From Baby Cub to Cub to Lone Wolf- Part 1

That’s how I think about my own learning journey as a child. And this is how I reflect upon my 3-year-old’s learning journey.

I’m fully aware that everyone has their own experiences when it comes to their learning journey (what I mean by this is from the age of 4 to the age of 18), but these are my views. Feel free to share yours in a respectful manner. Please note that as I talk, I am not placing judgment on anyone. I am merely expressing my thoughts and discussing my experiences.

The Baby Cub

As babies, we are fully reliant on others to take good care of us. Some of us have a father and a mother who care for us. Some of us do not. As babies, we are fully vulnerable and in need of love, nourishment, and support. That’s how I picture myself as a 5-year-old entering Year 1 (that is when I started my learning journey in the UK). Born in London but raised in Sicily for five years, that is when my parents decided to put me into a state primary school. It was the school convenient for them — nothing more, nothing less. I would say it was an okay school — definitely not the best and definitely not great. It was a school where I went to be looked after whilst my parents had to work.

I had one great teacher — Miss Brown. I remember her well. She is the only one I remember. She was sweet, always smiling, and she gave me tonnes of attention. The rest of my memories are filled with badly behaved children, and the teachers’ attention needed to be given to them. I was always a very quiet and shy little girl. But as I reflect now, as a 40-year-old woman, I realise I had to be that way. There was no other way. The other children were louder than me and chose not to behave well. They chose not to listen to the teachers or be kind and caring to either teachers or other children. I had to be quiet because I had no one at school who really paid that much attention to me. I did learn because I wanted to learn. I listened and I learned. The teaching was okay — not exceptional.

When I think about my son (who will be four in September), I know that I want my baby cub to have a far better experience (age 4–11). I want him to have a learning experience where he is fully nurtured and feels deeply cared for. As a teacher who has worked in schools across the country for 15 years, I know that this will be difficult for me to achieve. There is nothing wrong with schools at all — it’s far more complex than that. If you’ve been in the system, you will know what I mean. If you haven’t, then you won’t.

Read Part 2 to learn more about The Cub.

The Angry Habs' Boys' School phone call

I received an enquiry last week for 7+ assessment preparation.

This client contacted me with the intention of discussing 7+ assessment preparation.

This is not how the call went down.

The client began by asking a few questions about the 7+. Usual questions like when to start etc.

I answered her questions and then she told me about her son who had not passed the 4+ at Habs Boys’ School.

She told me that she had not prepared him.

When I asked her why, she got all sorts of shades of defensive with me.

Perhaps she heard my question as a judgement or perhaps she genuinely felt bad for sending her son into the Habs’ Boys’ School 4+ Assessment unprepared. I have no clue. The reason for me asking that question is because you 100% need to prepare for Habs boys - very carefully and well.

She got angry with me.

She told me that the school had told her not to prepare her boy and she listened. She asked me this…

‘Why would I not listen to the school, are you saying that they are not being truthful?’

That is absolutely NOT what I had said!

I had merely asked her WHY SHE HAD NOT PREPARED HER SON FOR THE HABS ASSESSMENT.

Listen up, you can listen to whatever you want in your 4+ Assessment preparation process - it really doesn’t bother me. But do not call me and get angry with me.

We prepared all 9 of our boys to go in and PASS the Habs’ Boys’ 4+ Assessment. 9/40 of the boys who passed were prepared by US. Hear me carefully. All 9 were very well prepared to a very high standard. They went in with the capacity and the capability to answer all of the questions that were asked and to do all of the activities that they were asked to do.

I get it - we are discussing our children here. And our choices are very important when it comes to our children. If things don’t go the way we planned, there really is no one to blame. It’s just a circumstance. Make changes so that your 7+ assessment preparation and chances for success go differently.

That is all.

Why over-helping isn't helpful to your child.

When I was little, I was way too ‘over helped’. What this means is that the teachers in my life helped me too much. Far too often they would just tell me the answer.

This is not good.

At all.

This is poor teaching masqueraded as good teaching. It is not good teaching at all.

If you over help a child aka do all the work for them then who are you really helping?

No one. Definitely not the child.

