A 7+ True Story - Thomas.

This is a true story. As in this is the story of my student - Thomas (changed his name obviously).

I write this story in the hopes of helping some of you to understand the complexities of the 7+ Assessments. With the hopes that you understand the importance of not starting late and with the hopes of you gaining a sharper insight into what is expected of our children in their 7+ Assessments.

Samantha (name changed) called me late September. It was a Sunday and I was on my way to have lunch with a friend of mine (who is also a current client!). As I was driving, my phone rang. I don’t usually pick up on a Sunday but on this occasion I did.

Samantha told me that she was preparing her son for St Paul’s, Latymer and UCS and asked if she was too late (her son was already in Year 2) . I told her that it was October in a few days. Of course, it was too late. The St Paul’s 7+ Assessment is at the end of November and The Latymer and UCS Assessments were in January (just for context). She appreciated my honesty and told me that she wanted to ‘have a go’ anyway.

I was very honest with her and told her that ‘have a go’ would not cut it. She would need to be serious about preparing her son and so would he. He would have 2-3 months of intensive preparation. She weakly said okay.

In hindsight, I should have thanked her and wished her well but I decided to work with Thomas. We did some intensive work together for one month and then the excuses started. ‘Thomas has a birthday to go to. Thomas is sick. Thomas is going on holiday.’

Thomas was not ready for his 7+ at St Paul’s, Latymer or UCS. Samantha started to become more defensive with me and when I spoke to her on her calls she started to become cold with me. I knew she wasn’t enjoying the process. I knew she had no intention of going all in. I rarely received Thomas’s home learning. He was reluctant to write stories and although he did try really hard, there was only so much we could do with 2-3 months together.

He was not offered a place at St. Paul’s, Latymer or UCS and Thomas is continuing at his state school. His mother was annoyed with me and we did not leave things on good terms. At least how I like to leave things when my clients stop working with me.

She expected him to get in because she didn’t fully understand (nor was she open to understanding) the process.

I’ve told Samantha that if she wants to prepare Thomas for his 11+ (he is not ready for 8+) that she would need to start tuition from the autumn term of Year 3 with weekly and consistent tuition. She was not impressed with my suggestion.

Our decisions shape the futures of our children. The quality of our children’s education should be a priority for all of us. That’s not at all to say that you can’t get a quality education at a state school - that’s not what I’m saying at all. That’s up to you to find a quality state school that provides the best education for your child.

If you want to prepare for the 7+ and your child is currently in Year 1, it is too late (28th March at the time of writing this blog). And you have to take the process seriously.

The best time to start is the September when your child begins Reception.

That’s where I see the best results.

However, if you are late, stop procrastinating and just get started. Take the process seriously and go all in.

That is all.