Gems of Wisdom

May. 28, 2023

What nobody tells you about the 11+

If you are about to embark on your child’s journey to get into a good local grammar school or a top independent school, be prepared. It’s a challenging journey and it isn’t easy. But if you understand why you are doing this and you stay focused, like Gloria Gaynor, you will survive.

May. 21, 2023

Reel Fun at Half Term

Half term is approaching and it’s time to relax. Even if exams loom in June, your children will definitely have some time to put their feet up next week. So I have compiled a list of films which I've enjoyed and found thought provoking recently.

Jun. 21, 2022

To Read or Not to Read: Fact or Fiction?

In every class and in every school there are "the readers" - children who effortlessly devour books, one after another, never seeming to lose their love of books - and then there are the "reluctant" readers, those who struggle to find a subject matter of interest or a style that they enjoy. Often the reluctant readers will hook onto a series of books that are not "on the list", but we fail to recognise when they do this, that they have cleared a massive hurdle: to read or not to read.

Nov. 25, 2021

Secrets of Comprehension

Comprehension. It seems to strike fear in many children's minds. They wonder… “Will I understand it? Will the text be too complicated? Will I have enough time to finish all the questions?" Some useful suggestions to help your child tackle comprehension tests head-on are listed here.