Tag: online tuition

Tutor Talk: How to spot conscientious tutors.

Not all tutors are created equal.

It is well documented that private tuition is on the rise. The Guardian and Telegraph are among those reporting an increase in tutor requests, fuelled most recently by concerns over quality and continuity of learning during lockdown. While the tutoring sector was flourishing well before Covid-19, the emergence of so-called “Zutors” highlights how more families than ever are taking action to ensure their children don’t get left behind.

Inevitably, this has resulted in many new tutors jumping on the bandwagon. Tutoring can be especially enticing to those who want to make some quick money on the side: turn up online with an (e)-textbook, spend and hour talking through exam problems and voila, a side-hustle is born. I wish there were an easy way to prevent such slapdash practices. However, tutoring is an unregulated industry: consumers need to be informed and ensure they spend their time and money wisely on a tutor who will actually bring a benefit to their family.

If your tutor gives you an hour of their time and then clocks off, that is not good enough. Click To Tweet

Ask your tutor what support they will be providing alongside the tuition time itself. Experienced and high-quality tutors will be clear and upfront about this, because they understand the value of time, as well as the holistic nature of work required to make progress. To get good results, tuition needs to be carefully planned, so that you are actually paying for: preparation time (creating resources and tailored lessons for your child), the lesson itself, and any agreed follow-up activities (marking homework). Good tutors can assess what your child needs, realistically tell you how much time they will be able to invest in their tuition, produce what is needed to help them, communicate this plan clearly, and provide regular progress updates.

This personalised, dedicated time given to your child is exactly what gives private tutoring the potential to work wonders for esteem, confidence and attainment. When tutoring fails to be personalised and bespoke, you’re just paying for another hour of generic teaching, laden with the same compromises seen in whole-class tuition.

This is the first in a series of posts about finding the right tutor(s) for you and your family. These tips will be a useful checklist for you, regardless of whether or not you chose my own company (Tempus Tutors) for tuition. Make sure you see future posts by connecting with me on LinkedIn. Alternatively, subscribe to receive news updates from Tempus Tutors.

Your tutor needs to go the extra mile for you and your family, informed by good practice. The same principle applies whether your child is 8 or 18. Above is an example of best practice: at Tempus, A-Level students are invited and encouraged to complete additional essay plans outside of lesson time, which they are motivated to complete by our inspiring tutors. Unlike school teachers who have umpteen essays to process and mark at any one time, tutors at Tempus have the capacity to provide individualised feedback, linked to the specification, with personalised advice for further learning. It may look simple, but such high-quality feedback can take up to an hour to create, per pupil.

At Tempus, I (and the handful of carefully selected tutors I work alongside and manage) go the extra mile to create a bespoke tuition plan for each child. If you are looking for high-quality tuition from a qualified Oxford graduate in 2021, or know of someone who is, contact me today. I can offer subject-specific help, generalist tuition, Oxbridge preparation, interview practice and more. You can also forward this article to anyone who is in the process of finding a reputable tutor.

Chloe

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Chloe Bradshaw BA Hons (Oxon) MA

Online tuition during Covid-19

This is a concerning time for many parents, as children are likely to miss out on at least a term’s worth of their formal, structured education. Many schools have announced a switch to online learning platforms, but my observation of remote work set by schools so far has been that the standard of work is notably lower than would usually be expected. This could prevent students reaching their academic potential. In addition, while I believe that remote learning could encourage greater academic independence, the reality is that many students are struggling to achieve the same level of focus and learning as they would at school. There will inevitably be an enormous amount of pressure on students and teachers to ‘catch up’ when the current restrictions lift and schools resume. News outlets are now also reporting that restrictions may be cyclical, which would result in a lack of stability for students should schools need to switch repeatedly between physical and remote learning. All things considered, it is understandable that many are worried about maintaining the quality of their children’s education.

 

I have received an enormous increase in demand for online tuition over the past two weeks. I have summarised the services available below:

 

Tempus Tutoring Services

  • Subject tuition: Coverage of KS3 topics, 13+ or (i)GCSE/A Level/Pre U exam syllabuses. This is especially recommended for Year 10/12 students who may miss several terms of schooling before sitting their examinations next academic year. Note that some Year 11/13 Students may still need to sit their examinations in the UK.

  • Skills tuition: Tuition in reading, writing, science or maths to ensure that children do not fall behind, and that their ability continues to improve.

  • Support with remote learning: Many schools are switching to remote learning platforms. We can provide support with this, such as helping students keep on top of their work or providing weekly assistance to clarify topics that would ordinarily have been revisited in class.

As you and your family settle into a new school routine, do reach out if I can help. I have interviewed and brought on an increased range of tutors across academic subjects and hourly price points to help with increased demand. I personally vouch for the ability and reliability of each tutor, and where there are multiple subjects being tutored, I oversee the whole programme for ease of communication and planning.

Chloe