bright boy, dull school

[tiptabletops]

Probably not the right place to post this, but I suspect that you all might be able to help me.

My child is a bright boy and top of the class in a very mixed ability and very bog standard school. A third of the class is below average, a third average and the final third above average - average being as measured by NC levels.

He has a nice group of friends, working not far behind him. He is a voracious reader, as are two other children in the class. He is L4a for writing, L5c for reading but L4C for maths. He doesn't put in much effort to achieve, and certainly no more is asked of him than the average (he occasionally gets homework which is pitched far below his level). He does loads outside school off his own back - learns piano, swims, joins clubs, reads history, writes endless stories. In my view (and we are a family of writers) he has a talent for writing. His maths is only OK, but that is the one subject in which I have not put in any effort at home. There is a disparity between my maths IQ for example, which is above average, and my actual achievement in maths, largely because I was very poorly taught.
I am dreading the next two years, as I know the school will gear up towards SATS. Their focus will be on pulling up the average (many children do not manage L4 in the final year) and I am worried he is going to be lost in a slump of boredom.

I'd like him to go to a selective independent school as I think he will enjoy being around lots of other clever kids. But I'm not sure how to achieve this. How easy is it for a naturally bright kid to be tutored at home. Not in a mad, test practicing way, but in a way that will showcase his skills in an independent school exam, and allow him to pass the grammar school exam. I could also send him to a local prep school, but it is not selective so I am not sure how much it will gear up to his ability. I am also thinking of just getting a tutor in maths and English (perhaps shared with one other child in his class) and just getting him up to speed outside school.
He is otherwise happy at the school: popular, loads of friends etc.
What would you do in this situation?

We moved DS at the start of year5 to a selective independent, that goes through to A levels, for almost the opposite reason. His state primary was doing a fab job differentiating which meant he was getting maths tuition one-to-one in school. We worried this was unhelpful to his friendships. DS is also sporty and as small primary they only offered team sports very rarely.

When we went to meet the HT of the new school he said tutoring not required in any subject beyond a Bond book of verbal reasoning practice & one of NVR. We took him at his word! They were more interested in the two trial half-days candidates attended; conversational skills, general knowledge, enthusiasm for areas of personal interest. (Not all entrants were offered places, it is selective with good published results.)

My point is that DS is much happier with lots of boys to play with and loads of sports. However this has turned into a bit of a coasting year academically. We take the view we are in it for the long run and we'll take happy any day.

All I really want to know if tutoring is enough for a bright kid in a crap school to get into a good selective school/grammar school. And if anyone of you have done it? And if so, how it went.

Yes, I have heard couple of such stories. But!
I agree that it is important to get a place where your boy will be amongst the equal. My friend's son was very poor performer at school and then he befriended with the top boy in the class, his attitude changed dramatically and he is ok now. Having a tutor is a good idea if grammar school is on an agenda, tutor will help to discover your boys week areas and will explain exam format. I understand you have access to selective independent school too? Also not a bad idea, will give some time to you son to get used to the environment where everyone is keen to put an effort and get a result, so transition to the grammar will be smoother :) Tutor may help to get to independent school too.

The son of a friend of mine got into Westminster on a 100% bursary straight from a primary school after 6 weeks' work with her on past entrance papers, and no tutoring at all. So yes it is possible !