Mrs BC's Tutor Room

24/08/2026

GOING INTO YEAR 4 AND THINKING ABOUT THE 11+?

You absolutely do not need to spend Year 4 doing endless practice papers. But you can use it to make Year 5 considerably easier!

The 11+ Precision Programme has a dedicated Year 4 group, designed to give children time to build the important foundations now (vocabulary, maths, English and reasoning) without the rush that can come when everything is left until Year 5.

From Thursday 17th September, the Year 4 group will meet at Cofton Village Hall, 4.45–5.45 pm, during term time.

And it’s a small group. A ‘micro’ group for precision.

The group is deliberately capped at just five children, with guaranteed individual 1-1 teaching time every single week. That means your child can enjoy learning alongside other Year 4s, while still spending part of every session working specifically on their gaps, their strengths and what they need next.

So if you've been wondering whether Year 4 is too early, I'd turn the question around: Would giving them more time now make the whole 11+ journey less stressful later?

For many children, I think the answer is yes.

You can read more and book a phone call with me here: mrsbctutoring.com/book-online
Or simply call/message me directly on 07934 347585

There is no payment required until we've spoken and you're happy that the programme is right for your child, and nobody is tied into the course if circumstances change.

The aim is quite simple: start at the right pace, build properly and arrive in Year 5 with considerably less catching up to do.

Speak soon,

Lynn BC
(Mrs BC)

The Precision Programme runs during term time, although optional additional sessions will also be available during some school holidays, particularly as children get closer to the 11+ test.

24/08/2026

GOING INTO YEAR 4 AND THINKING ABOUT THE 11+?

You absolutely do not need to spend Year 4 doing endless practice papers. But you can use it to make Year 5 considerably easier!

The 11+ Precision Programme has a dedicated Year 4 group, designed to give children time to build the important foundations now (vocabulary, maths, English and reasoning) without the rush that can come when everything is left until Year 5.

From Thursday 17th September, the Year 4 group will meet at Cofton Village Hall, 4.45–5.45 pm, during term time.
And it’s a small group.

A ‘micro’ group for precision.

The group is deliberately capped at just five children, with guaranteed individual 1-1 teaching time every single week. That means your child can enjoy learning alongside other Year 4s, while still spending part of every session working specifically on their gaps, their strengths and what they need next.

So if you've been wondering whether Year 4 is too early, I'd turn the question around: Would giving them more time now make the whole 11+ journey less stressful later?

For many children, I think the answer is yes.

You can read more and book a phone call with me here: mrsbctutoring.com/book-online
Or simply call/message me directly on 07934 347585
There is no payment required until we've spoken and you're happy that the programme is right for your child, and nobody is tied into the course if circumstances change.

The aim is quite simple: start at the right pace, build properly and arrive in Year 5 with considerably less catching up to do.

Speak soon,

Lynn BC
(Mrs BC)

The Precision Programme runs during term time, although optional additional sessions will also be available during some school holidays, particularly as children get closer to the 11+ test.

21/08/2026

Please read my full post then, if it makes sense, PLEASE sign this petition.

Our cats are a big part of the Tutor Room. Ask any student who comes here. Even that little bit of contact (or a lot of contact for some!) helps foster a love of animals and reinforces that we have a duty of care to the animals we take to live with us - and an extended duty of care to those we don't.

Contrary to popular belief, street cats aren't very good at taking care of themselves and often undergo horrific suffering. There's no need for this - we do have kind people that keep an eye on feral cat populations but we really need to prevent these populations from expanding. Shelters have been at crisis point for years in the UK, there are more cats starving and injured on our streets and with no-one to take care of them. As a pet owner, there's simply no excuse for not neutering/spaying your cats, and it's time to do something about these ever-expanding feral populations to stop this from getting worse. Cat rescues such as TeamCatRescue (where all 3 of our little lovelies come from) have a programme of taking in ferals to be neutered, then will either re-release or find a home if the kitten has been caught young enough to take to life with humans.

This is what happened with our Mango. He was born into a feral community but was rescued at a few months old. What a gorgeous fussball he can be, cuddling up to me every evening on the sofa for tummy rubs. But even at 5 years old, and with lots of love and affection, he flinches at any sudden movement or loud noise, and rarely ventures past the boundaries of our small back garden. His older brothers and sisters, too feral to be given a human home, for all I know are probably no longer with us. But at least they didn't produce any more young to add to the problem because somebody stepped in and stopped the cycle for them.

