Sponsored by
New business aims to get children through 11+
For an £870 fee, a new business will give children a helping hand when it comes to getting into Aylesbury's three grammar schools.
11 Plus Champions promises to gear youngsters up for the county-wide entrance examination, over 29 weekly lessons each costing 30 and lasting an hour and a half.
Karen Cookson, who has founded the business with husband Tom and Lorraine Baker, said the economic downturn meant competition for grammar school places was even more intense than usual, making preparation for the 11 plus entrance exams more important.
"I think it is more difficult with the credit crunch, there is more competition because a load of parents with kids in private schools are taking them out and hoping they pass the 11+. So these private kids are taking away places from mainstream children."
She said the classes, which are to be held at Aston Clinton Guide Hall and will have a maximum of 12 pupils, were a cheaper alternative to one-to-one tutoring.
"The pressure of one-one tutoring just proves too much for some children," she added. "Putting kids in with a small group of children means they can feed off eachother and learn from eachother."
Mrs Cookson said that although the exams are intended to measure a student's natural ability, preparing for them is essential. Each lesson will consist of teaching, reasoning and practice papers.
"I believe every child needs some kind of tutoring. In my opinion a child must be really bright to get through without it," she said.
"In Buckinghamshire schools the pupils do two practice papers before the 11 plus. With the best will in the world that is not a lot of practice. But private schools can tutor them and give them as many papers as they want."
However, Mrs Cookson admitted that training for the 11 plus exam was a 'tetchy subject'.
Before being enrolled, children will be required to attend an initial 45 minute lesson after which they will take an assessment test, enabling the teachers to make sure they are suitable for the course.
"It is so we can see whether or not we should take the child on, we are not just going to take peoples' money," she said. "If someone has not got the material ability they are not going to pass. Some parents are so hell bent on getting kids there its all learn, learn, learn and they struggle (at Grammar School) when they do get there."
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Aylesbury
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: East
