7+ 2021 where to start

[Tulip4]

All,

My 5 years old DD, year 1 is currently in a state school and we are thinking of trying her for 7+. We live near Chiswick so likely will be targeting some Girls school near Hammersmith and LEH. We are both working full time and she is usually at after school club until 6pm. Her reading is very good, maths and writing are ok. Is there anyone planning the same and have you started with looking for a tutor or teaching your child. Where to start please. Thanks so much.

I also started a similar thread recently. So I have a boy, he is currently in reception and in a pre prep in West London. I am also now trying to find out how beat to prepare him for the 7+. He is summer born but very bright and not that challenged at school.

I have been trying to teach him times tables, he now knows his 2,10 and 11 times table. Working on x5. Ensuring he is reading but also understanding what he is reading. Is able to tell me a story with a beginning, middle and end. We also work on mental maths (where he has to have quick recall) as well double digit additions and subtractions by using the working out method. But I feel pretty stuck on what else I need to be doing and at what pace.

I just don't want him to be bombarded with lots of material as he hits end of year 1 and beginning of year 2.

Plus people around here are so guarded about private tutors!

Thanks for sharing Pyracantha1. We have a foreign au pairs who unfortunately isn't great with English helping to pick and drop ( and so are we, who don't speak English as first language) so she might read to her a little but I don't think our nanny could help in terms of asking back the meaning of the story and especially mine doesn't read out loud these days anymore. We are both working in the city so wont be able to do anything to help her during the week. I think we need to start completely from afresh. I don't think any of the kids at her form has tutor so don't know where to look in term of finding a tutor, we definitely need one, might not be for long but for a routine, motivation and knowing where to start. My other concern is writing, she hasn't been really writing any thing much. I don't think she can write a story, any suggestion about this would be greatly appreciated.

you need a tutor asap as you're on the late side from a state school - the 11+ tutors often do 7+ too so you could try the 11+ forum. Get her the bond books age 5-6 and see where she is on those as a start - needs to be doing the 7-8 ones for the 7+

Thanks so much waterbottle12, what is the expectation for 7+ exam. I would definitely do more research. Will definitely be cracking on 11+ forum( which one?). I hardly see her during the week, maybe 15 mins during breakfast and many evening not even seeing her at all. Not really too sure how London working parents handle all these preps.

@Tulip, you might do better moving you dd to a Chiswick prep school for year 2 that you can easily get to & they will prepare her for 11plus & help you select the right schools in Year 6. For somewhere like LEH juniors it's a long journey from Chiswick on the coach, you need to carefully study the transport links, wrap around care & term dates of some of the preps that aren't local.

In my experience, if your dc is working at a high level - top of their state school class - they really shouldn't have too much problem at 7+. Our ds sat one of the 7+ Hammersmith schools from a state school and didn't tutor, just worked with me for the two weeks of the Xmas holidays before the exam. The school had sample papers online so I checked how he fared on those and worked on his weaknesses, supporting with Bond books and random maths papers I could find online. Story writing was his main weakness as he had little interest so we tried to do one story a day and also make sure he was used to doing maths papers at speed. His reading was v strong as was his spelling & grammar so didn't need to do anything on that. I feel at that age, natural ability and maturity is more obvious to see as I'd imagine there's only so much you can tutor at that age (however I guess years of tutoring must have some effect!). But I was warned he wouldn't stand a chance as most kids were tutored for a year or more in advance so we just took a punt on that one school knowing he could stay at his state school. Obviously if you're more determined to get a 7+ place you're going to be inclined to put in longer term prep than we did! It was pretty stress free for us (nothing compared to the 11+ that my older dd has just sat where kids are tutored for years and years, and that's just the private schools kids!).

Your kids sound pretty advanced so I would have thought just support from home focusing on their weaknesses and practising papers would be plenty - but if you can't be available then get a tutor. Also the very top schools will be more competitive I imagine. LEH doesn't support tutoring and I really wouldn't expect you would need tutoring for 7+ there if your dd is naturally bright and advanced at reading. Fyi, LEH is a really long coach/car journey away. Friends will mainly be local to Hampton so I would really consider if that's fair on your dd. It's a long way for play dates to come to your house and visa versa. At 11+ it's just manageable but I'd think long and hard at 7+ when there are other great local schools.

Also a reminder that the LEH coach is shared with Hampton so will include 6th former boys travelling aged 17-18 which the prep dd can find loud etc.

Had a very similar experience to givemesomewineplease and agree with pretty much every word - I prepared my own dc pretty late in the day for 7+ and it all worked out fine. Also would agree that LEH is not a good idea given the distance and closer options.

Thanks so much for sharing!

We didnt think of 7+ at all until couple of months ago and due to working, neither of us have much else information apart from the school weekly news. We will be doing more research, checking sample test( to be honest I dont think she can do any at all now, the first would be some discipline to sit down for 10 mins to do any work which I will have to figure out how to). Thanks so much for the tip on the coach, we knew about the coach because I see it near my house, its only 5 mins from our house(however havent checked how long does it take to the school, actually we havent visited any school, we need to build up the school list first). Her writing is neat but I dont think she can write a story at all. She could do addition and subtraction and quite advanced compare to her class who are doing number bonds to 20(I think). I dont really know about her grammar and spelling.

And yes, if she goes to LEH then could stay then I hope that is it until Univ. If not, then yes, we could try for a prep and prepare for 11+, (havent planned that far yet).

I think we spent ~8 months dedicating 30-40 mins everyday, but for us it was a real challenge as English is the second language.
re LEH: it was our top preference from the beginning as we initially planned to move a house and family fell in love with school at open morning. We were very excited to get an offer but after having spent a few days looking into logistics of house/work we had to take local school over LEH.

I would suggest that you give notice to the au pair and get an English speaking nanny who can help you prepare.

Hmm, I would only suggest finding another nanny only if your dd doesn't like the existing one - it's very disturbing to change childcare if your child's bonded with someone and if she senses you're doing it in order for her to pass an exam it could backfire.

Agreed with Forever though, we will have to find a tutor and hope he/she could travel or weekends then we could travel however I couldnt fire our beloved au-pair(even she only does pick and drop, not alot of childcaring).
There are other schools( but they are preps which means she has to sit for 11+) in Hammersmith or nearby we could get to by direct bus so we dont just expect LEH.
Will be looking into Bonds book tonight too, thanks so much.

Our dd goes to LEH from Chiswick by a coach. She initially attended a state primary then moved to an non selective very relaxed prep where don’t prep pupils for 7+. She didn’t have a tutor but did some bond books including writing practice with us and learnt times tables etc from October prior to the exam. I believe that the school is not a big fun of heavily tutored girls.

It is a long journey by a coach for young girls but our dd actually enjoys social opportunity with her friends, senior school girls and Hampton boys who are lovely and kind enough to help young girls with their bags.

Not many girls are Hampton local and they all come from all over the places. We found 7+ a lot less stressful compare to 11+ we went through with our older dd. Please feel free to DM me if needed.

For the boys 7+, competition will only get more intense. This is for Westminster Under, St Paul's and King's. The numbers are crazy, 400+ boys sitting Westminster for 20 places. And prep schools like Wetherby always account for a third or a quarter of all places and (now that there are 2 Wetherby's, it makes it even harder). I can only say that if you think your son has a realistic chance, then yes he should try but manage his expectations and if he doesn't get through the 7+, then at least he is well prepared for the 8+.

Hi everyone,
I was wondering if anyone can recommend an English tutors for DS. I am desperate and would like any good personal recommendation. We are targeting Westminster specifically. Thanks very much