Ferndown Tutor

09/05/2026

APPLICATION FOR GRAMMAR SCHOOL

A lot of people seemed to find my summary useful in past years, and so here we go again.

APPLICATION FORM
The application process is now open for children in Year 5 and will remain open until noon on Friday 4th September. Don't leave it to the last minute! This is the only way in which your child will be able to take the test on Saturday 26th September 2026.
Choose the school you would like your child to attend and where he or she will take the 11+ test. Go into the school's website and look for Admissions and Year 7 admissions 2027. You should be able to find a link to the application form for that school, although some of the websites are easier to navigate than others! If you have problems finding the link, put a comment on this thread and I'll give you the relevant link.
Note: There is only one test for all four schools and your child will remain eligible for both of his/her relevant schools.

OPEN DAYS
All four schools offer the opportunity for prospective pupils and their parents to visit during the summer. All the details are on the schools' websites but here is a summary of the dates:
Parkstone Grammar (Girls): Thursday 9th July 6:00 - 8:00 pm
Bournemouth School for Girls: Wednesday 1st July, 4:00 - 6:30 pm
Poole Grammar (Boys): Tuesday 30th June 4:00 - 7:30 pm
Bournemouth School (Boys): Thursday 9th July 5:30 - 7:30 pm
You do not need to book to attend an open day - just turn up within the stated time slot. If there are talks (eg by the headteacher), this will be noted, with the timing, on that school's website.
There is a lot more information on the websites, but I'll try to answer any questions which you have about the process.

RESULTS AND FOLLOW-UP
The results of the 11+ test will be emailed to parents on the afternoon of 16th October. Applications regarding the choice of school must then be made by 31st October.

Marnie

13/03/2026

EASTER IS FAST APPROACHING

It's been ages since I posted anything here - where does the time go? As my students and their parents know, I have been away in New Zealand, visiting my sister. The visit was really good, but the return could have been better timed. Our return flight from Auckland to Dubai turned round half-way, because of the Middle East crisis, and so we ended up back in Auckland, after a 16 hour flight! We finally got home via Shanghai, only 4 days late.

During our stay in New Zealand, we visited Queenstown in South Island, a famous hiking and winter sports centre. We didn't do any of that, restricting ourselves to touring the area and taking a trip on the lake steamer, the oldest working steamer in the southern hemisphere. Here is a spectacular evening view from our hotel room, looking across Lake Wakatipu towards "The Remarkables" mountain range.

Back at my sister's home on the Bay of Plenty in North Island, we had lovely sunny summer weather, including a trip to the beach. I'm missing that warmth already!

State schools break up for Easter in just a fortnight. I'll be offering lessons during the holiday for students who want to catch up on my time away and especially those doing the 11+ later this year.

02/09/2025

BACK TO SCHOOL
This week is the return to school. the day depending on whether the school is taking any training days. I hope everyone is looking forward to it! I'm sure my successful 11+ candidates from last year are excited to be starting their new schools - good luck, Ellie, Lena and Rowan.

Talking of the 11+, the applications for this year's exam close on Friday 5th September at noon. If you want your child to do the exam this year and you haven't applied yet, then this is the most important item on your reminder list!! There's more about the process in my last message.

I've been tutoring throughout the summer, mainly this year's 11+ candidates but also some others who wanted to keep in practice. After the exam (20th September), I'll be starting the new season with just one study slot free........

Marnie

03/05/2025

APPLICATION FOR GRAMMAR SCHOOL
A lot of people seemed to find my summary useful in the past couple of years, and so here we go again.

APPLICATION FORM
The application process is now open for children in Year 5 and will remain open until noon on Friday 5th September. Don't leave it to the last minute! This is the only way in which your child will be able to take the test on Saturday 20th September.

Choose the school you would like your child to attend and where he or she will take the 11+ test. Go into the school's website and look for Admissions and Year 7 admissions 2026. You should be able to find a link to the application form for that school, although some of the websites are easier to navigate than others! If you have problems finding the link, put a comment on this thread and I'll give you the relevant link.

Note: There is only one test for all four schools and your child will remain eligible for both of his/her relevant schools.

OPEN DAYS
All four schools offer the opportunity for prospective pupils and their parents to visit during the summer. All the details are on the schools' websites but here is a summary of the dates:
Parkstone Grammar (Girls): Thursday 10th July 6:00 - 8:00 pm
Bournemouth School for Girls: Thursday 3rd July, 4:00 - 6:30 pm
Poole Grammar (Boys): Tuesday 1st July 4:00 - 7:00 pm
Bournemouth School (Boys): Thursday 10th July 6:00 - 8:00 pm
You do not need to book to attend an open day - just turn up within the stated time slot. If there are talks (eg by the headteacher), this will be noted, with the timing, on that school's website.

