Frequently asked questions
Questions
Answers
How long do lessons last and what do they cost?
I normally recommend 45 minutes for 7 and 8-year-olds, and one hour for older children. In order to see the current lesson fees, please click here:
If I book five or ten lessons at the start, will you give me a discount?
It’s a good question, but not the way I operate. I don’t need or like to pin people down financially, even if they’re volunteering. Also, my fees are already competitive and there would be little scope for a discount.
Will you come to my house to tutor my son?
Sorry, no. Travelling would add considerably to my time and costs and I might not be able to fit in two lessons per day. I find it is very useful to have all my learning materials to hand and to give the pupils a break from any distractions at their homes.
Do you run any group sessions? My daughter is quite shy and would not be happy with 1-2-1 attention from a tutor.
No, I have never run group sessions. Many children are quite shy when they first come here but we talk a bit and have some fun learning something and quite soon they get over it. And, if your daughter is so shy, how much would she get from a group session? By the way, I don’t think my fees are any more than those for attending groups, which might say something about relative priorities.
Do you do online lessons?
No, I only do lessons face-to-face. I tried online lessons during the Covid emergencies, in order to maintain continuity for the children, but they were not as effective as lessons in person.
My son and his cousin are the same age and both would like to take the 11+. Can you tutor them at the same time?
I should be delighted to tutor each separately, but not together. I have tried one pair of children in the past and it just doesn’t work at all. However similar they seem, they will have different strengths and weaknesses, which means focusing on one to the detriment of the other, and then vice versa.
My daughter doesn’t seem to read books at home any more. Should I be concerned?
Sometimes children just get out of the habit of reading at home, preferring to spend time on computer games, social networks etc. Encourage your daughter to read to and with you. Bedtime stories aren’t just for the tiny tots, you know! And make sure she has a good dictionary (nothing too massive) and knows how to use it.
My son is now in Year 7 but still seems to have trouble with English topics he covered in Years 5 and 6. Can you help to sort him out?
Sorry, I don’t think that that’s a good idea. It would be better to find a tutor who has experience of KS3 and will know where your son should be in his learning; then it should be clearer how to help him get there.
If I send my son for tuition with you, what guarantees can you give me that he will pass the Eleven Plus?
I can’t give you any guarantees, and nor should anyone else. If your son has the right abilities, attitude and ambition, I can put him in the best position to be able to show those qualities on examination day. Read more about Eleven Plus tuition here: