Hiring an 11+ Tutor

[Mamacookies]

Hi All,

I am considering hiring an 11+ tutor and would really love to gain from the experience of those of you who have currently or previously employed a tutor.

• What would you suggest as the hourly rate in the Trafford area?
  
• Do you pay per lesson or block book a number of sessions?
  
• Do you expect supplementary sessions over the Summer?
  
• Do you pay for materials such as practise papers, or does the tutor?
  
• What is usually the cancellation policy for you to cancel lessons with the tutor?
  
• How much homework is usually set per week?
  
• Did your tutor assess your child before agreeing to accept them?
  
• How did your tutor set expectations for the result of their tuition?
  

Thank you for your input on this. It's a lot of money to spend so I want to make the right decision.

Thank you in advance!

[amidawish]

• What would you suggest as the hourly rate in the Trafford area?
  

in SW London £30pa for 1:1

• Do you pay per lesson or block book a number of sessions?
  

pay on a half term basis

• Do you expect supplementary sessions over the Summer?
  

no

• Do you pay for materials such as practise papers, or does the tutor?
  

no

• What is usually the cancellation policy for you to cancel lessons with the tutor?
  

generally tell him a week or so in advance of any issues and try to reschedule, but if not, i don't pay. goes both ways - the tutor sometimes can't make a lesson.

• How much homework is usually set per week?
  

maths & english homework

• Did your tutor assess your child before agreeing to accept them?
  

no

• How did your tutor set expectations for the result of their tuition?
  

? no guarantees! the tutor will fill any gaps and hope they get the right school for them. certainly no promise of any particular school.

[originalmavis]

We didn't tutor for 13+ but did for 7+, and we found that the bond papers were very good - there's also an online version that you can subscribe to anually or monthly.

Central London was £50 or 60 an hour, I forget, but results were better than when we didn't use a tutor!

Get past papers (with marking schemes if you can). The Manchester grammar school has these on their site.

Practise exams - so timing, plans, checking answers etc.

Tell your school what exams you are going for and ask for their support.

[Twowrongsdontmakearight]

Both DC were tutored in Trafford and we paid £25 an hour (DD now finishing Y8). I think it's about £30 now. Different tutors for DS and DD. Each had an hour lesson, once a week, for one year starting just after the entrance exams for the previous year. DC were sort of assessed by their tutors, but neither would promise a pass!

For both we paid after each lesson. The tutor provided all materials and gave about an extra hour of homework in addition to the lessons. We gave about a weeks' notice if missing a week (but gave holiday dates earlier). No extra lessons on the build up to the exams but more homework over the summer.

What I would stress is finding a tutor EARLY! I started looking when DD was starting Y4 but struggled. Most of the 'best' tutors have children's names down in Y2!

[Lilacpink40]

By way of comparison in South West it's around £15 group lesson (5 or fewer children) and around £25 1:1. Lessons of around 1hr or more per week. BOFA online and Bond papers are popular, also CGP.

My DD has moments where she gets fed up with homework (2x 50 min tests and 1 question per day on subject of the week or equivalent, plus BOFA practise).

It is worth it though. It helps with regular school work as well as 11+.

[Lilacpink40]

PS Our tutor works in my DDs school so already knew her ability and if you can get someone linked through the school it may help you to get more honest feedback too.

Recommendations in your area help - do you know children who have passed?

I booked mine a year ahead.

[Lynlou]

Hi,
It really depends on what suits your own child, around Altrincham, 1:1 £ 25-30 per hour, although doesn't suit everyone. Small group sessions can cost the same but with the advantage that your child enjoys them and doesn't resent the more intense sessions, and can benefit from friendly competition and a more relaxed atmosphere😃One hour of tutoring a week only serves to direct parents really in what their child should be doing outside of these sessions as it's not enough on its own no matter how good the tutor is! Most pay per week, but extra summer sessions are not to be expected. Cancellations really should be worked out, fitting in alternative times if possible. Most provide all papers/books.... i also include subscriptions to the 11+ and maths sites as children find them fun and they can be tailored to their specific needs. Homework should be built up gradually.... if starting in September maybe an hour, after the whit holiday this will be more like 3-4 hrs a week depending on the individual child. As a year 5 teacher as well as a tutor, i would never accept a child for tutoring without an assessment and meeting them first, as I've seen the damage to self esteem if children are intensively tutored who are not suited to a Grammar School, socially or academically. Personally I would not teach a child who I didn't feel would benefit from a Grammar education, and having two children just finishing their time at the A ltrincham grammar... I am well aware it doesn't suit everyone..... And does not necessarily give the best education for them. Hope that helps!