Waffle's siblings died from the same disease that cost Waffle her eye when she was only a few months old. I won't include the picture of what she looked like when TeamCatRescue
found her little family, but thank goodness Waffle came through with only the loss of an eye. Meanwhile, thousands of strays and ferals are suffering with painful diseases that will cost them their sight, limbs or lives. Can we stop this somehow?

Meezer, not from a feral colony, was instead likely dumped because of a a health condition fixable through minor surgery, perhaps down to inbreeding (and perhaps she wasn't the 'best' colourings for a breeder?) I make no apologies for my thoughts on people who do this - keep animals to breed for money when there are so many animals out there who need our help. For the people who then dump the ones they don't want... I have no words.

I LOVE cats. But I know this population explosion least benefits the cats themselves. So PLEASE sign this petition to get the government to step in to do something to give some funding to help people like TeamCatRescue to do something about it.

Thank you for reading.
Lynn Barnes-Cooper (Mrs BC)

This strategy should seek to expand affordable neutering, support overwhelmed rescue centres, strengthen responsible pet ownership education, and review measures to reduce irresponsible breeding and cat abandonment.

17/08/2026

A GROUP JUST FOR YEAR 4s?

This is Mrs BC's 11+ Precision Programme - with a group just for Year 4s.

A bit early? Not if you'd like your child to have the space to learn at their own pace! And not if you'd like your child to have picked up the essentials so that Year 5 is considerably less stress. For you as well as for them!

The 11+ Precision Programme will be running at Cofton Village Hall on term-time Thursdays from September 17th September (4.45-5.45 pm), and there's an hour reserved for Year 4s only, to come together in a small group, deliberately capped at 5 students, with GUARANTEED weekly 1-1 time to work on ONLY what they need. Each and every term-time week*.

How do we fit 1-1 time in with the learning? Visit mrsbctutoring.com/book-online for more information and to book a phone call (or just call or message Lynn directly on 07934 347585) to discuss the course itself, how it works - and how the 1-1 time fits in with the learning! Please note (and this is a surprise for most parents) no payment is required until you are happy with everything, and although the expectation is that the course will have participants who see the 11+ journey through to the end, the understanding is that, for one reason or another, things don't always go as we plan. For that reason, nobody is 'tied in' to the course. Let's make sure it is right for your child!

If you've told yourself you'll wait until Year 5... why wait when there's literally nothing to lose?

I really do hope to hear from you soon!
Lynn BC
(Mrs BC)
mrsbctutoring.com/book-online
07934 347585

Speak soon, Lynn BC
(Mrs BC)
*Although the 11+ Precision Groups run in term-times only, yes, there will be chances to have additional school holidays sessions if required - especially in the run-up to the test itself. There is no obligation to have extra sessions... they are just there if you want them.

10/08/2026

Too soon for the 11+?

Do you know you'd like your child to take the 11+ but you're holding out for Year 5 to start preparing? With competition only increasing year on year, it's more common to start earlier rather than later.

The 11+ Precision Programme will be running at Cofton Village Hall on term-time Thursdays from September 17th September, and there's an hour reserved for Year 4s only, to come together in a group of like-minded students - but to learn at their own pace and with guaranteed one-to-one time personal time to target just the things that are important to THEM.

Visit mrsbctutoring.com/book-online for more information and to book a phone call (or just call or message Lynn directly on 07934 347585) to discuss the course itself and - these half-termly bookable places aren't allocated without a chat first to make sure it's something your child would truly benefit from.

03/08/2026

What a year it has been at Mrs BC’s Tutor Room!

The summer has been rather busy, so this is the first chance I have had to sit down properly and look back over the last academic year—and there is certainly plenty to celebrate!

One-to-one tuition places have continued to fill well in advance, often by as much as a full year, so the opening of the Sunday 11+ Academy last October was a very welcome addition for parents of children wanting to prepare for the 11+ as part of a group. One real surprise this year has been that the number of parents opting for online tuition has increased – this is mainly due to parents living further afield becoming aware of what Mrs BC’s Tutor Room has to offer, and parents have chosen 1-1 online sessions because of travel constraints. Our workshops and mock examinations have also helped children prepare thoroughly and understand exactly where their final efforts needed to be focused. A great deal of thanks also go to the parents and children who kindly consented to give audio and video interviews to tell us about their experiences taking the 11+ test, and to share what life is like now they're attending grammar school.

