Ben has thanked us for arranging the mentorship programme. 

It is completely different from having a tutor and we feel that it is going to have a very positive impact on him. – Ben’s parents

 

Gabbitas tutors have the skills to help their students with more than just their schoolwork and exam preparation. Thriving at school can require more than just academic excellence and musical or sporting ability. For many, confidence and the ability to express oneself are key to enjoyment both in and out of school. At Gabbitas, we listen to your needs and tailor the tuition accordingly.

Consequently, we have arranged mentorship programmes for various students. These are not designed to focus on a certain subject, but to instil confidence, provide guidance, and challenge the student by discussing novel issues.

 

Reigniting a love for learning

Ben is an extremely capable pupil, obtaining excellent grades across the board in addition to having achieved is Grade 8 piano and his Grade 6 cello. He participates in a wide variety of extracurricular activities including judo, horse-riding, swimming, an chess. Ben is hoping to attend Eton or Winchester College from 2023.

Whilst Ben is a very talented individual and has a bright future ahead of him, he began to shy away from activities that he had previously immersed himself in and showed signs that he was not believing in himself fully, which caused his parents and teachers concern. The reason for this change in behaviour was unclear, but they sought our help to find Ben an academic mentor, to assist with any queries he had, discuss common interests and encourage his learning.

 

Finding the right mentor

The first step we took was to arrange an introductory video call for the family with our chosen mentor. This was an opportunity for them to outline their expectations, ask any questions they may have and ensure that they were happy the tutor was right for Ben. There is no ‘one size fits all’ approach when it comes to tutoring and mentoring, so we actively encourage an introductory meeting with the tutor before making an commitments. Ben and his parents were delighted with our chosen mentor, and they arranged to meet for lunch for their first session. With no formal learning materials to discuss, the brief was to have a thought-provoking discussion with Ben and encourage him to express his opinions and ideas.

 

Tailoring the programme structure

Since their first session in August 2021, Ben has had 40 hours of mentoring and his relationship with his mentor has blossomed. The content covered in their sessions is diverse. Topics have ranged from philosophy and the concept of time to Ben’s social life at school and his hobbies. The balance between intellectual discussion and general conversation is designed to challenge Ben and broaden his horizons, whilst forging a strong bond with his mentor. By discussing such a variety of subjects, Ben is becoming a more rounded individual and this will put him in an excellent position for school entrance interviews.

 

Important skills for the future

Exam grades are undoubtedly important, but the value of being able to hold a good conversation, expressing opinions and being educated about issues outside of academia should not be underestimated. These qualities in turn affect confidence and happiness at school. The right academic mentor can bring holistic benefits to a students’ life by improving social skills, self-belief, study skills, passion for learning and greater interest in current affairs. This has certainly been the case with Ben.

 

We are confident that Ben will learn a lot, the experience has been exactly what we hoped for, and more.

 

 

If you feel that your child would benefit from an academic mentor, please get in touch with our tutoring team via tutoring@gabbitas.com

If you would like to find out more about our Gabbitas tutors head here to our tutoring page.

 

Please note that names have been changed in line with our confidentiality policy.

The school decision was perfect and makes all the difference in the world in relocating – Mr & Mrs Holcombe

 

How do you find a quality education for your three young daughters in a foreign country in only a month and in the middle of the academic year? This was the dilemma facing Mr & Mrs Holcombe when they learned they were relocating to London for work.

Transition from US to UK education system

The house the family rented was also dependent upon securing three places in the same Prep school in a city neither of them was familiar with. Mrs Holcombe preferred to be walking distance from the school and this active, outdoor family needed plenty of green space around them and easy access to the countryside. At the heart of their concerns was the transition from the American to the British system: would they be academically behind their UK peers? Was there a school that could help them to find their feet and settle in quickly?

This is a familiar scenario for the experienced consultants at Gabbitas: relocating families at short notice is our bread and butter. Presenting our clients with excellent choices that tick their boxes is at the heart of our service and we achieve that by always keeping the child at the heart of our considerations.

Finding schools with strong pastoral reputations

The first task was to familiarise the family with the different areas of London and commute times to the city for Mr Holcombe; they were keen to live south of the river, and we embarked upon a search that explored options from Richmond to Clapham and as far south as Croydon. We knew the girls would be surprised by the small town house Prep schools in London; not at all like the 700 plus campus school they were used to in the USA. It made sense to find schools with strong pastoral reputations to help support the girls in this big life change.

Identifying schools able to admit three siblings

The schools we presented to the family had availability for all three girls – not an easy task to find halfway through the school year. The sticking point was assessing the girls prior to entry: some schools insisted upon meeting the girls in person, others required they sat entry papers in their current schools and had a skype interview with the Head. The family only had one month to secure the places and find a house to live in; bringing the girls to the UK for testing was not an option for and would put unnecessary pressure on the girls.

Instead we arranged an intensive four-day tour of a shortlist of schools for the parents, often visiting two a day, with a meeting with the Head. They explored the surround areas and local housing options, and by the end of the week they returned to the USA comfortable in their choices and ready to make decisions.

Skype admission interview

The school they chose was very accommodating and flexible in their approach to entry. They interviewed the girls by skype and secured reports from their current school. Having met the parents, the Head felt very comfortable offering the girls places without meeting them. This level of flexibility toward overseas applicants is much appreciated by families, and it took the pressure off the girls to perform after a long-haul flight.

The family rented a house just around the corner from the school, which they viewed during their flash visit to the UK. Everything lined up as anticipated and a few weeks later we received a photo of three beaming girls in their new uniforms on the first day at their new school.

Matching a child to the right school

The skill in a successful school search is in being sensitive to the individual needs of every family whilst understanding what the schools need from a consultant in order to make a well-informed decision about candidates. Our knowledge of schools is extensive and our ability to match a child to the right school is second to none. Parents and schools trust our ability to do right by them and those beaming faces say it all.

