11+ tutoring

[Llanbobl]

DH and I have had a difference of opinion over tutoring for 11+ exams in Sept. DD is educationally able to cope with a Grammar school ed as she was achieving Yr 6 KS levels at end of Yr4 and has continued to develop in Yr5.
DP is against tutoring and I tended to agree with him - it should be on what a child is able to do so they can cope if they get a place. however am now having a HUGE panic - we've got practice tests etc but I'm struggling to explain all the strategies. So do you think it is worthwhile getting some tutoring sessions during the summer holidays? And does anyone know any tutors in the DN22 7 area (north notts) - if so would you pm me their contact details or link to website etc - thanks

I don't know if any of you who posted advice will see this, but 11+ results came today and DD has passed!!! She is August born so was only 10 and 2 months when she took the tests. In the end we did 3 practice papers for verbal and 3 for non verbal reasoning and hoped her ability would see her through
Thanks again for your help, advice and words of wisdom

LLanbobl COngratulations! YOu must be so relieved. Well done and all the very best to you and your daughter.

Congratulations to your DD!

One thing I would add to the tutor or do practice papers at home yourself debate is to consider your DCs temperament.

I already know that me trying to do practice anything with DD will be on a par with my father trying to teach me to drive - and hence I will willing pay (if we can afford it) to avoid the ghastly rows!

Bowerbird - thank you - we are
Pyrrah - know where you coming from

This thread is scaring me a lot. My DS has just started reception and i have already been quizzed as to whether he will be tutored for the 11+ (yes really). He cant even read yet, and who knows what sort of boy he will be! The pressure I feel is terrible, esp from certain 'friends'. Someone i am close to has been tutored since year 3. i hope he passes next year or god knows what the fall out will be - the pressure his mother is putting on him is unbelievable. Realistically we cannot afford £25 a week for 3 and a bit years - which I think makes me a crap parent.

Not really sure why i am stressing about this so much now but its good to read other experiences. And well done to your DD Llanbobl

Very interesting feed.

I think the only comment I will add regarding practice is that if your child is at the type of school were grammatical terminology is not in use - so 'verbs' are 'action or doing words' and the various types of nouns (collective, common, proper, abstract) are not explained - then the practice is essential because certainly the English exam will presume this understanding.

One of the real eye openers is the practice I am currently doing with my DD1 (Y5) is that prepositions, adjectives, adverbs - how to change words from a adjective to an adverb, suffixes, prefixes, etc... just isn't formally understood. DD1 clearly has some loose grasp of what they mean - but she lacks to terminology to always understand what the question is asking.

Hi Shelly72:

I thought I would say a few things to you.

First of all you really don't need to be thinking about senior school choices and what would be best for your son until about Y4 - so enjoy KS1 and his learning to read, add and subtract - because it is a lovely time. However, it doesn't hurt to be noting what parents are saying about senior school choices in general conversation - for future reference.

Second - you just can't predict right now with any accuracy your son's academic ability, ability in other areas (music, sport, dance, etc...) or his drive.

We were deeply uncertain about the whole grammar school thing but in the end our DD1 is pursuing it because her great friends from school also are - so she suggested it to us. We've talked to teachers, who were incredibly guarded about the whole thing, but did feel she is a strong student in some subjects. Her school is particularly weak on grammar/ reading the classics - and we're doing our best to make up ground with that and support her through this.

It has been a very organic process landing here preparing DD1 for the 11+ - but it feels the right decision, mainly because it also is coming from her.

Shelley72 - you are not a crap parent for not being able to afford tutoring. Please don't beat yourself up about it. Your DS is in reception - it's the parents talking about tutoring that are bonkers!!! Enjoy being with him, playing with him, talk to him, read to him, sing with him. Let him have fun and support him at school - if he struggles with something get involved and if you can't help talk to the teacher. There are loads of free resources on the internet. Take him to the library. Ignore the hyperventilating parents - they just suck up your oxygen!!

PastSellByDate - I so agree with you on the grammar. It's been bad in the UK for eons though.

I studied French, German, Latin and Ancient Greek and would have found them all much easier had we had proper instruction in grammar in English classes - and this was from a very academic prep.

I lived in Italy for a few years and was amazed how good everyone's grasp of grammar was - they all could tell you what 'pluperfect subjunctive' was - and most of these people did not have university degrees.

Dumbing down in this area does no-one any favours.

I looked at the 11+papers in our bookshop and found them a bit soul-destroying. The thought of making poor little DS1 aged nearly 10 plough through them instead of writing his sc-fi stories brought me down.

Am I alone?

They seemed dry as dust - nothing to do with an ability to understand and communicate complex ideas clearly.