Entrance Exam tuition?

[gingerg]

Just been told that 9 yr old DD is very G&T and should be entered for selective school nearby. Advised, though, that she should have a tutor before sitting entrance exam just to help her prepare. Anyone know how I can find a good tutor? Especially grateful if anyone knows where I can find a good tutor in Orpington?!

I have never known a child fail to get into a paying school

Don't have personal experience of this yet, but am told by close friends that it does happen, in London.

Don't get me started on uniforms - dd already thinks that's the main criterion...

Really, NotanOtter? I'm guessing you don't live in London. We know loads of children who haven't got into academically selective fee-paying schools, at all the various ages they can apply - 4, 7, 11, 13....

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Me too, Shoppingsecret it happens a lot in London doesn't it.
Gingerg, I am fairly local to you I think and know the school in question well, by reputation.
Depending on where you are in outer SE London, have you considered Townley Girls' Grammar in Bexleyheath as a possible alternative for your dd2? This is an excellent school on all fronts (we have friends there with a dd in year 9) but not quite as frenzied an applications process. Worth a look maybe?

i have heard a story of a prep school very close to me refusing a 2.5 yr old because he was not potty trained - plus they need them to know colours and numbers ? not sure of the truth

That kind of thing goes on for sure albosmum but I will say that not all independent schools are like that. Ours is a non-SATs, non-National Curriculum small school which does not send children away if they are unlikely to enhance the school's prestige at 11 plus. Children from a wide range of abilities (including 3 statemented in ds' class of 14) are just encouraged to do their best. It is taking in about 15 children next year, all coming either because their parents want preparation for the adjacent borough's 11 plus to happen in the classroom and not via tutoring, OR because their current independent school thinks they are not bright enough

I've been thinking about this thread all morning - about the bit where people were asking about what to look for when looking round secondary schools. I might put together an info sheet on what to look for and questions to ask (cos I like doing that kind of thing). But I was also thinking - do you think there might be people who would appreciate having someone to go to an open evening with who would help them to look out the right things and ask useful questions, and think about how the school suits theirs and their dd/ds's needs? Again, I'd really enjoy doing that (and would feel confident about it). Just wondering.

Definitely fisil. An awful lot of families don't get this kind of guidance from their primary school, for various reasons

thanks Marina, I might look into it. The only problem is that I'm tyring to start up my own business doing education work, but all of it is work that I love so much that I would do it all for free, until dp reminds me that we don't want the children to starve!

You'd be a kind of school doula, fisil Personally I couldn't have had my two kids without my birth attendant in attendance. (Well, I suppose they would've come out one way or another, but probably the other way.)

just thought i would let you know that today ds1 did a mock test at our local selective school, when i collected him it was so sad, all the children seemed far too young to be taking exams and some looked shell-shocked. DS said it was ok - quite good fun but i think he is a bit starnge like that!

fisil, I think the information sheet is a good idea, but I'm less convinced on the open day expert service. One problem is that if the parent has an accompanying expert advising on what features to look for, the child's view of the school would be marginalised. Another is that it is important to see how the school treats you and your child - the presence of an expert (who would probably become known to the schools after a while) might well distort that. If there's someone helping you to think of the right questions to ask, you won't have a clear picture of how approachable the school would be routinely. And there's no parent/child bonding experience to compare with looking round a really unsuitable school together - an extra person would get in the way.

My children's primary school gave me no advice on how to "do" open days, but whether a school was suitable or not tended to hit me like a brick fairly early on, as did the priority order in which to put the schools.

That's interesting Hallgerda. I was actually thinking that it would be all about the child - as that is a very strong belief of mine. But I suppose therefore it is important that the parent and child share the same philosophy of education as me! I wouldn't see acting like an expert entailing walking around asking lots of profound or searching questions - as a coach and consultant the trick is really to keep quiet and bring it out of your client.

fisil, have you thought of doing a series of workshops for parents and children going through the whole of the secondary school selection process? You could start with a few sessions exploring the broad options (e.g. comprehensive, grammar, specialist schools, specialist places for particular subjects, church schools, independent schools etc), and trying to help the parents and children to understand one another's views better and agree a broad strategy. Then you could follow up with some sessions on how to prepare for the chosen options, and some around the school open day season on how to get the most out of the open days, and some more to improve morale around the time of the tests and the results, and some sessions on the appeal process if needed. Many parents and children who are swimming against the tide in their local area (e.g. those who don't want their child to go to the local comp in an area where that's assumed, or those who live around Richmond and don't fancy the achievement parenting treadmill) would benefit from a support group of others in the same boat.

I like the idea! Thanks.

I think that is a good idea. My friends with children going into Y6 have been anxious all year about choices, and feel that nobody else is really revealing their true hands - as a result they feel quite isolated and don't really have anyone to answer questions in an unbiased way.

It might sound a bit ridiculous, but people don't always want to admit they are going to try independent schools/not try independent schools etc.

hi there, singergirl, I am soon getting the Reader rabbit series you reccomended, for ds on another thread. when is a good time to start preparing(tutor or otherwise)ds for the 11+? We live in Kew, which is not far from Mortlake where u are. Do you have any idea about Queens school and how well they prepare kids for the 11+?

As far as I know, apsmum, round here they start tutoring in term 2 of Year 5, so the child has a full year of tutoring before taking exams in term 2 of Year 6.

Don't know much about Queen's, I'm afraid, but have heard generally good things.