Employing a private tutor for your child could make a crucial difference to their chances of GCSE exam success. In the first study of its kind, researchers have provided a systematic and detailed picture of the nature and extent of private tuition ('shadow education') in England. Findings suggest that private tuition can in some cases prove beneficial but also raise questions concerning the quality and regulation of tutors, and the impact tutoring has in general on pupils' attainment.
The project is based on a questionnaire survey of over 3,500 pupils in years 6, 11 and 13 undertaken in 30 primary schools and 34 secondary schools and colleges in England. Parents of these pupils were also surveyed and 1,170 questionnaires returned. Indepth interviews were conducted with a smaller sample of parents and pupils.
Findings show that 27 per cent of students had used a private tutor at some time (comparable to other European countries). Interestingly, white students were less likely to have tutoring than other ethnic groups. For example, 45 per cent of Indian students reported using a tutor. The employment of private tutors also strongly related to family socio-economic status. Parents with university education and employed in higher occupational categories were significantly more likely to employ tutors. "Some parents are in a position to get help for their children in a way that others are not," argues researcher Professor Judith Ireson. "Clearly this is potential source of social disadvantage."
Yet the value of shadow education is difficult to determine. The majority of students spoke positively about private tutoring. They appreciated, for example, having work explained in more detail, receiving one-to-one help and being able to ask questions. Parents for the most part also gave positive evaluations of tutoring particularly its impact on their child's confidence, learning and achievement. But statistical analyses undertaken to assess the impact of tutoring in years 10 and 11 on GCSE attainment offer a mixed picture. There was no strong evidence that private tuition in English had an effect on GCSE grades, however, tuition in mathematics raised achievement in the GCSE by almost half a grade. "These findings were based on a fairly small subset of our year 11 students," states Professor Ireson. "However, they do suggest that private tuition could make a crucial difference in some cases."
Private tuition clearly offers a flexible and affordable way for many families to support their children in school, although the quality of private tuition is open to question and its impact on attainment is not guaranteed. At present, there is no regulation of private tutors and no reliable and trusted source for finding a tutor. Many parents are now calling for both these issues to be addressed.