like your style, and most importantly, my son enjoys your calm, effective approach to 13+ tutoring. I am very impressed with your clear and factual understanding of a child's ability and needs. My son said, 'Mitchell is the best teacher I've ever had! And I had a lot!' — so as you can see, the boy knows what he is talking about!” - Mother of a 13+ scholar


“Ivan would like to thank you for all the help you gave him in 13+ Maths and French. His French teacher has marked him as ‘Star of the Week’ in French. During a recent school visit, his tutor disclosed that Ivan now has the highest average score in his form, ranking first. This is all thanks to your work with him as his tutor and mentor over the last few years, preparing him for 13+ exams and scholarship success.” - Father of a 13+ scholar


“Where to begin? Thank you so much. We could not have done any of it without you. Tony has completely come out of himself. He is so confident, and we are so pleased with the results of your 13+ guidance and scholarship preparation.” - Mother of a 13+ scholarship candidate


“Han has really enjoyed your 13+ lessons and says that you explain everything in a simple way and make learning fun, even while preparing for the most challenging entrance exams.” - Mother of a 13+ scholarship candidate


“James has a lot of tutors, and he says that the sessions with you are the ones he most enjoys — even more than school. Your approach to 13+ scholarship preparation has made a huge difference to his confidence and performance.” - Mother of a 13+ scholarship candidate

Educational Advice

11+ Entrance Exams

Educational Advice

 “Not only did you help Harry secure offers at St Edward’s and Charterhouse, but you guided us in choosing which offer to accept. Your insight into UK independent school admissions is hugely valuable and deeply appreciated!” - Father of an 11+ student


 “You helped us so much with the tiniest changes to how we organise our family life for 11+ preparation. These small adjustments made all the difference in the end. Thank you.” - Mother of an 11+ student


 “What changed everything for us was having the right 11+ guidance and preparation systems in place. Then it was like we were finally cooking with gas. We couldn’t have found the right schools, the right path, or known about the opportunities without your advice.” - Father of an 11+ student


 “If I had found your 11+ and 13+ advice earlier, I know I would have saved a lot on other tutors. But finding you when we did made a huge difference to Jasper’s academic journey. We are all incredibly grateful.” - Mother of an 11+ student 


“I was sceptical at first about some of your suggestions because they seemed so simple, but once we put them into place, it was a ‘why didn’t we think of this?’ moment. With your structured 13+ guidance, our daughter moved up a set in Maths and exceeded expectations in her Common Entrance results. We’ll continue to follow your advice — it’s clearly working.” - Father of a 13+ student


 “Everything you recommended, from managing our son’s stress to adjusting our own expectations, made a huge difference. We’re now on a much more confident path with his education, and I’m excited for what comes next. Thank you for all your excellent strategic insight and support.” - Father of a 13+ scholar


“Thank you so much for your patience and careful mentorship with Ben. Your focus on both what he learned and how he learned accelerated his progress tremendously. When his school suggested Bradfield as a high bar, we knew Radley and others would be long shots — but thanks to your guidance, he now has offers from Radley, St Edward’s AND Harrow! Your support in navigating UK boarding school placement has been incredible, and we are eternally grateful.” - Father of an 11+ student

Pennyfeather Education

Cambridge, United Kingdom

Copyright © 2026 Pennyfeather Education - All Rights Reserved.


Email: mitchell@pennyfeather.org

Phone: +447533845840

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