20th February 2012 9:00
By Blue Tutors
The number of students in the UK receiving tutoring online is quickly increasing, according to a recent article in the Telegraph. It’s estimated that thousands of families have turned to ‘e-tutoring’ in the last few years as a cheaper substitute for face-to-face tuition, and experts predict that the increasing trend will continue.
Online tuition providers were, for the first time, reviewed in the recent Good Schools Guide to provide further information for parents seeking help for their children. Most of the providers allow voice and webcam communication through Skype, and also have an interactive whiteboard which both tutor and student can use. The existing UK companies charge £15-27 an hour, which is significantly cheaper than many face-to-face providers.
The online tuition phenomenon is more advanced in the US, where many schools already use ‘e-tutoring’ to supplement the lessons at school. Often tutors are based in India, which allows schools to keep the costs down. The UK is catching up, and Sue Fieldman, a senior advisor at the Good Schools Guide suggested why this is. She said while many parents still prefer the personal touch of a home tutor, students are much more comfortable with working online, and for many parents it’s easier to encourage their children to work online with a tutor, than work face-to-face.
The online tuition industry is already estimated to be worth £8 billion after only a few years, and it is still growing. However, Sue Fieldman highlighted that choosing the right provider is a potential minefield, and that there are many poor sites out there. She said that some parents have complained about their tutor not being able to speak English properly, and with no regulation of who can offer their services as a tutor, this is a problem.