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Original poster

Should I hire a tutor for 11+?

69 replies

Tryingtodothebest · 15/08/2012 22:23

My child has been at an independent school since he was 4. He is entering year 5 in sept. his school goes up to year 11 so do not prepare children for 11+ however they do offer scholarships.
I need my son to get a scholarship or he will have to leave for financial reasons.
Would you recommend me hiring a tutor to prep him in VR etc.
Dh says it shouldn't be necessary as we already pay £4000 a term. I think all the other children will be tutored so he will need a tutor to make it an even sting field.
Please help

OP posts:
EclecticShock · 15/08/2012 22:29

Could you do it yourself?

forehead · 15/08/2012 22:35

Get a tutor.
Many parents hire tutors even those whose dcs go to private schools.

Sophiesmummie · 15/08/2012 22:58

This is a joke, right?!

Original poster
Tryingtodothebest · 15/08/2012 23:27

Eclectic I don't think I'm up to task with this.

Sophie? I don't get your point.

OP posts:
morethanpotatoprints · 15/08/2012 23:35

I must admit, I find it rather strange that a child whose parents are paying £4k a term would need extra tutoring. Surely you believe the school is capable of teaching your ds at this level, or you'd choose differently. If they offer scholarships to pupils within the school it is their responsibility for teaching at a suitable level, not yours or another tutor.
Sorry if I sound judgy but its absurd

scarlettsmummy2 · 15/08/2012 23:53

I went to a prep school. Nearly all had an additional tutors for the eleven plus and this was twenty years ago. Even if parents say they aren't doing it they probably are.

mumzy · 16/08/2012 00:03

I presume that there will be other dc from outside the school entering in year 7 and they will sit the entrance exams so if you want your ds to get a scholarship does he also have to sit them? I'd have thought if the school considered your ds to be scholarship material they would have indicated it to you by now. Would it be rather obvious that he had been tutored for the scholarship and for current students would they judge more on his performance throughout the school? I'd talk to the school first before doing the tutoring they would probably let you know what the chances are of your ds getting a scholarship by this means. If you are having financial problems, means tested bursaries would be another route you could go down.

happygardening · 16/08/2012 07:26

IME it's not uncommon for parents to hire tutors when their children are at prep school even those paying £7000 a term because many prep schools however well known just don't live up to their reputation/ website claims particularly when preparing for scholarships. But without a doubt most prep schools should be very good at getting scolarships into there own senior schools. After all they know the format have the ear of the head and know more than anyone else exactly whats expected. Also as said earlier I would have thought if your DC was a strong candidate for a scholarship not only would they have told you but they would be ensuring your DC received appropriate extra help. Remember they need scholarships as part of the look what a wonder prep school we are advertising campaign!

Sophiesmummie · 16/08/2012 10:21

Yes, I'm surprised that you feel the need to pay extra money to have your child tutored if you already pay £4000 a term for your son's schooling. And even more surprised that you feel everyone else is doing the same!

Also, your son getting an academic scholarship should not be driven by your financial situation imo but based purely on his innate abilities. If you 'push' him into a very academic school with heavy tutoring, how will he fare once he gets there?

Our dd goes to an independent school and we're very happy with her education. She is going into Y6 and will take her 11+ secondary school exams in January for which her school is preparing her and we are leaving it up to the school to do this as well as dd's own innate abilities. She will be sitting several exams, so that we can find the one suitable for her, the one she gets in on her own merit (and will cope well when she gets there).

APMF · 16/08/2012 10:25

What has the fact that the OP's DC is already at an indie got to do with it? If it was a pass/fail test then I agree that the DC shouldn't need extra tuition on top. But the OP is after a scholarship!

There will be lots of naturally very bright kids and heavily tutored not so bright kids going for the scholarship so its a bit silly of some posters rolling their eyes at the thought of DC getting extra tutition.

Sophiesmummie · 16/08/2012 10:29

Well, in my opinion an academic scholarship should be awarded to the small percentage of genuinely bright children, based on suitable (intelligence type) tests. It should not be awarded to children who have been 'taught' how to pass a certain test.

happygardening · 16/08/2012 11:36

Sophiesmummie in the ideal world scholarship would "be awarded to the small percentage of genuinely bright children, based on suitable (intelligence type) tests" but none of us live in the ideal world; parents will pay even those pay £33 000 pa are still tutor for GCSE/A levels etc. But tutoring for scholarships is no guarantee of success if thats all it took everyone would be doing it and I'm sure many school scan see beyond the tutoring but but surely if it makes the OP and her DS feel better then why not.
The only thing OP is that if the school haven't recommended him for the scholarship you may have to over come existing views about his suitableness for one to get one into their senior school.

