For Parents
When to start
Somewhere between eighteen months and two years before the exam is about right which
means starting in Year 4 or the beginning of Year 5. Beginning earlier than this is counter-
productive. I do not take children before Year 4.
Children who start in Year 4 tend to have the most settled experience. The preparation builds
gradually, there is time to develop confidence and core skills, and they arrive at Year 5 with
strong foundations. Children joining in Year 5 make excellent progress too — there is still time,
though the pace is quicker.
Choosing the right schools
Before any child joins, I ask to see their most recent school report. This gives me an idea of how
your child learns and allows us to ensure that the targets we work towards are realistic, so that
the investment of time, effort and money is pointed in the right direction.
The Tiffin Schools are worth a direct word. They are two of the most competitive grammar
schools in the country and applicants far exceed places. The children with a genuine chance are
already working consistently at ‘greater depth’ in both subjects - not meeting expected
standards, but comfortably exceeding them. If a school report suggests otherwise, I will always
say so early: it is a much kinder conversation to have at the start than to discover a year down
the line. The right school is the one where your child will thrive.
Children do develop over the course of the programme, and I have seen ambitions grow as well
as be revised. We review at the end of Year 4 and set a clear direction for Year 5. I have a
strong and consistent track record across the schools in our area.
Choosing the right preparation
There is no shortage of 11+ provision in this area, and it is worth thinking carefully about what
will suit your child. A few questions are worth asking of any provider: how many children are in
each group? Is writing taught as part of the programme from the start, or introduced later as a
separate add-on? Is it taught online? Are session lengths suited to the age and concentration of
a primary school child?
These things matter because they determine the experience your child has week after week
over one or two years. The quality of individual attention, the depth of writing practice and the
sustainability of the sessions all shape outcomes.
Many families use Atom Learning alongside tuition for verbal and non-verbal reasoning practice
or ISEB-style tests. As a linked tutor on the platform, I can assign work, track progress between
sessions and help guide your child’s development.
How we work together
Lesson notes are shared after every session, and I am straightforward about progress
throughout.
The most useful thing you can do at home is read with your child even once they read
independently. Shared reading builds vocabulary, develops comprehension, improves analytical
skills, and gives children things to talk about in an interview. Reading is crucial for progress
across all areas of the curriculum, including maths and science.
Homework is discussed at the start of each session. For maths and language work I provide
answers so that marking at home is quick. Written work is marked by me, with opportunities for
peer assessment and discussion in group sessions.
Keeping things in perspective
The 11+ is a significant undertaking and it can be a stressful time for everyone. In my
experience, the children who do best are those whose families keep things calm and realistic -
where tutoring sits comfortably alongside school and normal life rather than overtaking it. I will
support both you and your child throughout, and my aim is always that a child finishes this
process as a confident, resilient and thoughtful learner.
“Samantha built a reassuring relationship with us. She coached him on mental strength and
interview confidence and his attitude during the exams was confident and strong. The
experience, instead of being stressful, made him a stronger person.”
- M, Surbiton
“J simply would not have got in without all of your efforts over the past two years. You got
through to him in a way no other tutor has, so that he enjoyed coming to see you even in the
busiest of weeks. You have made a life-changing impact.”
- E, Kingston