When I worked in primary schools across London, I would observe this sort of behaviour daily. I would work with teachers who would over help and I also worked with teachers who did not do this.

Interestingly, the teachers who over helped were the ones who were seen to be exceptional teachers. They would have the neatest books and the best displays. But when I would look at the books, I would see learning that was pretty much identical. Learning that was so carefully modelled by the teacher that there would be no way that the child would have done it by themselves.

How is this helpful?

Tell me!

I see it with a few of our students when they initially start working with us. They just want us to tell them the answer. Or they will simply say, ‘I don’t know’ and expect us to tell them the answer. We don’t do this. And it is often so confusing to them.

We will say things like:

‘You tell us!’

‘Have a go!’

‘It doesn’t matter if you get it wrong.’

‘Try!’

If your child is about to sit an assessment, the same thing applies. You telling them the answer or over helping them will not help them to be successful in the assessments. You will not be there! Will you?

It’s about finding the methods of helping and supporting your child but in a way that allows THEM to tell you the answers. That allows THEM to get things wrong and for that not to be a problem. That allows THEM to get things right and to know that they got things right by themselves. This is where true learning happens. Not when an adult simply gives the child an answer.

That is not their answer. That is YOUR answer. And no body cares about your answer. Do they?

Three Guildford High 4+ Errors

We have prepared hundreds of girls to be extremely successful in their 4+ Assessments at Guildford High. It is a very misunderstood school when it comes to the 4+.

Error #1

Believing that you do not need to prepare your daughter for this assessment.

I speak to many parents who truly believe that they do not need to prepare for GH at 4+ and I have no idea why they believe this. Where have the got this ridiculous notion from?

Of course you have to prepare your daughter for the 4+ at GH.

They tell me that GH themselves tell them not to prepare their children for this assessment. They tell me that GH do not want ‘tutored children’. They tell me that their assessments will be ‘relaxed’ and ‘low key’. So what?

Understand very clearly. If you are preparing your daughter for her 4+ assessment at GH, you must prepare her. It really doesn’t matter how you prepare her but you must prepare her. Sending her in completely unprepared and expecting her to pass is beyond ludicrous.

Error #2

Starting preparations far too late.

GH is the assessment that seems to creep up on us! One of the earliest 4+ assessments (usually mid October), you must start preparing your daughter at least from October of the year before.

GH has not one but two assessments (45 minutes each!). Your daughter will not just go in and have a play. It’s actually very clear on their website what they will be asking your daughter to do.

So have a look!

Your daughter will be expected to read and write!

Error #3

Believing that every single girl who applies will be offered a place.

I don’t have anything more to say about that apart from that is totally inaccurate information.

Is your daughter ready for her Readiness Assessment at Guildford High?

Book your Sample Lesson today and we will tell you!

Take 4+ assessment preparation seriously if you want to have serious results.

Manor Lodge is the school parents least prepare their children for at 4+.

The Manor Lodge 4+ Assessment is typically in mid October the year before your child’s year of entry into Reception.

So if you are preparing for the Manor Lodge Assessment (2027 entry), you have only 8 months left until the 4+ Assessment at this school.

8 months are not really 8 months! You need to take into account sickness and holidays. You will get sick, your child will get sick and your teacher will get sick (we are not robots!). You will take holidays and your teacher will take holidays. You will inevitably take some time off - as will your teacher! So those 8 months really turn into 6 months if you reflect carefully about it.

Let me get something crystal clear. 6 months is not enough time to prepare for Manor Lodge.

At ‘only’ £17,310 per year (not including additional charges) , ML is one of the more ‘affordable’ schools that my clients prepare for. It is so over subscribed at 4+.

If you actually truly want your child to be offered a place at ML, prepare them thoroughly for it.

I do think you are starting too late if you are starting now. But starting late is better than not starting at all!

Book your Sample Lesson today.

The 50/50 thoughts about 'Tutoring'.

50% of you love tutoring.

50% of you don’t understand tutoring.

I don’t want to use the word hate because I don’t think it is the correct word. You cannot hate something that you 100% do not understand.

Life is 50/50 so I fully understand this.

I also fully understand that we are all entitled to think whatever we want and this blog is not here to convince you to love tutoring. Rather, I am taking the time to write this to simply explain a few things.

