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Original poster

how common is it for a state school to suggest parents use tutors?

31 replies

gunsnraisins · 30/09/2014 20:11

Only because one of the most respected state schools in our town seems to do just that.

Admittedly my sample size is tiny but the two people I know (work colleagues) with DC's at the school have ended up paying for extra tutoring to get the dc's higher grades. And this was suggested at parents evening by the teachers.

I was a bit surprised that the teachers were so pro-tutoring. Makes their exam results seem a little cheeky.

My DC's are still at primary level so maybe the whole world of tutoring is about to open up to us Confused.

OP posts:
littledrummergirl · 01/10/2014 07:43

Haggis,I have heard so much crap about ds1 school along those lines- they all have tutors, they are hot housed, they only qualified for that school after being tutored from yr 1, the teachers think the standard has dropped etc.

It has nothing to do with the engaged, motivated, encouraged, very intelligent dc that go there.

I dont know of any dc there that are getting extra tuition, and I have never heard a teacher suggest it.

I dont believe it is common at all.

Haggisfish · 30/09/2014 22:22

I don't think the schools ever 'get' parents to use them-the parents themselves decide on tutors to increase their child's chances-this then feeds the competitiveness within that school and it becomes the norm to have a tutor.

Haggisfish · 30/09/2014 22:20

Indeed. In fact, the teaching and marking is crap compared to the school I work in. However, so many parents use tutors in the other school that the grades are outstanding, and so their ofsted remains outstanding and so they have fewer inspections!

Original poster
gunsnraisins · 30/09/2014 21:19

I don't have a problem with tutors being used, I can see how they benefit children who needs the support. It's more when there's the possibility a good school is getting lots of parents to use them.

The school can't be half as great as it's cracked up to be if there's a lot of tutoring inflating results.

OP posts:
Coolas · 30/09/2014 20:17

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Haggisfish · 30/09/2014 20:13

If the teachers know that is what the majority of parents do, then they are right to mention it. Wouldn't happen in my school, but I know of another state school in the Cotswolds where every child has a tutor!

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