Where to start re 11+ and secondary school education

[VictoriaMum323]

Hello, I have an almost 9 year old and want to start looking into secondary school options. We live in Totteridge. We would consider both state grammar and good state schools. Unfortunately private schools are likely
not an option for us. Are there educational consultants that can help us on this search or is that service only available for private school applicants? We are happy to pay for a consultant to assist. Does anyone know how to find out the top tutors for 11+ exams? Many thanks.

Try to figure out how competitive it is in your area, as some grammers require prep from year 4 from what I have read in mumsnet and the eleven plus forum. This way you can plan when to start prep etc. I have heard of education consultants, but not sure tbh. If you post on the forums people could help guide you and research as well. Look at school rankings. It feels overwhelming at first. We had NO CLUE....as me and dh are not from this country. AND we started late in the game (end of year 5). I had to scramble to figure it out, make guesses on where I think dd might get in. In the end she did well and got into her first choice. She is happy. It is stressful that is for sure. I am now doing it again w ds who is in year 5 and I am feeling a little more stresses, as from what I understand boy schools are a little more tricky to get into.

Forgot to mention check out Atom learning when your dc is year 4 or 5. But do not rely only on that. Good to get a tutor as well or do some paper/workbooks so you cover all the areas. As I think best not to focus just online or just on paper. Variety is good.

Does your child's class have a WhatsApp group? It's a good place to start asking because a lot relies on where you live and catchments.

I'm not sure that there's much point in paying for a consultant as the schools you can apply for largely depends on where you live.
Have you looked at www.elevenplusexams.co.uk? There are discussion forums on there for each area.

maybe start by listing the schools you are interested in/location etc.
then people can add to the conversation details concerning the admission process and requirements.

I know someone who used this https://mathsconcierge.co.uk/consultancy/

they were also considering private but it doesn’t suggest that’s all they do. my friend’s child has an interview with St Paul’s this week but also got into HBS which is their first choice (grammar). They said good things.

Don't see the point of paying "an consultant" to search for school. Nearly all information is online. As others said, if you post a question on the forum (elevenplusexams) by region, there would certainly be quite some knowledgeable people to advise. A consultant can be biased or has knowledge gap, but with the input from multiple knowledgeable sources, you have a better sense of what's going on.

Start from a school search engine, like https://www.goodschoolsguide.co.uk/?gclid=Cj0KCQiAwbitBhDIARIsABfFYIIRajSlG_CD06Kq7FMSQCpq6O2-WXAxQoXvzQ748wkNZuho3jbpisaAl6uEALw_wcB

By typing in postcode, you can find schools nearby. Or you can just post on forum and get more straightforward ideas. Then search each school to match what you what.

Commutable
Reviews/Ofsted/GCSE A LEVEL results
Admission intake no.
Any exams

Your child's school should also have data on previous secondary transition which would give you a rough idea the experiences of previous cohorts.

Getting more involved yourself will really help you make tricky decisions if it occurs in the later stage.

I agree with @LizzSinger . We started off with a math teacher from a grammar school who was a good teacher but hugely unreliable. We then switched to a math student from Imperial College who was amazing and knew both content and exam technique and was half the cost!

Places at HBS aren't allocated until March 1st

Many thanks all for the very useful guidance. I am sure I will be back once I have done some research!

For HBS catchment area candidates if you get into second round the candidate will have a very high probability allocated a place.

We know a few that did/doing both schools, schools are very different in terms of intake, location and financial implications. They will have to pick one (or neither, for other schools ) in the end.

I was wondering about the paid consultant VFM as well. I feel like it can’t be anything but based on stereotype surely- this school would suit a sporty boy, this school a bookish boy etc. there can’t be that much in it can there be? All schools aim to give a rounded education, surely.

I think its based on exams...the consultant looks at school reports, speaks to dc and parents, plus gives a test....based on that they can give an idea of where dc should apply to schools. At least that is my understanding from one person who used a consultant. This can be helpful I think if you don't go to a prep school, as state schools do not guide you at all. I did not really think about a consultant during my first 11+ experience (did not hear of it until after), but anyway, when I first started to look at schools I felt lost and had NO idea if we were reaching for stars etc. School was not much help at all with guidance...so I had to guess and hope for the best. But with research etc you figure it out. By the time dd sat the exams I felt confident in our choices of schools we selected to apply to.