Confused about the government’s school tutoring fund

[Notcontent]

Funding is being provided for schools to hire private tutors. An article I read said that this would cost schools £12 per hour rather than the usual £50 per hour that a private tutor might cost.

What does that mean? Does it mean that schools will pay £12 and the government will pay the balance of the hourly fee? If that’s the case, it feels like a massive waste of money as surely it would be much cheaper to hire more teachers in normal contracts, maybe with some bonuses on offer as an incentive?

Teachers (on here at least) have rubbished the idea of working in the summer, so Gvt has no choice but to employ private tutors.

I'm not sure how many tutors will work for £12 an hour if that's what they're proposing mind; myself and lots of friends tutor and charge significantly more than that.

I bet they’ll propose using HLTAs. They’re much cheaper and it’s more their poor rate of pay.

Small group tuition would bring the price down from individual private tuition. It's easier to organise that through the school, who can put together children working at a similar level.

They’re going to get all those A level students who’ve deferred university entry. £12 an hour on your gap year isn’t bad ...

I think the way it works is that each school will get the money from the government. They then use it to hire tutors but the government money won't be enough to pay the tutors, so the schools will have to find the extra out of their normal funds. Not sure how this will work because most schools are running at a deficit, especially after the lockdown.

God only knows. We will wait and see what the eventual guidelines say!

I’ve no time for this government but this is a good idea. They can get some uni grads or A Level students in to do group summer classes.

@UmbrellaHat
Quite right that teachers aren't working the summer but that's beside the point as this funding is all for next school year. It's not for over the holidays.

It'll be small groups rather that 1:1. I wouldn't be surprised if it ends up like an old tutoring system from many years ago where they paid teachers to work extra hours after school. At least then it's qualified teachers who know the children's needs

The parents should be asked to make a contribution, whatever they can afford. Also business. This can help the schools out.

It's nothing to do with the summer holidays, the fund is supposed to be used to catch students up over the course of the next academic year. I won't hold my breath though, at my school we're still waiting for the laptops for disadvantaged children Gavin Williamson announced several weeks ago.

I'm a teacher who now does private tuition. I won't be working for 12 quid an hour!

You aren't going to get quality teaching at £12 per hour but honestly I think that's just a random comment from someone who doesn't have a clue.

The government don't know how it's going to work yet and based on their other initiatives they won't be giving much detail or co-ordinating the arrangements anyway.