Sophiesmummie · 16/08/2012 11:50

Our prep school as well as all the senior schools we have spoken to have unequivocally advised against tutoring. Yes, do some practice questions to familiarise yourself with the standard/type of questions, but other than that you cannot 'prepare' for the exam and increasingly the tests/interviews are designed to scan beyond the tutoring. If you are naturally bright, read a lot of books and enjoy solving challenging maths problems, you are likely do get into a suitable school.

More importantly, wouldn't a child be much, much happier and more confident if they get into a school on their own merit? I cannot imagine how you'd feel if you have to constantly get extra help just to keep up with the others...?!

Original poster
Tryingtodothebest · 16/08/2012 12:13

The school have said he is defiantly scholarship material to me. He only started last year it's a new prep that's been added to the seniors. Before that he was at a prep that only went up to year 6. I worked at that school so I know for a fact about 80% of the kids were tutored.

The school don't know about my financial situation at the moment so they are not aware that the 100% scholarship will be essential in him staying at the school.

My youngest starts there in year 3 in Sept and they don't offer a sibling discount.

We are managing at the moment but I've had to resign from my job due to having a baby in looking for part time work which is why it's a bit tricky at the moment.

So basically he is clever but I need him to be the best.

OP posts:
Original poster
Tryingtodothebest · 16/08/2012 12:14

Certainly scholarship material not defiantly!

OP posts:
Original poster
Tryingtodothebest · 16/08/2012 12:17

Would you recommend me discussing things with the Head (who i get in with) Or his class teacher who I haven't yet formed a relationship with?
I don't want to offend form teacher by going straight to Head.

OP posts:
APMF · 16/08/2012 12:38

@Sophie. My DS at first had trouble finishing his mock papers in time. He would only complete about 60% of the test. After 6 months home tutoring, not only did he finish in time, he had enough left over to check their work.

We have friends who DCs went to very academic prep schools. They took the same line as you. What they failed to understand was that the school seamlessly did the tutoring for them. Whereas with mine, a once a week 10 word spelling test was their sole exposure to examinations.

Without tutoring my DCs would never had got places at their selective Indies.

happygardening · 16/08/2012 13:27

Re speaking to the form teacher or head it depends on the school. I only know about preps for 13+ entry usually with specialised teachers for all subjects and feeding into a variety of schools so it's the heads opinion that's normally taken. Try the form teacher gauge her reaction what help are they currently giving him maybe more than you realise. When is the exam bright able children can learn exam technique quickly maybe they'll do more in the half term before he sits it find out what their plans are. As I said earlier they more than anyone else must know what the actual requirements are.
100% non means tested scholarships are very uncommon but many offer small scholarships with means tested bursaries. If you are struggling with the fees always talk to the bursar most are approachable and you might be pleasantly surprised.

Sophiesmummie · 16/08/2012 13:36

"We have friends who DCs went to very academic prep schools. They took the same line as you. What they failed to understand was that the school seamlessly did the tutoring for them. Whereas with mine, a once a week 10 word spelling test was their sole exposure to examinations."

Excactly, but the OP's child is already at a (very expensive) prep school so it seems odd having to pay on top of that. It also means you're doing the job for the school, who are receiving huge fees whereas outside tutors are teaching the children....

And, as I said, doing some past practice papers, reading lots of books, being generally inquisitive etc are all sensible preparations.

happygardening · 16/08/2012 13:58

I agree it seems odd or more correctly stark raving mad and lets not forget a bloody rip off but many parents paying a lot more than the OP will pay for tutoring on top of their already exorbitant fees!
We know of parents preparing for both CE and scholarships who've bees forced to fork out for tutoring despite having their DCs in "top" prep schools.

bisjolympics · 16/08/2012 14:09

We are at prep in a grammar school area. Everyone I know who wants their dcs to go to grammar will be getting tutoring for the 11+. The sensible ones will start from yr 5 (exam is November of yr 6). I understand that the best tutors get reserved from yr 2. The prep does not prepare for 11+ as they want the pupils to go on to the senior school. Fortuntely ds will not be doing the 11+ so we've avoided all this madness.

I know of pupils who failed the 11+ but passed entrance exams for private secondary and even won scholarships.

In my day tutoring didn't exist (but I am very very old!).

CouthyMow · 16/08/2012 14:09

Get a tutor.

CouthyMow · 16/08/2012 14:11

Bis, 11+ HAS to be in September now, so that it is done and results sent out before school application forms have to be in. All areas except Bucks are following this, it has caused problems for this years Y6 in my area as they are losing 2 months of prep, we only found out at Easter!

I would check your area on the eleven plus forum to get a date for the exam in your area.

CouthyMow · 16/08/2012 14:13

And if the VR is multiple choice, they WILL need a lot of practice both with a tutor and at home, not for the knowledge but for the exam format. The GL (formerly NFER Nelson) books seem to be the best for VR practice.

CouthyMow · 16/08/2012 14:14

I agree it's not the knowledge that will be a problem, but the speed.