Tutor for King Edward VI 11+ needed

[LunaGoodlove]

Can anyone recommend a tutor for the King Edward VI in Southampton 11+?

Also, anyone with experience, what NC Level would bode well for passing in Y5?

[kingaelfred]

You need to be level 5 for king ed's in Southampton. It is not set in stone and the interview is a big factor. Basically they are more interested in potential that current achievement. If your child is in the top half to third of an average state primary and has interests outside of school ( music, sport etc) they should be fine. Don't waste money on a tutor, maybe just sign up online to do a few Bond papers in verbal reasoning ( the independent prep kids will do this in school time) and a bit of maths/English. If you need extensive tutoring the chances are it is the wrong school as the homework requirements are fairly intense.

[lainiekazan]

in my experience you do not need to be top of the class by any means to get into King Edward's. A girl went there from ds's primary school who was in middle sets for Eng and Maths out of 100 pupils. Dn thought she might want to go there after admissions were closed and they offered her a place straightaway.

[Parmarella]

I am looking at that school, and as far as I know about half of the kids who apply get in.

They are very keen on on all-rounders, and extroverted bright kids. I know some who were only average in their year, but got in. I know others who didn't.

They told me they also consider kids who are good at science and math stuff, even if their English is only average, or the other way around.

To give a number, I'd say level 5 English, level 5/6 maths you'd probably get in.

The interview bit is mysterious, also: they don't tell you how you did, you just whether you are in or out.

Basically, they want straight A*, A and maybe some B's for GCSE, so you need to look like you're that calibre student. Think C's are rare, D's unheard of!

[hmc]

Try Kip McGrath (google it). Had a look around KE VI when looking at schools for dd. Didnt like it.

[Parmarella]

What did you not like hmc?

I am not crazy about it put cannot put my finger on it

[hmc]

Went to an open evening - there was nowhere to park and a couple of parking attendants standing near the entrance who were about as surly and unhelpful as can be. Met some of the current students (they were being used to demonstrate experiments in the science labs) - some were perfectly charming others were arrogant and smug. The head teachers presentation was all very self congratulatory - 'we are preparing the brightest and the best to be future leaders blah blah', yes I know we all want our children to succeed academically and have shining futures but it was just a bit - bleurgh! Saw the sports teacher who was doing an interactive test your balance and coordination test, he asked my daughter what sports she likes and before she could reply said "Don't say football, because we don't do football here!" - it left me wondering why, is football just too 'proletarian' ?!?! (both my children are avid football fans)...And finally, and possibly irrationally, I didn't like the other parents that were there - they seemed pushy etc. Perhaps I just wasn't having a good evening!

In the interests of balance I know of people who have sent their children there and been very happy

Daughter is now attending a small independent school in Salisbury which seems much more grounded (we live equidistant between Southampton and Salisbury) and it is a better fit for us

[LunaGoodlove]

Thank you all for your useful input! I am also not entirely sold on KES, I am not sure its the right fit for my DD. We are, however, quite short on alternatives!