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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

Is it worth getting a maths GCSE tutor?

36 replies

MathsScience · 08/05/2018 23:08

Hi,

DS is coming to the end of Y10 and struggling with maths. Always been somewhat above average, but his grades are going down and he is getting quite frustrated.

Is it worth getting a GCSE maths tutor?
Any tips please on what to look for, I'm clueless?
Should we start looking now?

Thanks.

OP posts:

BackInTime · 10/05/2018 09:00

I think it depends a lot on your son OP. If he lacks confidence and motivation then his teacher telling him to go online will not work.

Original poster

MathsScience · 10/05/2018 22:31

Really appreciate all your interesting comments. Each one has brought out a "moot" point.

Not totally decided what to do, but at least have idea where to start now.

Thank you.

OP posts:

C0untDucku1a · 10/05/2018 22:40

Op youve said what the problem is already, he isnt putting in the work at home. There are loads of online maths programmes. You need to be monitoring his attitude towards his independent work. As in, making him bloody well do it.

You can tell him Blaming his teacher is no excuse as you can see for yourself he is not putting in enough effort.

And if he gets in that habit of blaming other people when he is so obviously not doing enough, he will fail. The new gcses are hard. So much content. The amount of work needed at Alevel, and independent work at that, will be beyond him as he will be stuck in bad habits.

Crack down time op. How much homework is he currently doing each night across all subjects?

Original poster

MathsScience · 10/05/2018 23:43

There is no need to swear at me. What you need to do Dracula is calm and get a grip re. your anger . You don't even understand what I have written. Goodbye.

OP posts:

C0untDucku1a · 11/05/2018 06:59

Hmm thats an interesting reply to a post telling you he is clearly not working hard enough and he is blaming other people for his lack of work. Im just going to assume it struck a nerve. Did you realised how little work he is doing across all subjects?

BackInTime · 11/05/2018 09:55

There are loads of online maths programmes. You need to be monitoring his attitude towards his independent work. As in, making him bloody well do it.

Self teaching maths through online programmes does not work for every child. If she only it were that simple we would not need teachers or tutors.

C0untDucku1a · 11/05/2018 17:47

It isn't self-teaching though is it? It is about repetition with maths once you've learnt the equations.

And op said her son isnt doing independpent work like he should be. He did it one weekend. So once? And i bet she is underestimating just how much independent study the brightest and most motivated student actually do every night.

It isnt too late to turn his grades around if he puts the work in. A tutor wont magically get him 7-9 if he doesnt put the work in himself.

In the school i work in, the vast majority year 11 students have been working either independently or in revision sessions from school end at 3 until 6 mon-friday for months. Then they continue at home. Some leave set sessions at 4.30 to go home to study. Some wont study independently. They wont do as well in their exams as they should. They are also in this weekend ready for the exams to start on Monday.

Like i said, There are 52 weeks left for the op’s son to get into a good working pattern. If he isnt used to it the op should help
Make sure he is working every night for a couple of hours. She should sit with him and go through the online programme he has been told to use this weekend. If he still can’t do it, phone school and explain he is struggling with maths and needs more guidance.

mummyeme · 11/05/2018 20:34

Dd has a maths tutor and if you can I can't recommend it enough. The tutor prepares her for the upcoming lesson and she goes into it feeling confident and is successful. She has really enjoyed her maths end of year exams this time (and that has never happened before). I think the confidence she's gained is having an impact on all of her study too.

CruCru · 11/05/2018 22:55

Hi OP

It may be worth talking to tutors now. The best ones round here all have a waiting list - so getting on the list now would mean that the tutoring would start in September / October.

farangatang · 12/05/2018 05:47

My DD was tutored by Tomek (university maths student) using the mytutor website. He helped her understand the basics of things she hadn't quite understood in KS3, without which she had no chance of accessing the KS4 curriculum. She moved from an E in Year 10 to a B in her Mock. She now has confidence in Maths, which is one of the most important things.

She put in the regular work and also attended maths revision sessions offered by school. She has spent far more time on Maths than any other subject but I doubt she could have done it without a 1:1 tutor. Cost was very reasonable and sessions flexible.

Despite 'quite liking' it by now, she is still celebrating that she never has to do it again after last Friday's final paper!!

mumsbeentoasda · 13/05/2018 07:03

This website is really good - a bit too ahead for your child in y10, but once in y11 will be invaluable.

I just realised this doesn't answer your question - yes, get a tutor and now so you have lots of time to build up your child's confidence and make sure all his topics are in place. I suspect that given your child's experience, having a tutor will be a boost to him emotionally, and academically.

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