'She convinced her not to prep for Westminster!' How did that go down?
/Not well.
Obviously!
My client has said she is happy for me to discuss her story with the hope that she will help several families to not make the mistake that she made. Names changed for confidentiality.
Here is Gemma’s story.
Gemma contacted me in September of 2025. I remember the day that she called me because I was at the beach with my son. I took her call in my bikini and in my flip flops whilst my son swam in the sea with his father.
Gemma’s tone was strong and confident. A successful business woman, she told me about her education and top schools in London and how she wanted the same for her daughter. Gemma told me that an amazing education was so important to her.
Gemma’s daughter was to attend several assessments in the autumn term of 2026.
Gemma was well aware that she only had two months left to prepare her daughter Amber for the 4+ assessment at her dream school - Westminster. Gemma was also preparing for 3 other top schools.
‘Can you help me?’ - I get this questions multiple times a day. And whilst I’d love to help everyone, sadly I cannot.
I told Gemma that with only 2 months left until the 1st round that it would be difficult.
Gemma did not like my reply and she immediately went on the defensive saying things like…
‘How can you know it’s too late?’
‘I was told she will just go in and play!’
‘How dare you tell me that!’ etc etc.
Then Gemma started to cry. She was clearly very upset.
I told her that it wasn’t her fault and that we could try our best to support Amber with her 4+ assessments.
She told me that her sister had convinced her that 4+ doesn’t need prep. Her daughter was at a ‘top pre-prep’ in London and that was enough.
I met Amber in late September.
A gorgeous girl (she is still my student right now!), Amber was wonderful. However, the Sample lesson didn’t go well.
Amber struggled to maintain focus, she was fidgeting with several things that she had in front of her, she didn’t know her sounds, She was unable to recognise number 1-10 and she wasn’t holding her pencil and scissors ‘correctly’.
Gemma did not like my feedback after the lesson and she was furious with the pre- prep. She had invested tens of thousands of pounds into that pre-prep after all!
Gemma continued with me and we worked together intensively for several weeks of Curriculum Acceleration prior to Amber’s Round 1 at Westminster. We were also preparing for other assessments such as Glendower, Falkner House and Highgate. Amber began to focus beautifully and concentrate. With my Emerald Curriculum, she was able to really accelerate her learning. Gemma was delighted. So was I.
Amber passed Round 1 at Westminster but not Round 2. She did not pass Falkner House. She did not pass Highgate. She will be starting at Glendower in September 2026 and she will be continuing with me as we prepare for her 7+/11+.
