No tutor, what is achievable for the 11+?

[Catcatcat12]

Did anyone NOT use a tutor and have their daughter get into one of the Hammersmith schools? Is this really achievable?

If so, how much work did you do, and what did you do?

Seems like everyone I know is tutoring a fair bit and we are only starting year 5. I would love to hear from those who did not use a tutor, and managed the preparations themselves. Has it ever happened… 🤓

I think it depends. My DD got 130-140 on Maths and NVR without a tutor, but she has a tutor on English and VR.

I find it quite weird the people who did absolutely no tutoring because I think there are topics in the 11+ Maths that aren't covered until Y6 but you're doing the exam at the start of Y6.

Maybe these people are coming from private schools that are further ahead on the curriculum but I know DD1 who came from a bog standard primary couldn't have passed Maths without a bit of tutoring - she did an hour a week for 4 months - as she just hadn't done things like areas, ratios and long division when she took the exam.

Should say not Hammersmith schools but North London selective grammar.

My DD is at a Bog standard village primary school. Had she not passed she would be going to a standard secondary school.

Whether you pay a tutor or DIY it is all tutoring. Some tutors started off as parents prepping their own children for exams. It is hard to judge the outcomes as it depends on the children and the parents. Parents can be tutors and tutors can be parents, but prepping is required for any exam and how much is needed depends on the child and schools applied.

I think there is also 'soft tutoring' that is not on the time sheet, like reading different materials, going to museums, having hobbies, or just general conversations on different topics.

I’ve heard plenty of parents who do the tutoring themselves but it’s dependent on whether the parents have the time/the knowledge of the 11+ techniques needed. Also will the child listen to the parent & do the work required without causing a strain to their relationship? Sometimes it’s easier to pay a tutor who the child will listen to & then they also set homework which they have to do before the next session. On the other hand a parent might be able to cover more material at home & might have more understanding of the gaps in the child’s knowledge. There are plenty of books/online resources if you want to do it yourself but some exam preparation is required even with a very bright child.

I know someone who works in admissions in a top London day school.
What parents must remember, and this is from conversations I've had with him:
Hammersmith schools are very expensive, with limited bursaries, therefore it follows most applying are from wealthy backgrounds, many of those coming from top prep schools.

Admissions will look at a DC from a top prep in a different light to a child from a primary school that never feeds to their school. They won’t expect lower scores, but they'll certainly expect less polish. Therefore, I understand wealthy parents tutoring despite their DC attending some of the best and most exclusive prep schools in central London. They need all the help to stand out.
Any parent with a child at state primary, I would advise to tutor yourself, if the child isn't self -motivated to thrive in Hammersmith school, you're on a losing battle.

Any parent with a child at a prep, you have the advantage of working with the school to support your application, what they need to work on, are you being realistic? If you're in an all through 4-18 school and want to switch to a Hammersmith, you're sort of in the middle, the child should be at good standard if they've progressed from reception to Y5, but still need practice and tutoring either by yourself or paying.
So as explained to me, you tutor as per your situation OP.

I tutored my own DS, for Gloucestershire grammar schools, though. He was very good at maths and codes fairly naturally, but needed to read a bit more widely to improve his vocabulary. There were 7 grammar schools in Gloucestershire at the time with a fairly established pecking order. He missed out on the highest rated one but passed for the other 3 single sex schools he was eligible for. (The other 3 were girls' schools.)

We only started in the August after Y5 due to tricky divorce. Had we started earlier he may have done better.

What do you mean by "tutoring" exactly? If you mean employing a professional teacher to work with a DC regularly, then it's absolutely possible to get into all those schools without doing that.

On the other hand, if tutoring is simply defined as someone doing regular extra work with a DC, then I would suggest that the vast majority are tutored in that way.

We never did professional tutoring, but we regularly worked with our DD.

Just an update to say that yes, it is indeed possible to get offers from all three Hammersmith schools without tutoring. Dd did extra work at home with workbooks and past papers. Just in case anyone else is worried about not being able to afford professional help: don’t panic the way we (almost) did.

@Catcatcat12 Fantastic news, well done your dd!

Did you have any support from a prep school or was it totally DIY?

congrats, well done. all that's required is extra work, not professional tutors. congrats again.

Not all prep schools actually prep so parents or grandparents have to step into the void and sort out gap. Though quite a few families we know pay for tutors or teachers in between jobs to be child care for pick up and teach the child daily.

Tutor, if you want to be a music scholar you need to start the grades and 2 instruments at a young age and build up. Fortunately there are music groups and charities to help out for those parents with limited funds or musical abilities.

Sport, we know people paying for extra netball, hockey, cricket, rugby camps during half terms and holidays.

Also, some families keep tutors so child is being taught ahead of curriculum on some subjects….so they will be bright and confident in class because they know it. Also, if they have an eldest child being tutor, they get the ones a few years younger to see the work. So getting prepared way ahead.

Some 11 years old in Hammersmith schools are already at GCSEs level maths, this is not from prep or state schools stretching their abilities.

Most people use tutors because their children respond better to being taught by other people than their parents. So if your child is obedient and willing to being taught by yourself, then a tutor is not necessary at all. All you then need is your own patience.

Great update OP! ☺️
That's sooo good to know. You would hope that's it's possible, thank goodness there is fairness in the world.
Many congrats!

I would say non professional tutor parents teach their kids (no pay of course) for 11+ related content is tutoring.

Unless you just give text book and pass paper for your kid and they work hard to figure out the rest themself then I have to say well done!