Excel Academy

Excel Academy: academic and technology tuition in Harrow

Excel Academy is an Ofsted-registered tuition centre operating in Harrow, in north-west London, and also online. Founded in 2011, it supports students aged 8 to 16 with programmes ranging from primary school through to secondary school entrance exam preparation and pre-university levels. Its physical base is at Cunningham House, 19–21 Westfield Lane, Harrow HA3 9ED.

Academic preparation by stage

The centre organises its academic offer according to the pupil's year group and the exams they face. For Key Stage 2 (Years 3 to 6) it covers Maths and English, with reading, writing and spelling, punctuation and grammar (SPAG) content, aimed at SATs and the end of primary school. At Key Stage 3 (Years 7 to 9) it adds Science and prepares students for school internal exams and pre-GCSE.

11 Plus preparation is aimed at Years 3 to 5 and includes Maths, English, verbal and non-verbal reasoning, with a view to grammar school and private school entrance exams. There is also a 13 Plus programme for Years 7 and 8, with Maths, English and Science. For Years 10 and 11, GCSE and IGCSE classes are taught in subjects such as Maths, English and Sciences, among others. In Years 12 and 13 the offer covers AS and A2 Levels, with subjects such as Pure Maths, Economics and Business, among others. The methodology is based on clear explanation, guided application and focused practice through homework and exams, with past paper preparation and small groups or one-to-one lessons.

Coding and technology courses

In addition to academic teaching, Excel Academy offers practical coding and technology programmes for ages 10 to 16. The offer includes an introduction to visual programming with Scratch, mobile app development with tools such as App Inventor and Thunkable, website design and building with HTML and CSS, game development with mechanics, levels and characters, and programming in Python and JavaScript. Courses are also taught in graphic design with Canva, basic cybersecurity focused on privacy and safe browsing, robotics, artificial intelligence and physical computing with Arduino, Raspberry Pi and BBC Micro:bit.

Guidance and additional support services

The centre complements its classes with academic and career guidance services. It advises on entry to grammar schools, private schools, sixth form colleges and universities, and organises revision workshops and intensive booster classes at Easter and in summer. It also works with schools through its school partnership programme and offers a free initial assessment to design a work plan.

Approach and features of the centre

Teaching is aligned with the UK national curriculum and covers the main exam boards: OCR, Edexcel, AQA and Cambridge. The centre presents itself as a safe and structured space, with equipped classrooms, ample parking and a waiting area in the building. Parents can apply for childcare support and credits, as well as pay with childcare vouchers. Communication with families includes regular feedback on pupil progress.

Location and local context

The Harrow base mainly serves families from Harrow, Brent, Barnet and Hertfordshire. Since Harrow does not have its own grammar schools, the centre prepares pupils for selective schools in nearby areas such as Barnet, Enfield, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire. 11 Plus classes are taught in small groups on Thursday afternoons and Saturday mornings, with the option of one-to-one lessons and practice in the format of local school exams.

Cunningham House, 19–21 Westfield Lane, Harrow HA3 9ED