I can’t speak for all tutoring out there in the world. But I can speak for CMT - My business.

And since my son told me yesterday that he wants to ‘take over’ my business and ‘teach students online’ like his mama, I owe it to him to try to at least explain things very carefully to you all.

I have clients who are obsessed with the work that we do here at CMT. They value it so much. I know that they would pay at least double what I currently charge them for the services that they receive from us. They rave about us to their friends and family. They see the relationships that their children create with their private teachers and they see the insane amount of progress that their children make.

I have other clients (not many to be fair) but I know there are 50% of you like this out there for whom tutoring is your little hidden secret. Something you hide from your friends and family. You seem to be ashamed of it. You seem to think that there is something wrong with your child for needing it. You seem to be so negative about it. You don’t mind paying for the service but you’re not really delighted about it. Obviously, I want all of my clients to feel delighted about tutoring. I want them to feel excited to invest their money and time into working with us.

I can’t control how people think and feel!

If your child is being tutored, it’s not because they are behind and struggling. To the contrary actually, most of our students are being taught at mastery level for their age groups.

Think what you want about tutoring but don’t talk about something you don’t understand. If you want to take the time to fully understand it - then you can open your mouths.

Preparing for an assessment for 2027 entry and beyond, now is your chance to join. Myself and my senior teachers are all very close to capacity so join the Waiting list today and send me your preferred days/times to get started with weekly assessment preparation support for your child.

My 3 year old will be DISQUALIFIED if the school 'finds out' that they have been tutored.

Do you know how many times a day I am told this?

Many.

Do you know how much this doesn’t make any sense at all.

Do you know the only reason that your child will be DISQUALIFIED or whatever you make that word mean? (What I make it mean is that your child will not pass their 4+ assessment at your target schools.)

The only reason is this.

The only reason they will not pass is… drumroll please…

If they’ve not been prepared properly for it.

Why would a school DISQUALIFY a child who can do everything that they ask them to do?

A child who achieves the highest percentage in the 4+ Assessments is the one who will pass. Did you not know that?

A child who is tutored AKA taught is the one who will pass their 4+ assessments.

People will try to scare you into thinking illogical things. Perhaps their own child didn’t pass their 4+ assessments and they don’t want you to succeed? Don’t be surprised by this.

Then people will say. ‘It’s unfair’ and ‘They won’t be able to keep up!’. Makes no sense to me? Why wouldn’t they be able to ‘keep up?’

Nonsense.

Drown out the noise. Prepare your child and prepare them well if you want any minimal chance of success at passing the 4+ assessments at your dream schools.

How to prioritise assessment preparation (part 2)

If supporting your child to have the best education possible for them is one of your most important priorities right now, say no to everything else.

Say no to people telling you that what you are doing is wrong.

Say no to the noise.

You’re not doing anything wrong. You are supporting your child to have the best possible education. It is quite frankly one of the most important decisions that you will ever make as a parent.

I don’t take this lightly. I take it very seriously actually.

Many of you want to have ‘balance’. And sure, you can have balance of course. Of course your child needs to continue doing the things that they love to do.

If you give everything in your life equal attention however, guess what? It will most likely be mediocre at best. If you want to have amazing success in your child’s assessment, you need to make it a priority. It is very simple.

You will always have people who will tell you that they did absolutely nothing to support their children to be wildly successful at top schools like Westminster, St Pauls etc. They are liars. And also why would you boast about that? ‘I did nothing to support my child!’ Ok then.

If you want to gain momentum in the area of assessment preparation, you need to focus your attention on it for a specified period of time.

4+ = One year of focused attention

7+ - Two years of focused attention

11+ - Four years of focused attention

Give your full attention towards preparing your child to go into any assessment and have the highest possible chances for success.

If you want results, put in the work.

If you don’t want results, don’t. But then don’t complain about it. Please.

If it is your top priority to be very successful in any assessment, we would be delighted to speak with you. If not, carry on.

How to prioritise assessment preparation (part 1)

Is supporting your child to have the best education possible the most important thing to you right now?

If it is, I would be delighted to speak with you.

If it isn’t, I have no interest in speaking with you.

