SPGS and extreme tutoring for 11+ entrance exam

[Rockylady]

I wondered how much people do really tutor their girls very intensely to get into SPGS and how much the "no tutoring please" message is just a screen for what parents really do in practice.

Recently I was at a prize giving end of year event at a school in London with my best friend who was in town visiting, her goddaughter attends this school which is one of the top 5 'feeders' for SPGS (and the school had outstanding results this year in that respect).

There was this senior girl who received so many prizes across the board - academic and otherwise and has an offer to go to SPGS. The girl must be clearly very bright and focused, but I learnt today (rather by absolute chance) that the girl was ultra tutored to prepare for the SPGS exam..... she was tutored every day of the week, and for many months/years!!

Is it me or this sounds really crazy? is that what it takes, even when attending one of the feeder preps?
Parents from Glendower, Falkner, Bute House and Ken Prep and so on please chip in.... anyone from Hampden Gurney too.

It definitely varies a lot. Some level of tutoring is quite common for SPGS in an effort to ensure students are well prepared. The common theme of "don't tutor" is really a joke as it is quite prevalent. That said, the ultra extreme tutoring that you are describing is certainly a minority of families. I have canvassed over two dozen parents with SPGS students, more than half had some tutoring prior to entering the school. It is a strange thing tutoring. I sometimes feel like if a child practices an instrument or sport a lot then that is viewed positively. However, if the child does a lot of extra school work then it's frowned upon. It's really up to the family what's right for them. Separately, for all those wishing to go to SPGS because it's an Oxbridge feeder, remember that if you child is in the bottom half of the class at SPGS then she's unlikely to go to Oxbridge. Simply getting in is not enough, the student needs to excel. It's a school for only the smartest and hardest working students. Others should not bother applying, it's simply not the best fit and other schools can be so much more helpful to a student's academic growth.