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Secondary education

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Original poster

Tutoring an able child

37 replies

RoundTheBloch · 14/11/2023 13:10

I'm just musing really. Is there any point in tutoring an already academic child, not for entrance exams etc?

DC is yr 8 and very able/top sets etc in all subjects. But in maths in particular I feel a bit more time or focus would help her to reach her potential. I know there are a lot of ifs and buts at her age, but the school reports suggest she is working towards a potential 8 at GCSE. Homework is always done, but no actual work/textbooks come home to learn from it's all online quizzes etc, and having never struggled I feel there is a lot of coasting going on... But then, I don't want to be an overly pushy parent either and she is doing brilliantly already. I'm not sure how much benefit a potential a small grade increase would give?

Is this a thing people do?

OP posts:
froginawell · 14/11/2023 13:15

I did for ds1, who was doing very well anyway, but I felt like he could do with some support to keep on track.

Tutor was lovely but a bit bemused (he'll get an 8 anyway... but it's your money type of comments)

We did 6 months, I think it helped set the idea that you can always improve and work harder, which has carried ds1 through into adulthood.

Jellycats4life · 14/11/2023 13:19

You’ve asked the key question - what is to gain from increasing a grade 8 to a 9?

Not much, I’d say. Far better to coast a little than push a child into burnout.

Besides, they’re only in year 8. There’s plenty of time for the school to to ramp up homework expectations, surely? In year 8 I’d be glad to see the school keeping it manageable.

MadKittenWoman · 14/11/2023 13:19

I wouldn't say it's usual, but if she wants to go on to do maths at A level leading to a degree subject at a university that requires an A* then it may be a good idea as prep. My DS missed out on his first choice university as he only got an A. Depends whether she would enjoy it or not.

MrsBennetsPoorNerves · 14/11/2023 13:20

My dd is a tutor. She tutors a few very able children and one quite exceptional one. She thinks that most of them seem to really benefit from it, though she thinks the mother of the exceptional one is far too pushy!

For some, it's about making the most of their natural abilities. For others, it's more about building confidence.

Original poster
RoundTheBloch · 14/11/2023 13:22

Thank you. That is the way I am thinking, that actually doing your best has benefits, even if it isn't your favourite thing (she doesn't dislike it, but leans more towards other subjects). She does have a long running hobby she spends a lot of time on out of school so the concept of "practice" will hopefully stick from that. There is a bit of a difference between something purely of your choosing and a core subject you have to study at school though. I think she'd be happy to do it, but you're right, homework will ramp up at school naturally and maybe there isn't enough benefit.

OP posts:
ErrolTheDragon · 14/11/2023 13:24

It might depend on why she's not currently achieving her potential (if that is indeed the case). At yr 8 it might be not properly understanding a few things (my dd got temporary stuck because her teacher managed to totally confuse her about basic trig, rectified by me in about 10 minutes on the back of a napkin). Or it might be that she's a bit slapdash and prone to silly errors - that can affect good mathematicians doing 'easy' stuff, not sure if tutoring would help with that.

At this stage I suppose it might make a difference to which maths set she's in for GCSEs and whether she's able to do gcse FM if it's available at her school.

RoseAndRose · 14/11/2023 13:26

I wouldn't tutor regularly, but I would look for holiday activities - eg coding/logic/maths, that will seem like fun, not deliberate enrichment.

CurlewKate · 14/11/2023 13:26

No.

lanthanum · 14/11/2023 13:29

Schools are often reluctant to forecast 9s, so "on course for grade 8" may actually mean "on course for at least grade 8".

MaryJanesonabreak · 14/11/2023 13:31

The problem with coasting is that she might benefit from learning how to apply herself to something she finds difficult.
The middle of the road ‘plodders’ don’t expect everything to be easy and are used to working for their results.
I don’t think it would hurt your academic able child to learn some useful study skills for confidence in the things that don’t come easily.

ErrolTheDragon · 14/11/2023 13:33

A possible downside might be if she starts to feel she's under pressure to get 9s across the board.

Grimbelina · 14/11/2023 13:37

It really depends on whether she is a child who likes/wants/needs to be stretched. If she is and you don't tutor you can run into problems of de-motivation, coasting, not really developing the resilience you need to get further in subjects, especially at A level. If she is happy where she is, then I wouldn't interfere.

You really need to be led by the child.

Original poster
RoundTheBloch · 14/11/2023 13:41

lanthanum who knows, and obviously I understand it is far too early to make real predictions. I think I need to up my own maths game though, it took me far longer than it should to decipher the school-specific assessment figures they make you work for it 😆

"The problem with coasting is that she might benefit from learning how to apply herself to something she finds difficult.
The middle of the road ‘plodders’ don’t expect everything to be easy and are used to working for their results.
I don’t think it would hurt your academic able child to learn some useful study skills for confidence in the things that don’t come easily."

This is where I'm coming from...
It's not a criticism of DD or her school, but as a previous school 'coaster' myself, I know that it doesn't last forever and it's better to learn to struggle sooner rather than later.

I don't think she will be expected to get or achieve straight 9s, but you're right I do worry about getting the balance right and not piling on pressure.

