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want to help kids but tutor too expensive

11 replies

AttilatheHen · 03/08/2010 20:35

The kids are about to start their exam years, and although they've done well so far, we all think that some extra help would be really, really useful. The only problem is the teachers are always busy, and tutoring is too expensive. Does anyone have the same problem and can they help?

OP posts:
belledechocolatefluffybunny · 03/08/2010 20:36

What year are they and what are the exams for?

pippop1 · 03/08/2010 20:37

Sometimes you can share a tutor with another child (if the tutor and child are willing) and the cost is halved.

AttilatheHen · 03/08/2010 23:28

belledechocolatefluffybunny - they're 15 and 16 starting their Scottish Standard Grade and Highers.

OP posts:
belledechocolatefluffybunny · 03/08/2010 23:29

Ahh, have you looked at the BBC web site?

scurryfunge · 03/08/2010 23:31

They are £20 per hour in my area. Is that too much?

Can you find a University student who could assist?

seeker · 03/08/2010 23:32

If they've done well so far, why do you think they aren't going to continue to do well?

girlylala0807 · 03/08/2010 23:34

Which highers are they doing? Where do you live?

oldmum42 · 04/08/2010 14:33

Hi Attila. My DC have just done SG and H (awaiting the results today!), and had some tutoring (what we could afford), but also we bought then the "HOW TO PASS...." book for each subject (How to pass standard grade chemistry/physics/maths etc etc). Amazon sells them cheap and has the full range. Only a few less popular subjects are not available.

These books contain everything your DC needs to know about each subject. They are really well set out too.

Past papers are available FREE to download from the SQA website (as I found out AFTER I'd bought them from Amazon!), and working through these is really valuable.

If you can, buy the course text book too (our school often shares the books between kids or photocopies bits, not much good for studying).

If you can find the money, a bit of targeted tutoring may be worth it - my DS2 (Dyslexic) had English and Maths tutoring for the whole of 4th year - one hour per week, per subject, and it made a huge difference to him. But it was tough to find the money at times. His Grades went from 4's to 2's in that time (his school just wasn't going to provide him with any extra provision despite his dyslexia).

I think there's a huge amount you can do for your DC's, while spending very little money (just the "how to pass" books), and I'd say the single most valuable thing you can do is do a little and often with them (or get them to do on their own), over the whole year. An hour a week on each subject (re-reading notes, going over the current topic), will do far more than a mad rush of cramming 3 or 4 weeks before the exams.

It is a bit of a drag at times, I admit, but I had both DS 1&2 tell me to "keep making me study or I won't"!

poppincandy · 05/08/2010 20:56

When I was at universtiy other students who had top marks in particular areas - maths and sciences (the one's I knew) tutored for £5ph GCSEs and 'A' levels. The advantages they know how to get the marks, they have up to date knowledge and they can talk to the teenagers.

oldmum42 · 06/08/2010 14:33

Poppincandy, £5 per hour???? my DS1's (really fabulous) Maths tutor is a Maths Phd student, and charges £20per hour! The going rate in this area £25 -£30per hr! The English tutor (a post -Doc student)was £15 for Standard Grades, £25 for Highers per hour last year.

poppincandy · 06/08/2010 18:56

Ok I'm either living in an under paid area, or prices have shot up in the last 4 years!!

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