You see, I am passionate about ensuring that all children receive the highest possible quality of education because I know how important it will be for their futures. I know that what we do here at CMT is completely and drastically life changing. I know that if I had had a far better education than the one I was presented with that I could have had a much smoother experience of life to the one I have currently experienced. I am of course making the changes that I want to make but let’s be completely crystal clear here.

What we do here at CMT is not just prepare children for schools.

We support and prepare our children to have the highest quality lives possible in the future.

Is preparing your child to pass their assessment the most important thing to you right now?

Prioritise it.

The meaning of the word priority is what is most important in your life - this should therefore be your number one thing. The thing you dedicate the majority of your time to.

It is a top priority to you. But often, many of you are simply not giving this illusive priority much time and dedication at all.

So often many of you tell me what a priority it is to support your child to get into this school or the other yet you’ve not given it much time or any time at all.

Get your priorities straight.

Make sure that you’re dedicating the right amount of time on the things you want to be spending the majority of your time on.

Look at your top 5 priorities in life right now and then prioritise each one further.

You will have different priorities in different stages of your life. Having clear priorities will make your decision making so much easier. If your current life priority is to support your child to have the best possible education, make that one of your top priorities.

Work with the best teachers out there. Book your Sample Lesson today and see how incredibly effective 30 minutes of your child’s time will be. See how effective our sample weeks are and see how much progress your child will make.

Lessons learnt from the Falkner House (Boys) 4+ Assessment (2026 entry)

We prepared 3 beautiful boys for their 4+ assessment at Falkner House.

My clients spoke very highly of Falkner House (Boys). They loved the family vibe at this school and many of them commented on how it felt very warm, welcoming and nurturing.

Lovely to hear.

This is exactly what I want all of my students to experience in their school environment.

After the assessment at Falkner House, my clients spoke so highly about the teachers and the staff that they had engaged with. I didn’t hear a negative word said about this school.

The 4+ assessment was calm, well thought out and the boys seemed to have genuinely had a lovely time.

Having a lovely time doesn’t equate to passing this 4+ assessment however.

And if you think that you will just send your son into this assessment with no prep, you are so wrong.

Sending them to a great pre-prep or nursery is not 4+ assessment preparation either - by the way.

You must prepare your sons thoroughly to be able to go in and be offered a place to study at Falkner House.

They say that they are ‘looking for potential rather than attainment’. In my vast years of experience preparing many boys for this assessment, they are looking for both. I believe potential goes hand in hand with attainment, I do not see them as separate entities. So don’t fixate on this statement on their website. The boys who have historically passed this 4+ assessment have demonstrated potential and incredible attainment too.

It is important to note that FH do have a strong sibling policy but this sibling still needs to pass the 4+ assessment and meet the standards. It is not just a guaranteed place!

Here are my three lessons for you:

1. Prepare your son for this 4+ assessment at least 12 months before the assessment- and if you’ve not left enough time - just start.

2. Boys need to have exceptional communication and language skills to stand a chance at passing this 4+ assessment.

3. Boys need to demonstrate maturity to pass this 4+ assessment.

Preparing for Falkner House for 2027 entry and beyond?

Book your Sample Lesson Today.

'I only want the BEST for my child!'

I’ve been using this word a lot this week whilst having countless conversations with my amazing clients.

‘Logical’

‘It’s logical.’

But I guess that what is logical to me isn’t logical to some of you.

The meaning of the word ‘logic’ is rather complex but I define it as my way of thinking based on my good judgement. Is it the right judgement? Who is to decide if my judgement is right or wrong? Only I can decide that.

Everyone will have their own opinions and judgements.

But when it comes to our children, it is all about us. No one else. We are the ones who have to use our logic to make the ‘best’ decisions for our children.

Wow, that’s a lot of pressure we put upon ourselves isn’t it?

Because ultimately it comes down to this.

What we think is the best decision today, may be the worst decision tomorrow. Or perhaps we make what we think is the best decision today and it doesn’t turn out the way we thought or imagined it would have.

And guess what?

That’s ok.

Remove that pressure from yourselves.

Take a breath.

And stay calm.

We all want the best for our children.

Make a decision and go all in with that decision.

Decide the school you want to send your child to.