Thanks all, lots to think about, I appreciate it 😊

OP posts:
Ebtsaqt · 14/11/2023 13:53

Is the 8 predicted from sats results? So more a target.
I think an 8 is fine, but depend on if doing maths for alevel

Pinkback · 14/11/2023 13:54

Yes

DogLegMotor · 14/11/2023 14:01

I always thought year 8 was a bit of a coasting year anyway. I would probably leave it until year 9 and assess again. I think the main thing to get across to your DD now is how important it is to apply yourself even to things you don't necessarily enjoy. She is there to learn stuff, hopefully enjoy it too but that is not the goal. No one is there with a sheet at the end of GCSEs asking if you enjoyed it. Let's be honest the goal is the highest grade she is capable of achieving but she is a while off that. She is doing everything school asks and doing well so for now, year 8, I would leave it unless her maths starts to slip.

Original poster
RoundTheBloch · 14/11/2023 14:04

Ebtsaqt · 14/11/2023 13:53

Is the 8 predicted from sats results? So more a target.
I think an 8 is fine, but depend on if doing maths for alevel

No, it's based on their own assessments throughout the year and the autumn term report. They are at pains to say it's not actually a prediction, but children working at x level are on track for y at GCSE if they work hard etc. She scores at the upper end of the class on assessments (or so she tells me), and is set 2 of 14(!) in her large year group. They are following the same scheme of work as set 1 which is a very small group.

I don't know, but if I had to guess now I'd say she would chose other a levels rather than maths.

OP posts:
JustWingItLifeEyelinerEverything · 14/11/2023 20:12

I cannot say if it is good for your child, dear OP but my certainly able child absolutely benefits from and enjoys his tutoring. He asks his tutor about topics that he finds interesting or he didn't quite catch or he simply enjoys. Also, she expands his horizons beyond what is in curiculum.

DibbleDooDah · 14/11/2023 20:13

Personally I think you’d be utterly bonkers.

Your DD is in Y8 and early indications are she’ll get an 8 at GCSE…… in a subject she will almost certainly not take at A-level. How is that any kind of “failure”?

It will cost lots of money and take away homework time for studying for subjects they ARE really interested in. I feel there’s far more to lose than there is to gain.

If she is struggling with a particular concept or issue then it’s a different story. Give her the help she needs.

mondaytosunday · 14/11/2023 20:16

I did - one non academic one very academic. Essential for the former, and for the latter it was for gcse for a bit of math (her weakest subject) and English (her best). Not intense just one session a week. The one on one helped her with math for sure, and the English was more coaching in exam technique.

Original poster
RoundTheBloch · 14/11/2023 20:27

DibbleDooDah · 14/11/2023 20:13

Personally I think you’d be utterly bonkers.

Your DD is in Y8 and early indications are she’ll get an 8 at GCSE…… in a subject she will almost certainly not take at A-level. How is that any kind of “failure”?

It will cost lots of money and take away homework time for studying for subjects they ARE really interested in. I feel there’s far more to lose than there is to gain.

If she is struggling with a particular concept or issue then it’s a different story. Give her the help she needs.

Thank you, I probably am bonkers to be fair 😆

I really, really haven't said or implied (or even thought) anything about failure though, come on. I'm just trying to think through the best overall approach to her education and general wellbeing.

I do get your point though and appreciate the opinion, it's why I asked.

OP posts:
DibbleDooDah · 14/11/2023 20:59

@RoundTheBloch OK, “failure” is probably a bit of an harsh choice of word, but WHY would you tutor otherwise? Only 7% of children get an 8 in GCSE maths. Between 4 and 5% get a 9. An 8 would be a blooming brilliant achievement.

Mumsnet is full of people who recommend tutoring. Think about the motivator for it. We all want our children to be successful, but the responsibility for learning needs to come from them.

I have two very academic daughters who have never been tutored and are both excelling. If they leave school with a bunch of 7, 8s and 9s I will be immensely proud. It would never cross my mind to pay someone to try and improve on that.

BuyStuff · 15/11/2023 07:40

We got a tutor for our dd in science when she was in year 9. She was predicted a 7 at the time but I felt she didn’t grasp some of the basic concepts. She’s now year 11 and although her predicted grades in the 3 sciences is still a 7, she’s much more confident. And comes out with 9s in a lot of tests. Mocks are in a couple of weeks so we’ll see what happens!

WrongSwanson · 15/11/2023 07:45

DS.does.have some tutoring despite being top of the top set, partly just because he was being switched off by finding some lessons too easy. It's a tutor who also teaches at his school and they just have fun once a week exploring topics in more depth.

However I don't wish to hothouse him and as someone who was academic myself I do try to ensure we invest in developing other skills so he does sports too and also has plenty of downtime, he likes gaming with friends and playing board games

If a child is very bright they can probably fit in some tutoring if they wish as they are probably getting through the homework faster than others

Curman · 15/11/2023 10:17

For my able child I got tutoring to develop depth of skill and interest in his favourite subject. Nothing to do with exams. Clearly this is a luxury but a wonderful thing and I think equivalent to if they had a really involved and encouraging teacher (which he didn’t!)