Just to counter the idea that a child needs 2 years tutoring to get into a grammar school - and this is purely anecdotal based on my own experience: my son and I did 9 months of Bond and other branded practice papers (but a lot of practice papers as his marks would leap up and down from paper to paper: 58% to 96% no rhyme or reason). We backed this up with Bond Assessment papers to work on the areas of maths his school had not covered (all come with answers for marking) and he got into one of the best grammars in the country and is thriving there - both stretched academically and happy. Don’t be put off if you think it is the right choice for your child.

Good morning

I run Teatime Tutors and have experience tutoring for all the entrance exams including the 7+.
I think it's important that your child has the confidence to take the exam and knows how to answer the questions.
Please take a look at my website http://www.teatimetutors.co.uk or call me on 07768 768 373.

I tutor in groups during the term but individually in the holidays.
I look forward to hearing from you
Tash

Thank you for the advice. I honestly have no fixed ideas as yet but looking into the options .
The list of words is wonderful and how great it is for children to communicate with a wide range of vocabulary regardless of exams.

I have a few bond books for age but they just sit on the shelf.

Yes it is all very ridiculous how schooling works here. When i was at school it was the same and those deemed academic who did win places at Latymer, Godolphin and st Pauls were all tutored. Though many didnt pay fees as there were lots of assisted places avaulable. All abolished now. Daughter has already decided she wants to go to Chestnut Grove so open to it all right now.

agree.

it's ridiculous and stupid and heartbreaking - seeing children at 11 branded a failure is awful.

it IS possible to game the system though and for most of us the nice thing is that it's not money that changes it but parental time.

Oh and that list.

Great insight into entrance exams and tutoring SW12Pops but it doeesn't half highlight how ridiculous the whole system is.

found it!

ok attached to this post is a "secret sauce" for 11+ exams. It's a word list. Start 12 months in advance, print this list off and stick it in the car. Play games and get your children to memorise it. Make it fun. This is the sort of list that's impossible to learn 3 weeks before an exam and easy to do a year in advance. I guarantee that it will make a difference.

some parents will NOT want you to share this as it's so competitive but its a game changer.

SW12P

ps no connection to the author - it just sorted us out.

This is my take from personal experience (own and friends).

1) 11 plus for indy schools - start tutoring about 18 months in advance so that they're settled and and into a rhythm a good 12 months in advance. On a personal note I reckon a good tutor plus plenty (and I mean LOTS) of practice exams at home with parents is all you need. We did this and a child who failed (miserably I might add) the grammar school entry became (in seven months) a child who got into ALL the private secondaries (Alleyns etc) and almost squeaked a scholarship in one of them. I can't overstate how important practice questions are. Given a choice between a tutor OR practice questions I'd go for the questions every time. They're only so many ways they can test the children so it's possible to recognise most of the questions and produce pat answers.

2) entrance exams for state grammars. Minimum of two years intensive (twice a week). Anything less is useless. The schools will tell you differently. They're lying.

3) 7+ much much harder to quantify. A 'fun' tutor for a year in advance but I really wouldn't go down this route anyway. It's too hard to know your child and what school is right fit.

Hi Star,

No, it would be very rare to start tutoring at 6/7 years old for 11+ exams. There are also 7+ and 8+ entrance exams which I believe the original poster was enquiring about.

For 11+ exams most people would typically start tutoring around one year before the exams. However, all families and all children are different: some people get tutoring a while in advance to gently prepare for the exams, so it’s not a rush, and some families choose to start closer to the exams.

If you’d like to discuss this further and find out more then please email me at charlotte@hydetutoring.com

Thank you,
Charlotte

A general question on tutoring as my eldest is this age and academic.. Do people start tutoring at age 7 for 11+ exams? I am looking at options for secondary school and just wondering what is advisable nowadays. In my day tutoring for schools like Latymer started around age 9/10.

Hello,

I run a small tutoring agency, Hyde Tutoring. We specialise in entrance exam tutoring covering entry to all the main schools in this part of London, from Latymer, to Kings to St Pauls.

We offer one to one tutoring and also revision courses.

Here’s the website link: www.hydetutoring.com

If you’d like to find out a bit more please email me with some details of what you’re like looking for charlotte@hydetutoring.com

I look forward to hearing from you,
Charlotte.

Hi there, does anyone have a good recommendation for a tutor or tutoring company that can help with 7+ exams? Thanks!