Tutoring

[baylisbaylis]

For those whose DC have been successful at 11+ into the 'big' London Indys.... St Paul's, Kings, Westminster etc
When did you start tutoring? How many sessions/hours did they do?
We have the chance of going abroad for a few years and I'm trying to gage if I'm affecting DDs chances against the tough London competition if we're gone for 2 years, returning when DD enters Year 5.

Meant to say, sessions/hours a week

Whether the change of location effects your child's chances that will depend on where you are going. I looked at moving to Qatar for 4 years but some of the threads suggested that despite some of the UK schools opening franchises out there the standard of education (private) was pretty poor and the fees did not reflect the quality. So I didn't pursue it. But it depends where you are thinking of going?
Also what school would you get into in Year 5 when you came back?

The move would be to Spain to an international school. It's decent but not amazing.
I would hope to get DD back into her current school. Just concerned that even if I tutor her whilst abroad, she will struggle to get in and then keep up , and maybe not have enough time to hit the level that she needs for the exams.

On the flip side, I part of me tells me to forget the school rat race, that DD will be happy and successful anyway, just like the thousands of kids that don't attend those select schools. And should just pack my bags and go live in the sunshine for a while

@baylisbaylis - the schools you mention are boys schools (KCS and Westminster) but you say you have a DD?

DD did 11+ from a state primary and we started with a tutor at the beginning of Year 5 as she did both grammar and independent school exams. The grammar exams were at the start of Year 6 and the Independent ones after Christmas of Year 6. She did a 'mock' (Sutton Grammar in the summer of Year 5) and that helped us decide which school to apply for.

It was enough tutoring for her and she got offers everywhere we applied. But what was right for her may not be right for your DD. DD was always close to the top of her class throughout primary but there were others who bloomed later.