For October 2023 starters (children who will be in Year 5 for the academic year 2023-24) booking for tuition sessions is now open. Please scroll down the page to read the information and book, or click here.
Tuition Details
My tuition sessions are exclusively for current Year 5 children, and tuition is conducted by myself in small groups. Group sessions enable children to work both collaboratively and individually, depending on the material. My students enjoy the camaraderie of small group sessions, with many former students forming friendships within their groups that they continue into high school.
My students’ pass rate for the 11+ entrance exam has consistently remained at around 90% for the past nine years, which is excellent considering I do not select students based on initial assessments; students of all abilities are welcome to study with me. My primary focus is on building children’s knowledge and problem-solving skills, preparing them not only for the test but also for Year 6 and beyond. I take great pride in my students’ achievements, but, more importantly, it is highly rewarding to see children enjoying their learning and growing in confidence.
We meet for an hour weekly. Lessons are hybrid, comprising online and in-person tuition. The first two meetings of each month are held at my office, and the remaining sessions of the month are online using Zoom and a variety of interactive programs. Lessons run throughout the year until the grammar school entrance exam, which is held in September of Year 6 (we don’t meet at half term or Christmas/Easter but we do meet throughout the summer holidays). During that time, students study all the required aspects of a GL Assessment style 11+ test – namely English, Maths, and Verbal Reasoning. Homework of up to 1 hour duration is set each week.
Currently, lessons take place on Wednesdays and Thursdays after school/early evening. Sessions for 2023-4 will be held at 4pm, 5.15pm and 6.30pm both days.
Knowing how dull online learning can be if not done properly, I aim to make all learning enjoyable and memorable. When we are working online I use lots of interactive material such as online quizzes and games so that students are engaged throughout the session. I’m a Certified Educator in both Formative and Quizizz learning platforms and use paid accounts for the sites I use to make full use of their features. I also use resources from a variety of GLA 11+ providers including GL Assessment, Bond, CGP, LEAP, NFER Nelson, and First Past the Post as well as material I’ve designed and developed myself. This variety ensures your child will be more than ready to tackle 11+ style questions in whichever format and style they are presented in the test. My students have also found the skills developed over the year invaluable for year 6 and SATs work.
Technical information for online learning:
For online learning, I recommend using a laptop or PC, along with a headset and microphone. It’s important to have a reliable internet connection, preferably wired (using an Ethernet cable directly connected to the router) or being in close proximity to the router if using Wi-Fi. If an Ethernet connection is not possible, I recommend that no one else in the household uses the bandwidth for activities like gaming, streaming Netflix/YouTube, or general internet use during the online tuition session to ensure the best possible connection.
While online tuition using a tablet or phone is not ideal, it can work if that’s your only option. However, it’s important to ensure that the screen is not too small, and your child has access to earphones and a microphone to minimize background noise.
We use Google Classroom (which requires a Google account), Formative, and various engaging online quiz platforms such as Quizizz, Quizlet, and Blooket to get the most out of online learning.
During the summer holidays ALL NORMAL TUITION SESSIONS are in-person. This gives students lots of mock test experience. We look at how to develop test techniques, how to pace work for timed test sections and also how to deal with nerves and prepare mentally for the test.
I do some subject booster sessions in the summer holidays, too. These are all online and are optional.
Tuition fees (£25 per week from 2022 onwards) are paid monthly in advance by direct debit before the 1st lesson of each month. Fees include all paper materials and also all access to online quizzes, activities, and any other materials used for homework, tests and marking.
If your child is unable to attend a scheduled session (due to holidays, illness, or a prior engagement), I will try to accommodate them in an alternative session, which is easily achievable if we’re online that week. Fees are not reimbursed for missed sessions, but I will always ensure your child has access to any relevant missed material, and they will also have access to the homework for missed sessions.
You do not pay for sessions that I cancel or for weeks when we do not have sessions (such as Christmas, Easter, and half-term holidays). We do have sessions throughout the summer holidays; however, I typically take a one- or two-week break at some point between July and September. There is no charge during my holiday period, but I will ensure that appropriate assignments are provided for students to complete.
For term dates see below.
Please contact me by emailing [email protected] if you’d like more information.
Booking online is the easiest way to see real-time availability for dates and times.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP:
Tuition dates in red will take place in my office, and dates in black will be online but may be subject to change.
October tuition: 4, 11, 18 October (3 weeks)
Half term holiday – October 25th
November tuition: 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 November (5 weeks)
December tuition: 6, 13, 20 December (3 weeks)
Christmas holidays – 27th December and 3rd January
January tuition: 10, 17, 24 January (3 weeks)
February tuition: 7, 21, 28 February (3 weeks)
Half term holidays – February 14th
March tuition: 6, 13, 20, 27 March (4 weeks)
Easter holidays – 3rd and 10th April
April tuition: 17, 24 April (2 weeks)
May tuition: 1, 8, 15, 22 May (4 weeks)
Half-term holidays – May 29th
June tuition: 5, 12, 19, 26 June (4 weeks)
July tuition: 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 July (5 weeks)
August tuition: 7, 14, 21, 28 August (4 weeks)
September tuition: tbc
Tuition dates in red will take place in my office, and dates in black will be online but may be subject to change.
Tuition dates in red will take place in my office, and dates in black will be online but may be subject to change.
October tuition: 5, 12, 19 October (3 weeks)
Half term holiday – October 26th
November tuition: 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 November (5 weeks)
December tuition: 7, 14, 21 December (3 weeks)
Christmas holidays – 28th December and 4th January
January tuition: 11, 18, 25 January (3 weeks)
February tuition: 1, 8, 22 February (3 weeks)
Half term holidays – February 15th
March tuition: 7, 14, 21, 28 March (4 weeks)
Easter holidays – 4th and 11th April
April tuition: 18, 25 April (2 weeks)
May tuition: 2, 9, 16, 23 May (4 weeks)
Half-term holidays – May 30th
June tuition: 6, 13, 20, 27 June (4 weeks)
July tuition: 4, 11, 18, 25 July (4 weeks)
August tuition: 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 August (5 weeks)
September tuition: tbc
Tuition dates in red will take place in my office, and dates in black will be online but may be subject to change.
Online/Rising Bridge Rd, Haslingden, BB4 5BL.