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Tutoring

Join our Tutoring forum for help finding the right private tutor for your child.

Original poster

How on earth do I find an 11+ tutor that's free

28 replies

mrfluffyfluff · 20/11/2022 13:47

Have been trying for weeks to get an 11+ tutor. I have contacted a few and all that happens is they ask what year my dc is in, I say year 5 and they don't ever get back to me.
Is year 5 a bad time to start maybe?!
I have been helping my dc myself but I've got to the point in the English papers where I'm not really sure what I'm doing anymore. Really could do with some help!

OP posts:
Original poster
mrfluffyfluff · 20/11/2022 13:47

just realised my OP I said 'free' I meant available!

OP posts:
PeekAtYou · 20/11/2022 13:48

Where are you? I suspect that people are booking tutors a year or two in advance.

BaronessEllarawrosaurus · 20/11/2022 13:50

We sit 11+ in September here, all tutors are booked up for the 12 months prior so you would have needed to start looking back in july for a tutor in my area

Original poster
mrfluffyfluff · 20/11/2022 13:52

I thought as much. Looks like we'll be heading into the exam without a tutor then. I've not done this before and had no idea. We are in Buckinghamshire

OP posts:
youcantry · 20/11/2022 14:17

Could you do it yourself or a friend/family member? I did lots of practice papers with my two. Think I got them on line and WHSmith. You can find out which papers are most suitable for your area's tests. Mine sat two as weirdly we have the local one and a county one, this required two sets of different papers! My friends daughter who was at uni also did some tutoring for children and their parents that she knew so worth asking around.
Also, if you do manage to fine one, I would recommend one who comes to your house. Heard stories of children going to tutors houses and the tutor spending all their time on their phone or cooking!

Original poster
mrfluffyfluff · 20/11/2022 14:25

Oh dear I hope I don't find someone cooking in a lesson! Thanks for the tip.
No I have no idea about this system. I knew about the exam but didn't know it's so common to tutor. I am not really educated enough to teach them myself, they are ok at the papers but need to brush up on their English especially. We don't have anyone who can help us,

OP posts:
Floralnomad · 20/11/2022 14:28

Ask on your local FB page , we get lots of tutors and people asking for tutors on ours .

NewNameNov · 20/11/2022 14:29

Just do your own tutoring at home.

That's what I'm doing with my eldest. I think it suits her learning style better anyway and it's a nice little 20 minute bonding for us.

We're also upping how much we play logic based board games as that benefits the whole family anyway.

Original poster
mrfluffyfluff · 20/11/2022 14:33

@NewNameNov I am not up to it unfortunately I have already tried but can't do the questions myself! I can do most of the maths but not the rest.

OP posts:
Gumreduction · 20/11/2022 14:34

Goodness… signed mine up 3 years before they started.

and then even then didn’t get my ideal time!

Original poster
mrfluffyfluff · 20/11/2022 14:41

3 years! I didn't even know they would sit this exam 3 years ago. I suppose I will have to accept what will be will be if all the tutors are full.

OP posts:
Gumreduction · 20/11/2022 14:56

mrfluffyfluff · 20/11/2022 14:41

3 years! I didn't even know they would sit this exam 3 years ago. I suppose I will have to accept what will be will be if all the tutors are full.

We moved to the area specifically for grammar school system

HighRopes · 20/11/2022 15:01

Have you asked around at school, maybe people with older DC who aren’t currently using a tutor would be more likely to share names? Or online tutoring? Maybe there’s a group tutoring set-up near you? I would have thought there will be something, especially if you just need a focus on English, and not the whole package.

bigfamilygrowingupfast · 20/11/2022 15:12

Are you looking for face to face or online? My daughter's 11+ tutor is online and I'm sure she'd have availability if I referred you to her X

NK346f2849X127d8bca260 · 20/11/2022 16:29

I know of an excellant tutor who covers 11+ , she is online.

user30 · 20/11/2022 16:44

We used Tayberry.org.uk and we started in Jan for Sept exam.

rosesinmygarden · 20/11/2022 17:09

I tutor 11+ and have waiting lists up to 2027! Lots of ridiculously organised parents out there...

I am in Kent but tutor online too and although I'm booked for term times, I do have spaces in the school holidays. I also have lots of information that I give away for free. Feel free to message me.

roses2 · 20/11/2022 17:13

I've found a local teaching assistant and he does a mock test with DS once a week. He advertises on childcare.co.uk as a babysitter. Perhaps try "babysitter" rather than "tutor" and look for one who's already working as a teacher and ask if they'd be ok to help with this type of work?

ichundich · 20/11/2022 17:19

I would try to find an online tutor. We found ours 4 months before the exam, and online worked really well for everyone. It's not true that all good tutors are booked up a year or more in advance.

snowballer · 20/11/2022 17:27

Try Atom Learning. It's expensive but comprehensive. You can also book zoom tutors through it.

Original poster
mrfluffyfluff · 20/11/2022 17:58

People saying they know someone yes pls dm me and I will look at them thank you.

I have tried looking for face to face and online. And classes, all are full. I keep looking and contacting them but getting nowhere! I am so surprised how busy all of them are. I wish I knew this would happen I would have checked earlier on.

OP posts:
roses2 · 20/11/2022 18:24

This company advertise a lot in my area. It's group tutoring. Are they near you?

www.explorelearning.co.uk/find-a-centre/list/

Unsuredad123 · 21/11/2022 18:37

Am I in the minority that didn't do too much tutoring for DD? She had about 6 sessions and 2 mocks? She passed, subject to the wait for allocation day, for a Devon grammar school.

KnottyKnitting · 21/11/2022 18:45

Do you have a Kip McGrath near you? My DD did her 11+ tuition with our local one. Might be worth an ask?

AlwaysLatte · 21/11/2022 23:37

Presumably then you have a grammar near to you? Maybe worth asking the school if there are any sixth formers who might be interested?