24th June 2016 1:00
By Blue Tutors
Education watchdog Ofsted has warned that many gifted children educated in the state sector are not achieving their potential. The latest figures causing alarm show that 27% of pupils who scored very highly at primary schools are failing to achieve a B grade in English and Maths at GCSE. These revelations are starting fresh conversations about how to help gifted students fulfil their potential, especially as their talents are often missed by overstretched teachers. Over in the private tuition industry, tutors have a much better shot at being able to correctly assess their students’ abilities, but tutors still have to work to ensure that their students are given the right support.
All tutors should begin sessions with a new student by listening to the student and their parents discuss what they feel their issues are, where their talents lie, and where they would like to improve. Unfortunately, in many busy schools, attention is only brought to students if there is a problem. Students are far more likely to have a lengthy discussion with a teacher if they are underperforming than if they have done well. As a result, many students may be lacking in confidence, or not realise that they have a real gift for a subject. While tutors often generally brought in to address problem subjects, there is much that they can do to ensure that students get the support they need.
Often, raising a student’s confidence in their weakest subject can help across the board. Talking to the student about their academic interests and drawing links between subjects can very helpful in getting the student to think of themselves as good students rather than good at one thing and rubbish at another. It can also help highlight areas where the student is excelling and not be acknowledged. This is just as important as identifying weaknesses, and tutors should do what they can to encourage students, even if it is just making book recommendations or alerting the student’s parents to their talents. Building confidence and listening to students is the key to ensuring that they get the right support, whether they are gifted at a subject or not.