Busting 4 Common Concerns About Private Tuition

Busting 4 Common Concerns About Private Tuition

by Temi Kamson

Parents are becoming increasingly concerned about widespread cuts to our education system, so it’s no surprise that reports show that more children than ever are using private tutors.

Headteachers have warned that this boom in private tuition isn’t just causing the market to spiral out of control but could negatively affect children. But at GT Scholars, we wondered how relevant their concerns are:

1. Private Tuition is Extending the Gap Between Rich and Poor Children

Previously a private tutor was considered something purely for affluent middle-class families, but the recent explosion in after-school tuition is down to families with a more modest income.

Growing fears that gifted and talented children are not being challenged at school mean that parents on low incomes and ethnic minority families are making significant sacrifices to give their children access to private tuition.

If anything,g the use of private tutors could give underprivileged children a better chance to gain equal footing. There have now been calls for means-tested tuition assistance to benefit everyone involved.

2. Private Tuition Cay Harm Children’s Confidence

Many headteachers have come out against private tuition by insisting that extra studying, mainly using a home tutor, can dent a child’s confidence and put increased pressure on them.

But it would seem that students, particularly those with a growth mindset, actually find that time spent with a private tutor increases their confidence. Additionally, many go on to achieve higher grades than predicted.

3. Tutoring Cost Are Starting to Spiral Out of Control

Many headteacherclaimng that because home tuition is an unregulated industry, prices will skyrocket as demand increases.

Indeed, prices at more high-end tutoring services, such as Holland Park Tuition, have risen to as much as £58 an hour. However, most private tutors are more affordable.

The Good Schools Guide advises that the average cost of a private tutor per hour is £40, with some private tutors starting their prices at just £15 per hour.

4. State Schools Are Perfectly Able to Offer Extra Tuition

Some headteachers are concerned that private tutors could take advantage of parents concerned for their children’s education.

They’re apprehensive that less-affluent families are spending money they don’t have when most schools have access to a “pupil premium”. This can be used to help fund extra one-to-one tuition for deprived pupils.

However, parents have found it difficult to arrange this extra tuition. Additionally, many headteachers have admitted that schools cannot always give children the individually tailored help they need. Overall it would seem that while headteachers’ fears aren’t entirely unfounded, worries that the private-tuition industry has spiralled out of control may be premature.

The GT Scholars programme works with young people from various backgrounds. The programme helps young people gain excellent grades at school, get into top universities and enter competitive careers.

We charge means-tested fees to ensure youth in frolower-incomeme homes can access our programmes. To learn more about how we support young people through our courses, workshops and programmes, visit www.gtscholars.org.

Temi Kamson
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