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Original poster

This is the pushy parent Tiffin tutor thread.

469 replies

uwila · 22/01/2007 13:28

Okay, so wh ohas used a Tiffin tutor? Did it get your kid(s) into Tiffin? How old were they when they strted tutoring?

Okay, so my DD is only 3 1/2 but I like to plan ahead/. I've heard you can sign up for tutors that increase your chances of getting into Tiffin (boys and girls schools).

Any experience/opinions welcome.

Thanks.

OP posts:
PuzzleRocks · 02/03/2011 16:32

Amidaiwish - Quite. My mother sending me there was the best thing she ever did for me. Without wishing to discuss my background too much, my life might have been very different if she had not been a little pushy.

Strix · 02/03/2011 20:38

We should change the thread title to "The Perennial Tiffin Thread"

Congratulations to those who got in! Smile

sunam · 08/05/2011 14:19

This is my first 'dip my toe into the world of Tutoring ' question. How do I find out about good Tiffin tutors? My DS is about to turn 7 and will start Year 3 in September. Early but wanted to get a sense of what it might all look like if we went down that route. Gather its all a bit 'full on' around these parts!:) We live in Surbiton.

mumzy · 08/05/2011 19:25

Can I ask with all these successful appeals at the most sought after grammar schools are the number of pupils per class now usually above 30?

king100 · 18/05/2011 17:24

Hello - I'm a newbie to the forum and came across this thread. I hadn't started to think about secondary school yet (DS is only 4) and it can't be healthy to get too anxious about these things so early on. However, getting on a waiting list for a good tutor as early as possible seems like a pragmatic approach as it gives you the option of taking a place even if you decide not to use it later on. As such, I would be grateful if someone could suggest a good tutor (PM of course) for Tiffin boys.

Claygate · 07/07/2011 09:33

Tiffin exam is OK if your child has a good grasp of english language. If their reading is behind, their spelling and vocabulary poor they will struggle with VR.

Non VR can be taught.

Well known tutor wont take kids with low language ability as it cant be taught. But in effect the tutor is only taking those with the ability and then sitting with them practicing again and again....money for old rope.

Tutoring is all about practice with papers identical to tiffin exam and speed. Many kids say they did well in the exam but didnt finish. If they dont finish there is a strong chance they wont get in.From what ive seen there arent enough test papers out there that will give enough practice at home so tutoring is valuable.....but expensive.

Tutoring is practice practice practice under timed conditions. It can be very depressing if your child is not doing well in the tests. My son passed tiffin exam and was accepted. At first we didnt think he would pass and as tutoring went on felt he might not make it, it became stressful toward the exam, but he sailed it. Now he worries about missing friends but hey he got into a good school.

One thing you have to do is get your child on list to be evaluated by a tutor asap otherwise places will be gone. Again charges for this...

Problem is everyone i know who went to Tiffin ended up an accountant!!!
One thing there is not enough of on these threads is tiffin parents talking about whether it was worth it.

jcaravano · 23/09/2011 14:33

Hello! I am a newbie to this site. Does this automatically make me pushy? My daughter is in year 4, and I have always been told she is Tiffin material. She has her heart set on it, so I thought it would be a good idea to start her tutoring while in year 4. She certainly is motivated to do so. Does anyone know of an 11+ tutor in the Kingston area who takes children from year 4? Thanks.

AmazingDisgrace · 26/09/2011 13:54

Hi jcaravano. I'll send you a PM with details of a tutor that starts in Yr4 in your area :)

MelCamilleri · 29/09/2011 22:52

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by Mumsnet.

YummyHoney · 30/09/2011 16:28

Aaww! I hate when a message is deleted before I get to see it. What was it like? Anyone see it before it got deleted? Grin

CrosswordAddict · 30/09/2011 17:16

Can I put my name down to be a Tiffin tutor? Grin
Seems to me there is a niche market here.

YummyHoney · 30/09/2011 19:14

Oh yes, great idea CrosswordAddict Grin

Tiffin Tutors List:

  1. CrosswordAddict
  2. YummyHoney
Jaykay128 · 23/10/2011 22:05

Hi, I am a new to this site my daughter is in year 2. I have been told that for the best chance of her getting into tiffin she should be tutored and to get a good tutor I need to get her name down on a tutors list. So does anyone know of an 11+ tutor in the Kingston

YummyHoney · 24/10/2011 19:52

JayKay Year 2 is far too early to begin tutoring. If your DD is bright, you can start in Year 5 and you don't need a "Tiffin tutor". All you need to do is make sure she is familiar with VR and NVR practise papers.