Decide how you want them to continue with their learning journey.

And please drown out the noise.

No one else will ever care as much for your child as you do.

Preparing for an assessment for 2027 entry or beyond? Book your Sample lesson today and experience the best of the best learning support for children out there with our team of exceptional teachers.

The CMT 4+ Half Term Bootcamp (for parents) has just launched!

Stop Dreaming of your child passing their 4+ assessments at your Target Schools.

The CMT 4+ Half Term Bootcamp (for parents) helps you create the results your child deserves - real systems, real support, inevitable success!

This Boot Camp is for you if you want to see accelerated progress in your child’s learning in just 5 days. This Boot Camp is not for you if you are not willing to dedicate at least 30 minutes a day learning with your child.

Preparing your child for a 4+ assessment can be overwhelming.

It can be really hard to know where to even start. Plus, you will have the whispers of many people telling you to do this and telling you to do that. When really, you just have to do ONE thing.

Focused, targeted learning with your child consistently and frequently over the course of whatever period of time you decide to dedicate to preparing your child (my recommendation is at least 12 months).

Perhaps you are not seeing your child make the progress you would like them to be making with their phonics/maths/communication and language or holding their pencil and writing. Whatever it is, the CMT 4+ Half Term Boot Camp (for parents) will support you to navigate whatever challenges you might be having and to support your child to develop their skills in whatever area of learning you would like to focus on.

You shouldn’t have to feel anxious and overwhelmed whilst preparing your child for their 4+ assessments.

This very exclusive Bootcamp is open to only 5 parents who want to take their 4+ assessment preparation to the next level.

Here’s how it will work.

We begin Monday 16th February - Friday 20th February.

Each day, you will receive a teaching video from me teaching you a specific concept.

Each day, you will receive a pack of learning resources to simply print off and complete with your child.

Each day, you will have access to our Company Director, Maria Mazarese to ask her any questions that you might have relating to your child’s learning and the schools that you are applying to.

Monday 16th February 2026 - Choosing your target schools.

Tuesday 17th February 2026 - Who were the children who passed and who were the children who did not pass the 4+ assessments at your target schools - truly understanding this will give you a huge edge over those parents who simply don’t understand or don’t even know about this!

Wednesday 18th February 2026 - The curriculum you need to cover to prepare your children for your target schools.

Thursday 19th February 2026 - 4+ Phonics Masterclass

Friday 20th February 2026 - 4+ Maths Masterclass

Join by 11am on Friday 13th February 2026.

How to solve the problem of 4+ assessment preparation.

There is a huge problem with 4+ assessment preparation.

Let’s get to the business of it.

The biggest problem with 4+ assessment preparation is that most parents simply do not even begin to understand what 4+ assessment preparation even is.

Most parents do not even scratch the surface when it comes to preparing their children for their 4+ assessments. And most parents don’t know this until after the fact.

Until after they’ve received the letters or emails telling them that their child has not been offered a place to study at their desired school. By then it is too late (obviously).

That’s why it is important (so important) to understand this problem now.

Once we understand this problem, we can focus on the solutions. Solutions will drive you forwards. This problem will keep you stuck and stagnant.

The powerful thing is this. You are the ones who decide what the problem is when it comes to preparing your child for their 4+ assessments.

Is your problem that you don’t have a clue what the benchmark standard is?

Is your problem that you’re not sure how to support your child to learn their next four sounds?

Choose the problem you want to have when it comes to 4+ assessment preparation.

Also, figure our what you really want for your child.

Most of us really struggle with this! And I get it. It’s not easy. We all want the best of the best for our children. So once you’ve decided what this ‘best of the best is’, get to work. Do not stall yourselves. Work only with the best teachers and not with those who are not experienced or do not truly know the standard expected.

Solve the problem of 4+ assessment preparation by getting to work NOW. By taking action NOW.

How do you truly feel about your 4+ assessment preparation problem?

Are you taking action?

Is your child making progress?

Do you know how your child ‘compares’ to other children preparing for the same schools as you?

We are taking MASSIVE ACTION every single day. Out students are making outrageous PROGRESS and we actually do not compare children but if we did, the comparison would be next level.

