The tutor behind Leo
Strive with Leo was built by a tutor, for tutors' students. Every feature — every question, every explanation, every story — reflects 12+ years of sitting across the table from children who needed to believe they could do it.
The journey
During my own iGCSE years, I began helping classmates who were struggling. Not because I was asked to — because I found I could explain things in a way that made sense to people who'd been stuck for months. That realisation changed everything.
As I began taking on private students, I kept seeing the same pattern. Brilliant children, committed parents — but the resources available were dry, repetitive, and demoralising. Workbooks that felt like punishment. Apps that were just digital flashcards. Children who practised every day and still walked into their exam filled with dread rather than confidence. I knew there had to be a better way.
Over three years I systematically tried different approaches with my 11+ students. Traditional workbooks — effective for drilling, but killed motivation within weeks. Gamified apps — engaging short-term, but the questions weren't rigorous enough to build real exam confidence. Audio lessons in the car — surprisingly effective for vocabulary and verbal reasoning. Storytelling — the most powerful vocabulary tool I ever found, far better than flashcards. Each approach taught me something. None was complete on its own.
I was tutoring a girl called Amara — bright, diligent, genuinely capable. She was practising every day, hitting 70–75% on mock papers. But in sessions she was hesitant, second-guessing herself, constantly asking "Is that right?" before she'd even finished writing her answer. The knowledge was there. The confidence wasn't. I realised the tool I needed to build wasn't just a question engine — it was something that could learn a child's specific fears and blind spots, and address them directly. That's when Leo was born in my head.
Every question in Strive was written with a specific child in mind. Every explanation was shaped by the way I'd explained the same concept dozens of times in 1:1 sessions. Every Strive Story was built on the principle I'd tested in sessions — that a child who reads a compelling narrative retains vocabulary far better than one who uses flashcards. Leo isn't a gimmick. He's the distillation of everything I've learned about what children need to feel ready.
What I tried — and what I learned
Before building anything, I spent years systematically testing different preparation approaches with real children. Each one taught me something that's now built into Strive.
Effective for initial drilling and subject coverage. Children understood concepts — but motivation collapsed within 4–6 weeks without external pressure. The "homework" feeling killed autonomous practice.
High engagement for the first two weeks. But the questions were too easy — designed for engagement metrics, not exam outcomes. Children felt they were doing well without actually building the skills the 11+ tests.
A revelation for verbal reasoning and vocabulary. Children absorb audio effortlessly during passive moments — car journeys, walks, bedtime. The key was content quality: engaging narration, not robotic recitation.
The single most effective vocabulary tool I ever found. A child who meets a word in an emotionally engaging story retains it. A child who learns it from a flashcard forgets it within a week. The research is clear — and my experience confirmed it.
I worked with children who knew the content but froze in the exam. The difference between their mock scores and their actual results was anxiety. Breathing techniques, visualisation, and routine-building made measurable differences.
The most powerful insight from 12 years: the optimal learning zone is narrow. Too easy and children coast. Too hard and they shut down. Real-time difficulty adjustment — what I did manually in 1:1 sessions — is what Leo now does automatically.
Why I built Strive
After 12 years of 1:1 tutoring, I had a waiting list I couldn't clear. Families who needed support couldn't afford £60–£80 an hour. Children in schools without strong 11+ guidance were going into exams underprepared — not because they weren't capable, but because they hadn't had the right support.
Strive with Leo is my answer to that. Everything I do in a 1:1 session — the adaptive questioning, the clear explanations, the encouragement, the wellbeing check-in — Leo does it for every child, at any hour, for a fraction of the cost of private tuition.
Private 11+ tutoring costs £60–£100 per hour. Not every family can access it. Strive gives every child access to the same quality of preparation.
The adaptive questioning I do manually in sessions — raising difficulty, targeting gaps, adjusting tone — AI can do this for thousands of children simultaneously.
Exam prep doesn't have to be drudgery. I've seen children come alive when learning feels like adventure. Strive was built to replicate that feeling — every single session.
Children are on screens. The question is whether that time builds them up or not. Strive turns screen time into preparation time — without the child noticing the difference.
Schools I've prepared students for
Over 12 years of private practice, I've successfully prepared students for entry to the following schools:
Alongside Strive with Leo, I run a YouTube channel where I create free educational content for students across all ages and subjects. The philosophy is simple: complex ideas, explained clearly, by someone who genuinely loves the subject.
The channel grew out of the same belief that built Strive: that quality education shouldn't be gated behind expensive tuition. If you can explain something clearly enough, anyone can learn it.
▶ Watch Learn with RishiWhat families say
Rishi is one of the most dedicated, hardworking and experienced tutors I have ever encountered. My daughter is preparing for her 11+ and I have seen a massive improvement in her verbal, non-verbal, English and Maths. He is compassionate, kind, honest and will give you a full analysis on your child's strengths and weaknesses in just one lesson.
My son is very unwell and can not concentrate for long periods. However, he enjoys the lessons and asks to have half an hour extra every time. Mr Rishi is a very kind and professional teacher. He has not only helped my son's grades from "very good" to "Excellent" — he has also helped build his confidence.
Rishi has been a great coach for our son — really helping him build his confidence and preparing him for his exams. He was always punctual, and kept in touch with us to give us updates on his progress. He has definitely helped him progress and I'd have no hesitation in recommending him.
I have found Rishi to be a very amiable and courteous individual as well as a respectful and patient teacher who is able to effectively identify my particular weaknesses and act accordingly. He clearly plans and structures the content of sessions beforehand and I am confident his actions are part of a wider long-term development plan.
Everything I've learned about preparing children for the 11+ — every method, every insight, every technique — is built into Leo. Free to try for 7 days.