Testimonials
We researched different options and tutors for our daughter's 11+ training. Donna and her classes came highly recommended from a colleague at work.
We can absolutely recommend her approach to teaching as well as the support material she developed. The classes are very well structured, well balanced for all the different areas the transfer test is based on, and the feedback provided to parents is regular, detailed and personalised. Donna is on top of everything, so well organised and breaks down the quiet large curriculum in digestible chunks. During lockdown she continued with the same level of dedication and meticulous attention to child development and details.
We were very pleased with the entire program. Our daughter passed the test with flying colours. But beyond the outcome of the transfer test, she gained so many essential skills that will stay with her: how to break down large amount of work in manageable steps, time management, just to name a few.
Mrs and Mr Ayling
Our daughter joined 11plusit late in January 2021 after missing the first whole term of preparation. Donna went out of a way to accommodate us offering an immediate place at the start of the next term. It was clear from the outset that Donna wanted to ensure our child was fully equipped for the exam providing material and opportunities within the forthcoming terms to catch up. Our daughter relished the learning experience and Donna’s way of teaching certainly assisted in helping her pass. I would certainly recommend her tuition to others
J Poole
I would like to show my great appreciation to Donna Gerard. She helped my son pass both the CEM and GL exams outstandingly. He always enjoyed the lessons. He could come home and do his homework independently. He also gained the skills regarding timing, dealing with pressure etc. I think that is a great headstart towards crossing the finish line that the 11+ places in front of the children. I highly recommend 11Plusit.
Helen W, parent
I personally think that 11plusIt is a great tuition for many reasons. To start, all lessons are well organised, focusing on a specific topic of each 11+ subject each lesson. Also, I find them fun and engaging, which I understand can help children to enjoy learning.
Likely because of this tuition, I passed with flying colours and are waiting patiently to see if I can get into my dream school.
I highly recommend this tuition and advise others for the hope of your children’s success!
Andy, pupil
I highly recommend Donna’s 11+ Course. Donna has devised tried and tested strategies and teaching to help children prepare for the 11+ exam. I love Donna’s strict but enjoyable teaching methods, my girls get relaxed and comfortable enough to ask for help but knew the effort that was expected of them.
I highly recommend Donna and will hopefully use her services again with my other children.
Mrs Kayshap
Donna's 11 Plus It course is current, well-structured and diverse in its approach to the disciplines required to succeed in the 11 Plus examination.
Our son felt confident and well prepared to face the test after a year of support from Donna.
The continuity of teaching using an online platform in spite of an unprecedented lockdown was exemplary.
Kellen is more confident, focused and driven having completed this course and he will build on these life skills during his secondary education journey.
This course is not for the faint hearted and students will experience highs and lows but if you persevere the rewards are priceless!
S O’Neil
My daughter really enjoyed doing 11 plus tuition with Donna and we were delighted when she passed. She made great progress in lots of areas but particularly comprehension, which she had found extremely difficult prior to Donna’s coaching. We found that the class sizes were ideal - my daughter had all the help she needed while being able to learn with a group of her friends.
We were hugely impressed with how quickly Donna went online in the first lockdown - she didn’t miss a single session! With no online school lessons on offer at the time, this kept our daughter mentally stimulated and it was clear she looked forward to the structured learning Donna offers.
Donna was professional throughout the process and kept us regularly updated on progress including areas to work on. This was extremely helpful as we could support our daughter’s learning at home.
I would highly recommend Donna to anyone thinking about doing the 11 plus. The skills learnt with her will have application long after doing the 11 plus.
Sarah and Sean Delaney
Deciding to do the 11+ isn’t the right learning journey for every child. We found Donna’s year 4 summer assessment a great way to know if it was worth the commitment for our children, as well as the financial investment for 11+ tutoring. I would thoroughly recommend parents to do this. Donna has considerable experience in knowing and understanding what your child needs to learn and how to apply this knowledge to be “test ready”. End of term reports are provided to show how they are learning and areas to work on. It was a steep learning curve for our son in the first term but the amount of learning he achieved at each session in small groups facilitated by Donna was excellent. The first lockdown saw our son’s sessions move online and for him it was a lifeline. Interacting virtually in an even smaller group with Donna and some of his peers each week was fantastic. Donna was very flexible in adapting sessions and running extra sessions when the 11+ test was delayed. Donna offers practice tests which is a great benchmark to see how your child is doing, what areas need improvement but most importantly giving them the formal test experience needed to be able to do their best when the time comes to put everything they have learned into practice and be the best they can be on test day.
