In order to excel in the grammar school environment, a student must be comfortable in competing against the very brightest and most academic children in their area. They will need to learn among these individuals each day at school and keep up with them academically. Their knowledge and understanding, on a wider scale, should be in line with the most highly educated in the world.
It is a sad fact that only 5.3% of state-funded pupils in the UK sit and find success in the 11+ exam (source).
The numbers are surprisingly not much higher, with 6.4% of private school students taking and passing the 11+ exam (source).
So why do I recommend small-group tutoring as opposed to private 1-2-1 tutoring for this specific type of exam preparation?
Your mind may jump immediately to the issue of cost. Small group learning is more cost efficient that 1-2-1, but interestingly that is not the main concern or benefit.
Simply put, private 1-2-1 tutoring is not as effective as small group for 11+ preparation. This is why…
The (unintentional) downsides of 1-2-1 11+ tuition
Schooling is a shared experience: 11+ preparation should be, also.
If you are considering a choice of school for your child, they should be able to work well in a group of 6. Children who come in smiling each week to my classes are confident, independent learners. In a grammar school setting, class sizes are 30+, so to best mirror this experience small group prep is more beneficial than a solo lesson. If learning alongside 5 other enthusiastic and committed learning isn’t for your child, then I would consider if they are truly suitable for a grammar school setting. Of course, there are times when 1-2-1 tuition is a better fit; this would be for those learners needing support to reach age expected learning - rather than 11+ prep.
Delivering an effective 11+ curriculum is a full-time commitment:
teachers working for themselves in the few hours they have free (around a full-time or part-time teaching job) do not have the time to research the 11+ subject fully. Preparing children for different 11+ exams is something I had done, and succeeded in, for over a decade. As a full-time, professional tutor, I have built up the necessary depth of knowledge to support students in their grammar preparations (as well as support parents in the 11+ process). I know the tricks and tips to share, what to look out for on the papers and how to tackle them with confidence.
11+ tuition needs consistency:
If your child is relying on a single teacher/tutor to provide a weekly lesson, there is a risk that their circumstances will change before the 11+ preparation is completed in early September. Some tutors/teachers take the holidays off and only tutor in term time. In the worst scenario, a teachers give up their student mid-year. With an 11+ group teacher, they know the necessity to provide tuition throughout the school holidays to maintain consistency, and are only too aware of the commitment to their families to take them right through to that early September deadline.
4. 1-2-1 tutors may, unintentionally, ‘Helicopter Teach’.
When a student is the sole priority of a well-meaning private tutor, ‘helicopter tutoring’ can occur. This is where the teacher hovers over the child, watching their every pencil to paper move, pouncing to correct them before the student has time to spot the error they have made and generally giving too much of themselves (and asking too little of the student). This situation only stifles a child’s independence, resilience and ability to correct themselves.
The (added) benefits of small group 11+ tuition
1. High expectations: Only a lazy teacher would not differentiate their teaching to address the vast ability spread seen in any single class or year group. But, when a small group is preparing for this particular academic exam, all students are covering the same content: it’s the same syllabus, so they must! Hence, we teach all learners the same skills, using the same course content. This is essential. Education research has shown time and time again that when students are exposed to learners who are above them in attainment, this in turn helps to extend their own attainment. Being exposed to the knowledge of others develops your own. As you would expect, even within a small group, different learners have their different strengths. The whole group benefits from this. One gifted VR student will help to lift the learning of the whole group. Similarly, a maths whizz, who explains their maths learning in more child-like vocabulary, can really help to show the rest of the group how to effectively solve a maths problem in language can easily understand.
2. It’s more fun: If you are the parent of an academic and inquisitive child, you will know only too well that they enjoy learning and challenging their abilities. The 1-2-1 format for 11+ can full a bit stuffy and formal, whereas learning as a group lightens the experience, makes it more sociable and allows for bonds between the group to blossom. Listening to the conversation between students at the start and end of their lesson is genuinely rewarding and so students finish the lesson with a smile.
3. (Very) Healthy competition: All children in my group classes have the potential to pass the approaching exam. I do not agree with keeping children in the classes who are unlikely to thrive at grammar school. Therefore, I share concerns as quickly and compassionately as I can with parents , as this is only fair to both students and their families. The competition that develops within the classes is encouraging and positive. For example, when children first see non-verbal reasoning they invariably love it! It is something fresh and new from their usual academic learning. Some students take to the NVR skills immediately. Others showcase their strengths in the verbal reasoning, enjoying the puzzle book-style skills and questions. Regardless of which area they particularly excel in, students quickly realise that they have their specific strengths, allowing them to empathise with their class-mates and challenge themselves that little bit further in a safe, supportive space.
4. Consistent teaching, all year long:
I have clubs running on different days, in person and online. No student need miss a friend’s party or a beloved football match. Swaps can be arranged, online live teaching offered and a recorded lesson is created each week to ensure no lesson content is ever missed. The recorded content is set up in our private student area and can be accessed for a number of weeks. On my side of the bargain, if I am ill, I will strive to offer an alternative catch-up time.
However, personalisation is key: occasionally one-on-one 11+ tuition is exactly what a child needs…
In the world of 11+ preparation, there is a place for one-to-one tutoring.
Some children join late on in the academic year and need an hour or so of catch-up teaching. As the exam approaches, anxiety can occur as external pressures build. If a child is expressing nerves and doubt in their ability, then a one-to-one session is a great way to support them. A single session, or two, can provide the positive boost they need, and set them happily on their way - ready for their group lessons.
For all your small group 11+ tuition needs, visit my group classes page and pick the one that best suits your child’s needs.
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