Starseekers Extension & Preparation Lessons – Reach for the Stars!
Starseekers lessons for bright children, currently in Years 4, 5, 6 or 7, who will be sitting entrance assessments to highly selective, independent schools in January 2026 and beyond!
Does your child have an enquiring mind and the ability to excel at a highly selective independent school?
Do you believe it is important to invest in your child’s future?
Would you like to give your child the best possible start in life?
If your answer to these three questions is a resounding, ‘Yes!’
then please use the link below to make an initial enquiry regarding available spaces.
Invest in your child’s future
There are three different Starseekers Groups – one for each year group – Y5, Y6 or Y7. Each group follows my bespoke programme for children who will be applying for 11+ and 13+ places at highly selective independent schools in Cambridge or Ely (such as The Perse Upper School). These groups are for pupils who are eager to learn, explore and achieve with increasing confidence. The syllabus has been designed to encourage an intrinsic love of learning and develop the conceptual understanding and skills pupils need to optimise their chances of securing a place in a highly selective school.
Don’t leave it too late – last-minute cramming is stressful for your child and often leads to disappointment. Furthermore, the best tutors get booked up at least two terms in advance and places in the Starseekers groups are very limited.
Accelerated learning that’s challenging and fun!
Lessons are specifically devised for able pupils who intend to take entrance assessments in January 2025 or 2026. Many independent schools now require children to complete a group task as part of their assessment. Therefore, the Starseekers Groups will provide the best possible preparation for these tasks as well as the more traditional written tests and individual interviews.
Small groups for lots of individual attention.
Each Starseekers Group will consist of no more than 8 children, all with bright, curious minds and a desire to excel. The groups will meet for 1 or 1.5 hours each week, in 5-week blocks spread over the year (one 5-week block every half term).
What is included?
Fees include my planning and preparation time along with all the resources and subscriptions I use during the lessons, plus approximately 30 – 60 minutes of homework each week.
The homework includes an individual student subscription to ‘CGP 11+ Online’ (worth £72 per year – with unlimited practice tests for English, Maths and Verbal Reasoning); suggested reading; vocabulary extension; and ideas for multimedia study of general knowledge and current affairs. I am currently in the process of setting up email reminders for my ‘Word of the Day’ and ‘Idiom of the Week’ for those who would like to receive these. Marking is either automated online to give immediate feedback or done with the students during the lessons to provide effective verbal feedback and further discussion.
Drop-down Menu for further information on the topics your child will study:
How to Harness Metacognition and Mnemonics – learning how to learn effectively and take pride in displaying increased knowledge and understanding in your unique Learning Journal.
Comprehension Clue-Seekers – how to become a reading detective – developing your ability to look for evidence beyond the literal and learn to analyse texts using a variety of approaches.
Mathematical Mastery – advanced accuracy and problem-solving strategies – how to interpret and find solutions for unusual mathematical questions.
Creative Writing Unleashed – setting the scene and developing characters – learn how to write engaging, high-quality text under exam conditions.
Revelations in Reasoning – enhancing reasoning skills, encouraging resilience, and enjoying the challenges of verbal and non-verbal puzzles.
Excel in Interviews & Exams – mock interviews, group exercises & exam techniques.
Where?
Either an in-person group in Waterbeach, near Cambridge or online via Zoom. This year, the Y5 and Y7 Starseekers groups are being taught online via Zoom.
How Much?
Y5 – new group starting on 30th January 2025 will be taught remotely via Zoom – each block of five x 60-minute lessons costs £215, payable in advance.
Y6 – are taught in person, in Waterbeach, CB25 – each block of five x 90-minute lessons costs £215, payable in advance.
Y7 – are taught remotely via Zoom – each block of five x 60-minute lessons costs £225, payable in advance.
Y8 – are taught in person, in Waterbeach, CB25 – each block of five x 90-minute lessons costs £335, payable in advance.
Reach for the Stars – invest in your child’s future and help them fulfil their potential with expert tuition by Helen Jameson – a highly qualified and experienced teacher with a master’s degree from Cambridge University and a proven track record of helping children achieve their goals.
