24th September 2010 12:45
By Harriet Boulding
As an A level Sociology tutor in London I come across many different issues faced by sixth form students. The recent headlines over lack of university places have had a significant effect on morale, as have the increasing numbers of students all achieving excellent grades with no guarantee of getting into the university of their choice. However, the biggest issue I am currently seeing as a private tutor is lack of support from teachers who should be encouraging students through these difficult times.
It is extremely difficult to support a student through the process of applying to university, when their teachers are undermining their efforts with comments the effect that they might as well not bother, because the ‘system is so flawed’, or ‘too many people have 3 A*s to make it worth having a go’. I have the utmost respect for teachers; they are on the front line, rolling out government initiatives which are often flawed and dealing with the effects on students first hand. Yet we cannot expect them to be impervious to the morale crash currently affecting university applicants.
Tutors have the luxury of being able to pour their energy and their belief into one student, whilst teachers have to deal with the constant stream of questions and issues from all the concerned students in their classes. The effect of this on students is extremely damaging, as those they look to for guidance are just as disaffected with the education system as they are. As a tutor there is nothing more disheartening than to hear that a student’s teacher is discouraging them from applying to top universities on the grounds that it is too competitive to bother these days.
Of course, whilst this is saddening, it is a symptom of the problem and not the cause. The government has a long way to go to address the issues affecting higher education in this country, and they should remember that teachers are the medium via which their messages are being communicated to the country’s youth. In the meantime, tutors can only continue encouraging students to be the best they can be.