Do you need external tuition if going to independent school ?

[mrsmbuble]

Hello there, just wondering how many parents rely on extra external tuition to support their children through independent schools.

We are thinking of taking the plunge but not sure what additional costs would be involved outside of fees.

No. Never.

Tbh, if your child needs tuition then either they are either completely in the wrong school or the school is crap.

If I needed to pay for tuition on top of my £13,000 plus per year I would be pretty fucked off.
None of my children have ever had a tutor.

Who on earth told you that?

You shouldn't have to.

I know one family who had a bit of extra tutoring for 11+ for their DD, but that was because they wanted to be absolutely sure of her getting a residual place at an out-of-area grammar.

What pag said

Once they are at the school, you shouldn't need tutors - like Pagwatch said, if they need help to deal with normal schoolwork, they are either in the wrong school for them or the school is bad and you should move.

The only exception I can think of is if your child has a recognised learning difficulty and needs extra support at school, eg for dyslexia, in which case the school may charge you for the extra support as obviously they can't tap into the local authority system for that.

This isn't an independent school question, really. The crux of it is whether it is ever a good idea to enter your DC in a school where they are likely to struggle to keep up.

Not all independent schools are highly academic. The sector caters for all sorts. I suggest you take an honest look at your DC's strengths and weaknesses, talents and favourite subjects, and try to find a school which is a good fit (whether independent or state).

I agree with meditrina. We are currently looking at independent schools that specifically do not select academically and support all sorts of children, not just academic ones. These schools do exist.

My daughter is at an independent prep school and we have just gone through the 11+ process for independent secondaries. Nearly everyone in our year has tutored on top of the prep school fees. We didnt. A lot of parents in this situation seem to push their kids into more academic schools then they should really be going into. Goodness knows how the kids will keep up over the years!! We didnt tutor (as the fees we pay seem huge and already enough!!) and feel that we have got our DD into the correct school!! However it is such a strange process as we see kids of middling ability getting into the most academic schools.. such an eye opener.

Thanks all. I don't really know anyone who has kids at independent secondary school yet as we are all primary stage at the moment. Friends with dc at ind primary schools have told me that is par for the course in some subjects and think I am foolish and unrealistic to think otherwise. Nieces and nephews at state secondary schools have generally all had some kind of tutoring for some subjects somewhere along the way, usually at GCSE and A Level stage. I always have arguments with family about this as I think the kids are pushed too much by the parents but that is another thread altogether.

I agree with you and don't see the point of spending more money when you are already forking out. Presumably if your child needs it there is enough support available at the school itself in terms of extra lessons, clinics, etc for you not to ever need a tutor.

If you think you're child might need SEN support, check carefully what the school actually offers - if you have a need for tutoring beyond what can be provided in-house then you might have to pay for it to be bought it (non-state schools cannot automatically access central provision from LEA as state schools can).

There is a school of thought that if your dc needs tuition to pass the entrance exam for an independent school they will continue to need it to keep up with the rest of the class.
In many state schools the teachers may spend extra time with pupils who are having difficulties but in many independent schools they may charge for any "extra" teaching.

My kids are only in independent prep where if their are kids struggling, they are given extra tuition in morning 'clubs' such as Magic Maths etc - all free of charge! Any costs of 'extra teaching' as raised by crazymum, would make me about the school to be honest.

I am in a grammar area but would never dream to pay for tutor. They do enough at prep and at home too.

If they are coming from a state primary then I wouldn't dream of not tutoring for an academic school.The state primaries simply don't cover the ground that the preps cover and in order to give my child a fair chance then I see it as vital. It's nothing to do with them being unable to keep up once they get there, a decent tutor with a good track record of getting state school children through independent school exams will assess the child and give the parents a realistic idea of whether the child is suitable for the schools being considered.