Solve your 4+ preparation problem today.

Join my exceptional Emerald Curriculum Programme today.

I expect the exact same behaviour from my son.

As a teacher working full time in schools across London I used to hear this comment all the time and I didn’t think much of it until I became a mother.

Parents would often say this to me…

‘He/she is completely different with you than she is at home!’

Then would come the long list of things their child didn’t do at home that they would do with me:

They don’t listen to me!

They shout!

They are disrespectful/rude/unkind etc

I would often simply reply something like …

‘Oh, that’s odd!’

Now when my clients or other parents tell me this, my answer is very different.

I will say something like…

‘Why do you accept that?’

And often this answer stops them in their tracks.

Why would you accept this?

I do not.

I see my son’s behaviour the minute he steps into nursery.

He becomes quieter, a little more reserved and timid and he listens to every single instruction (and follows it)!

Obviously with me and at home in general, he is more comfortable and he tests the boundaries more but my expectations of him are very clear.

He knows that I expect the exact same high level of focus, concentration and excellent behaviour that he demonstrates at nursery

Why should I expect any less?

Any why would some of you?

If your child doesn’t ‘behave’ the way you deem appropriate, that’s work for you to do.

To me it is unacceptable for my child to choose how he behaves with one human being compared to another.

The Highgate 4+ Assessment Report (2026 entry)

The most controversial 4+ report yet.

We prepared 8 children for their 4+ at Highgate. They all had between 1-12 months of 4+ Assessment preparation. 3 children have been offered a place to study at Highgate (1 girl and 2 boys). 1 child (a boy) has been waitlisted.

My recommendation is at least 12 months of 4+ assessment preparation for Highgate. However, this year the Highgate 4+ assessment was rather different. Several of my very gifted and highly intelligent and articulate students were not offered a place after round 1. Many of those children who didn’t pass round 1 were offered places at the likes of Westminster, South Hampstead and Habs.

Only two of my students who passed didn’t have siblings at Highgate.

My other student who passed has siblings already at Highgate.

My student who is Waitlisted does not have siblings at Highgate.

I will not be giving reasons for successes and failures because for the first time ever, I cannot tell you with certainty and clarity what these are. I know that my students who passed and were offered a place are both highly intelligent, had covered the EYFS curriculum to a very high standard and are simply a delight to teach and just generally to be with. But I can also say that about my students who were not offered a place following their round 1 assessment at Highgate.

If you are preparing for Highgate for 2027 entry and beyond, it is important that you have a selection of schools that you are targeting at 4+ and not just this one. Several of our clients were preparing for this school alone. And this is something that I have never encouraged anyone to do (with any school).

Preparing for 2027 entry and beyond? Book your Sample Lesson Today.

The UCS 4+ Assessment Report (2026 entry)

We prepared 9 boys for their 4+ at UCSs. They all had between 3 -12 months of 4+ Assessment preparation. I didn’t hear back from 2 clients that I personally supported so I will not count them in these results. 6 boys have been offered a place to study at UCS.

My recommendation is at least 12 months of 4+ assessment preparation for UCS.

3 Key Reasons for Success

Boys who perform highly across the board (in all 7 areas of the EYFS curriculum) and thorough prep for both rounds.

Regular communication between parents and teacher during the week between the lessons, parents taking on board feedback and putting it into place during the weeks.

Consistent daily activity - Boys completing all of the home learning sent every single day in preparation for this assessment (or as close to this as possible!).

3 Key Reasons for Not Being Successful

All of our boys have passed so far (that I have heard from!) but do not take this to mean that passing the 4+ assessment at UCS is ‘easy’. Far from it. it is really not an ‘easy’ assessment to pass. So do get that thought out of your heads. If you think that all boys are just offered a place to study at UCS, you are wrong.

The boys who have not passed were:

Not thoroughly prepared in the 7 areas of the EYFS curriculum.

Not able to answer questions at the level expected from the school

Boys who needed to further develop their communication and language skills.

It is important to note that all of our boys’ parents put in hours of dedicated focused learning with their sons over the course of their time preparing them for this assessment. They worked hard. They dedicated their time and attention to their sons. They persevered when it got hard (It got hard countless times!). They trusted in the learning process and despite a lot of negativity from their nurseries/friends/families, they continued. I admire their dedication. They are my ideal clients. They are the clients we want to be working with.

