24th December 2016 1:00
By Blue Tutors
Increasing numbers of households in the UK are soliciting the help of private tutors to help their children make the most of their education. Broadly speaking, tuition falls into two categories, an intense push before a deadline or exams, or ongoing tuition as a top up or extra support throughout the year. Both of these have merit, but serve a different purpose and develop different skills.
The more sporadic, need based tuition can be helpful for students who have a specific problem or area of interest that they want to pursue or reinforce. This is particularly popular in the lead up to university applications, with schools offering very different levels of advice and support for personal statements and interview preparation. This is an area where a tutor can be very helpful; the process of talking through material and responding to questions or challenging understanding with a relative stranger is a great way to accustom a student to an interview environment, reinforce material and most importantly boost confidence. This is also popular before exams in order to structure revision, practice and improve exam technique, and give students an opportunity to ask questions on areas they do not understand.
Short term ‘catch up’ sessions are also popular for students who have taken time away from school, for example after a period of illness, or to cement concepts during vacation while the pressure of school and deadlines has alleviated. Being guided through material they have missed is often much more effective than self-study. Some parents opt for a short period of tutoring at the end of holidays to prepare students for the year to come. This is also an effective way of getting back up to speed, as many students forget a substantial amount of their previous progress, particularly in maths. Some refresher sessions are a very effective way to get ready to take on more difficult material.
On the other hand, short term tuition, while good at maximising the student’s potential of a specific assignment or as a way of scheduling in preparation and a chance to ask questions, often treats the symptom and not the cause of academic underperformance. Some students appear to be doing well until material gets more complex and suddenly they see marks plummeting. Tutors will often find that the issue is not the new topic itself, but a lack of understanding of the fundamentals on which it builds. This is where ongoing tuition can be of great benefit. Regular sessions over a period of time can be used to gain a more in-depth understanding of the syllabus, enabling tutors to go through the full range of material to identify and tackle difficult areas. Another important element is building a relationship with a tutor over some time, building trust and enjoyment in learning. Once students have reached a good level of understanding and knowledge, the frequency and length of sessions can ease off.
Ultimately, tutoring can serve many purposes and caters to different needs, budgets and time constraints. However, like most things, ongoing maintenance is often a better solution than a last-minute fix. As such, it is always a good time to start tuition, in whatever form works for you.