Head of Senior Message - Should I get a tutor?

 

This week I had the great pleasure of meeting and collaborating with a tutor service. I am often asked whether students need tutoring and I have often heard that students need good tutoring to achieve good grades. As a Western educated person, the use of a tutor is deeply alien. Many students excelled at my schools and they did so by themselves with their teachers' support. The instinct was to look to ourselves first, not to the outside for help. Moving away from this bias has been hard but I would like to take each of these statements in turn and suggest how very good tutors - like the ones I met - can lead to great outcomes.

Do students need tutoring? In short, sometimes. 

As educators, we are constantly striving to provide our students with the best possible opportunities for learning and growth. One popular method is tutoring. However, the effectiveness of tutoring hinges greatly on how it is implemented and the goals that are set in place. When utilised correctly, tutoring can be an invaluable tool for enhancing students' independence while providing targeted support to help them achieve their academic objectives.

At the heart of successful tutoring, therefore, lies the establishment of clear, achievable goals. Before embarking on any tutoring program, it is essential to identify specific learning outcomes that both the student and the tutor aim to accomplish. These goals should be SMART: specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. By setting clear objectives, students have a roadmap to follow, and tutors can tailor their support to address specific areas of need effectively.

Moreover, tutoring provides a unique opportunity for students to take ownership of their learning journey. Rather than passively receiving information in a classroom setting, students could actively engage with their tutor to address areas where they require additional assistance or clarification. This process empowers students to become more self-directed learners, as they learn to identify their strengths and weaknesses and take proactive steps to improve.

Do students need tutoring to get good grades? In short, sometimes.

Tutoring can offer personalised instruction that caters to the individual needs of each student. This personalised support can make a significant difference in students' comprehension and retention of material. Furthermore, tutoring can serve as a valuable supplement to classroom instruction, providing students with additional opportunities for practice and reinforcement. By working closely with a tutor, students can gain a deeper understanding of the material covered in class and develop the skills and confidence needed to succeed academically.

However, it is crucial to recognise that the ultimate goal of tutoring should not be to create dependency but rather to foster independence. While tutors provide guidance and support, their primary objective should be to equip students with the tools and strategies they need to become self-reliant learners. This means encouraging students to take initiative, ask questions, and seek out resources independently.

So my plea would be to engage a tutor that complements our students' educational journey. I remain a fanatical believer that all students can achieve their own academic excellence. Some thrive with a tutor but they, like anything, must be used in a way that improves our students and move them always to greater things.