13th September 2016 1:00
By Blue Tutors
The latest figures released from the Sutton Trust show private tutoring of school aged children in the UK is at an all-time high. One in four students has been tutored at some point, and the figure rises to half of children in London. With this increase in demand comes an increase in the number of tutors and tutoring agencies mediating this growing industry. Despite the £2 billion being spent annually on tutoring, some remain sceptical about its benefit to children.
Why employ a tutor?
Many blame the increasing level of mistrust and uncertainty in the UK’s state education system for the increased popularity of tutoring, however, almost two thirds of tutees are attending private school so this cannot be the sole motivator. The trend is also not exclusive to the UK by any means; across the globe a generation of parents are investing heavily in their children’s education as a means of securing a better future. Students broadly fall into two categories: those who are catching up and those who are being pushed forward. Yet within these two there are a host of reasons why a parent might decide that private tuition will be useful for their child.
One-on-one lessons can be used to provide specialised learning for children with specific educational needs that traditional classroom teaching cannot cater to. Tutors can be used to catch up on school missed through illness or moving, as a resource for home schooling, or to improve performance in specific qualifications or entrance exams. The latter is particularly prevalent, with science, maths and English the most popular subjects, particularly for students with English as a second language where parents are ill-equipped to help children themselves. Equally, not all tutoring was made equal. Parents often enlist tutors for intensive sessions in the run up to exams, however an increasing amount of tutoring is in the form of regular ongoing mentoring, either to stretch the best students or provide a safety net for those who are struggling. Either way, tutoring is a powerful tool in reengaging students who feel marginalised in their mainstream schooling.
The increase in popularity of tutoring has also seen a shift in the mentality for both parents and students. From a child’s perspective, the prevalence of after-school tutoring removes the stigma that can undermine a student’s confidence. On the other hand, some parents now feel that they might be putting their children at a disadvantage by not providing extra tuition. Many students would be capable of achieving top grades by themselves, but with so many children getting extra help, it is becoming increasingly risky for parents to let them try.
What is the most effective way of using tutoring?
This depends on the desired outcome. Tutoring used to be the preserve of the wealthy, and typically aimed at those struggling in a specific subject. This short-term, targeted intervention to plug a gap in knowledge or improve exam technique can be very effective in increasing exam performance. However, long term understanding and confidence are best achieved through regular, long-term tuition. Tutors can then focus on fundamental understanding not simply cramming in curriculum content, on honing a student’s study skills not teaching to tests. This is increasingly important with the average age of a tutored student falling, and 62% of children sitting the 11+ admitting to having private tuition to prepare. Parents are warned against the dangers of pushing children through qualifying exams to secure them a place at a selective school, which will then leave them out of their depth once they arrive. Rather than improving their opportunities, this is potentially detrimental to a child’s learning and school experience.
What is the role of the tutor and what are the potential pitfalls?
Tutoring is not an alternative to good classroom teaching. Ideally the two should be a collaborative effort where private tuition is complementary to classroom teaching, helping clarify and cement core concepts, ensuring understanding, and improving confidence so students are in the best position to learn effectively in the classroom. While 46% of state school teachers offer private tuition to their students, others feel that tuition undercuts the state education. Some feel that tutoring from a young age could make students dependent on extra help, and undermine student’s independent thinking and ownership of their educational progress and outcomes. Teachers argue tutoring in addition to long school days, numerous exams and homework can cause ‘overload’, turning students off learning. Equally, there is an ethical dimension to tutoring in the context of coursework or, increasingly, university applications. Tutors should be helping students, not doing work for them, and with tutoring comes a burden of oversight on parents and tutors to ensure help does not cross the line into plagiarism.
Other than the obvious intended benefit of higher exam marks, how does private tuition benefit children?
The return on investment depends on what you are aiming to get out of a tutor. Successful admission to a selective school or prestigious university, and the presumed financial and career rewards, are easily measured, but there are many benefits which are not as easily quantified. A high quality tutor offers a great deal beyond better grades. Tutoring should create a safe and enthusiastic space for learning, improve confidence and develop an inquisitive mind. They also give students someone to speak to about their studies other than their parents, taking on a somewhat more pastoral role. This is a valuable outlet, helping students deal with exam stress away from parental pressure and expectation. Ultimately the real value and success in academic study and beyond is found through stimulating intellectual curiosity; as such, the real value of a tutor is not to teach but to inspire.