2nd March 2016 0:00
By Blue Tutors
Information provided by the Sutton Trust has reveal that the numbers of children in London receiving private tuition has risen to nearly one in two. The number of children receiving tuition has grown considerably in the past few years, but the figures for London have far exceeded the rest of the country. The Sutton Trust surveys 2,500 young people regarding their education each year, and has noted the considerable increase in the numbers receiving private tuition each year in the capital. The figures for children outside the capital are also rising, but more modestly, with 22% of children outside the capital having had a private tutor.
The Sutton Trust has pointed out that private tuition is now completely ubiquitous, and called on the government to do more to help poorer families who are unable to pay for tuition. The charity has suggested a means-tested voucher system which poorer families could use to pay tutors and ensure that their children are not disadvantaged compared with their wealthier peers. The trust said that the government would need to be prepared to subsidise private tuition in order to level the playing field. They also encouraged tuition agencies to do more to help poorer families.
The trust noted that some tuition agencies offer schemes to help poorer families, such as means tested fees, or offering free tuition to those who cannot afford it. Some agencies offer free tuition by increased charges to parents who can afford it in order to cover the costs, whilst others ‘loan’ their tutors to educational charities. The trust concluded that whilst private tuition remains the most popular way to boost children’s academic prospects out of school, both the government and tuition agencies need to do more to ensure that the poorest children are not missing out.