When to start tutoring

[Kernow1969]

Dd is in a state primary school and the local secondary options are not what we want for her.

We're considering moving her to an independent school after Y6.
She is doing very well according to her teacher but we think she'll need tutoring to pass the written exam for an independent secondary school.
When should she start the tuition?

that is an impossible question, as none of us have any idea what her abilities are, what she is aiming for, how she will take to tutoring, how big the gap is, or anything.

but as a general rule of thumb, if she can't pass an exam after 6 months working towards it at home, then it isn't within her capabilities.

That does not mean tutoring, that means working towards the exam. She could sit with a tutor for hours and not work, or she could work very hard with you and no tutor.

WHSmiths have books aimed at this - ones they can write in.

Have a look and see where your gaps are - I was quite surprised at the level they need to be at and I've worked in year 6

The sooner the better generally speaking.

If she is bright start Sept of Y5.

Talk to the school(s) you are considering before you think about a tutor. Some heads hate tutored kids and design exams based on aptitude rather than anything that is tutored.

All depends on whether the school is super competitive to get into or not. Xmas of Year 4 if very competitive to gently build up or start of year 5 if the schools aren't too selective.

I'm afraid I don't buy the 'schools weed out tutored' kids approach. Ds sat for the most competitive schools in the country. Most of the heads advised to not tutor. Guess who got the places and cleaned up on the scholarships? The tutored kids.

MrsP, I disagree but my DH has only been head of three independent schools, and before that deputy in another one.
We didn't/don't tutor our own kids either, so it's not a do as we say, not as we do 😏

Best advice is to talk to the schools.

It really depends on the selectiveness of the schools you're applying for and the kids you're up against.

You'd be very brave not to tutor if for example your dc is at a not great state school and you were looking at one of the SW London very selective independents. You have to compete with the prep kids who are extremely well prepared (and from what i hear loads of them are tutored too). It is complete madness but your dc won't be at the level they need to be by January of yr6 if you leave it to the school. State primaries are focused on getting 30 kids through SATS in May.