If your DD can only get into Tiffin with 4 years of tutoring then it is not the right school for her.

Jaykay128 · 26/10/2011 09:21

YummyHoney
I think you are misunderstanding me. I am not looking to get her a tutor now. Just to get her on a list to be tutored when she reaches year 4/5. As I have been told that finding a tutor when you need a tutor can be difficult.

I would rather have the option of a tutor when the time comes around.

racingheart · 26/10/2011 20:27

Jaykay you are right. I don't think we're allowed to mention specific tutors on here (are we?) There's one not far from Kingston, Mrs W, who does well, teaches in groups I think. Another, Mr P, is in Surbiton. His wife Mrs P will tutor for Tiffin along with other grammars, so she'd cover the Sutton grammars too.

There's allegedly an entire family in New Malden that tutors, Mrs W and daughter, (I'm told.) Great reputation.

Don't go with the ones who hand out flyers outside the school. The real tutors have waiting lists for years. Now is the time to get on them.

Also, maybe do start fairly young. We didn't. We're not starting till mid Yr 5 but several friends have tutored from Yr3 onward, and their children have raced ahead academically at school too.

YummyHoney · 26/10/2011 20:30

Sorry Jaykay - yes, I did misunderstand you. You're right to have a tutor lined up for the future.

Jaykay128 · 28/10/2011 12:10

Racingheart,
I think you can post the details in a private message. I will send one to you.
Thanks

TrafalgarMum · 04/01/2012 07:36

Happy New Year! This is my first chat and I am really interested in looking for a tutor to prepare my chid for either grammar or private secondary schools as living in Twickers does not provide good secondary schools for boys. Please could anyone inform me of which tutors they would recommend and which to avoid! Thanks

TrafalgarMum · 04/01/2012 07:42

Claygate, please could you recommend the tutor you used to take you through this process. Thanks

TrafalgarMum · 04/01/2012 07:45

Racingheart, you seem well informed would you mind sending me the list of tutors you have, I really need to get my child on the waiting list. He is in Y3 and I?m fretting we maybe already too late

Mamooshka · 21/01/2012 21:23

Hello all

My ds is in year 5 and we have had a tutor for the last 2 months. His NVR and VR is 90% +, however his maths is only 50%. He is a very very bright and creative little man who has a passion for the Humanities (especially history) and will sit for hours reading books on WW2 and can name more flags and capital cities than I know most adults can...but......he finds maths 'boring'! I think it is a shame for him that he isnt tested on the areas in which he is passionate about. I really want him to get a place at a selective school as I know he will thrive in an enviroment where there are far greater opportunities than at our local comp, but he really needs the extra help to push him along.

The scary part is there are children around where we live who have been tutored from a very young age and know the 11+ like its their first language. That is not to say they are any brighter but just that they have been 'trained' for much longer. I am not dissapointed that they are far more advanced as that is clearly a product of their parents pushing them, but I am dissapointed that the competition is SO great that unless you get in early, your child may be weak in some areas that then need cramming. Some of the maths subjects are taught infrequently in the National Curriculum and there is a risk of skill fade if they didnt quite get it first time around. His reading and spelling age is assessed as 14, however this means nothing if his maths isnt top of the class.

I hope we can help him along but it isnt easy and forget the terrible two's and teething...secondary school options are the worst part so far.

CookingMamaLouLou · 25/02/2012 10:43

I think everybody needs to really think about this whole process differently. I am an ex student of the famous Mrs Walsh, and I was tutored by her for 2 years in the early 90s and I still didn't pass my 11+ It completely depends on the child. She is fantastic i know-she tutored my two sisters and brothers and they all went to Tiffin and now I help my child with the methods she taught me. Is it just the parents wish for them instead of the childs wishes though? I remember crying with stress aged 11 before and after the exam. I have talked to my son endlessly over whether he wants to do it. I haven't pushed him. Make sure you have that "chat" with your child. Thinking about tutoring earlier than 9 is insane. Mrs Walsh had a certain method, and it really seems to work with my son. I just hope WHEREVER he goes to he will be happy and prosper. That's the goal isn't it?

NewToTheGame · 06/03/2012 10:38

Has anyone heard of Mrs Pugh for 11+ tutoring? I wanted my son to be tutored by Ms Walsh but she has retired :( Who is the second best? I am new to the game of 11Plus...my first child is turning 8, I realise I need to get more clued up.

MrsGuyOfGisbourne · 06/03/2012 16:59

The best people to ask are the Year 6 parents with no younger siblings because they have fisnishe with entrance exams now and no longer have to keep it secret Grin Just be friendly and ask them - they will be only to keen to pass on theri war-storis now