Ask the experts: Simply Learning Tuition on tutoring for Yale and IGCSEs

Simply Learning Tuition Managing Director Nathaniel McCullagh on the merits of hiring tutors for international applications and courses

Q: My friend has hired a full-time tutor for her two children who go to my son’s school.  The tutor is prepping one child for a Yale application whilst he teaches IGCSEs to the other. I want my son to have the best education possible – should I consider hiring a tutor for him, too?

A: Tutors have never been in higher demand it would seem, 46% of London children receive tuition outside of their normal school hours according to The Sutton Trust (2023). Given the high prevalence of tutoring, many parents may feel they need to find a tutor just to make sure their child isn’t missing out. However, my strong advice is, don’t panic. Talk to your son’s teacher or headteacher to get an accurate picture of his academic progress and whether he is on track to get the results he, you and the school believe he can achieve.   

As all parents know, every child is different and will have different learning styles. If your child is doing well at school academically, performing above expectations in school exams and well-motivated to reinforce his school learning at home with homework and revision then I doubt you will need the help of a tutor.   

At Simply Learning Tuition we would not accept jobs where tuition is not required as we would not want to waste your or your son’s time. Artificially pushing a child beyond their capabilities is not in anyone’s interests and may even lower their general confidence and raise anxiety levels. 

There are circumstances however when a tutor is invaluable. I completely support your friend’s decision to get specialist advice for a Yale application. Simply Learning Tuition has  successfully guided many students and families through every stage of the competitive US admissions process; not all senior schools will have extensive experience of this and so getting specialist support is a good idea.  

If you feel, or your school’s advice is, that your son has obvious gaps in his academics, it is well worth looking for additional help from a tutor. Danger signs to look out for include a bad school report, a call from the teacher or worse, a child who is trying to miss school, is stressed and seems worried. If any of this is ringing alarm bells, my strong advice is to contact a tuition company, with an established track record.  

A good tuition company will have met and vetted all their tutors, ensured they have a strong academic record, extensive teaching and tutoring experience and set up stringent safeguarding checks. They should suggest two or three tutors for you to choose from and will act as an advocate for you, ensuring you find the right tutor to suit your child. Importantly, they can step in to quickly resolve any niggles or difficulties should they occur. You will need to decide if you want face to face or online tutoring. In-person tutoring can be preferable for younger children and SEN students. We find that demand for in-person tutoring is particularly high at the moment, so don’t leave it to the last moment to find a suitable tutor once you decide to go down that route.

Finally, remember that you are entering a fixed-term process with a distinct end goal: a child who can succeed independently in their study and is best placed to fulfil their academic potential.   

Simply Learning Tuition simplylearningtuition.co.uk

Further reading: Wolfthorn Knight Tuition on 11+ support for an anxious student