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Just want to to second Guest 55 that there are excellent state schools eventhough I can't say the same for my son's school (may be good but certainly not excellent) 
, and we cannot generalise with SEN and G&T. I definitely know of two schools under Barnet that fits this category, one of them a faith school.
Furthermore it baffles me when I see kids from high paying prep schools receiving private tuition for the 11+ exams, more than half of the kids that receive private tuition from my son's tutor are from Independent schools, the same at his kumon centre as well. I just can't understand the need for this extra tuition after paying so much money for this in the first place.
, and we cannot generalise with SEN and G&T. I definitely know of two schools under Barnet that fits this category, one of them a faith school.Furthermore it baffles me when I see kids from high paying prep schools receiving private tuition for the 11+ exams, more than half of the kids that receive private tuition from my son's tutor are from Independent schools, the same at his kumon centre as well. I just can't understand the need for this extra tuition after paying so much money for this in the first place.
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T.i.p.s.y
There is absolutely no need for this tuition. Its a London phenomena - full of pushy stressed out parents that think they need to do everything and don't put their trust in any establishment. I have friends whose kids are of equal brightness and one goes to a non-selective boarding school and gets no outside tutoring, the others son is at a selective school and has had tutoring from the age of 3. They both got the same results at GCSE (all A*)! Parents talk themselves into thinking that because other children get tutoring then their child will be at a disadvantage. Outside of London it is rare for parents to get tutoring (although parents are more panicky if there are GS in the area), after all my sons at a prep school and its their job to educate him, not mine.Josa wrote:Just want to to second Guest 55 that there are excellent state schools eventhough I can't say the same for my son's school (may be good but certainly not excellent)
Furthermore it baffles me when I see kids from high paying prep schools receiving private tuition for the 11+ exams, more than half of the kids that receive private tuition from my son's tutor are from Independent schools, the same at his kumon centre as well. I just can't understand the need for this extra tuition after paying so much money for this in the first place.
A lot of kids at selective schools within the M25 have been so heavily coached to get in that they continue to need this coaching to keep up - not to unlike the GS situation. One of the top boarding schools which has a very average entry of 55% teach boys so well that they leave with 4 A's at A'level and thats with them having approx 22 weeks when they are not at school due to long holidays. I would never send my kid to a selective London school, except Aldenham which resembles more of a country school ethos.
I think it depends on your school whether you need tutoring. My sons went to an independent prep school which has as its sole focus common entrance at 13 and the rumour is that they deliberately hold them back in English so that you can't do the 11+! We had to keep it a secret from the school that we were sitting the 11+ and all the work for it has to be done outside. The boys had not covered all the maths required by the time of the exam, had not had sufficient essay practice and had done no verbal reasoning at all so without tutoring we would not have been able to get a grammar school place.
Had we wished to go the independent senior route then no tutoring would be required.
Had we wished to go the independent senior route then no tutoring would be required.
I'll just add my twopenceworth - my son went to a state primary school and, like surreymum's offspring, he had not done the maths required and no verbal reasoning - so tutoring was really required, but it wasn't pushing him, it was actually teaching him the necessary stuff for the gs !
My daughter went to a independent high school, no tutoring and got in on her own ability. But I feel there was much less competition for that place.
My daughter went to a independent high school, no tutoring and got in on her own ability. But I feel there was much less competition for that place.
My friend's son goes to an independent school and like surreymum she feels he is being held back so they have opted for private tutor to give him the necessary skills for 11plus exam and the school is not informed ofcourse. My ds goes to state primary where I feel they really haven't covered the KS2 thoroughly, its been bits here and there definetely not consistent enough to pass the 11 plus exam.
I remember one of the Heads at a Grammar saying your child doesn't need to be tutored, they just need to be at level 5 in year 6.
If only.
I remember one of the Heads at a Grammar saying your child doesn't need to be tutored, they just need to be at level 5 in year 6.
If only.
Hi Jasmine,
My DS got 3 level 5a's in Y6 and took 2 selective state school exams and 3 independent school entrance exams.
He didn't get through to the 2nd round of either of the state schools and only 2 of the independents.
He is now extremely happy at the school Tipsy mentioned earlier which is not pressurized but will bring out the best in the child through excellent teaching and pastoral care.
I met several other parents this evening when DC went to the cinema together and have met others at 2 birthday parties last week and we are all very pleased with the school's ethos.
My DS got 3 level 5a's in Y6 and took 2 selective state school exams and 3 independent school entrance exams.
He didn't get through to the 2nd round of either of the state schools and only 2 of the independents.
He is now extremely happy at the school Tipsy mentioned earlier which is not pressurized but will bring out the best in the child through excellent teaching and pastoral care.
I met several other parents this evening when DC went to the cinema together and have met others at 2 birthday parties last week and we are all very pleased with the school's ethos.
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T.i.p.s.y
Schools that end at 13+ aren't holding children back but assume because you've opted for 13+ that you are looking for a senior independent school. I would hate to think my sons school was spending time on NFER or bond assesment papers, as they should be teaching not coaching! The vast majority of these schools send pupils on at the end of Year 8 already having completed most of the GCSE syllabi, although it is not examined, so the only reason a child should need coaching is because they need to be aware of exam technique not because the school hasn't taught them to a good academic level.
The boys at my sons school, being uncoached, would probably fail the 11+ for GS and yet two years later they all get into more selecive schools than GS. Thats not because they just started teaching them in the last two years before entry, a childs mind doesn't work like that - they had to have had a firm foundation to begin with.
The boys at my sons school, being uncoached, would probably fail the 11+ for GS and yet two years later they all get into more selecive schools than GS. Thats not because they just started teaching them in the last two years before entry, a childs mind doesn't work like that - they had to have had a firm foundation to begin with.
The schools are not teaching to the level that we would like them to.
There are six children in my sons class who are head and shoulders above everyone else, the reason being they all go for tutoring and not just VR and NVR but English and Maths that gives them the edge.
I know for a fact that tutors are not just coaching exam techniques but bringing these children to a good academic level that the school should be doing but isn't.
Children in countries abroad like India for instance at the age of 10/11 are far more advanced in their maths and grammer than children here. There are children in year 5/6 that haven't grasped good mental arithmetic and can barely spell.
Like you said Tipsy it all comes down to a good foundation. I don't agree with this learning though play they keep harping on at nursery schools, it just doesn't work and the system has proved that.
There are six children in my sons class who are head and shoulders above everyone else, the reason being they all go for tutoring and not just VR and NVR but English and Maths that gives them the edge.
I know for a fact that tutors are not just coaching exam techniques but bringing these children to a good academic level that the school should be doing but isn't.
Children in countries abroad like India for instance at the age of 10/11 are far more advanced in their maths and grammer than children here. There are children in year 5/6 that haven't grasped good mental arithmetic and can barely spell.
Like you said Tipsy it all comes down to a good foundation. I don't agree with this learning though play they keep harping on at nursery schools, it just doesn't work and the system has proved that.
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T.i.p.s.y
Sorry have been reading this thread with interest but feel I couldn't let comment about nursery pass.
Children at nursery are 3 years of age or less! Surely at that age all they need to do is learn to play and share and socialise with other children. Many of the best schools in the world do not start formerly teaching until children are much older.
It is about waiting until the child is old enough to learn and then facilitating that properly.
Children at nursery are 3 years of age or less! Surely at that age all they need to do is learn to play and share and socialise with other children. Many of the best schools in the world do not start formerly teaching until children are much older.
It is about waiting until the child is old enough to learn and then facilitating that properly.
