Bald Worm was born in Shropshire in 1985. He spent his early years grubbing about in the mud until, one fateful day in 1987, he was discovered by Nick Hitchen, sat in a flowerpot reading Pride and Prejudice. Bald Worm gained a double first in English and Wriggling from Mudbrooke College, Mudford, and, after taking a year out to travel round the garden, he began to work on his masterpiece: the Key to All Mythologies. His star sign is Taurus and his favourite colour is blue.

Winner of the 2006 Professor Snape teaching award, Mr Hitchen is currently employed to shout at small children at the Falcons' School for Girls in Ealing. In between drinking copious cups of coffee and telling silly jokes, he enjoys teaching English (but he has to confess that all his good ideas have been stolen from his wiggly-wormy chum). Mr Hitchen has lots of experience of preparing boys and girls for success at 11+. He supports Shrewsbury Town Football Club and his favourite Beatle is Ringo.

The Grumpy Examiner has been working for independent secondary schools since 1928. Years of peering at atrocious handwriting, sloppy grammar and hideous split infinitives have crushed his spirit, but he retains the ability to find joy in an excellent 11+ story. The Grumpy Examiner's favourite colour is grey. When asked his starsign, he refused to be drawn, preferring instead to wander off to the park and throw stones at the ducks.