Questions Parents Ask

My regular 11+ English groups are for children in Years 4 and 5.

The programme builds strong foundations in Year 4 and develops these towards selective-school examination standard through Year 5.

Yes. The groups are designed specifically for children preparing for selective Grammar School and Independent School entrance examinations.

The focus is English, taught to the standard these examinations demand.

Children do not need to be working at 11+ standard before joining.

However, the groups move at a purposeful pace, so I will discuss your child's current stage with you before they begin.

Please message me on WhatsApp. Groups are limited to five children, so availability depends on the year group and current timetable.

I will send you the relevant details before you decide whether to join.

All sessions are taught live on Zoom and last one hour.

Groups are limited to five children, allowing every child to participate and receive individual attention.

Five is a deliberate maximum.

It allows every child to contribute, ask questions, have work discussed and receive direct attention while still benefiting from learning within a group.

Worksheets are sent in advance. Comprehension passages should normally be printed for annotation; other material can often be viewed on an iPad or tablet.

Children should also have a lined exercise book and their usual writing equipment.

A laptop, desktop, iPad or tablet that runs Zoom comfortably is suitable. A phone screen is too small for the work we do.

A stable internet connection, working camera and microphone, and a quiet place to work are important.

No. Sessions are live and are not recorded.

Children are visible, speaking and participating throughout. For privacy and safeguarding reasons, I do not consider it appropriate to record a group of children and share that recording with other families.

Comprehension sits at the core of the programme.

It develops vocabulary, inference, close reading, precision and understanding of language — skills that underpin demanding 11+ English papers and strengthen writing.

Yes. HBS and QE are central to my 11+ English preparation, and I am very familiar with the level of comprehension, vocabulary and close reading these highly selective examinations demand.

Preparation to a strong HBS and QE standard also develops English skills that transfer effectively to other selective Grammar School and Independent School examinations.

The examination formats differ, and preparation becomes more school-specific as the exams approach.

Both demand strong comprehension, vocabulary, accuracy, inference and the ability to work carefully under time pressure. These core skills are developed first; specific formats and techniques are introduced as needed.

Yes. Most children apply to more than one selective school.

Individual papers differ, but strong English transfers. Children learn to adapt their skills to different examination formats rather than prepare for each school in isolation.

Yes. Creative writing is an important part of the programme, particularly for Independent Schools and later-stage examinations requiring written work.

We develop ideas, structure, vocabulary, description, sentence control and writing effectively within a time limit.

Vocabulary is developed through comprehension, reading, discussion and writing rather than rote learning alone.

Children are also introduced to carefully selected 11+ vocabulary through Word Magic, with words revisited in different contexts so that they become part of a working vocabulary.

English remains the focus.

Where vocabulary-based Verbal Reasoning is relevant to an 11+ examination, we practise areas such as synonyms, antonyms, cloze and related word skills.

No. English Matters specialises in English.

One subject, taught with depth and focus.

Homework is not mandatory or compulsory, but it is highly recommended, since practice between lessons genuinely reinforces what is covered.

Children complete it at their own pace, and I mark every piece of work and give feedback on it.

Some work is discussed and checked during the live lesson; other work may be completed afterwards and submitted for feedback.

The approach depends on the task and stage of preparation.

Once children are comfortable with the skills being taught, assessments are introduced at appropriate intervals to measure progress and retention.

These may assess particular areas rather than everything covered. Monthly assessments or progress checks are used where appropriate, and relevant results and feedback are shared with parents.

Yes, but not from the outset.

Timed work is introduced progressively once the underlying skills are secure. Mock-style practice becomes more important as the 11+ examinations approach.

Small groups allow me to know each child and follow their progress closely.

Assessment results and relevant feedback are shared with parents, and individual progress can be discussed directly when needed.

Yes. Alongside teaching your child, I also give considerable support to parents — practical suggestions for additional things you can do at home to help, separate from the session work itself.

I am also happy to guide you generally whenever you feel unsure about how to approach something with your child's preparation.

No. Regular groups run during school term time and do not normally meet during half-terms or school holidays.

Additional exam-focused sessions or workshops may occasionally be offered separately.

The main intake is in September, particularly for Years 4 and 5.

Places may occasionally become available during the year.

Sessions are not recorded and missed lessons cannot be transferred to another group.

Your child will have the relevant materials to complete appropriate work independently. Regular attendance is important because the teaching builds from week to week.

No. Children join a particular group and remain with that group.

This maintains continuity of teaching and consistency within each small group.

Please contact me on WhatsApp with your child's year group and the schools you are considering, including HBS or QE where relevant.

If a suitable place is available, I will send you the group, timetable and joining details.

For new September starters, the first month is treated as a trial period, giving both child and parent time to see how the group works.

For children joining at another point in the year, please ask about current arrangements.

Yes. All 11+ English tuition is online, so children do not need to live locally.

Families can join from elsewhere in the UK or overseas where the preparation is appropriate for their target schools.