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3+ 4+ 5+ 7+ support thread 2014

659 replies

mumteacher · 08/11/2013 18:47

I started the below thread last year and have had so many people find it useful I thought it might be worth doing it again.

I have had a number of messages asking if I have any spaces in my classes. I'm really sorry but I have been at full capacity for some time now.

However, I do appreciate that this is a very stressful time of year for parents who have children sitting these private school assessments in January 2013. So, I'm hoping that by setting up this support group thread I can help by answering some questions you have about these assessments.

Hopefully this thread will also contain some useful insight from the experiences of parents who have already been through the process.

OP posts:
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MJizz · 18/01/2014 10:24

It was a letter in the post. Finding it difficult to stay positive. My 11+ dd also had rejection from NLCS (expected anyway as competition so fierce) and she also had a bit of a wobble on her consortium exam yesterday so we are now v worried about the older one too...

Smalltoothbrush · 18/01/2014 10:25

Examples of concrete help mum teacher has given can be found here:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/primary/1640557-3-4-5-7-support-thread-2013

And here :

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/primary/1552850-Private-girls-schools-North-London

And there are others but I can't be bothered to look for them.

I know her IRL, about to out myself at least to her I think - my daughter was at a very laid back nursery that, in retrospect, she was bored at - she started going to mumteacher only two months before the 4+, when some of her basic skills were way behind average for her age. I have no doubt that she wouldn't have got into her current school without the help, which was friendly and supportive and not pushy. FWIW after meeting my daughter for the first time she offered, if I didn't want to do formal tutoring, to speak to me on the phone on a weekly basis and give advice - for free.

Yes, she makes a living out of tutoring and yes, I'm sure she gets lots of business from mumsnet, but she gives out a lot of free advice too, which is spot on.

These very selective schools largely take kids who have been tutored in one way or another, either by going to a feeder preschool like HHS, Broadhurst etc , or by going to a tutor, or by having very keen parents who put in a lot of effort at home. As has been said upthread, just rocking up unprepared will get you a "thanks but no thanks" letter, however much they say that they can spot a bright but unpolished child.

No one wants to tutor their young child, but elsewhere on mumsnet there are plenty of people who have found God in order to get their child into the state school of their choice. You have to work within the system you are in. The thing I like about her classes is that the stuff she teaches is stuff your child needs to know anyway - reading, writing, drawing, logic, basic maths. Yes, it's being done early, but it's got to be done at some point.

I don't want to derail the thread, but thought it would be useful to comment as someone who knows the system but has no financial interest in it.

aghteens · 18/01/2014 10:36

Helpful or not, it's blatant advertising and tbh I'm surprised that MN allows it.

Smalltoothbrush · 18/01/2014 10:51

Loads of nannies and nanny agencies hang out on the childcare forum, accountants mention their services in the money forum etc etc. I think MN isn't fussed by regular posters who contribute getting a bit of free publicity , they don't want people who have just signed up spamming the boards with ads.

sdp123 · 18/01/2014 10:53

morning, received the rejection letter this morning. Upset but trying to reassure myself if it was not meant to be.

Smalltoothbrush · 18/01/2014 10:56

Sympathies sdp123 and others. Having your child rejected sucks, try not to take it personally xx

AmIIndecisive · 18/01/2014 11:21

Sorry spd Hmm

mumteacher · 18/01/2014 11:41

I only posted the info re my girls getting through to r2 as I was asked for it. On the advertising front my classes for 5+ next year are full so really not looking for any more work.

OP posts:
Dadto3 · 18/01/2014 12:29

I've just learnt that mumteacher's own daughter sat the Habs girls 4+ assessment this January.
Apparently, she used the information provided by parents whose daughters were assessed earlier in the week to help her own daughter who went in at the end of the week.
Is it ethical for a person acting as a tutor to take your money and then potentially your child's place as well?

sdp123 · 18/01/2014 13:36

Thanks guys, fingers crossed for those still waiting for results. Wishing you the best of luck.

mumteacher · 18/01/2014 14:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

missravda · 18/01/2014 14:30

mumeacher, I won't worry too much. There are always going to be upset parents as our kids get rejected (we got the "no" letter from Habs today as well). Overall, I think this thread has been so important to many of us: it is difficult to know what to expect and you've given us very useful information during the process. I haven't seen many people share what exactly happens during the assessment but you've been spot on so far in terms of the set up of the assessments, the type of activities they had, the timing of the communication back to us, etc.. Thank you so much and don't even bother responding to negative remarks! Now the big wait begins... Let's hope most of us got through to round 2 in at least one school. Would be good to remain positive regardless of the pressures!

runmammarun · 18/01/2014 14:40

Mumteacher gave me v helpful advice earlier in the thread which I found v useful. If you aren't interested in her comments then get off this thread. She started it for people that did want her help. Mumteacher take no notice. I think comments about her own daughter are unacceptable. That's her personal life which is nothing to do with her job at

coldatchristmas · 18/01/2014 14:50

we also got a rejection letter. sucks but at least its over now!

coldatchristmas · 18/01/2014 15:37

I also think people should lay off Mumteacher. Its interesting you are checking the thread even though you dont think her advice is helpful!

doureine · 18/01/2014 16:49

Mum teacher thank you for your time and effort. Ignore the jealous and useless comments and keep up the amazing work you have been doing! A big applause for mum teacher!!!!!!!

claretay · 18/01/2014 17:20

Is there anyone still waiting to hear from Habs?

Bernie34 · 18/01/2014 18:00

Yes we are still waiting...

Bernie34 · 18/01/2014 19:04

Is that a bad sign???

coldatchristmas · 18/01/2014 19:05

I'm afraid I think it is :( sorry. I hope I am wrong.

mumteacher · 18/01/2014 19:24

Bernie34 do you receive post on Saturday? Habs have changed the structure in which they let people know this year. They made a number of calls yesterday and the definite no received letters today or will by Monday. So I'm inclined to say that if you had post today and didn't get a letter then don't lose hope just yet x

OP posts:
claretay · 18/01/2014 19:25

I haven't heard either, my post may be late?

PinkAngels2 · 18/01/2014 19:36

I heard from habs - they left a message on ans phone yesterday, asking me to call back? Only picked up msg today! Will call Monday - fingers crossed !!

Good luck 2 all xx

claretay · 18/01/2014 19:38

Wow!! Good luck!