11+ - home tutoring until year 5?

[ParentsTrapped]

My DC1 (DS) is currently year 3, so year 4 in September. We live in London and he’s at a state primary. From what I’ve read it’s normal to start tutoring for super selective grammars in year 4.

We are considering the 11+ but I’m not keen on starting formal tutoring in sept because we’re not 100% decided that we want him to do it, DS does lots of extracurriculars (gifted musician and also loves sport) and I think we’d struggle logistically to get him to a tutor, and I feel like 2 years of tutoring is a bit grim for a young child.

Is it pointless just to do some extra workbooks with him during year 4 and then start formal tutoring in year 5 if we want to go for it? Do all the good tutors insist on 2 years+?

We may move house which makes it all trickier but considering the Essex grammars (CSSE) primarily atm.

If people do recommend the self-tutoring route initially, what are the best resources to use? I got the bond books year 4 materials (assessment papers/10 Min tests) and DS is getting at or near full marks in these. Is it worth aiming to complete the year 6 books by end of year 4? Or would the year 5 books be enough?

(I also have no idea of the required standard - none of DS’s friends are likely to be going for this due to where we live though some may try for selective indies. DS is one of the top in his year of 90+ kids but not very studious/conscientious).

Hey, not the OP but we have started using ace11plus and have found it really good, mainly good for structured practice around tuition sessions, and mocks. We paid for the premium plan as the explanations were v useful, especially for comprehension questions which DS struggled with initially. If you have used atom, it is v similar but cheaper - hope this helps

I agree with @WarrenHouse - can vouch for the site, has helped my kids a lot and they enjoy using it. You can do regular mocks and targeted practice based on weaker areas rather than just working through random books (which is what it felt like we were doing before). It also made it easier to fit around clubs/sport without everything revolving around 11+ prep. I originally joined through a friend’s referral link and got 50% off the first month, so happy to pass mine on in case useful: https://ace11plus.org/signup?ref=SSJAG3CVS

Because children have got worse at basic full sentences since COVID.

A tutor above has just told you it’s beyond Y7. 2023 is 3 papers ago, they get harder each year. 2026 paper had a Pythagorean triple.

The first question on the GCSE Foundation paper this year was 3.4 x 5.5! Definitely past that level.

Combinations / permutations / angles / conversions. It’s hard! And questions are only worth 1 mark that would be 3 marks in a GCSE paper.

corbett maths is good. Bond was too basic but good for Y4. Do past papers! Buy them from the website as they only sell the more recent years and they changed 2 years ago!

Thanks @Nefer795 and @Letamumsleep that’s really helpful.

It’s been a long time since I did GCSE maths so no idea how they compare, but looking at the past paper linked above there are certainly a lot of qs that DS wouldn’t have a clue how to approach, at this stage anyway. I hadn’t heard of some of the resources mentioned so will look into those.

"Beyond year 7" is not equal "GCSE level" 🤷‍♀️
GCSE Foundation and grammar schools belong with different worlds, not sure why you bring Foundation into comparison. 2x2 is also GCSE level then as you have to be able to multiply to pass GCSE.

My DD sat for Henrietta with zero prep. Our friends got into QE which is much higher in the rankings than KEGS with one year of external tutoring. It is doable for a bright child.

We use the site - would recommend. They have a 7 day free trial of the premium so you can always cancel if you dont like it. The free tier is quite generous also

Sorry I've been away so missed this. We started early so that she was already in a routine of doing tuition, just like she is in a routine of swimming lessons and music lessons etc. She passed with flying colours, so to speak, and we also did a few indie exams which she passed too.
For us, the thing we massively underrated was the speed that they have to go through the tests and that's very tough to teach if you don't have past experience imho.
I'm happy to share our tutor if you need one via DM. We "kissed a lot of frogs" so to speak before we found our one.

Year 7 is GCSE - they need to be on a grade 4 by year 7 in grammars which is a pass. Do you just know so little about the GCSE exam that you’re arguing?

KEGS actually came above QE and HBS in the most recent Telegraph rankings.

Telegraph ranking looks bizarre - they have St Michael's in 3d place, I know this school well as it's local and whilst it's a very good school there is absolutely no way it's no.3 nationally and the idea it's above HBS is bonkers.

GCSE ranking is as straightforward as 11+ maths 😁
https://www.atomlearning.com/blog/best-grammar-schools-in-uk?srsltid=AfmBOooZyaRYQLefjnAHn8K4CZLKN1OfRg0CsD1QfaB015zxsk6upLNL

I'm not arguing with you btw, just telling OP some facts proven by admissions in our cohort, without hundreds of exclamation marks. Everyone is free to tutor their DC from birth if they so wish, but it is by no means necessary if a child is grammar material. If they're not, then years of tutoring might help to get in but the tutoring will have to continue then.

@mariokart2026 would love for you to share your tutor please. My son is going into year 5 in September and looking for a recommended tutor.

I agree. A school local to me has deliberately changed the way the test works to stop intense tutoring being the way to pass. It doesn’t do anyone favours in the long run. The head teacher has spoken out about it.