Rachel

I have been tutoring for over 20 years and have my own tuition business - Star Turn Tuition. I've also written a book about the 11+ which is on Amazon.

I have top grade A levels in Latin, German and English Literature and won prizes for my results at Bolton School. I also hold an additional creative writing qualification which I sat at the same time as my A levels. I’ve always been extremely good at working with children and enjoy breaking down a difficult problem/issue so that they achieve clarity.

Tutoring Experience

I achieved a 2:1 Law Degree from Manchester University and a Post Graduate Diploma in Legal Studies. Throughout my legal career I have always had to create training manuals and procedures to ‘train up’ my department. More often than not I have been ‘dropped in it’ when it comes to a new position so right from the word go I create tutoring manuals/templates so that my assistants feel comfortable doing what they do and I can enable them to fly solo as soon as possible.

I have now been tutoring since 2002 but professionally since 2012 then predominantly online since 2015 after word spread wider afield. I have tutored a child in Ireland and also Northampton so online work means geography is no restriction. I’m also currently tutoring a boy based in Northampton for the Eton/Harrow/Westminster pre-tests.

Tutoring Approach

As far as my private tuition work is concerned, I have created my own database of practice material including what I call the ‘Foundation Knowledge Checklists’ which is intended to get a child ‘rock solid’ on the basics required to pass the 11+. I have trawled and spotted for common themes as part of the 11+ test is very much what the exam setters do not tell you e.g. if they mention a leap year they simply expect a child to know that this means February will have 29 days not 28 etc. They will not hand this information to the child on a ‘silver platter’. I am often amazed by what children do not know and so this is my way of setting their foundations rock solid asap.

I love the process of taking a child from nervous and uncertain to someone who is well versed in all aspects of the 11+ test. A child has to work ahead of their school syllabus as the 11+ takes place either in the September or January of Year 6. I have to show them many different aspects of the Year 6 [and indeed Year 7] syllabus well in advance of their school syllabus. As such, I have to gain a child’s trust very quickly and give reassurance that we will work through it together as children often find the experience quite frustrating as the 11+ questions are vastly different to what they experience at school. It is often hard for a child who is used to getting ‘all their sums right’ to understand that if they achieve 50% in a mathematics’ paper that is a huge achievement as schools are often looking for potential not just a perfect score. I enjoy supporting a child through that dichotomy and I look to reassure at all times.