Thank you, Donna, for your commitment to our child’s learning.
Karen Woolland
Our daughter enjoyed attending Donna's session every week and found Donna to be very engaging and motivating. It was never a chore or something to not look forward to. Donna is exceptionally organised and we found both the homework set and feedback was reported on in a timely manner. Even during lock-down Donna was up and running with remote tutoring sessions straight away. We are very grateful to Donna for guiding our daughter through the tutoring and helping with her passing her 11+ exams. We will definitely be returning for our other daughter.
D. O'Hanlan
I had researched various opportunities and Donna’s classes came highly recommended. I signed my daughter up for the pre-assessment in February of Year 4, only telling her about it on that morning so there was no pressure or worry. The feedback was she had a good chance of passing so we enrolled on the course. Every element of the course was well thought out. The structure of the sessions and the homework kept her motivated and challenged, with a blend of digital and paper based activities. And the motivation of winning quizzollars!
Donna provided regular progress reports and knowing areas of strength and weakness helped her to focus where she needed it most. Lists of resources given were also helpful – we read extensively from the books recommended.
Even with the unprecedented pandemic Donna transitioned seamlessly to delivering the sessions virtually – something which at that time our primary school wasn’t doing, and keeping the momentum for learning was so important.
The mock exams were good experiences, and helped with confidence and nerves. Donna delayed the summer refresher course to accommodate date change of the actual exam for 2020, which showed her commitment to helping that class achieve their potential – even though by then she was already working with the next intake.
My daughter thoroughly enjoyed the course, it motivated her and also taught her how to study independently. She passed the 11+ and feels prepared for her next steps. Her younger sister is already signed up for the next pre-assessment.
C Todd
Donna tutored both of my children for their 11+ success and our experience both times was AMAZING. The girls really enjoyed their lessons with her; she has a way of inspiring and motivating the children to want to do well - rewarding them with "points" for their work which can be exchanged for prizes.
Her classes are small and she uses a mix of online and written resources. Moving to online during lockdown in Mar 2020 was seamless and she was up and running within the first week meaning they never missed a lesson.
She is knowledgeable on both Bucks & Berks preparation; offering booster classes and invigilated mock exams before the real thing.
Donna keeps in contact with parents regularly via meetings and reports, highlights if there is any area that requires extra focus and speedily responds to questions from parents.
My advice is not to look anywhere else and just book in for tuition with Donna, you won't be disappointed."
K Ryder
I would wholeheartedly recommend Donna for the 11+ tutoring. She is exceptionally thorough and balances the combination between fun and learning perfectly. Donna prepares the children extremely well for the exam itself and keeps them focused and interested throughout what is a tough schedule, even more so in 2020 due to lockdown, when classes had to be moved to Zoom and the exam itself had to be pushed back. Donna gives regular feedback and suggestions for areas of focus plus really good mock test exams and Summer revision sessions. Our son passed the 11+ with ease thanks to Donna’s guidance and we couldn’t be more grateful
Karen Hayle
We heard about Donna from a few different acquaintances whose children passed with great marks. From the first enquiry, to the pre-assessment process - which we valued as an important preliminary step - and throughout her one-year tuition of our daughter Giorgia, Donna impressed us with her highly structured approach, including clear communication, with both parents and children, meaningful group work and equally meaningful individualised homework, regular feedback, and great responsiveness to any query or question.
On top of that, our daughter enjoyed her weekly appointment with Donna and, after passing with good marks, remarked how much she will miss her. I would wholeheartedly recommend Donna to any parents who are committed to taking the exam and want to give their children the best chance of success and have already mentioned her to all our friends
Barbara G
I am extremely pleased with the high level & quality of tuition my twin girls have received in 11plusit, which has enabled them to reach their potential. Donna was absolutely wonderful, reliable, very focused, very well organised and most importantly was able to understand my daughters’ strong and weak areas to build up their confidence. We chose 11plusit due to the small class sizes, yet not too small to allow a sense of more interaction and motivation to the kids. Both of my girls passed the 11plus exam with a high score. I would definitely recommend 11plusit.
