From The Times, 24th October 2009
Research published recently shows that parents who top up their child’s state education with tuition courses in maths and science achieve better value for money than other subjects. Short revision courses, some costing over £900 a week, have become more and more popular despite the squeeze of the credit crunch. Many independent schools such as Wellington College have entered the market, promising improved results after only a few days of extra tuition. One provider of such courses, Justin Craig Education, helped 40% of its students do better in their A levels or GCSEs than in their mocks, with more than two thirds achieving A or B grades at A level.
Students demonstrated improvements in all subjects after tuition courses, with results 7% better in maths, biology, chemistry and physics. Deborah Anderson, a principal lecturer at Kingston Business school who carried out carried out the research, said that techniques learnt through such courses help students all round, both through additional motivation and improved learning techniques. Dr Anderson is convinced that improvements in quantitative subjects were because of student’s exposure to different learning techniques in small classes, rather than rote learning or coverage of the syllabus.
Revision courses have caused a large degree of controversy as the sector is unregulated, with only a few such institutions belonging to the Conference for Independent Further Education. Fees range from £385 for a three day non-residential course to £825 for a four day residential course at Wellington College and £870 for a weeks residential course at the Oxford Tutorial College. A large amount of state schools and colleges offer extra courses in the run up to GCSEs and A levels.
Recruitment had been expected to decline during the recession with parents facing increasing strains on their finances. However, attendance at Justin Craig has increase to its highest levels, with a quarter of pupils having studied for previous exams with the provider.
Education Management Consultancy mtmconsulting’s recently published Independent Education Sector Report 2010,researched by Senior Education Consultant Gavin Humphries, states that while Independent Schools are likely to have a hard time in the near future, dissatisfaction with maintained schools will ultimately boost the sector. An increase in the use of ‘top-up tutors’ is the first sign of changing parental opinions. It is also a testament to Independent School Businesses that they make the most of all opportunities, seeing a gap in the market for such a service.
Offering revision courses on site is also a great educational marketing opportunity, giving parents who may not otherwise have considered independent education an insight into the opportunities available and the facilities provided. Such marketing for schools has the distinct possibility of improving pupil recruitment, with word of mouth key to bolstering independent schools public relations and reputation.
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