The Sunday 11+ Academy has brought children together to learn, practise and build confidence in a supportive environment, with plenty of laughter along the way (as well as offering a place for children unable to secure 1-1 sessions). Feedback from the parents of students who attended has been instrumental in my decision to develop the group format further so that it can serve families even better. From September, this will become the Thursday 11+ Precision Programme: a premium programme strictly limited to just five children. The small group size means that every child can be guaranteed individual one-to-one time during every session, while still benefiting from the encouragement and interaction of learning alongside others. The “precision” comes from the children themselves being actively involved in identifying and targeting the areas they most need to work on in each and every session. It is a much more personalised approach than a traditional group lesson and one that has been designed very carefully over many months.

I have also spent those months creating the course workbooks; these are now finally finished and are winging their way to the printers as I write this! The first programme will be piloted at Cofton Village Hall before being developed across the West Midlands through West Midlands Scholars.

There was time for some less serious activity too, including games, laughter and rather a lot of food at the MBTR Christmas Party! There were two bouncy castles, music and song, and a copious amount of water consumed (well, it WAS thirsty work, after all)… and now in one of the warmest summers we’ve had, I’ve just booked the bouncy castles for this year’s Christmas Party!

The greatest celebrations, however, have been from our pupils. Every MBTR child who sat the grammar school entrance examination gained a place at their school of choice, giving us a 100% success rate. We have also celebrated successful independent-school entry to King Edward VI High School for Girls, King Edward’s School, Bromsgrove School and Solihull School. The celebrations have extended to our families too, with one MBTR parent receiving an OBE! Absolutely nothing to do with the tuition, of course, but far too special an achievement not to mention.

Behind the scenes, the business has continued to grow and grow. This summer, I have employed two former students to support the Tutor Room in non-tutoring roles. This marks the beginning of what I hope to be a longstanding MBTR tradition: offering past students paid work, responsibility and practical training that they can carry forward into whichever careers they eventually choose. They are currently both the proud owners of Safeguarding Level 1, and Data Protection and UK GDPR Training certificates, both of which are CDP accredited and City & Guilds Assured - credentials they’ll be able to add to their CVs and take with them in their future careers. I have loved having them both around and helping out over the past few weeks and will be sorry (for me!) when they return to their studies in September. Perhaps we'll see them both helping out at the Christmas Party?! Thank you to the both of you.

The next stage of growth for MBTR will be a new arm of the business through which carefully selected tutors will be employed and trained by MBTR. This will allow more children to be supported while ensuring that each one is placed with the tutor and programme genuinely best suited to them. As the Tutor Room goes from strength to strength, so too will our students!
None of these successes, of course, would have been possible without the hard work of the children, the commitment of their families and the trust that parents continue to place in Mrs BC’s Tutor Room.

It has been a busy year—but a very good one. Now, onwards to the next!

I hope to make your acquaintance soon.
Lynn Barnes-Cooper
Mrs BC (of Mrs BC’s Tutor Room)

[email protected]

27/07/2026

Thinking of 11+ support?

How about an 11+ Summer Boost from an 11+ specialist for your Year 5/6 child - a few short weeks from the test itself to keep brains in tip-top shape?

Or what about a September start for your Year 4- or Year 5-to-be on the 11+ Precision Programme, with quality course materials, guaranteed 1-1 help and clearly plotted progression?

Based in Cofton Hackett for tuition, workshops, mocks and more, Mrs BC's Tutor Room is tried, tested and trusted by local families who have gained REAL results - passes AND places at grammar schools!

Mrs BC's Tutor Room: the local 11+ specialist.

Call or message Lynn on 07934 347585 for last-minute summer courses and more, or visit mrsbctutoring.com/book-online

20/07/2026

Thinking of 11+ support?

How about an 11+ Summer Boost from an 11+ specialist for your Year 5/6 child - a few short weeks from the test itself to keep brains in tip-top shape?

Or what about a September start for your Year 4- or Year 5-to-be on the 11+ Precision Programme, with quality course materials, guaranteed 1-1 help and clearly plotted progression?

Based in Cofton Hackett for tuition, workshops, mocks and more, Mrs BC's Tutor Room is tried, tested and trusted by local families who have gained REAL results - passes AND places at grammar schools!

Mrs BC's Tutor Room: the local 11+ specialist.

Call or message Lynn on 07934 347585 for last-minute summer courses and more, or visit mrsbctutoring.com/book-online

17/07/2026

Thinking of 11+ support?

An 11+ Summer Boost just before the test for your Year 5?

Or a September start on our Thursday Year 4 or Year 5 11+ Precision Programme?

Based in Cofton Hackett for mocks and more we're tried, tested and trusted by local families who have gained REAL results - passes AND places at grammar schools!

Call or message Lynn on 07934 347585 or visit mrsbctutoring.com/book-online to find out more or to book.