How to prep child for 7+ exams to move from state to private

[Pinkponk1]

Hi does anyone have any good tips on how they have helped their kids learn at home to prep for 7+. Our ds is in a state school just started in reception and I wondered if here are any good resources or books to read on how to help your child at home esp how to bridge the gap between state and private given many kids will be in pre preps gearing up for 7+, working a year ahead
In an ideal world I'd love to know enough about what is required at 7+ level and then work out a way to educate as much as possible at home in a none pushy way ie games etc

Also I heard that sometimes tutoring for the 7+ is not good as schools spot tutored children...is there any truth in this?

Also does anyone know what they expect at interview and extra curricular activities?

Thank you

[Greenfizzywater]

Everyone is tutored, including those who say they aren't and including those who are at pre-preps that prepare for the 7+. The exam is taken in the first or second term of year 2 so at an absolute minimum I'd say you need to tutor throughout year 1. Where are you?

[Pinkponk1]

In London so clearly super competitive. That's what worries me.. How do you stand a chance if kids at pre preps are taught a year ahead and tutored too.
Our son has a natural love of learning and creativity which I don't want to crush by tutoring but understand the schools need certain things.. Just don't know what they are yet!

[blueshoes]

My son got into a competitive school without tutoring for the 7+ or being at a preprep. I am not aware that any of his friends were tutored. We just got him some bond papers and made him do it over the summer.

However, he was in a private school, though it was not a preprep.

I would have thought the 7+ tests vary from school to school. Perhaps you can check with parents who have got their child into that school as to what to expect.

[sotiredtoday]

In my experience prep school boys are not all tutored, unless the school does not specifically prepare for the 7+, in which case children need to learn about the exam format. Regarding required level, the schools which test the children usually explain what they want, if in doubt look at the Bonds books.
Have a look at londonschoolmaze.com, quite useful dfor the 7+

[Bordersmummy]

Don't believe (all) the hype. Call the school(s). Ask what is required in terms of curriculum for exam in comparison with state NC curriculum. Explain that he is in a state school and therefore won't have been 'prepped' in the traditional sense. Most schools with 7+ entry take plenty of kids from state schools alongside those from preps and will be prepared for these questions.

Disclaimer: I've not been through this yet but am likely to do so in a couple of years so have spoken to others who have done it, and had some good advice. I have spoken to a couple of schools (Central London) and they have been happy to answer these questions. Personally I don't plan to tutor for 7+ but will definitely get DCs to do some practice papers so they are familiar.

[areyoutheregoditsmemargaret]

"Everybody" is not tutored, my dcs were at a pretty bog-standard state primary and, like others on here, I just did some bond papers with them, starting in the summer holidays. Not too much but enough to make them familiar with the format. One had covered all the curriculum at school (despite all hype re prep school kids being 2 years ahead), the other needed a bit of help with a few maths concepts but certainly nothing I couldn't show her.

Obviously it all depends on your child's natural ability, their school (like I say, ours didn't have a great rep locally, but clearly was teaching to a high standard) and how busy you are. Do you have enough time to do 15 mins a day from the summer of y1? If not, a tutor might help fill some gaps, but I honestly think it's not necessary for the kind of child who will truly thrive at an academic school.

Also remember, plenty of tutored children don't pass 7+, so it is no magic bullet. As others said, ring the schools - they want the best candidates and take their background into account. Good luck.

[jinnybag]

I never understand this tutored v not tutored argument. Every child is tutored.

Sometimes by an external tutor the parent has engaged; often by the diligent, repetitive coaxing, support and assistance of a (usually, highly qualified) parent. Or two parents. It makes me really to hear an Oxbridge-educated SAHM brag that her child "never had any tutoring". Bloody well did! They had daily tutoring from an omni-present, highly-educated parent, personally invested in ensuring this child passed!

