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Why might my child need a tutor?

When it comes down to it, there are 5 main reasons why parents think of getting a tutor for their child:

1. Because their child is struggling in a subject (or subjects) and is falling behind. 

2. Their child isn’t challenged enough by the work covered in class. 

3. Parents want to make sure that there aren’t any gaps in their child’s learning.

4. Because their child isn’t very confident with their schoolwork.

5. Their child needs certain grades to get a place at university.

The first reason is the most common and is how lots of people think tuition should be used. 

How to find out if your child needs a tutor

Even if some of those reasons above ring true for you, every child is different. So to help you decide what’s right for your child, here are some questions to ask yourself:

See if their approach to learning is holding them back

• Are they keeping up with class averages in school tests?

• Are they too shy to speak up in lessons?

• Do they not have confidence in their subjects?

• Are they working hard but not moving forward?

• Do they struggle with their homework? (And do you feel like you can’t help?)

• Has their teacher recommended that they get extra help?

• Is your child bored or disruptive in class? (can be a sign of frustrated cleverness or not understanding the material covered)

Find out what barriers there may be at school

• Are their classes too big to get 1-1 help?

• Do their teachers stay the same or do a lot of staff leave after a short time?

• Are lots of children at their school getting tuition?

• Can your child get extra help at school, if they need it?

The answers to these questions should paint a picture of how well they’re getting on with their studies and what kind of help the school can offer them. 

Here’s a quick look at the main types of tutoring available in the UK now.

1. Online tuition – with these services, you can choose from a huge range of tutors for 1 to 1 sessions – so there’s a better chance to find a tutor who’s right for your child. And it’s flexible (since no one has to travel) making it a great fit for busy families.

2. Agencies – these are organisations that match you with local, in-person tutors. They’re expensive and hyper-local (so if you live in the countryside, it might be really hard to find someone).

3. Independent tutors – these are tutors who offer tuition outside of an organising body. They can be ex-teachers who are hard to come by and often fully-booked. Like all in-person services, children can find sitting side-by-side with tutors in their homes a bit awkward (especially when there’s a big age gap there).

4. Tuition centres – these places run small-group tuition outside of school hours and on weekends. They’re pretty cost-effective but the content and teaching isn’t tailored to each student.

5. Online directories – these are websites where independent tutors can advertise their services, like Gumtree. There are few/zero quality checks so you’ll have to do lots of research if you go down this route. Some charge you for tutors’ contact details.

There are lots of different things to think about when looking for a tutor. More and more parents are using online tuition, because it’s flexible (saving them time on travel) and it’s cost-effective.

Picking a tutor can be something parents struggle with. But it comes down to 5 basic questions:

1. Is it someone your child will engage with? It’s important for your child to get on with their tutor. They’ll want to feel comfortable asking their questions so they can fill in their learning gaps and grow.

2. Is the tutor good at communicating? Teaching qualifications aren’t always the best measure of how well they’ll get through to your child.

3. Does the tutor have a good understanding of the exam board/topics being taught? Again, qualifications alone aren’t always enough. Ask how up-to-date the tutor is with curriculum.

4. Is it someone YOU can work with? Is the tutor able to fit into your family schedule? Will you have to be on-hand to drive somewhere or will you feel like you have to tidy the house whenever they come round? Do you have control over when lessons take place? How easy is it to reschedule (life happens!). Are they in your budget? Does their communication style work for you?

5. Is the tutor trusted by other parents? To feel confident about a tutor, it helps to hear about how good they are from other parents. You might be referred to a local, in-person tutor by a friend. Or if you’re thinking of online tuition, you can see lots of reviews left by parents like you on tutors’ profiles. 

Why Choose The Online Geographer as a tutor?

1. The Online Geographer has worked as a classroom teacher for over 3 decades delivering engaging lessons across the full 11-18 age range catering for pupils with a

wide range of educational needs.

2. He has a teaching style that enables pupils to take ownership of their own learning, ask questions and feel confident in their ability.

3.  He has experience of all major exam boards across GCSE and A level both as as a teacher and as an examiner.

4.  Retired from classroom teaching, the Online Geographer can offer a flexible timetable to suit both homeschooled pupils and those in mainstream education.

5.  He has a long list of 5-star rated reviews by both parents and past pupils.

Private School Fees or Private Tutor?

Do you send your child to a private school and are you concerned about the forthcoming General Election and Labour’s plan’s to levy VAT on school fees? If school fees become prohibitively expensive, what options do you have? I suggest you read the following article and evaluate the benefits of state education coupled with the support of a private tutor. Please contact me for further support, particularly if you have a child in the middle of GCSEs or A levels studying Geography. 

Read the full article here.

The Demise of the Subject Specialist

Did you know that Geography is rapidly becoming a shortage subject in schools? With more and more students opting for Geography, attracted by its relevance to the modern world and transferable skills which make Geography graduates highly sought after, and increasing numbers of Geography teachers leaving the profession, more and more students are facing their GCSE and A level exams without a qualified subject specialist. Last year, only 56% of Geography vacancies were filled by a specialist teacher. Across the whole profession, over 40,000 teachers left last year, amounting to 9% of the workforce. Whilst being taught by a non-specialist may be fine in the short term to ensure pupils gain knowledge, in the long term they are being poorly equipped with the evaluative and decision-making skills needed to help them access top grades. In some specifications this knowledge recall may amount to just 15% of the assessment. If what I am saying strikes a chord, don’t leave your son or daughter’s geographical education to chance and employ a specialist geography teacher who can ensure that they are as prepared as they can be for their exams. I have over 30 years of experience in teaching and examining geography and I can help students structure the best possible answers to access those elusive top grades. Call now before it’s too late.