Dina Fouad
I can wholeheartedly recommend Donna’s 11+ course! My daughter passed both her exams comfortably. The mock tests gave her the confidence she needed on the actual exam days. But importantly, she enjoyed the classes with their calm and supportive atmosphere. The use of games and awards added fun, and helped her overcome the initial shock of the extra homework.
Donna is excellent at teaching! She is patient, explains the material intuitively, and makes online classes work just as well as face-to-face ones.
I believe this course has given my daughter more than just success at the exams. It has taught her to handle large amounts of work, to organise her time, to work independently, and to persevere. These skills are for life, and have proven invaluable during home-schooling time.
Marina K
Donna's dedication to Ben's success was a key part in his preparation. She's always on top of everything, providing regular personalised reports and making sure your child is not kept behind.
She provided all the materials and extra activities so our son boosted his confidence and making sure he had great chances to pass the exam. Fast forward, Ben did not only pass one but two exams.
Ben was one of the youngest and despite that, He managed the pressure of sitting both exams and took it naturally the day of the test.
Fernando and Ben
Donna was fantastic in preparing our daughter for the 11+. She made the lessons enjoyable whilst ensuring the children did what was needed to succeed. The lessons and homework were well structured and the ability to exchange ‘points’ for ‘prizes’ really helped keep the children motivated. A big thank you to Donna for how she adapted during lockdown, the virtual lessons were a godsend and ensured our daughter kept learning during this challenging time.
C Moore
Our son joined 11plusit at the start of Year 5, having undertaken a full assessment with Donna in the summer holidays. We chose 11plusit due to the small class sizes and the variety of different teaching methods Donna utilises. Our son really enjoyed the weekly sessions. Working in a group really suited him, as did the challenge of being able to win points or 'quizzolas' for certain tasks. In addition to the weekly sessions our son also attended two 'mock' tests and these really helped him to practice under test conditions and gave us pointers as to the areas which needed more attention. Donna's preparation meant a successful outcome for our son in the 11+ transfer test and we are very thankful to her for all her help and guidance along the way.
Mrs K Bailey
My daughter initially started her 11+ journey with a different tuition school, after 3 months I made the decision to take her out as the workload was unmanageable and it was making us all miserable, by luck a friend mentioned 11 plusit as her son attended there and I was lucky enough to get the last space. After the first session my daughter confirmed she actually enjoyed herself and I knew this was the right place for her. The work was manageable and the way Donna runs the session, combining interaction and incentives with in depth learning is a winning formula. I would highly recommend 11+it. My daughter passed her 11+ exam and in a few years I hope for my son to also attend Donna’s session
Mrs S Choudry
Donna’s tutoring is exceptional; she makes new concepts appear simple and easy to understand and provides lots of timed practice sessions.
Her style of teaching is stimulating and fun filled with opportunities to learn while playing computer games and earn points.
My son was very motivated and thoroughly enjoyed the sessions. He was able to enhance his knowledge and skills with guidance and direction from Donna.
Mrs V Sharma
Our son really enjoyed the combination of different types of learning used in Donna's classes - particularly the interactive exercises using IT.'
'The supportive, yet challenging, environment in Donna's classes, meant our son rapidly grew in confidence, meaning that his performance at school really benefitted as a result.
Mrs G Smith
I would highly recommend Donna Gerard for the 11+. My son was with another tutor and did not enjoy the experience and wanted to give up. We moved him to 11 plus it part way through the course and this was the best move we made - My son's attitude towards the 11+ changed, he was very happy and motivated. He looked forward to his lessons and had a genuine desire to succeed. Donna makes the lessons enjoyable for the children and she is able to get the best out of them.
