Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

To be a bit confused!

46 replies

Eeve · 22/07/2021 13:17

DD had an initial session today with a tutor (considering going for the 11+). Her state primary has said she is working above age expectations in all areas. However, the tutor has said to me today that she thinks she's actually a little behind where she should be for her age in maths, not in terms of 11+ or anything but for her age.

I'm really shocked. We've never been told there was an issue at all. Fortunately the tutor said she's incredibly quick to pick things up so it shouldn't be an issue for her to catch up.

Her school is a pretty good school, I thought! How can this discrepancy have come about?

OP posts:
NuffSaidSam · 22/07/2021 13:21

Maybe DD just didn't perform as well when the tutor assessed her? Presumably, her teachers at school know her/her abilities significantly better?

Maybe they've just got different opinions about what is expected at that age 🤷

ketchupman · 22/07/2021 13:24

This doesn't surprise me, had similar with DS who was apparently top of his class and able according to his primary teachers but did an assessment for prep entry and was below national average in all areas. Perhaps her teachers are making that assessment on comparison to peers and ability to learn quickly rather than actual competency level? It sounds promising though if the tutor thinks she will pick it up

PyjamaFan · 22/07/2021 13:24

It's a difference of opinion. It happens in all professions!

BloomingTrees · 22/07/2021 13:25

Did the tutor assess her on the same things she's learnt at school?

Maths can be quite a wide ranging subject.

Original poster
Eeve · 22/07/2021 13:28

Yes, so it was just one hour which was split between maths and English. The tutor is wonderful and did say that she may well be stronger in other areas of maths that they hadn't looked at.

Essentially DD doesn't have all of her multiplication tables learned and isn't secure with column addition and subtraction! I'm just shocked that school would say she's "exceeding" if she's not solid with these basics?!

OP posts:
Original poster
Eeve · 22/07/2021 13:29

For context in relation to the maths skills, shes 8, just finished Y3 this week.

OP posts:
RosieLancs · 22/07/2021 13:30

Different professional opinions.
If you want ask the school or get a second tutor's opinion.
The cynic in me thinks don't blindly listen to the opinion of the person making money from the situation when they say different....

Original poster
Eeve · 22/07/2021 13:32

@RosieLancs that was DH's initial thinking! But I was in the background and I heard - literally she was getting some stuff wrong.

OP posts:
chunderwunder · 22/07/2021 13:33

ARE is a wide band and assessing ability is not an exact science. I don't think you need to be too alarmed at this discrepancy, nor decide the school is in the wrong.

You seem very quick to accept the tutor's opinion and damn the school's. Why?

MattHancocksSexTape · 22/07/2021 13:33

The cynic in me thinks don't blindly listen to the opinion of the person making money from the situation when they say different....

This.

chunderwunder · 22/07/2021 13:36

And I don't care if I'm flamed for this... you've clearly got a bright kid. Who's eight. Yet you're already tutoring her for an exam she won't be taking for three years.

The pressure some parents put their kids under...

Original poster
Eeve · 22/07/2021 13:36

@chunderwunder well I guess it's because it was clear that she doesn't know her tables and wasn't able to answer all of the addition and subtraction questions. I thought she could do that but she clearly couldn't?

OP posts:
Italiandreams · 22/07/2021 13:36

Why would it be in the tutors interest to say she behind ?
Knowing all times tables is a year 4 requirement not year 3 and I wouldn’t expect any 8 year old to perform confidently in a different environment. Plus different schools have different calculation policies. I really wouldn’t worry.

Original poster
Eeve · 22/07/2021 13:36

@Italiandreams ah that's helpful, thank you

OP posts:
Original poster
Eeve · 22/07/2021 13:38

@chunderwunder it's mainly because I wanted to see whether it's something that we are reasonable to consider - it was a one off assessment session based on the schools excellent reports up until now. Her teacher told me that he doesn't have experience of the 11+ so to seek another opinion from someone with experience.

OP posts:
chunderwunder · 22/07/2021 13:39

@ketchupman

This doesn't surprise me, had similar with DS who was apparently top of his class and able according to his primary teachers but did an assessment for prep entry and was below national average in all areas. Perhaps her teachers are making that assessment on comparison to peers and ability to learn quickly rather than actual competency level? It sounds promising though if the tutor thinks she will pick it up
I work with state primaries. Pupils are accessed against national ARE, not their classmates.
Original poster
Eeve · 22/07/2021 13:40

@chunderwunder thank you for your input, though. It is actually really helpful and reassuring.

OP posts:
Rioja81 · 22/07/2021 13:41

I would say it was very possible to be at expectation or even exceeding at that age without having tables 💯. Very common.

chunderwunder · 22/07/2021 13:46

I reckon these tutors for 11+ and prep entry etc. have definitely got the measure of middle-class parents desperate to justify the pressure they're prepared to put their kids under and/or fees they're going to spend.

It cements the parents' (unevidenced) belief that they'll be getting a better education than the lowly state school their kid is currently at plus it allows the tutor to charge £££ bringing them 'up to private school standard'.

Horehound · 22/07/2021 13:57

I agree with @chunderwunder. Seems a lot of pressure for an 8 year old. :(

Horehound · 22/07/2021 13:58

And I went to private school, hated it. Did my final year in state and loved it.

pleasedonttextmyman · 22/07/2021 14:01

@chunderwunder

And I don't care if I'm flamed for this... you've clearly got a bright kid. Who's eight. Yet you're already tutoring her for an exam she won't be taking for three years.

The pressure some parents put their kids under...

much less pressure to be used to a tutor and progress gradually

than last minute (or last year) cramming of everything and feeling the pressure of an exam looming.

Nothing wrong with a steady tutoring.

Horehound · 22/07/2021 14:08

At 8 years old after a full day of school come home then more school. Great!
It is pressure. And who knows what the op and her DH are saying to her too. It all adds up.

Original poster
Eeve · 22/07/2021 14:16

Blimey. It was a one off assessment!

We don't have a choice of schools around where we are. They are very large and busy and won't suit DD at all.

If we do have tutoring it'll be an hour a week. Hardly child abuse 😳

OP posts:
gwenneh · 22/07/2021 14:21

Try an assessment with a different tutor and see if you get the same answer. This just might not be the right one for you.

My DS is in tutoring for similar reasons, and it took a few tries to find the right setup to help him flourish. It's provided a massive boost to his confidence, which has had a knock-on effect in how he learns new concepts and that has made an enormous difference all around.