I have 2 children who both sat and passed the 7+. DC1 had the superior luxury of having me at home f/t in the year before, assisting with daily homework, stretching dc when I could see that concepts were solid, singing times tables in the car, setting fun writing tasks, like letters to Santa or cousins, reading lots of short stories..plus the obligatory Bond books, a year above their calendar age.

When it was DC 2's turn, I was back at work f/t. DC did homework with the nanny, who is fab but it was not her job to tutor my dc. DC 2 went to a tutor for the term before the 7+, once a week, for an hour for 12 weeks. And had support from me at the weekends.

It was fun. DC was certainly not "crushed by tutoring." A good tutor will inspire your child, never crush them.

Luckily both passed, but I'd say, without a doubt DC1, tutored by me rather than an external tutor, was far better prepared for the whole experience.

[areyoutheregoditsmemargaret]

I think most people understand "tutoring" to mean paying an external person to prepare your child. It would be silly to enter a child from a state primary for 7+ with no preparation at all in sitting an exam, but as I say, I found - slightly to my surprise having been frightened by people on here - that the state primary had covered the necessary curriculum.

As for your , I am not a SAHM and beyond sitting dcs down every morning with a bond paper for 20 mins and quickly glancing through it for mistakes, I hardly needed to do any more.

It's not supposed to be bragging, it is supposed to be reassuring parents not to be intimidated or buy into the "everyone is tutored" hype. I know several working mums (not Oxbridge either ) who did a similar level of prep with their dcs at state primaries, so it's completely doable. If you want to use a tutor, then fine!

[jinnybag]

areyoutheregoditsmemargaret - I didn't mean YOU when I mentioned the Oxbridge SAHM who supports/tutors their child through then brags they didn't need a tutor. I was referring to my personal school-gate experience.

My point is that there does appear to be an inference from parents, at school gates, on mn in general that if your child is externally tutored then they appear to have had an unfair advantage over those tutored by educated parents, and almost aren't as deserving of the place. My argument is more that a heavily supported child with a parent who has time to provide daily tutoring/coaching has a much bigger advantage than the externally tutored one. I've done it both ways.

[areyoutheregoditsmemargaret]

Fair enough, took that as a dig at me since I'd just said my dcs weren't tutored .

I agree, tutoring is not wrong per-se, it is just often unnecessary, especially at 7+ and I'd also say if you don't have time to "heavily support" your child because you're busy at work or whatever, then light support may be adequate - at least that's all it took in my and my friends' cases. But then, by light support I mean asking them to do Bond papers and checking them, it doesn't include - for example - the fact dcs grew up in a house full of books, with parents who read a lot and therefore read avidly themselves. Which obviously helped hugely.

[AmberTheCat]

Why do you think children in pre-preps will be working a year ahead, Pinkponk?

[soundevenfruity]

Haberdasher Aske has example papers for 7+ on their website.

[poppypowers]

Tests differ from school to school. Call up the schools you are interested in, visit their websites and ask around. Once you have a grasp of what is expected from each school - sit down and try and work out how well your child will do in each test. Do a few bonds papers with them to see where they are.

If you feel there are huge gaps in learning which you may not be able to fill - then hire a tutor.

If you are happy with their current ability and think with a little coaching from you - they will reach the required level and have no huge gaps in learning - then go with your hunch.

Forget what everyone else is saying/doing. At the end of the day it's about what your child can do and how best to prepare him for each specific test. They differ hugely from school to school.

Good luck!

[Pinkponk1]

Thanks everyone some really good advice

[TheHouseonHauntedHill]

Sometimes by an external tutor the parent has engaged; often by the diligent, repetitive coaxing, support and assistance of a (usually, highly qualified) parent. Or two parents. It makes me really hmm to hear an Oxbridge-educated SAHM brag that her child "never had any tutoring". Bloody well did! They had daily tutoring from an omni-present, highly-educated parent, personally invested in ensuring this child passed!

Couldnt agree more

[CindyLou]

Depends where you are and which schools.