Tutoring FAQs

• All group tuition sessions for Year 4 – Year 9 last for 1 hour 15 minutes. The cost is £27.
• For younger children in Year 3: These group tuition sessions last for one hour and the cost is £25. These shorter sessions are reserved for younger children due to their concentration levels.
• One to one sessions last for one hour and the cost is £40. One to one sessions are reserved for GCSE and A-Level students only.

There are no registration fees. Simply pay as you go.

Notice must be given for missed sessions. Any sessions missed can be caught up at other available times in the week. If this is not practical, then there is a charge of half price for the missed lesson and the work must be picked up and completed in time for the next lesson. It is the duty and responsibility of both parent(s) and pupil to ensure attendance.

I am a dedicated professional. My goal is the same as yours and, in order to achieve that goal, I am prepared to go that extra mile. Parents can and do contact me about their worries and difficulties or for general advice at all times, and I try to accommodate them. I am not a 9-5 tutor, nor do I just work during the teaching sessions. Each year I try to improve my services and to build on my ongoing experiences. I keep records and notes so that I have a comprehensive understanding of each child. Above all, I try to make learning fun and to encourage a thirst for knowledge that will stand them in good stead, not just for the 11+, but for the future.

Yes, they are. Richard holds a Masters degree in education from Birmingham University and taught in mainstream schools for over twenty years. He is also an ex-examiner for Key Stage 2 tests and has over twenty years’ experience at private tuition.

Mike holds a maths degree from Warwick University and was Head of Mathematics at a local secondary school for twenty-five years and has been a marker for many GCSE and A-Level examination boards.

Amy qualified as a teacher from Leeds University in 2012. She has over fifteen years experience of working in several schools in both the primary and secondary sectors. She currently works at a local grammar school in Sutton Coldfield as well as her tutor role at Sutton Tutorials.

Between the three of us, we have over eighty years of teaching experience!

So many children are tutored today, making the competition for grammar school places much more difficult. Most children require focused, rigorous and competitive preparation which will ensure that they perform to their maximum potential on the day of the tests. Unless your child is naturally brilliant, I think it’s fair to say that some form of familiarisation is an absolute must. If you can do this job yourself, you are among the happy few who will be able to, without either falling out or having a nervous breakdown!

Every child has a comprehensive consultation and assessment before they start. This gives us insight into their background, and an understanding of their interests and abilities.  It enables us to put your child in the correct group and, in terms of the 11 plus, whether or not a pass is likely. We will give you an honest assessment.

On the whole we do very little 1:1 tutoring, preferring to take small classes. The 11+ is after all very competitive, and in my experience, children try harder to improve when pitting themselves against others in a friendly and encouraging environment.

Each year varies of course, but usually 90% of the students I expect to pass do get through. Our success rate is excellent, but even if your child’s ability is not of 11+ standard, the tutoring will always be beneficial to their schoolwork.

If you wish to speak to us about your child’s progress, this is normally best done by phone rather than at the end of every lesson. We will regularly talk to you about the progress your child has made, listen to your views and discuss how we can develop in the weeks to come.

Homework is given at the end of each session and will take about 1-1 ½ hours weekly to complete. Schoolwork comes first, of course, but a certain level of commitment is required here. This will also act as a preparation for working in a grammar school situation where homework plays a very important part.

Grammar schools are state secondary schools, which select their pupils by means of an examination taken by children at age 11, known as the 11 Plus. Pupils who pass the exam go to the local grammar school, while pupils who do not go to the local secondary modern school.

Most parts of the UK do not have an explicitly selective education system of this sort. More common is the “comprehensive” system, in which pupils of all abilities and aptitudes are taught together.

There are around 164 grammar schools in England and a further 69 in Northern Ireland. There are no state grammars in Wales or Scotland and although some retain the name ‘grammar school’, they are non-selective and have no special status.

The majority of grammar schools teach pupils aged between 11 and 18, having integrated sixth forms that teach A Levels and equivalent post-16 courses. “Sixth forms” of this sort are far more unusual in comprehensive schools.

Aptitude The pupil must have the aptitude necessary to perform well-above average in the subjects tested. Tuition and effort will not compensate for insufficient aptitude.  If in doubt, come along for an assessment and we will give you our honest opinion as to your child’s academic potential.

Attitude The pupil must be prepared to put in lots of effort throughout the course.  It is a competitive exam and the children will have to be prepared to work hard to be successful.

Knowledge & Skills The pupil needs expert instruction in the relevant skills and knowledge.  Our proven course provides this in a small-group format, in a well-structured and very successful way.

Performance The pupil must perform well on exam day. There is little any parent can do other than ensuring your child is fresh, healthy and free from worry and distractions. Try not to pass your nerves onto them!

A grammar school is a suitable environment for children who are academically able and who can rise to a fast pace of learning and a heavy workload.  Children who perform well-above average in numeracy and literacy at school are likely to cope best with the considerable demands of grammar school. Children with about average levels of attainment in Key Stage 2 are likely to find the high expectations and pressure in a grammar school overwhelming: this can be highly detrimental to a child’s confidence.