My honest opinion about open days (4+ Assessment preparation)

Attending an open day will seem like a very important part of the 4+ Assessment preparation process. And it is.

Having done this for over 14 years, I now know exactly what to expect from my current clients and from parents who are looking around for the best teacher to support their child with their 4+ Assessment preparations.

I know what I will hear from my own clients after they’ve attended an open day at one or more of the schools that they are applying to. And I know exactly what they will tell me.

So let me help you with this.

If you are attending an open day, you have most likely applied to the school/s and have received an invite to attend. Some happen earlier in the year and some later (it will depend when you apply!)

You will most likely have a tour of the school and see the ‘school in action’ and then you will most likely have a talk with the Head Teacher where he or she will give you more information about their school and about the 4+ Assessment process at their school.

Here are just a few things that you may be told which I would not believe.

‘It will be an informal Assessment’

Trust me, it won’t be.

‘Tell your child it will be like a play date.’

Please do not do this.

‘You do not need to prepare for the Assessments’

Utter nonsense.

‘Your child will just come in and play with other children’

No they won’t.

‘We do not agree with tutoring’

What does that even mean?

‘We can tell if a child has been tutored’

No they can’t. Unless a child has been tutored in a way that they just memorise everything. That is not how we teach our students.

I’ve had parents stop tuition with me after having attended open days and it breaks my heart. In 90% of cases where this happens, their child has not been successful. Not because I am amazing at what I do but because they simply were not prepared for their Assessments. The 10% who did make it were exceptionally academically gifted. And most of that 10% only got into one school out of the 6/7 they had applied to.

So attend each Open Day because it is very important that you see the school. It is very important that you love the school. But please do be cautious with regards to what the schools will tell you.

Don’t sabotage your chances for success.

Ask questions if you have them, remember that YOU are sending your child to THEIR school. And YOU want to make sure that it is the right fit for you and for your child.

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