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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

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Original poster

how common is it for a state school to suggest parents use tutors?

31 replies

gunsnraisins · 30/09/2014 20:11

Only because one of the most respected state schools in our town seems to do just that.

Admittedly my sample size is tiny but the two people I know (work colleagues) with DC's at the school have ended up paying for extra tutoring to get the dc's higher grades. And this was suggested at parents evening by the teachers.

I was a bit surprised that the teachers were so pro-tutoring. Makes their exam results seem a little cheeky.

My DC's are still at primary level so maybe the whole world of tutoring is about to open up to us .

OP posts:

Haggisfish · 30/09/2014 20:13

If the teachers know that is what the majority of parents do, then they are right to mention it. Wouldn't happen in my school, but I know of another state school in the Cotswolds where every child has a tutor!

Coolas · 30/09/2014 20:17

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

gunsnraisins · 30/09/2014 21:19

I don't have a problem with tutors being used, I can see how they benefit children who needs the support. It's more when there's the possibility a good school is getting lots of parents to use them.

The school can't be half as great as it's cracked up to be if there's a lot of tutoring inflating results.

OP posts:

Haggisfish · 30/09/2014 22:20

Indeed. In fact, the teaching and marking is crap compared to the school I work in. However, so many parents use tutors in the other school that the grades are outstanding, and so their ofsted remains outstanding and so they have fewer inspections!

Haggisfish · 30/09/2014 22:22

I don't think the schools ever 'get' parents to use them-the parents themselves decide on tutors to increase their child's chances-this then feeds the competitiveness within that school and it becomes the norm to have a tutor.

littledrummergirl · 01/10/2014 07:43

Haggis,I have heard so much crap about ds1 school along those lines- they all have tutors, they are hot housed, they only qualified for that school after being tutored from yr 1, the teachers think the standard has dropped etc.

It has nothing to do with the engaged, motivated, encouraged, very intelligent dc that go there.

I dont know of any dc there that are getting extra tuition, and I have never heard a teacher suggest it.

I dont believe it is common at all.

redskybynight · 01/10/2014 09:28

Well it's not common at my DC's school.

Because most of the parents couldn't afford it.

I would imagine even the possibility of hiring a tutor is restricted to a fairly small cross section of society, so if it's prevalent in certain schools, they would likely be schools in very middle class (possibly with high proportion going to selective schools) type area.

Haggisfish · 01/10/2014 20:18

I'm not saying it is common at many state schools and, of course, well motivated and hard working students do well etc. I stand by my statement that it is fairly common at some state schools fir a lot of students to have tutors.

Haggisfish · 01/10/2014 20:19

And the school I'm thinking of us in a very wealthy area, yes.

tethersend · 01/10/2014 20:57

I'm an advisory teacher for Looked After Children, and one of the things we advise schools spend the Pupil Premium Plus money on is 1:1 tuition. It makes a significant difference to educational attainment.

The Sutton Trust/EEF toolkit is a useful resource when looking at the impact of tuition.

Coolas · 01/10/2014 21:18

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

tethersend · 01/10/2014 21:21

Well said, Coolas.

Haggisfish · 01/10/2014 22:41

I agree, coolas, I hope my posts don't suggest otherwise. I just wish more of my students could access 1:1 tuition.

Coolas · 01/10/2014 22:50

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MagratGarlik · 02/10/2014 10:27

Well said, Coolas.

I see tutoring as being support of what the school is doing, not a replacement. At primary level, schools encourage (and indeed, mostly expect) parents to do extra work with their dc at home to support the learning within school. It is well recognized that dc who receive this extra support at home progress faster than those who do not.

Then, come secondary school, many parents either don't have the subject knowledge, curriculum knowledge or sometimes, the time, to support their dc themselves anymore. Even parents who do have these find that teenagers, being teenagers don't want to learn from mum or dad, but are happy to have someone from "outside" coming in. By having someone coming in, dc can still gain that extra support and confidence from having dedicated 1-2-1 time with someone who knows the subject, the curriculum and importantly for teenagers, is not mum or dad. It is not about "hot-housing" or "training to pass exams" or "tutoring beyond their natural ability" (whatever that means), it is about providing dc with additional support, which will enhance their understanding and (I hope) enjoyment of the subject and importantly, supporting, not competing with the teacher's job.

