State school yr 2 and 7+ private + entry

[squashpie]

For various reasons, we are considering putting our DS in for 7+ entry at a local prep school (well, doing a couple of the exams).

What level should they have reached by the end of yr 1? Do people tutor in yr 2? How advanced do the children have to be to pass the exams for prep school? I'm talking Latimer Prep in W London and Rokeby in Kingston.

TIA

Latimer is quite hot house from all accounts, so I would assume you need to be working above the gvt expectation of 1a at the end of year 1 and may need tutoring as well in preparation for the exams.

My DD is in pre prep and just at end of year 1, we moved at end of R and were told that many parents look to move at end of year 2 but are disappointed when their LO's don't get in as the level is really high by then. My DD was certainly a long way behind her peers when she joined but has caught up a fair bit, but then the reason we moved her was her previous school was really very poor and she was not learning a whole lot!

If you contact the school they will generally hand out a sheet of books they expect to have been read and the level of maths they expect (2,3,5,10 times table etc).

I have a specimen paper from Latimer 7+ which if you CAT me I will email to you.

Miggsie would you be so kind as to email it to me as well {grin]

Only you're not down for CAT!

I'm not certain about the specific schools you mention, but I know that for Colet Court/Kings/Westminster, the expectation is that children should be at NC level of 3 at the time of the test.

The majority of prep schools I know, (don't know of the ones you mentioned in OP), with an entrance exam, are operating at a year ahead, of the government target.

So my advice would be see what Y3 should be achieving and that is the level that they would expect for Y2.

Thanks everyone. Tried to CAT you Miggsie but I also couldn't get through!

Do people tutor for the 7+ and, if so, should i have started before now (DS just leaving Yr 1)?

Some people do tutor for the 7+, particularly those who are taking it from state schools. I don't think it would hurt, as long as you choose a tutor who is familiar with schools you are aiming for, and has tutored children for those schools.

You wouldn't be starting late as DS1 is at a pre-prep and they won't start mocks and 7+ clubs until the fall.

You can also DIY by working with your son in writing stories in a timed situation, do Bond Books, and some mental maths.

Don't look at tutoring as ability.

Tutoring is learning technique of how to pass a particular exam, so don't just get any tutor, make sure your tutor knows the exam paper of the school you wish to enter.