to not bother with tutors

[samupnorth]

This is going to sound awful and perhaps it is but I don't mind being told IABU so don't hold back, I'm looking for objective opinions. DD is dyslexic and generally uninterested in academic work, she is intelligent and capable in other areas in her life but does not intend to do A levels or go to uni. She wants to go down the vocational route and DH and I support her in this. She is currently at college pursuing a vocational course alongside English and Maths GCSE. We spend a massive amount of money on an English and Maths tutor for her and while we can just about afford this, it is a little bit of a struggle.

YANBU - give up the tutors as it is unlikely to have a massive effect on her academic grades.

YABU - continue with tutors as she deserves and needs all the help she can get academically.

She needs a 4 in English and Math - will she get that without the tutors? That's your answer. Many vocational courses allow resits and teach math and English for those who didn't pass.

Thank you for replying, yes I'm fairly confident she will achieve a 4 i both subjects with no tutors.

What is her predicted grades in maths and English? Does she feel she needs tutor support?

Does she actually need to do GCSE maths. Would essential skills be enough?

No predicted grades yet. She wants to stop tutor lessons but has never been very motivated when it comes to anything involving formal learning.

How much are you spending roughly. It might be worth getting a tutor but spending a little less. I do know someone who specialises in english and maths gcse and does it quite cheap and is quite good at getting kids interested.

I can forward the contact if you like

She is currently at college pursuing a vocational course alongside English and Maths GCSE.

So essentially she failed both these GCSEs at school? Otherwise she wouldn't be studying them again at college.

If she was mine, yes she would be having the tutoring as it's not as certain she will pass if just left to it. But you could always invest in the tutoring up to the point of "mocks" and see how she goes, if she does well in those exams you could agree to stop then?

My dc is having tutoring in English as he is very bright but autistic and struggling with some of the aspects of the English exam. I don't want him to fail and have to resit so we think the additional expense is worth it. It's not about being academic or not, it's using our resources to avoid having to waste time retaking it when there are subjects he's more invested in that he wants to study in sixth form.

I would continue. I’m confused as to why you think she will achieve a 4 without a tutor when she has already ‘failed’ once and college hasn’t given you a predicted grade.

The percentage of students who don’t get a grade 4 in maths and or English in Y11 who then go on to achieve this at resits is extremely low. Why are you confident she will get a 4 on the resits when most students don’t?

I think you need an objective measure of how she is doing. If she is not academic then a pass at 4-5 in both subjects is the hurdle she needs to jump to open up access to lots of futures opportunities. It’s of little additional benefit for her to get a 6. Has she failed them once and retaking at college or is she doing vocational qualifications in KS4?