UCS is a highly competitive school at 4+ and we are delighted to have supported 9 gorgeous boys this year to be more than ready for this school. Will all 5 go to UCS? Let’s wait and see shall we?

Preparing for 2027 entry and beyond? Book your Sample Lesson Today.

Unpopular opinion - Your child will not make accelerated progress based on the schools you choose to send them to. Your child will make accelerated progress based on what YOU do with them.

Unpopular opinion

Your child will not make accelerated progress based on the schools you choose to send them to.

Your child will make accelerated progress based on what YOU do with them.

Parents are so fixated on choosing the ‘best’ schools for their children - as they should be.

But do not get it twisted.

Your child will not make accelerated progress based on the schools you choose to send them to.

Having worked in both the state and private sector in many, many primary schools let me tell you this with certainty and clarity. The quality of teaching will not be superior in a private school compared to a state school.

You will have exceptional teachers in both state and private schools.

You will also have teachers who are not exceptional in both state and private schools.

Sorry if that offends anyone. It is my belief.

I’ve worked with amazing teachers in both state and private schools. I’ve also worked with those who are not exceptional in both state and private schools. Sorry if that offends anyone. It is my experience.

We teach children who go to schools such as Haberdashers, NLCS, City, Forest and Glendower, to name a very few.

Out clients fully understand that it is up to them and them alone to support their children to make accelerated progress. And if they take the foot off the gas, guess what? What will happen?

It’s obvious to me.

It’s not so obvious to so many of you.

And it’s so easy isn’t it to place blame on the school?

‘Well, I’m paying them 25k/30k/40k/50k a year - what is my child doing all day?’

Do you know how many times I hear that ridiculous sentence!

Your child’s teacher has 16/20/24/30/32/34+ students to look after.

Why place all of that responsibility on that one human being?

That is far too much to ask.

They have their own life and problems (and most likely their own children!) to also think about!

So if you would like your child to make accelerated progress (whatever that means to you), it is on you. And only you.

And if you don’t like that, continue to give all the responsibility to the school. See how that goes for you. And see how that feels. It feels pretty powerless.

Take back your power. Only YOU are in control of the accelerated progress your child will ever make with their learning whichever school you send them to or however your choose to educate them.

Your child's behaviour is YOUR responsibility!

I’ve worked with thousands of children over the last 20 years.

I’ve seen children who know how to behave beautifully.

I’ve seen children who really do not.

And I truly believe that there is no point in teaching your children to be super academic if they don’t even have the basic manners down.

And I would like to see this improving over the next 20 years and not deteriorating (which I firmly believe is what will happen).

The first piece when teaching your child good manners is that you have good manners yourself. If your child observes you not having good manners, it’s kind of obvious that they will copy that behaviour. Don’t act all surprised about it.

If you are rude to people because you have some sense of entitlement or whatever your problem with life is, guess what? Your child will be rude to people too.

Model the behaviour that you would like your child to demonstrate to their peers.

The second piece is explaining the behaviours that you would like to see your child demonstrating. If you don’t explain it to them, how will they ever know.

And do not have double standards about this. If you expect these behaviours from your child, you must expect the same from yourself too.

Basic manners to me personally consist of the following:

Being kind to everyone and not just to who you feel like being kind to.

Being polite to everyone and not just to who you like being polite to.

Treating everyone with respect regardless of who they are.

Not believing that you are somehow better than someone - you are not.

Being gentle and calm when speaking to others and not speaking aggressively under any circumstances.

If someone is rude to you, you don’t need to match their energies. I know this is really hard.

It’s something that I’ve really worked on for years and I’m still not perfect at it but I’m certainly much better.

I want my son to show all of these basic manners to others. It is very important to me. And I teach him everyday how he can show up in his daily life.

Everyday, he makes me so proud.

We all have times in our lives where we go through something or whatever. Still show manners otherwise just be quiet.

The Habs' Girls' 4+ Assessment results (2026 entry)

We prepared 8 girls for their 4+ at Habs. (2026 entry).

