In this episode, we’re joined by the unstoppable Ilana King - educational consultant, entrance exam specialist, home educator, and all-round powerhouse.

Ilana’s journey is far from typical. After just two years in the classroom, she knew it wasn’t the right fit - and rather than settle, she built something new. Literally. She created her own nursery from the ground up (on land she negotiated with a secondary school), ran it successfully, then sold it and pivoted again. She home educated her three children for 20 years and now sits at the heart of the tuition community, supporting families through 7+, 8+, and 11+ entrance exams and training other tutors to do the same.

This episode is a masterclass in self-belief, values-led decisions, and building a career on your own terms. Whether you’re still in the classroom or already planning your escape, Ilana’s story will show you what’s possible when you refuse to be boxed in.

Highlights include:

• Why she walked away from teaching after just two years
• The toxic school culture that helped her make up her mind
• Building and running two nurseries before age 30
• Why she home educated her children — and how
• The secrets of the selective school entrance exam world
• Creating a sustainable, empowering tutoring business

Ilana didn’t just leave teaching - she rewrote the script.

You can find Ilana here:

Website: Become An Entrance Exam Tutor

Linkeding: https://linkedin.com/in/educationpathfinder

Instagram @ilana_trainsentranceexamtutors

Send us a message.

Buy Us a Coffee ☕️

Loving the Pit Pony Podcast?

We’d be so grateful for your support! We’ve set up a Buy Me a Coffee page where you can make a small donation to help keep the podcast running.

https://buymeacoffee.com/thepitponyclub

Voice Message Us: https://www.speakpipe.com/pitponypodcast

Interested in coming to our conference? https://www.tutorsconference.co.uk

If you've been affected by any of the issues raised in our podcast there are organisations who can help:

• Education Support
• The Samaritans
• Mind
• Andy's Man Club

Join Us:

• Subscribe to the Pit Pony Podcast
• Sign up to our mailing list here: http://eepurl.com/i1L5ck

Thanks for listening 🙏

Edited with finesse by our Podcast Super Producer, Mike Roberts of Making Digital Real