A level tutoring - Is it the norm ?

[LIZS]

Article in today's Sunday Times about intensive tutored courses at Easter. Am I being naive in thinking that for those attending such a school as Epsom College (private, academically selective if not highly, not cheap), or indeed any good secondary school, this should not be necessary to achieve a decent grade. I realise in the grand scheme of 15 years of education £350 or so is not huge if it gets the required result and secures a place on the desired course. However are these kids likely to be the ones who scraped in, perhaps with tutoring at 11/13+, or is this type of tuition rife amongst all abilities ?

I don't know how normal it is but it is certainly something I plan for my children at GCSE and A Level time. That said they are inner-city at a below average secondary (well, dd isn't there yet but should be following her brother there).

In my experience it is more about the meeting the parents anxieties rather than the students needs. If a student is really struggling at Epsom or equivalent, and is motivated, then the subject teachers will provide 1 to 1. The group revision courses are just a way of making sure that the teenagers have got out of bed and opened their books. So less about ability and more about motivation I think. If you do feel your child is struggling in an area, and you can afford the Epsom fees then 1-1 tuition has to be the way to go.

I don't think its the norm. I think schools sometimes do their own. Our school ran Easter revision classes for all Y11 students last year as well as May half term ones and I'm hoping they will do the same again this year for ds1 in Y12.

No. It's not normal.

Ds1 in the middle of his a levels. Tutoring wouldn't even occur to us. I would imagine that the school would be pretty fucjed off if we did

When considering his a levels ds1 met with the tutors of the subjects he was interested in taking. If he didn't get an a at gcse they were not convinced.
If they suspected he would not get an a at a level he would have had to persuade them that his taking the course was a good idea.
This factored in that most decent uni offers would be A A B minimum.
Having a predicted a level grade of less than an A means letters home and additional support and lessons.

I can't imagine why anyone with a child at Epsom would look outside the school if they were concerned about grades.

I was a bit about the article as one of the reasons given for the Easter courses was that it was too distracting to revise at home. By the Easter of year 13 you ought to know how to just get on with it or how will you manage at university? DD2 is in year 13 and if she needs help she goes to her teachers. I expect that she will be able to get her act together for serious revision over easter without me paying for it.

I know plenty of people who have paid for tutoring during A levels to boost grades but it does backfire if you then go on to fail your first year as soon as you have to manage on your own (In the case I know of the parents had to organise tutoring over the summer holidays to prepare for the exam resits).

My DD's (state) school ran Easter revision sessions for GCSE, none for A-level, I assume because by then you should know how to do it. They didn't/won't be going to these sort of courses, though I know of 1 girl who did do something like this in DD1's year (for A2's last year).

Like webwiz, I expect/expected that they revised successfully alone - if they have problems, they ask the class teacher. DD1 is in 1st year of medical school and DD2 has 2 offers so far, predicted all A's so I certainly don't think these courses are necessary. I'd be questioning how good the school was if the courses seemed essential to getting A's at A-level.

Interestting feedback. Can't imagine Epsom will be best chuffed at the family for going public !

I know a few parents at Epsom.
I will try to remember to ask if there was any fall out.

mine are only at primary but I already plan on sending them to easter crammers for a level or whatever they are called then. passing exams is half about exam technique and how to answer the question and I don't think half the secondary schools round here know the first thing about that (evidenced by their crap results). If they went to a good private school I'd assume they were getting taught that already tbh

My DDs State Comprehensive ran Easter revision courses for GCSE & A levels. They even did an intensive Maths weekend away that was great fun, not very expensive and immensly beneficial. All the Maths students went and raved about it - all planned in house by the teachers.

I will be eternally greatful to her fab teachers who were all prepared to give up their own free time, after school & in holidays for any child who wanted. They published topics that would be covered so you could choose what was relevant, but were always prepared to answer individual queries.

This was free at a fully comprehensive 10 form per year intake school (Deservedly Rated Outstanding). I would def. expect more from a private school and not expect to pay for private tutors.

I know a family with a Y13 pupil who has been tutored all this year in Physics (his weakest subject) and probably for longer than that in whichever subject they've thought he's needed extra help with. He's applied for medical school and so far has no offers. Family resigned to gap year and second round of applications. His AS results were good but not exceptionally so. He goes to an academically selective independent school, which he joined in KS3.

I also know a family with a boy at London Oratory who paid for tutoring for their son in Maths and Physics in the sixth form (and earlier, I expect). They felt it was money well spent as he made much more progress with the tutor. LO is nominally a comp but a very high-achieving one. He's now doing an engineering degree - don't know he's getting on.

I agree that there must be a concern how a student will manage at university once that prop has been withdrawn.

I don't personally know any children who have been on these courses from any sort of school, and I agree that by that age you would hope a child has the skills needed to revise effectively themselves. However, given that not all children do, I guess it stands to reason that parents who are already paying out for their children's education are more likely to pay out some more for this sort of thing if they feel it's needed.