A teacher charges £30/hr to tutor some of his own pupils, is it ok?

[rightvswrong]

A teacher at my ds' primary school has been tutoring 3 children in his class for a while now. Few of us, parents at the school, think it is tottaly wrong. What do you think?

[StealthPolarBear]

I will retract what I said if he is teaching a niche part of the subject, e.g he usually teaches history and they want to do something very specific and intense that wouldn't usually be covered.

"The limitations of time and curriculum mean that a teacher may very reasonably not be able to meet the needs of every pupil. If you have a student that needs intensive 1:1 tuition to improve their literacy, or numeracy,"

Surely the school should be meeting the needs of all pupils wrt basic literacy and numeracy? If not, they are failing.

[Xmasbaby11]

Well you should have put the salient information in your original post, OP. The teacher sounds unprofessional, definitely. I would not be happy.

[StealthPolarBear]

Your son is under the expected level for reading. We do not have the time and capacity to do anything about it. But hand over £30 and we'll have a go.

[rightvswrong]

PatsysDouble- I have great respect for teachers like you. A true educator.

thegreylady- "The fairness thing would apply whoever the tutor was surely.!" How is that?
Sunscorch- he seems to think that his customers are happy with him as well but that's not what they say behind his back.

Feenie- a leaflet? I will follow your thread with great attention :)

[Sunscorch]

Surely the school should be meeting the needs of all pupils wrt basic literacy and numeracy? If not, they are failing.

Yes, the school as a whole, by organising extra sessions, intervention programmes, and all that.
My point is that a child requiring extra help is not necessarily indicative of a teacher not doing their job properly.

[StealthPolarBear]

OK I think I see what you mean. If DS was faling behind I may well arrange private tuition for him on op of whatever the school was doing, without that being a comment on the school's abilities to deal with it.

[PatsysDouble]

Thanks Stealth :) And agree with you fully.

Sunscorch - indeed some kids might need a little extra help, but really on the whole they shouldn't. And the OP said 3 in the same class!

And (ignorant secondary teacher here) surely when you are seeing a class all day every day there should be time to do 1-3 work with them within the school day.

I struggle when I only see classes for an hour a week, but am available at break/lunchtime (my choice of course) and would never suggest to a parent that tutoring was needed.

[RandomMess]

To me as a parent it's just a complete conflict of interests.

If it's a pupil you teach then you give free tuition, or take paid work tutoring pupils from elsewhere.

[Sunscorch]

Sunscorch - indeed some kids might need a little extra help, but really on the whole they shouldn't. And the OP said 3 in the same class!

I'm talking generally, not about the mishmash of unprofessional nonsense the OP has come to talk about.

It is well within the realms of possibility that the class teacher, and the school's support system, is doing everything that they reasonably can do to support a child, but that it still isn't enough.
Or, that the parents just feel that it isn't enough, and want a little boosting for their darling little angels.

[rightvswrong]

Sunsroch- If a teacher spends most of his time playig around, on his compter, at least 25 mns before the bell rings he makes them stand up ready to go,....not much is done during school hours. Poor teacher he must be suffering with the other 29.............

[StealthPolarBear]

Op you are dripgfeeding here I think. If parent go to their child's teacher and say we know you're doing all you can there are just not enough hours in the school day but ee want you.to tutor our child after school, fine. A teacher suggesting this as a solution or touting for business amid current pupils, conflict of interest. Imo

[Sunscorch]

Sunsroch- If a teacher spends most of his time playig around, on his compter, at least 25 mns before the bell rings he makes them stand up ready to go,....not much is done during school hours. Poor teacher he must be suffering with the other 29.............

For the third time, I am talking generally. Not about this specific teacher.

[rightvswrong]

"It is well within the realms of possibility that the class teacher, and the school's support system, is doing everything that they reasonably can do to support a child, but that it still isn't enough.
Or, that the parents just feel that it isn't enough, and want a little boosting for their darling little angels." They haven't done everything that they reasonably can! In fact he hasn't done anything near reasonable so far. They spend all day with him doing nothing and are bored. Most of the children are above level4 already with many with level5 so he has all the time to work with the ones who need help yet he chooses to waste time.

[rightvswrong]

you seem to be very upset about it

[NeshBugger]

Am just surprised that such a weak teacher, in a school with excellent teachers abounding, is with year 6, a SATs year. Usually they get bumped to somewhere innocuous...like year 3

The big query for me would be over the head's leadership and commonsense - or lack of.

[Sunscorch]

Most of the children are above level4 already with many with level5 so he has all the time to work with the ones who need help yet he chooses to waste time.

Since you've ignored every single one of my replies about my posts not being about this specific teacher, I shall not be replying to you from now on. Anyone else, of course, I'll be happy to talk to about how I feel regarding tutoring.

Besides which, the part of the post I quoted in bold above demonstrates quite clearly that you have no idea how an inclusive classroom operates. The (good) teacher doesn't simply ignore the high-achieving children in order to focus on the lower-achieving kids. Good grief.

[NeshBugger]

And agree with other posters: why would any parent pay £30 a hour for tutoring from a teacher whose poor teaching had led to them paying £30 an hour!

[rightvswrong]

StealthPolarBear- Sorry I wasn't planning on going through all the details and I am new on this site so I am not used to the rules on MN. Actually I still don't know...
He told them that their children only need encouragement and confidence. They bought into it because the sats are coming up! They were invited to come and help at the school then they saw that the reality is different. They realised as well that their children need to know what they are learning not just go up a level or 2.

[rightvswrong]

I am going to be very patient here Sunscorch : HE IS IGNORING ALL OF THEM

[RandomMess]

There was a weak well terrible teacher at one of the dcs school, when she asked to go part time the head refused, teacher left huge relief all around. The head in question does sound spineless though.

[rightvswrong]

They had an excellent teacher last year and they all made a massive leap but this year they are all cruising.

Regarding the posts about why the are paying if he is usless? Panic about the sats, not knowing the system well, being convinced that it will build their confidence.

[rightvswrong]

Nesh- We were all horrified when w heard that he was taking yr6 this year. One mum even started a petition but not many were brave enough to sign it. One of his current customers was very happy to hear that news but now regrets it.

[3duracellbunnies]

Although maybe not ideal, I don't think I would have a problem if they were tutoring own pupil for e.g. 11+, common entrance, as these aren't included in curriculum, and teachers should be permitted to do things after school which involve children - music lessons, swimming lessons, scouts etc. Some teachers seem to click with some students and can access their motivation in a way in which others can't (but could with another child). Teaching the curriculum especially as he seems so poor is more questionable, and one would question who suggested the tutoring.

The thing that really intrigues me is the #10 the HT creams off, does she or the school keep the money? What is the money for - finders fee? Sounds as if they are doing the tutoring in child's home, so think this sounds excessive. If I was a good teacher in the school I would be annoyed that she was taking a third of the money for something I did in my spare time. A good incentive though to tutor children outside the school!

[Dustinthewind]

'Sunscorch- he seems to think that his customers are happy with him as well but that's not what they say behind his back. '

Then they are making exceedingly stupid choices, if they don't like the service they should be spending their money elsewhere. Really, to employ someone in such an important role, then bitch about it? Sack him as a tutor, that part you all have some control over.
This whole thread just sounds like playground mafia crap. Go and complain to those that have the power to change things, and take evidence with you. The rest is just a muttering campaign.

[Dustinthewind]

Parents of children tutored privately on school premises pay the tutor, and the tutor pays the school. In our school, it goes into the general school rental fund, along with the money from clubs that rent premises after school hours and at the weekend. So that's where I'd expect the £10 to go, not on gin for the head.