Why do TOP London Schools tell parents NOT to have their children tutored?

So, I worked at a Top London Prep School in Hampstead for 3 years and I remember having the same discussion over and over again with parents. It went a little something like this:

Parent: ‘The schools have all said that our child mustn’t be tutored yet everyone that I know is being tutored.’

Me: ‘If you feel your child needs additional tuition, you should provide it for them!’

Parent: ‘I’m afraid that if the school/s find out, they won’t accept my child.’

NONSENSE.

All of these Top schools are very well aware that the majority of students are tutored in preparation for their assessments.

So, why do they tell parents not to?

My honest answer is this.

I have no idea!

If you are sitting your child for an assessment, be it 4+, 7+, 11+ or anything in between, they will need tuition. Full stop. Whether you do it with us or you do it with someone else, they will need additional support.

Competition is fierce. You want your child to go to a certain school?

You will prepare them.

Whether you do this yourself or you seek the support of an expert in this area, you will prepare your child.

Sending a child to an entrance exam without preparation is not something I advise anyone to do.

It’s simply not fair to your child.

How can a child be expected to answer questions that they haven’t been prepared to be able to answer?

When I would write reports for children who were applying to sit at a Top London School, I would need to write that the child did NOT receive additional tuition. This eventually just didn’t sit well with me. I knew that ALL of my students had tuition. I knew this because children are very honest. They would tell me. I knew exactly who their tutors were.

Ultimately, if you are sitting your child for an assessment, please prepare them for it.

We will support you every step of the way. Please don’t sabotage your chances for success by not tutoring your child because you have been told not to.

Written by Maria Mazarese, Creative Minds Tutors Director.