Tutors Put To The Test

Parents fork out big money for coaching but they need to make sure they get decent value.

- Susan Hely

Tutoring was once for kids who struggled to keep up with the class but it is so much more now. Parents who can afford tutoring – and believe it will give their kids an edge – are signing them up for a whole raft of reasons. They do it to help them through difficult courses but also to shine in tests such as NAPLAN and keep their marks equal to or better than their peers’ results.

Instead of just going to tutors in the last years of high school, kids are often have private tuition while in primary school. There is a huge industry in tutoring to help students win spots at prestigious selective schools or scholarships to exclusive private schools. Tutors can assist with high school applications and preparation for interviews.

Parents are paying more for tutoring than they ever have – often thousands of dollars a year. Some are driven by a fear that their kids will be left behind because so many others are being tutored. Parents have high expectations for their children and expect success from tutoring.