Are you weighing the pros and cons of getting a private tutor for your child? Do you find yourself hoping that the school your child goes to will be enough to help your child get the best possible grade?
With English and Maths being the core subjects many young people across the country struggle with these subjects because these subjects have more content to cover and they demand more complex and challenging skills than the non- core subjects. In addition GCSE English, is a two GCSE subject - English Literature and English Language that is the equivalent as two GCSE subjects with 2 external exams in each.
You might have noticed that your child losing confidence as their grades in Maths or English drop at school. This downward spiral can begin anywhere from Year 7 to 11. I say, downward spiral because once the grades begin to slide from year to year, it becomes increasingly difficult to catch up because with each year the skills and knowledge in each of these subjects increases and so too does the demands of that subject. Hence, young people begin to feel hopeless and more stressed.
Why the teaching and learning in the school classroom is not enough to help your child?
The truth behind the walls of the average classroom at secondary in the UK is an eye opener for any parent. Teachers, we might not know, have an extraordinary workload and are under much stress and pressure to get results. With an average of 25 students in each classroom, the demands of teaching and learning become a juggling act!
When you imagine a 50 minute lesson at school, you are sure that your child is getting at least 40 of those minutes quality teaching and learning time. Think again!
The first 5-10 minutes would be lost by the teachers' attention directed at settling the students into the lesson, taking the register, dealing with latecomers, engaging in a verbal tug of war about what the student should not be doing and what they should be focused on instead (this very conversation plays itself out in every lesson and at least 5-10 times in every lesson). At the same time the teacher is attempting to explain the lesson focus and lesson tasks to those that are listening. Which one of the behaviours described above could be your child?
Lets say that this is done in 10 minutes; the next 10 minutes are usually focused on teaching and learning led by the teacher. Finally we think! Some students will be following closely and fully engaged in with the learning, asking questions and getting one to one verbal feedback from the teacher. The majority of students will be listening but not asking questions or not clarifying instructions while some who are disengaged will not be doing what is expected from the teacher. Which would you hope from the actions described is your child?
The next 15 minutes, would mean that the students have to work with the new knowledge and skills just taught in that lesson to complete the main learning task in that subject. The teacher will either be checking some of the students' work as the class of 25 students progress with the independent task and provide feedback, or the teacher's attention might be caught by misbehaving students or students that have not completed or even attempted the tasks for that lesson.
The teacher could not have possibly covered the whole class right!
How does your child who has the potential to achieve a grade A* or A** catered for? Lets say some time for stretch and challenge was planned for by the teacher in 50% of the lessons! Would this be focused and supported enough to equip your child with the more complex skills, deeper learning and higher order cognitive skills that is required for the A*/A** grades?
The next 10 minutes would usually be used to recap and check the knowledge and skills learnt in that lesson and also link this with previous learning and future learning.
If your child was lost at the start of the lesson, where would they be now at the end of the lesson? Again, the teacher would be pressed for time to check the learning and at the same time explain the homework task or check the previous homework task of all students in the classroom. If homework tasks were not done then the teacher would have to spend some time dealing with those students setting detentions and recording names for phone calls home.
The final 5 minutes would be used to pack up and take a few more questions about the classwork or other school related matters. The teacher would also perhaps use this time to wrap up the learning and introduce the next lesson's focus. If your child was feeling despondent, how would they be feeling walking out of that classroom day in and day out?
How can a private tutor benefit your child?
- 100% of the time dedicated to teaching and learning
- Your child's every question is addressed 100% of the time
- Your child gets a full 60 minutes of learning time
- Your child's work is checked all the way through
- Your child gets feedback - both verbal and written 100% of the time
- Your child feels more confident once they acquire the skills they missed from previous years
- Every lessons is tailored to match your child's ability level
- Opportunity for stretch and challenge so that your child is equipped to meet the A*/A** grades
Young people often do not cope well with GCSE and secondary school stress and they are quicker to surrender to the path well travelled by choosing the easier way out. By providing your child the opportunity of a private tutor, you are saying to them that you understand their stress and you are there to help them. Your child will begin to see that you estimate the value of their success highly and are doing whatever is in your power and control to support them! Surely, this will rub off onto them too!
With the appropriate support in place, your child will thrive and feel determined and equipped to achieve success, making you proud whilst at the same time paving their future success!
For a free no obligation chat about how we at G²E Tutors English, can help your child progress in English at secondary school, contact us on 07513 764314 or register your interest on our page for a call back.