They all had between 1 -18 months of 4+ Assessment preparation. 5 girls have been offered a place to study at Habs.

My recommendation is at least 12 months of 4+ assessment preparation for Habs’ Girls’ School.

3 Key Reasons for Success

• Girls who perform highly across the board (in all 7 areas of the EYFS curriculum) and thorough prep for both rounds.

• Regular communication between parents and teacher during the week between the lessons, parents taking on board feedback and putting it into place during the weeks.

• Consistent daily activity - Girls completing all of the home learning sent every single day in preparation for this assessment (or as close to this as possible!).

3 Key Reasons for Not Being Successful

Not thoroughly prepared in the 7 areas of the EYFS curriculum.

• Not able to answer questions at the level expected from the school

• Girls who needed to further develop their communication and language skills.

• Behavioural expectations not being met.

It is important to note that all of our girls’ parents put in hours of dedicated focused learning with their daughters over the course of their time preparing them for this assessment. They worked hard. They dedicated their time and attention to their daughters. They persevered when it got hard (It got hard countless times!). They trusted in the learning process and despite a lot of negativity from their nurseries/friends/families, they continued. I admire their dedication. They are my ideal clients. They are the clients we want to be working with.

Habs’ Girls’ is a highly competitive school at 4+ and we are delighted to have supported 8 beautiful girls this year to be more than ready for this school.

Will all 5 go to Habs’ Girls’ School?

Preparing for 2027 entry and beyond? Book your Sample Lesson Today.

The Westminster 4+ assessment report (2026 entry)

Over the course of 12-18 months we prepared 14 boys and girls for their 4+ assessment at Westminster.

It was the most misunderstood school by parents.

Because it was new, most parents chose to be blinded by confusion and most parents did not take the prep very seriously at all. Out of the 14 boys and girls, many started and stopped tuition, many cancelled lessons, many just simply did not put in the work required to actually be in with a chance of passing this 4+ assessment.

Remember.

500 applicants.

100 pass round 1.

32 pass round 2 (16 in each class).

Take it seriously for 2027 entry and beyond or please just do not bother. Do not bother myself or my teachers and do not bother your children with going into a 4+ at the likes of this school.

Out of the 14 parents that we supported, I’ve heard back from 7!

I will not be chasing the others.

Out of the 7 students 2 girls were prepared consistently by either myself or Emily and PASSED, 1 of the girls attended my one month success programme and PASSED. Out of the remaining 4, 3 children stopped and started tuition and had less than 3 months of 4+ assessment preparation. Those children did not pass the Westminster 4+ assessment. After writing this report, I heard back from one more client and her son was initially waitlisted and was then offered a place. So 4 of our students have been offered a place to study at Westminster for 2026 entry. This is incredible.

Obviously, I cannot count the 7 I’ve not heard back from! But I will assume they’ve not passed. Maybe I’m wrong. Let’s see - maybe they’ll respond back here!

My recommendation is at least 12 months of 4+ assessment preparation for The Westminster 4+ assessment.

3 Key Reasons for Success

Children who perform highly across the board (in all 7 areas of the EYFS curriculum) and thorough prep for both rounds.

Regular communication between parents and teacher during the week between the lessons, parents taking on board feedback and putting it into place during the weeks.

Consistent daily activity - Children completing all of the home learning sent every single day in preparation for this assessment (or as close to this as possible!).

3 Key Reasons for Not Being Successful

Not thoroughly prepared in the 7 areas of the EYFS curriculum.

Not able to answer questions at the level expected from the school

Boys and girls who needed to further develop their communication and language skills.

It is important to note that all of our clients and students put in hours of dedicated focused learning with their sons over the course of their time preparing them for this assessment. They worked hard. They dedicated their time and attention to their sons. They persevered when it got hard (It got hard countless times!). They trusted in the learning process and despite a lot of negativity from their nurseries/friends/families, they continued. I admire their dedication. They are my ideal clients. They are the clients we want to be working with.

Westminster is a highly competitive school at 4+ and we are delighted to have supported so many children this year to be more than ready for this school. Will all 3 go to Westminster? I actually think only one of them will. Let’s wait and see.

Preparing for 2027 entry and beyond? Book your Sample Lesson Today.