Mrs Notay
We highly recommend Donna as an 11Plus tutor. She's very thorough and the course is well structured and organised and most importantly, our son enjoyed the interactive classes and the use of computers for activities such as quizzes. She provided helpful information on the 11+ process and regular feedback on our son throughout the year. Homework had to be completed each week but this insured he went into the exam very well prepared and passed with a great result.
Mr and Mrs Taylor
I would highly recommend Donna and her approach to 11+ teaching. Donna’s classes and homework are both comprehensive and fun, preparing the children extremely well for the transfer test. Class sizes are perfect and feedback is regular.
Mrs K Mormech
Donna has been an amazing 11plus tutor. Great teaching methods, regular updates on progress and kept my son fully engaged. Would have no hesitation in recommending Donna!
Lucy and Alex Brazil
We are extremely grateful to one of our friends who recommended Donna and 11plusIT to us. We had had a not so great experience with the person who had been tutoring our eldest and wanted to get it right for the twins. It was really refreshing to see that Donna had a programme that was customized for every kid and where many different areas of knowledge were tracked. We had personalised reports for them and it was great to see that Donna was able to provide individual attention to every child. In addition, learning was fun for the kids. They saw the tuition classes as a highlight of the week rather than some sort of punishment so definitely Donna must have been done something very well to keep them so happy and motivated. And the best part? Both of them passed the exams... So yes, we would absolutely recommend 11plusIT / Donna to everybody." Cheers, Jorge
Mr Mateos-Serrano
Donna's course is balanced, structured and current in its approach to the 11+ exam. Using various mediums to cover all elements of the test, her students are gently coached on how to tackle and understand what will be required of them.. Learning is made fun through group and individual activities and Donna's support to both student and parent is invaluable. New friendships groups have been made which will continue at secondary school and the class were always reluctant to go home on pick up. Cerys felt confident, prepared and relaxed on the day of her test which was reflected in her score. Each student is treated as an individual and achieves the very best that they can through Donna's guidance.
The 11+ journey is not an easy one but I look forward to taking it again with my son Kellen in Year 5.hank you Donna,
Cerys and Sarah
Thanks for tutoring me as it tested my intellect and played a huge part in helping me pass my 11 plus. It has helped me have a better future.
Mrs A Sayed
Donna’s work with Ollie was a key part of our preparation for the 11+ and was instrumental to him getting a good pass mark. A great blend of fun, competition, discipline and hard work.
Mr G Collins
Donna is a fantastic tutor who really gets to know and support her students. We had a bereavement in the family during my son's time with her but she helped him to remain focused and achieve his goal. Thanks to Donna my son has past his 11+.
Mrs J Gould
Donna was amazing!! I couldn’t recommend her enough. My Daughter has just passed her 11+ after a year of tutoring. The whole process was great from initial assessment to regular parent updates to mock and then final exam. Constant parent support as well as for the children. Lots of help and advice for how the parent can help at home. Overall a 5 tutor.
Mrs D Kenny
My daughter thoroughly enjoyed attending Donna's weekly 11 plus lessons. The lessons were well-structured, in a comfortable environment, with other like-minded children and the work covered in class was good preparation for the 11 plus test. The homework was always related to the subjects covered in the lesson and required a combination of written and online work. Donna was always flexible to accommodate my daughter's busy life outside of 'education'.
Mrs D Doherty
We can highly recommend Donna’s 11+ classes and preparation. They are thorough, structured, expertly delivered and ultimately proved very effective. Our son was her pupil and successful in the exams, he was engaged throughout - Donna tutored him brilliantly - we couldn’t be happier or recommend her enough.
We were enormously impressed as well as grateful and look forward to her help with our younger son in due course.
Mrs T Fullarton
My daughter really enjoyed her tuition sessions with Donna. The group session format suited her. Donna ensured they were fun and engaging and my daughter actually looked forward to going. The course had structure, and the homework was the same. Feedback from Donna and information about my daughter’s progress was excellent. Our daughter passed and I have recommended Donna to lots of other parents.
Mrs K Seaman
Nicole really enjoyed the structure of the group lessons and the facilities and location were excellent. Nicole found Donna’s approach in making the lessons fun, with lots of quiz’s and targeted homework very rewarding and enjoyable. Donna was also very flexible if a lesson had to be moved etc. I have no hesitation in recommending Donna if you are considering the 11+ and yes Nicole passed !!!
