Preparing an academically average Year 4 child for Surbiton High

[Laineylou1]

Hello! My year 4 daughter (9 years) is currently getting average results for Maths and English. I am really keen to get her into Surbiton High school and given she is in year 4 I have some time. However, as she is academically average i was wondering if anyone could give me a gauge of how unlikely it is that I could get her ready and what kind of things I coild do to help.

Starting next week she has a tutor twice a week, focusing on math and English and im practising conversation skills with her. She also does gymnastics to a high standard and very good at sports and art. Bubbly engaging personality.

Any insight appreciated

Historically Surbiton High was for average girls. It used, generally, to take the girls who didn't get into Putney and Wimbledon High. Have things changed?

I wouldn't tutor too hard but may be have Sutton High as a back stop.

Hiya, thanks for reply. So two thoughts in response:

1. I think its no longer seen as such a back stop, though I can see it still being so for very academically capable children who may try (and be unsuccessful) at Tiffin or other private school
2. my preference for it is actually because it is a bit less aggressively academic plus has lots of sports options too which is where my daughter shines. I also loved the environment/thought process around how they see the girls.

So for us it would be our first choice and because she is only average academically she will need to be in line or better than those children that are very academic but maybe didnt make their first choice and like you said, using it as a back up option. So I will need to prep her and need some ideas on what to do.

Is it a selective school? If not they can only use catchment area for admissions criteria and other standard admissions criteria like siblings already there.

Surbiton High is a private school.

Hey, yes selective. Definitely easier to get into then say Tiffin (grammar) or other private schools in the area. They do a maths and English exam and interview every child too. Quite like their approach to it, but still conscious my little one is currently sitting firmly in the middle of average

You really dont need to do any prep for Surbiton High - try to join Junior school its easier! Every year few girls join in year 4-6!

Even for an academically average child? They are over subscribed each year so they will be rejecting some children and want her to be in for best chance

Read with her. Encourage her to read. Let her see you reading - in general, sustain a reading culture in your house. Visit museums, botanical gardens, historical monuments/properties, and notice and encourage any interests. Have rich conversations about things - can be anything. What makes a good sportsperson? What is the value of sport? What makes a book a good one (or a bad one)? Why do people like different genres of music?

I'm sure there will be more specific things you might want to do for entrance exams, but the kinds of things I have outlined above help academically by promoting curiosity, thought, and reflection, and can also help a child feel comfortable in interviews.

Have you checked out the finish time of the senior school it’s super early compared to other senior schools before 4pm 😳 Have you checked with admission if there is a place in the prep school within year - It will make your life easier :-)

@Justbehappyandsmile, SHS didn’t got to WL this year for year 7, it’s very popular and super sporty, it’s a leading school for girls football etc. OP, my dd went there a few years ago when it was less competitive and sporty but not the levels it has now. I would have a few other options as it’s not the best school for a dd who is average.

Thanks for this feedback. Did you find it quite pushy on the academic side then? My worry is she will just get forgotten in a state school

@Laineylou1, the teaching is excellent and my dd sat her GCSEs in the pandemic and stayed for the 6th form and got great A levels, I don’t think she could have got better grades anywhere else. She didn’t stand out at anything at school but had a dance related hobby outside school so we focused on that. If your dd is sporty it’s a great benefit but don’t expect her to be in a top rated team because they are for the scholarship pupils etc. The rowing is good and I see they are building a boat house near the school. Just make sure you have a range of schools and focus on them all equally.

Hi! My DD got offered SHS this year but we decided to go for another school in the end. The only thing I wanted to advise is year 4 is still quite early and you may find your DD will pick up very quickly. We only did one hour a week of tutoring in Year 4 and 5 went to 2 hours a week Sept-Nov before the exam. The improvement I've seen between sept-nov in the 11+ year was amazing - we thought she'd fail everything and had a massive panic in October and eventually she got 4 out of 5 offers including JAGS. So don't write her off too soon and also, as a friend of mine said, "the lights come on at some point at the end of year of 5" and they become a bit more mature and motivated. Just wanted to share my experience. Best of luck!

Just to add @Laineylou1 there may be an adjustment with Kings going co-ed. WHS and PHS are likely to have to lower their offers a bit, and this will.have a knock on effect at schools like Surbiton. There is already an impact due to the VAT, even in SW London.

kings isn’t going coed in year 7 until 2033.

Apologies, I thought it was imminent.

I think it depends on how much work you put in to be average. For example my dc were average the first few years of primary, but we put in no extra work at all and did the bare minimum. Sometimes they would get above average. Anyway then we decided to do the 11+ last minute for the eldest and her first score started out average and then quickly jumped to above average and then to the top 3%. Same for my middle. But someone I know put in a lot of work for their dc since before school and their dc is average and even w a lot of prep still average scores. I always say try your best and apply to a range of schools because you never know and unless you are a teacher at these schools it is hard to know what level is expected.

That comment is both judgmental and unfounded. You have very limited insight into my life or my parenting, and your assumptions are wrong. I’m not sure what prompts someone to speak like that in a thread like this. I hope youre okay.

Thank you. Yes so we have put quite alot of effort into her learning, through tutoring (just once a week and as of this week moving to twice a week) and learning activities with us - we travel with her, take her to museums, theatres, historical sights etc She just is not academic despite best efforts. However she is very sporty, does competitive gymnastics and plays rhe violin, so that may help. But hopefully youre right and I can accept a jump up in ability soon!

Thanks so much for this, very reassuring. I'll keep on at it then and maybe I'll experience something similar! Maybe im being a worry bee too early Xx

Another advice is you know your dd best. Put in the effort you think she needs to get into your school of choice. Of course you don't want to push too hard, but you also want to make sure you put the right amount. Some parents do crazy amounts and some not enough (we know parents on both sides). With my eldest we did not put much effort and she got into the schools she applied to and chose G&L in the end. With my ds, we put in a little more effort as I felt it was needed and especially because it felt like no safe options for boys and he got into 4 out of the 5. I feel like my youngest is similar to my ds so we will probably put in a little more effort than we did with my eldest when her time comes.

How competitive is she with gym? SH offer small % gym scholarships at senior level so if she's on an elite pathway then that will presumably help.

What are your state options? My friends at Tolworth are loving it for their DDs and finding it really positive.