Feeling pressured into paying my daughter's teacher to tutor her

[hannah686]

Hi there, I'm new to mumsnet and I could really use some advice.

My daughter is 11 years old and will be starting secondary school in September. She choose not to sit the 11+ and is going to the local high school which she is incredibly excited about. Her teacher makes a recommendation for which class she will be in based upon her current academic performance and in class tests. However, the teacher is also tutoring a lot of the pupils within her class. My daughter did really well in her January tests but there are a couple of areas she could use some extra help in. A lot of the other parents have said they are sending their child to the teacher for extra tutoring. By not sending my daughter to the teacher for tutoring I'm worried it will affect her chances of having a good recommendation for her secondary school class.

Does anyone know if this is legal? I live in Northern Ireland (not sure if this makes a difference). I just can't help but think that it's in the teacher's interests to give the pupils a low test score and then she benefits financially by tutoring them. I feel like I am being forced into paying the £20 a week in order to give my daughter the best chance here.

Anyone else been in the same position? What did you do? All help on this appreciated thank you xxx

Hannah

[lilyboleyn]

It's legal. However, in my school we aren't allowed to tutor children that go there. This is to avoid 'conflict of interests'.

[user789653241]

I don't know about legal/illegal stuff, but there are a lot of free/paid website that can help your dc at home, if you know what area is the weakness. Also there's lots of helpful teachers on MN who can advise you how to help your dc.
I will definitely be put off by the teacher if that happened to my ds.

[admission]

I would simply ask the question why does she need to have extra lessons? What was the teacher doing in their state education lessons that meant they were not maximising the potential achievement of your daughter?
I am afraid I would not accept that there is a need for extra lessons and if there was then it certainly would not be with the person who is supposed to be doing the teaching anyway.

[Duckdeamon]

There is a clear conflict of interest and it's a potential disciplinary issue IMO.

[lilyboleyn]

admission there's a stark difference between what you can achieve with a 1:30 ratio compared with 1:1

[clam]

I'm not sure it's illegal, but it's sure as hell dodgy in my book. I would never tutor anyone in my own school, let alone in my own class!

[Feenie]

How the hell has she got time? If I tutored a selection of chikdren, it would be to the detriment of my schoolwork with them and my sanity

[cece]

Does the Head know this is happening - it all seems rather odd at the very least. I also don't know how they have time either!

[hannah686]

Unfortunately the Head is related to my daughter's teacher so I don't feel like I can raise the issue with him..

[bojorojo]

What a dreadful school. Head employing their own relatives, getting money from parents for tutoring, parent unable to speak to the Head...... I have never known a teacher do this or have time to do it. Smacks of imcompetence and very dodgy practice. I would have a tutor outside if I wanted one and not give a penny to this lot.

[BlueChampagne]

I would get an independent tutor, as often a different teacher presenting things in a different way means you grasp something that previously eluded you.

[wigglesrock]

Christ, that's a bit dodgy tbh. I'm in NI with a daughter the same age. She did sit her transfer tests but I know a few parents approached the class teacher last year with a view to her tutoring their kids separately and they were sent away with a flea in their ear and told it wasn't ethical or appropriate.

I'm a bit confused with regards to the Jan test you mention, are these just class/school tests? Have you already filled in the form for her post primary school. Tbh I'd approach the principal, I know you aren't keen on it given that they're related but I'd ask for a meeting, explain your concerns, then follow it up with a quick letter.

[Berthatydfil]

This is so inappropriate. Please raise your concerns with the hr dept of your lea.

If you are worried you could contact the head of year 7 or transition manager of the high school to ask how classes are set.
It may be that they are wise to this and are aware that children from this school are tutored and perhaps their academic standards are unrealistic.
Also I very much doubt that they don't carry out their own assessments and I would put money on there being several changes in classes/sets that year and many more before they are put into exam classes.

[HeiressesGiltnor]

Very strange set up. I've worked in schools where tutoring pupils is common place. However. The rule we always had to follow was never to tutor a child we taught. That made sense to me. No conflict of interest.

[hannah686]

Yes they were just the school's January exams so nothing official. I filled in the form a couple of months ago saying that she wanted to go to the high school so the teacher decides what academic stream she goes into based on her in class tests/ exams.
It's ridiculous even thinking it, but if the teacher tutored her then she would notice how her performance had improved etc.. This might then encourage her teacher to make a higher class recommendation. I feel so dreadful for even thinking it as I know it's completely unfair and not the way things should be done. But i feel like I'm in a corner and even picking an external tutor might not solve the problem as maybe her teacher wouldnt even notice she was doing better. I can't wait for her to get out of this school as everything is so backward and i don't even think going to the principal would help. It's a lose-lose situation no matter what way i look at. I just feel completely powerless and not in control

[wigglesrock]

It's a hard old time - this last bit of P7 To reiterate what another poster has said - the High school first year teachers/admission staff will know that the P7 teacher is doing - as you know its a small place, they're not daft. There will be movement in the first few months of the first term. But its you and your dd that have to continue at the primary school - I wouldn't be manipulated towards the extra tuition but that's easy for me to say. Do you have younger kids at the school?