Nino Brancato
My daughter loved attending Donna's classes and considered them fun! As parents we found Donna to be organised, thorough, giving regular insightful feedback and only ever an email away for q's from parents. Highly recommended from us all here.
Mrs K Ryder
Donna’s classes were the perfect preparation for the 11+. They gave my son the confidence and the knowledge needed for the tests and he went in feeling he could tackle any question. The classes were also a lot of fun and he particularly enjoyed the games, quizzes and competitions!
Mrs E Easton
We were so lucky to have Donna tutor our son Riley, she was so kind, patient, flexible and supportive. Riley suffers terribly from migraines and she was so helpful with changing days and times to fit in with our needs! Riley thrived under her tuition and loved going to her weekly sessions, I would not hesitate to recommend her!! Riley was so excited after passing his 11+ and can't wait to go to his chosen school, Thank you Donna your amazing!
Mrs J Sparks
Our son enjoyed the group dynamic of Donna’s class. It is normally a battle to get him to do anything extra but Donna’s style of homework, worksheets, CBT etc kept him interested. Donna herself was always friendly and calm; he never once complained about going to her sessions. The location of the classes was convenient with easy parking and useful facilities. Thank you for helping our son pass his 11+
Mrs S Thornton
Donna was excellent in directing my son in his 11 plus exam. She explained anything he wasn't sure of, several times if necessary, giving excellent feedback on any weaker areas. However most telling was how much he enjoyed it, even being happy to get up early on a Saturday morning! I'm sure without her guidance he wouldn't have done so well.
Mr A Mcmath
The 11+ tutoring service provided by Donna has been outstanding. Donna is a fully qualified teacher full of enthusiasm and dedication and my daughter thoroughly enjoyed the classes. I know our daughter would not have passed the 11+ if it had not been for Donna. Would highly recommend.
Mr and Mrs Brazil
My daughter came home at the start of Year 4 asking us whether she would be able to sit the 11+ exam. Living in a non selective system and being a teacher I wasn't too sure but as she asked to do it, I asked around and Donna was highly recommended. She sat the pre-assessment in February of Year 4 and Donna feedback that she had a good chance of passing and would be happy to enroll her onto her course. This was important to me as I work in the primary sector in Buckinghamshire and I see children being tutored who haven't got the ability to pass. The weekly work was challenging, but needed as schools don't actually teach to the 11+ exams. Homework was weekly, both paper and computer based and Donna fedback weekly to us. After the 11+ exam my daughter said that there was no way that she would have been able to do a lot of the paper without some kind of tuition. We are very grateful to Donna for the work she did enabling our daughter to sit the 11+ with confidence and succeeding in the end result! I would highly recommend Donna
Mrs F Hayes
Now the dust has settled and we have submitted our School Prioritisation Form I wanted to say thank you for all your efforts over the last twelve months with Robert’s 11+ Tuition.
I had spent a long time searching for a tutor for Robert finding many options either too bland with large class sizes or lacking process or with staff who were temporary.
When we discovered you we liked the fact that you had provided tuition for your own children as well as many others, had teaching background and clearly understood what was required to pass. We liked the fact you assessed Robert prior to tuition.
Robert adored your lessons for the structure, the challenge and that it was a small group of equally bright and ambitious children. One quote of his was ‘I just wish School could be this much fun.’ As parents we loved the regular feedback and guidance on added home learning and focus areas.The end result was he passed both Buckinghamshire and Reading Boys; and with very high marks We have opted for Reading Boys. We owe you a lifetime gratitude; thank you.
Robert K
We were very pleased with the 11+ tuition our son received. Having switched to Donna's tuition halfway through the year (from a 1 to 1) our son was able to catch up and progress really well. A lovely, well equipped and calm working environment along with the varied coursework, vocabulary boosters and online activities totally contributed to his success. We were especially pleased to receive regular updates on his progress, which also outlined any areas to improve on. A lot of hard work, but well worth the end result as our son passed both the Berks and Bucks 11+ tests. We highly recommend 11Plusit.