 

We have enjoyed a mutually beneficial working relationship with you over the years and appreciate the families that you have sent to us. The girls have settled in happily – the school

“No words can express how grateful we are for your help” Lynne’s mother

Fourteen-year-old Lynne moved to the UK from China to study at a British boarding school in Bath found for her by her parents. Her mother was advised by the school to appoint an education guardian to look after Lynne’s needs in the UK to ensure she was supported academically and pastorally when not at school, including at weekends and in school holidays.

Guardianship Arrangements

Lynne’s mother searched online for a reputable guardian agency and chose Gabbitas as she had heard about Gabbitas in China and liked the depth of services offered within the Gold Guardianship package and the quality of our guardian families.

Both the family and Lynne were very happy with the guardianship arrangements and the care she received, but it soon became apparent that the shy and reserved Lynne was less comfortable with the choice of school. After a discussion with everyone concerned, the guardianship team referred the case to the school placements team to discuss Lynne’s situation.

The Right School

The school placements team had a number of Skype and telephone meetings with Lynne and her mother, after which a brief was agreed. Lynne herself had identified several schools that she felt she might be more suited to and Gabbitas also made a number of suggestions for schools that would match her needs. These were discussed with the family in more detail and a shortlist of six schools was agreed.

Entry Testing

Gabbitas commenced the application process with each school and, whilst she was home in China, Lynne visited Gabbitas in Shanghai to take UKiset (the UK Independent Schools’ Entry Test). This test has been designed and developed by education experts and was launched in 2014. The only test of its kind, UKiset assesses the academic potential and English language skills of international students to compare them against British students of the same age. Every year, thousands of international students apply to hundreds of British schools that use UKiset as their approved assessment method. One test result can also be used to apply to multiple schools, saving families time, money and stress.

Tuition Support

Lynne’s UKiset results indicated that she was an extremely academically talented student, particularly in maths. Her English, however, was slightly weaker and she appeared to lack confidence in her abilities and in social situations, making it difficult for her to make the most of her school open day visits. She was therefore referred to the Gabbitas tutoring team who engaged the services of a highly experienced Oxbridge tutor to assess her English skills and agree a programme of English language tuition over several months, together with additional tutoring in GCSE biology, religion and philosophy. This comprehensive programme led to a demonstrable improvement not only in her academic performance but also in her overall confidence and social skills.

Application Acceptances

In the summer that followed Gabbitas was delighted to report to the family that all six schools on the shortlist had accepted her application. A programme of preparation and organisation for Lynne’s entrance exams and interviews followed, including several mock interviews both in person at the Gabbitas central London offices and by Skype at her existing school.

Entrance Exams, Interviews and a Place to Stay

The school placements team then co-ordinated Lynne’s entrance exam and interview schedule, which took place over six days in a number of locations across the UK. As this was such a geographical challenge for Lynne from Bath, the school placement team called on the expert services of the guardianship team who put together a travel and accommodation plan which included staying with a number of different approved Gabbitas guardian families in the areas she was visiting. Lynne’s travel plans also included the use of our accredited and DBS checked chauffeur service, ensuring Lynne arrived on time for all her appointments.

Sterling Success

Despite the demands of such an intensive schedule, Lynne’s determination to succeed coupled with the support from her family and the encouragement from the Gabbitas team enabled her to perform to her potential in all of her exams and interviews.

Within two weeks Gabbitas was delighted to hear that Lynne had been successful in passing all the rigorous entry processes at all the schools she had applied for, including the offer of an academic scholarship at one.

“I feel so grateful for your team’s care and effort” Lynne’s mother

Lynne and her family were equally delighted when Gabbitas told them the good news, and subsequently chose Westminster School which had been at the top of Lynne’s list all the way through. On starting her new in school the guardianship team will provide a new approved guardian family to look after her in London.

A Team Effort

Commenting on Lynne’s wonderful story, Gabbitas Director of Services for Families and Students says,

“It has been an absolute pleasure to work with Lynne and her family to provide a co-ordinated programme of care and support that has resulted in such a positive outcome for everyone involved, not in the least Lynne whom we have seen blossom and develop in confidence and stature over the past year. We wish Lynne all the best and look forward to supporting her throughout her education journey.”

From Lynne’s host family: words by Robert Beesley,

“Being a host family is all about sharing your family life with an international student who is away from home. There will be huge cultural differences for them to overcome and part of the role is to bridge the gap in their knowledge and experience, with the comfort that Gabbitas is only a phone call away should we need help. We have one child ourselves and began hosting students when she was just three. We have all enjoyed playing a valuable role in broadening the cross-cultural understanding of our guests over the years and were delighted when Lynne came into our lives just over a year ago.”

“Lynne visits us during exeats and half-terms and has been studying diligently for her GCSEs. During her time with us we have been on a family trip to London for four days, organised a week of work experience for her and have attended parent-teacher events to report on her progress. She is very well motivated academically and worked hard to prepare for a number of new schools for her A levels. We are very pleased that she has succeeded in gaining entry to a prestigious school for her next step.”

“It has been a privilege to meet Lynne and her family, via Skype and in person. We hope that coming away from her school to a home environment has enabled her to relax, try new things and get to know a real English family, however qwerky they may be!”

Lynne: in her own words

“I came to the UK because I believe it is always beneficial to have more experiences and binding both the Chinese and British education systems together will give me the best possible outcome.

I also think living away from home really helps me to become more independent, to improve my interpersonal and communication skills and also to become familiar with working with people with different nationalities and cultures. I think this would be really beneficial in the future when I start to work.

And finally, I visited the University of Cambridge some years ago and I was attracted to it at the first sight!”