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AIBU?

To consider getting a maths tutor for my son

19 replies

ReallyTired · 25/12/2015 04:39

Ds wants to do a computer science degree when he is older. He is in the second maths set due to really bad teaching at primary. He is currently in year 9 and recently got 7c in a maths test. He had 5c in keystage 2 sats. He will do the higher level maths paper, but not further maths GCSE. I am concerned that A-level maths will be very hard with out the further maths GCSE. I found the leap from GCSE to a level maths really hard 20 years ago inspite of doing GCSE maths early.

Am I unreasonable to get a tutor to cover the additional topics with him even if he does not sit the further maths GCSE. I have a physics degree, but it would never work me tutoring Ds. There would be blood on the carpet if I attempted to teach my son maths.

OP posts:

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Want2bSupermum · 25/12/2015 04:56

If he enjoys Maths I would get a tutor for him if he agreed to it. He will need to work hard during tutoring sessions and complete homework.

JenoftheAbbeySchool · 25/12/2015 05:14

Hi ReallyTired, it's a long time ago but my parents had a maths tutor for me and I will always be glad they did. I was not specially interested in maths or able but it did mean I was supported and went on to get a B grade at GCSE. My mum was especially nice about it, she emphasised that no one at school need know about it if I did not like, but they wanted me to have the help.

We3KingyOfOblomovAre · 25/12/2015 06:42

Go for it. 2 people I know have recently hired maths tutors.

CreepingDogFart · 25/12/2015 06:44

It's interesting you say he came out with a 5c but had really bad teaching. If he got 3c or lower in Year 2 then he's done well. Any higher than 3c in Year 2 is questionable.

ModreB · 25/12/2015 06:48

I would, and did. It made a huge difference to all 3 of my ds's. The teaching at school was dreadful. They went from set 3 to set 1 with the tutor, and then got told off for telling other classmates "too advanced" methods that the maths teacher didn't understand.

DS1 is now an Army Officer.
DS2 is studying Civil Engineering.
DS3 is younger but is on course for an A* in Maths, Further Maths and Physics.

A tutor was one of the best investments that we made.

Dipankrispaneven · 25/12/2015 07:07

We had a maths tutor for DS2. He was never going to love maths but was suffering from inconsistent teaching and it was iffy whether he was going to manage a C. The tutor basically gave him faith that he could do it and a more solid grounding in the basics, and he ended up with a B.

PingpongDingDong · 25/12/2015 07:51

Dd was put into the bottom set for maths and science this year due to a poor test result in maths the year before. I tried helping her, we tried online programs and she was reluctant to engage with either. 8 weeks ago we got her a maths tutor. She's worked really hard with her and did so well in the end of term tests this time that she's going into the top set! It made all the difference. Definitely do it!

PingpongDingDong · 25/12/2015 07:52

Agree with Dipand tutor gave her confidence and hammered home the basics.

cleanmachine · 25/12/2015 08:13

How do you find a good tutor? My neighbour has a recent a level student (now at uni) tutoring. I think you should go for it op. If it doesn't work out you can always cancel.

user789653241 · 25/12/2015 08:34

I would definitely get my ds a maths tutor in the future.
Have you tried this?
www.khanacademy.org/computing/computer-science

ReallyTired · 25/12/2015 08:37

"It's interesting you say he came out with a 5c but had really bad teaching. If he got 3c or lower in Year 2 then he's done well. Any higher than 3c in Year 2 is questionable."

I don't know what sub level was in year 2. He had a level 3 and got a level 5 at primary. He was assessed as being 5c at the start of year 7 and put into the second set. (Secondary ignores SATs and retests.)

Learning maths is more than just levels. He left primary unable to do division, percentages or ratios. It's shocking that a child could get a level 5 in the old maths curriculum without a grasp of the basics by simply getting everything else right. The school failed it's OFSTED inspection quite dramatically. Ds primary taught to the test where as his secondary actually tries to teach Mathematical understanding.

OP posts:

minionwithdms · 25/12/2015 09:42

I would get a tutor - it really helped with my GCSE maths and definitely was a factor in me getting an A*. I didn't do further maths GCSE, but but the time I'd gotten to the end of Year 11 I was confident enough in my abilities to go on to do A-Level maths in sixth form. I didn't find the jump particularly difficult, but it does rely on you being very clear on the basics of GCSE like factorisation.

bestcatintheworld · 25/12/2015 12:54

I am thinking about getting a maths tutor for my daughter (Year 8). How many lessons are recommended - is one a week enough to see improvement?

FatherToddUnctious · 25/12/2015 13:11

I would get a tutor. DD struggled with Maths, and got a D in her mock GCSE. Sent her to a tutor once a week, he was a bloody genius, she would go in clueless about a topic and come out an hour later an expert in it! She got A* in GCSE and A-level and is doing her chosen course at Uni, none of which would have happened without his help. Go for it!

frazmum · 25/12/2015 13:33

Both DD's had maths tutors for GCSE's. It was well worth the money. Started 1 hour a fortnight then went to weekly closer to exams.

I'd recommend a teacher rather than uni student as they understand the syllabus. Try a couple of lessons and see if they get on. Both mine had the same lady who they found very helpful even though they learn completely differently. While it is more studying the girls felt 1 hour with her was equivalent to a few hours on their own.

rosaeva · 25/12/2015 16:21

My dad has had a tutor since age 4. The first one wasn't worth it, whereas second one has been great.

rosaeva · 25/12/2015 16:24

Dd!

Want2bSupermum · 25/12/2015 16:30

We are in the US and the teaching of Maths, science and comprehensive writing is awful. DD is 4 and she goes to a Saturday school in the next town over. Right now she just does maths and art. The art is actually the building blocks for their science and writing courses plus throws in world history. The Maths class is just concepts and logic.

I found this school through the charity work we do as the charity rents space out to the school. For a Maths tutor I would ask around. Tutoring here is about $75 (£50) per hour. Classes are $30 (£20) per hour. This is for all ages through high school.

knobblyknee · 25/12/2015 16:34

YANBU, please do it. If you dont then he will regret it when he is older and cannot do his computer science training.

Explain to him its essential and he'll just have to knuckle down to it whether he enjoys it or want to or not, because he cannot fulfil his ambition without a good grasp of maths.
You also need to explain to him that you dont want to be a hard ass but this is one case where its irrelevant whether he wants to do the extra classes or enjoys them or not. He needs to know you are on his side over his choice of a future.
You can reward him for effort and achievement in maths to give him another incentive. Thats how to help them achieve self discipline.

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