Graeme Ginsberg is Director of Cornerstone Tutors, which provides private one-to-one tutoring to primary and secondary school students in South West London and North Surrey. He gives parents the ins-and-outs of private tutoring
According to research by educational charity Sutton Trust, 45% of students in London aged 11-16 have had private tutoring. With so many parents hiring tutors, should you hire one for your child and what should you be looking for?
DOES MY CHILD ACTUALLY NEED A PRIVATE TUTOR?
With all the parental peer pressure at the school gates, it’s important to take a step back. If your child is on track, and her teachers are confident, why would you need to hire a tutor?
Start with the basic question: "What is my child looking to achieve?"
Does she need to catch up on work after an illness? Prepare for school entrance exams? Sit GCSEs or A-levels for her chosen university? Perhaps she's simply told you she’s finding a subject difficult, or received disappointing mock exam results, or a teacher brought up some concerns at a parent’s evening. She may be having issues with:
- Knowledge gaps – Students may miss crucial lessons when they’re off sick, or simply fall behind because of the relentless pace of school education. It's difficult to maintain concentration all day.
- Blocks to understanding – A subject that comes naturally to one student may be tough for another. Even students who like a subject at GCSE may be challenged by the A-level syllabus.
- Loss of enjoyment – Has your child gone off a subject she used to really enjoy? Often a change in teacher can have a major impact.
- Low motivation and self-confidence – Your child's motivation may have been damaged by any of the previous issues, or by issues outside of school. She may also be daunted by exams.
WHAT CAN A TUTOR DO FOR MY CHILD? CAN MY SCHOOL HELP?
School will always be a student’s most important place of learning. But as one of many in a class a student may find lessons moving too quickly or slowly. With one-to-one tuition it’s just the tutor and your child without disruptions.
A good tutor will build tutoring completely around your child’s needs, helping your child reinforce their learning and fill knowledge gaps, while working through challenging topics at a pace that works best for them. They can stretch their understanding only when ready, and develop both their confidence and exam skills.
Take advantage of what your school has to offer. Many schools run weekly subject ‘clubs’ and ‘clinics’, where a teacher can go through topics generally with a group and possibly give individuals some one-to-one time.
Some teachers may also be able to offer some individual tutoring during school hours in the run-up to exams. But bear in mind that teachers have incredibly busy days and you can’t expect them to do more than one or two sessions unless the school allocates time specifically for this. Schools rarely allow teachers to privately tutor their own students out of school hours.
WHEN SHOULD I HIRE A TUTOR? HOW MUCH TIME WILL MY CHILD NEED?
Start as early as possible. Filling knowledge gaps and working through blocks in understanding are best done quickly otherwise your child will fall behind.
For exam preparation, the tutor can only work with the time that’s available. What may be achievable in 24 sessions across six months simply can’t be achieved in eight sessions across two months! Meanwhile, last-minute blocks of intensive ‘over-tutoring’ can have a very negative effect – all work and no play won’t boost Jack and Jill’s performance, it will just make them stressed, exhausted and unhappy.
How much tutoring your child will need depends on their aims, capabilities and learning needs. If the tuition is for catching up on a week of school work or consolidating a particular topic, then a few sessions may be fine.
Preparation for an exam will typically require a more comprehensive programme so the student can cover the syllabus properly and develop the necessary skills and confidence.
WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT FROM A GOOD TUTOR?
- Decent person – This is an unregulated industry, so the tutor should give you credible referees so you can get independent views about their reputation, qualifications and personality. He or she must have an Enhanced DBS (formerly CRB) check certificate to show that he or she is able to work with children – no ifs or buts.
- Qualified – Make sure you’re paying for something that will make a difference. The tutor should be a qualified subject specialist with a track record of helping students in similar situations. I also believe it's important for tutors to have extensive school teaching experience – they have a deeper understanding of the curriculum and the skills students need. They know how to provide tuition that will complement classroom learning.
- Outstanding student assessment capabilities – The tutor quickly needs to identify knowledge gaps and blocks. A good tutor will be an excellent judge of academic potential and what approach your child will respond to best.
- Clear objectives – Without objectives, a tutor is just working randomly. A good tutor will set clear objectives with you and your child, so you all know what you’re working towards and how you’re going to get there. The tutor should be monitoring progress regularly, keeping you informed so you feel confident that everything’s on track.
- Attitude and personality – The tutor should be enthusiastic, patient, approachable, supportive and encouraging. The best tutors inspire students, helping them develop a fresh interest in the subject. If your child is inventing excuses not to go to tutoring sessions, you don’t have the right tutor!
WHERE WILL I FIND A GOOD TUTOR?
There are a number of ways to find a good tutor. Your teacher or school might recommend one they know. Fellow parents can also recommend tutors – though some horribly competitive parents can be reticent to share! Do bear in mind that one size doesn’t fit all – a tutor who worked for your friend’s daughter may not have the particular syllabus knowledge and personality that are right for yours.
Alternatively, there are some online websites that publish tutor profiles. Parents can search through the profiles and contact tutors they think may be suitable (the company typically charges an ‘introduction’ fee). You'll have to judge which tutor is the right one, so always take references and ask to see academic qualifications and an Enhanced DBS check certificate.
Agencies are popular because they do this legwork for you and introduce already-vetted tutors. However, be aware that agencies vary greatly when it comes to quality of tutors and services provided. Make sure to ask some key questions to gauge whether an agency is going to go above and beyond for your child and you:
- How do you recruit your tutors? Do you interview them face-to-face? What references do you take?
- Do your tutors have teaching experience and a strong track record of helping students in similar situations?
- How will you go about selecting my child’s tutor?
- What can my child and I expect from the tutor and from you at each stage of the process?
HOW MUCH SHOULD I PAY FOR A TUTOR?
Graeme Ginsberg, Director of Cornerstone Tutors
Rates vary wildly and you’ll find tutors charging anywhere from £25 to £100+ per hour! Price doesn’t necessarily equate to quality, but broadly speaking you can expect to pay higher rates for more experienced, qualified tutors, and rates also typically rise with the age of the student and level of exams being tutored.
Agencies provide additional services including tutor selection, vetting and administration, so their fees will also include a commission. Some agencies work hard for their commission, others less so. Always ask questions till you’re satisfied you have the one with the right approach.
Cornerstone Tutors provides private one-to-one tutoring to primary and secondary school students in South West London and North Surrey
