3 ridiculous things that I’ve been told at Open Days at top independent schools.

Before I start this blog, let me tell you this. I have nothing but respect for schools. I have nothing but respect for teachers. Teaching is a hard job. Teaching 20+ students is a hard job. You have to be passionate about your job to survive. Trust me.

I taught full time for 13 years in all year groups from Nursery through to Year 6. Before my teaching career, I taught Spanish at GCSE and A level. I have been immersed in the school system for a very long time (over 16 years). After my teaching career, I supplied all around London in state, independent schools and at academies. I know what it’s like to work 9 hours a day, 6 days a week as a teacher.

So respect to all of you amazing teachers and all that you do for our children.

This blog is not being written to disrespect or disregard anyone. It is written as educational for those of you attending school open days in search for the perfect schools for your children.

You will hear these things when you attend open days but it’s important that you truly understand the assessment process.

Here are 3 utterly nonsensical things that I’ve been told at open days at top independent schools.

1.     Do not tutor your child for their Assessment.

2.     Our results speak for themselves, why would you need to pay for a tutor?

3.     Your child will be penalized if we find out that they’ve been tutored.

If you want your child to have any chance of passing a 4+ or 7+ Assessment, you will have them tutored. A school alone cannot prepare an individual child for their 4+ or 7+ Assessments. Why do you think that we teach teach children who go to the likes of Eton College, Glendower, Faulkner House, Notting Hill and Ealing, NLCS, South Hampstead and Queen’s College?

 I would never discredit what a school does and I will no longer allow them to discredit what we do.

We work far too hard and they take all the credit.

Not anymore.