There is a lot more information on the websites, but I'll try to answer any questions which you have about the process.

Marnie

31/12/2024

RESOLUTIONS

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and is looking forward to the New Year. It seems that any outdoor celebrations are likely to be a bit wet and windy!

Have you and your family made any resolutions yet? I wonder if anyone you know has resolved to get some help for a child in the family, perhaps to improve their English, or Maths, or to help them prepare for the 11 Plus.

Now's the time! I have a couple of study sessions still available, but I'm always ready to reserve a slot, without obligation, for a later start. Do look at my website or telephone me to discuss the possibilities.

Happy New Year!
Marnie

11/10/2024

CELEBRATION DAY!!!

I'm delighted to announce that all three of my Eleven-plus candidates this year have passed the exam. Well done Ellie, Lena and Rowan!!

To all parents out there thinking about tuition, I've still got some spaces left - please ring or email to discuss possibilities.

Marnie

06/09/2024

PRIVATE TUTORS AND CHILD ABUSE

The BBC website is currently running a worrying and unsettling article about a substantial number of private tutors who have been convicted of child abuse: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9v87x2x3xwo There is also a comment that people can set themselves up as tutors without the necessary qualifications and experience.

I guess most reputable tutor agencies check the backgrounds of their tutors, but this extra reassurance comes at a financial price, in terms of loading the tutors' fees.

I am always happy to show the parents of current and prospective pupils my teaching certificate and my enhanced DBS criminal record check. In fact, I have two DBS certificates - one for my volunteering at a local school and one for my tuition! And my reassurance doesn't come with a big cost loading, which is why my fees look relatively cheap!

Marnie

02/09/2024

ELEVEN PLUS - FINAL REMINDER

Here we are again at the start of another school year, although some children will still be at home if their schools have decided to take a training day or two.

If you want your child to take the Eleven Plus test on Saturday 21st September, you must make an application BEFORE NOON THIS FRIDAY, 6TH SEPTEMBER (sorry to shout!). It can be done online - please see my last post for more details - but it must be done by the deadline.

I hope everyone has an enjoyable and productive school year.

Marnie

12/06/2024

APPLICATION FOR GRAMMAR SCHOOL
A number of parents found my reminders helpful last year and so I'll try to do the same this time around.

APPLICATION FORM
The application process is now open for children in Year 5 and will remain open until noon on Friday 6th September. Don't leave it to the last minute! This is the only way in which your child will be able to take the test on Saturday 21st September.

Parkstone Grammar School and Bournemouth School for Girls seem to have separate online application forms - so, for a daughter, choose the school you are most interested in and do that form.

Poole Grammar School and Bournemouth School both lead you to the same form (on the Bournemouth School website), but you will be able to state your preference of school and where your son should take the test.

Note: There is only one test for all four schools and your child will remain eligible for both of his/her relevant schools.

OPEN DAYS
All four schools offer the opportunity for prospective pupils and their parents to visit during the summer. All the details are on the schools' websites but here is a summary of the dates:
Parkstone Grammar: Thursday 11th July 6:00 - 8:00 pm
Bournemouth School for Girls: Thursday 4th July, 1:45 - 3:15, OR 4:00 - 6:00 pm
Poole Grammar: Tuesday 2nd July 5:00 - 7:00 pm
Bournemouth School: Thursday 11th July 6:00 - 8:00 pm

I note that the date chosen by Bournemouth School for Girls has now become the General Election day. The date is unchanged on the school's website and I assume that the open day will go ahead unaffected by the election.

There is a lot more information on the schools' websites, or I'll try to answer any questions which you have about the process.
Marnie

01/06/2024

ELEVEN PLUS SUCCESS RATES

New parents often ask me about 'my' success rate for the Eleven Plus. It's a bit unfair, as I don't just do 11+ tuition and I certainly don't apply a tough selection test before taking on a student, as I know some other tutors do.

However, I do understand why parents ask and so I have compiled the details and included them on my website. Go to www.ferndowntutor.co.uk and click on the 11+ tab at the top.

I'd be interested to know whether you found the information useful.

Marnie

I offer tuition for children aged 7 to 11, to improve their general performance in English, Maths and Verbal Reasoning, as well as specific preparation for the Eleven Plus test and SATs.