Demand for private tutors across Leeds soar as parents feel home-schooling pressure

Demand for private tutors has increased as parents and students worry about their academic futures after almost a year away from the classroom.
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Tutors across the city say there has been a "significant" number of enquiries from parents who need support as they try to balance working their own jobs from home, teaching children at at the kitchen table and managing other childcare arrangements.

A lot of the demand is at primary level with parents being expected to teach complex issues such as phonics and fronted adverbials - none of which would have featured in curriculums when parents were at school themselves, and students at GCSE level who are uncertain how they will be assessed.

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This comes on top of the usual demographic of students accessing a tutor if, for example, they want to follow a particular career path, particularly enjoy a subject and don't enough of it at school, or if they just struggle to take something in.

Private tutor Simon Deacon.Private tutor Simon Deacon.
Private tutor Simon Deacon.

It comes as confusion reigns about when schools might reopen in full with education secretary Gavin Williamson having suggested Easter but Boris Johnson alluding to earlier amid pressure from across the House of Commons.

Simon Deacon is of First Class Learning at Moortown and specialises in maths and English at secondary level.

He said: "There is an increase and demand, you don't need to go too far into the internet to see people offering tutoring support and tutoring businesses that have set up. I have been involved in this for a significant time you will build up a reputation and references and tutor younger siblings. From my own personal point of view there has been increased demand and I am trying to support the cohort that I have got.

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"The situation is changing by the day. Assessments will still take place in some form and there are always requirements of the national curriculum. It is not just a case of GSCE, it is a case of moving forward after them. A-Level and sixth form is going to be impacted as well as university. We have to look at the careers that are more academic based, it will be important for them to focus and engage and they might get a tutor."

Help with GCSEs and ALevels will still be needed despite the cancelling of exams.Help with GCSEs and ALevels will still be needed despite the cancelling of exams.
Help with GCSEs and ALevels will still be needed despite the cancelling of exams.
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Judy Ross told the Yorkshire Evening Post: "When people are phoning me up they say they are finding it really difficult to balance the home-working they have to do, and then the school and trying to keep everything going. Even though this time around there has been more support from schools and on-line support, it is when there is something that can't answer that they find it difficult.

"There is so much new terminology and specialist vocabulary and ways of teaching now that were not around when we were at school and it can be quite daunting for parents, particularly around phonics. What I keep telling them is do the best you can. We are getting enquiries for primary, there is a significant increase that we would not have at this time of year, particularly for Key Stage 7."

However, private tutoring comes at a price with lesson prices varying by the hour, but an average price can be around £30. There are calls to address a situation were students with great ability might not be able to meet their potential due to money and social disadvantage.

Simon Deacon is now teaching students as far away as London and Lancaster thanks to the development of online tutoring services.Simon Deacon is now teaching students as far away as London and Lancaster thanks to the development of online tutoring services.
Simon Deacon is now teaching students as far away as London and Lancaster thanks to the development of online tutoring services.
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Mr Deacon added: "Private tutoring is that, and is probably focused on those people who can afford to pay for it. We are in the position where parents work extremely hard to pay the hourly rate and a lot are very committed to making sure that they have the money available. One of the downsides is for students that have great ability and potential, but can't afford to pay for a tutor. That is a challenge that needs to be looked at and addressed."

Jake Harris is a private tutor based in Hunslet and his specialism is GCSE and A-Level maths and science tuition. He teaches up to eight students a day and as many as 40 in a week. He says he feels "guilty" that only more affluent families can afford private tuition services. Along with other tutors he now offers time in a chat room on the social platform discord, answering questions for free.

He explained: "It is something I feel guilty about. I went to a state school and I am aware that these type of services are only helpful to students that can afford it. I am part of a group that provides free support. It is a chat room where they can post questions and me and a few others answer for free. It is not as good as an hour one to one session but it it trying to provide some support. Since lockdown, there have been a lot of free resources with that in mind."

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