While teaching English at St Paul’s Girl’s School between 2002 and 2011, I wrote, marked and assessed the school's English comprehension and creative writing eleven plus entrance.  In other words, I know about the 11+ paper; I understand the logic behind it and the kinds of things we were looking for when selecting students to attend St Paul's.

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Many schools now require their applicants to complete computerised tests as a major means of assessment. I still believe that a hand-written paper with space to create and explore is the best means of assessment for the top schools and I hope that schools like St Paul's and North London Collegiate will retain this format.

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My track record

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I have spent the last 12 years, as an 11+ tutor, helping students understand what they are being tested on and how to find the best way to show off their abilities in English. I will not give false promises; indeed I believe that pushing a student into a school which is too academic is not fair on the child.

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My predictions have been 95% accurate: on only a few (usually explainable) occasions have students I felt were a good fit for St Paul's Girl's School not got in; on one single occasion, a student I did not think would be a good fit at St Paul's did actually get in. I have helped my 11+ students gain places (and scholarships) at top independent and selective grammar schools including St Paul’s Girls', Hampton, Latymer Upper, Godolphin and Latymer, City of London, Royal Masonic, Haberdashers Aske's, North London Collegiate, Notting Hill and Ealing, St Helen's, Northwood College, Francis Holland (both), Putney High,  Harrodian, Queen's College, Wimbledon High, Wycombe Abbey, Cheltenham, Queen's Gate, Channing, JAGS, Queen's College, South Hampstead High, Sutton High, and Nonsuch High.

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I am proud that I have been able to make my English tutorials with my younger students something to which they look forward. Many have said how much they have enjoyed discovering English as a subject, the learning platform Scribblar being a real bonus; I am still working with four former 11+ students for enrichment, even though they are now at top schools including SPGS; I am still in touch with many of the families I worked with at the start of my online teaching career.

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Who I work with

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I am selective in the students (and parents) I work with: I am looking for parents who are prepared to listen to my advice and for students who do not need spoon-feeding but will genuinely flourish with the kind of teaching I provide. If your child attends a prep school, I will quite probably undo a great deal of what they have been taught and you will need to be open to that. I do not prepare robots; instead I work on making space for your child to express themselves fully and to enable them to shine among hundreds of dull over-prepared candidates.

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11plusConsultancy Service for Years 4, 5 & 6

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I created this service in 2019 when I realised that I was turning down requests for 11+ tuition several times a week. It is available for students in Years 5 and 6. Between 2019-2023  I worked with 25 families between providing six of them with free lessons. 14 students got into St Paul’s Girls’ School: the rest went to Wycombe Abbey, North London Collegiate, Latymer Upper, and Francis Holland. One stayed abroad; the other was offered a place at City of London but chose a state school instead. This year - 2023/2024 - my 8 students (2 of whom were bursary families) did really well: five are going to St Paul's Girls'. I advised the other three not to apply to SPGS since I felt they wouldn't get in and the school would not suit them. Two of them applied and didn't get in, but they are going to JAGS and NLCS, schools which fit them much better. The final student will be going to Channing, a great choice for her.

 

This service involves both you and your daughter. I will select papers, mark them in detail and give feedback, with advice on how to improve. My aim is to give you honest advice about the ability of your child and the realism of your expectations. You may not like what you hear and you need to be prepared for this. If I have spare time, I may be able to do some extra lessons with your child for an extra cost although this is not guaranteed; similarly I may be able to mark papers at an extra cost.

 

You will note that I focus on St Paul's Girls' School here; as such this consultancy is only available for girls since this is my expertise. I do not help with the London Consortium or ISEB papers although I can point you in the right direction for practice, and if you are focusing on City of London Girls' or North London Collegiate then let me know and I will bear this in mind.

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I have recently introduced a new service for parents of students in Year 4. This is a pre-assessment, mainly to get a sense of how your daughter thinks and to recommend ways of encouraging her to learn and discover English which will make the most of her abilities and her potential. It is in no way a guide as to whether your daughter should be applying to one school or another. However, if I feel that the top academic schools are not appropriate, I will suggest this. At this stage it is really too early to give sound and realistic advice, no matter what your teachers say!

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Please contact me for more information.

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Maths, General Comprehension, and Interview Practice

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I am delighted to say that I have asked former colleagues at St Paul's Girl's School to provide similar services to me. Go to my Facts and Figures page for details.

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Fees

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Because of my experience, expertise and energy, plus my track record, I am more expensive than nearly all the 11+ tutors you will find.  My new 11plusConsultancy offers a premium service so please bear that in mind before contacting me. I do, however, provide consultancy sessions for free for those applying for full bursaries. 

 

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