ChillySundays · 02/10/2014 14:00

I would have thought that in general if the teachers are teaching properly there shouldn't be the need for tutoring - know there will be some exceptions
My DD needed tutoring for maths. This started after a change of teacher and guess what he was the best teacher

smokeandglitter · 02/10/2014 14:11

95% of my secondary school were tutored. I think schools should have to say how many of their students are. The teaching at school wasn't that great, especially in certain areas, but funnily enough there were loads of As because those with rich mummy's and daddy's (almost everyone) could afford to be tutored privately. Some of the things they learned out of class were not taught at school, same as exam technique etc.

Can you tell I'm bitter?

Coolas · 02/10/2014 21:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MumTryingHerBest · 03/10/2014 09:56

Coolas Whenever I have had parents ask if I think tutoring is a good idea, I always say yes. This is not the same as a school suggesting to the parents that they should use a tutor as per the OPs original post.

I do not think any school should suggest that parents should be paying for tutors. The tuition industry is unmonitored (as far as I am aware, happy to stand corrected if this is not the case) and requires no formal qualifications or training. In affect anyone can set themselves up as a tutor.

This is not to suggest that parents should not use tutors. I am using a tutor to prepare my DC for the 11 plus. However, the tutor I am using is a qualified teacher with many years experience teaching at secondary level. This tutor came on recommendation from a friend who had tried 6 different tutors until they found one they felt comfortable with.

To give an example of just how bad some tutors are, one of them gave my friend's DC work sheets to go through and then went off to prepare their evening meal. The DC spent the better part of an hour working alone in a room. The tutor gave little to no assistance in working through the questions that the DC was unable to answer or answered wrong and simply gave the answers to the parent to go through at home. This mistake cost the parent £50 as it took two weeks (two sessions) for the DC to highlight that this was happening - This is money many simply can't afford to waste.

MagratGarlik · 03/10/2014 13:57

The tuition industry is unmonitored (as far as I am aware, happy to stand corrected if this is not the case) and requires no formal qualifications or training. In affect anyone can set themselves up as a tutor.

This is the case. However, the Tutors Association (TTA) was set up to try to counteract this. Therefore, a good starting point is choosing a tutor who is a member. They check qualifications, references (from both clients and personal references) and DBS checks. This means that, whilst parents should always check for themselves the qualifications, experience and DBS of any tutor they plan to use, this has already been done externally too. All members of the TTA also sign a code of ethics that amongst other things, they won't recommend tutoring where they see there is no need and they won't carry out homework/assignments for students. Personally, I am always happy for parents to sit in on lessons if they desire and certainly stipulate that tuition only occurs in a communal area of the house where another adult is readily available.

I have to say, I have taught at both University level and secondary level and both require a completely different skill set to 1-2-1 tuition. Being a qualified teacher therefore doesn't necessarily make a decent tutor and some children will benefit from taking an approach which is different to that taught in schools.

MumTryingHerBest · 03/10/2014 14:44

MagratGarlik This is the case. However, the Tutors Association (TTA) was set up to try to counteract this. Therefore, a good starting point is choosing a tutor who is a member.

Thank you for this information. I had a look at their web site: thetutorsassociation.org.uk/

Unfortunately the web site is in no way geared towards assisting someone looking to use a tutor (only had a quick look so I could be wrong). There is no indication as to how many members it has. There is no search facility for finding a local tutor who is signed up to the code of conduct. Given that it was only launched 8th of October, 2013, I do wonder what the likelihood is of actually finding a local tutor who is a member.

MagratGarlik · 03/10/2014 15:07

It's worth asking tutors if they are members (particularly if they don't have QTS). I know some tutors include the info on their websites etc, but you are right, there is no search facility yet. I think it might be something to suggest to them

I am a member and I've requested that the tutors that I employ are also members too. I will be looking to move to corporate membership soon, but not yet.

smokeandglitter · 03/10/2014 16:16

Coolas Thanks - I am pregnant and in a lot of pain in hips and joints due to pre-existing hypermobile joints so barely sleeping. Obviously I am not stupid and know the basic rules of the English Language but haven't been checking all my posts on mumsnet. I will make sure to do so from now on.

lostintoys · 03/10/2014 18:07

Haggis - is that school in the Cotswolds where everyone is tutored a primary or a secondary?

Haggisfish · 04/10/2014 02:34

Secondary. It wouldn't surprise me if the feeder primaries were the same though!

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