New GCSE Grade 5 or above will become the new benchmark for students sitting Maths GCSE from 2017.
As we understand it here is our ‘simplified guide’ to the new GCSE grade system for any of our clients that understandably simply can’t make head nor tail of the official documents.
Grade 9 is the best and grade 1 is the worst. Seems straight forward, but you have to wonder how many employers are going to get this the wrong way round in the beginning.
But the real confusion begins when they start talking about the old grade C. As promised we will spare you the trouble of deciphering the official explanation and simply say that Grade 5 is the new PASS MARK. Ultimately employers don’t have time to split hairs about grade 4 being in the top 2/3 of this and bottom 1/3 of that, so in time industries will most likely just demand grade 5 or above.
In today’s academic climate, there is no time to waste. Parents want access to the best tutors, at the best prices and at times and in locations that suit them and their family’s school planner.
With the inconvenience of receiving private tutors at home during the week, online tuition has emerged as an unlikely front runner for parents with increasingly busy lifestyles.
Online tuition is fast, efficient, there is no waiting around for tutors stuck in traffic, it is refreshingly affordable and students can take their lessons anywhere in the world, whether that be skiing in the Alps or sun seeking in Dubai . Yes the world has changed and according to flight operators Emirates, it won’t be long before people are able to have lessons aboard their flights too.
So with online tuition gaining in popularity and clearly offering parents something new by way of flexibility, performance and savings, we thought we better review our top 5 choices for current UK based agencies offering online tuition.
In no particular order here are our top 10 UK agencies for online tuition.
Owl tutors is a London based agency that has been operating since 2011. It is the vision of tutor Lawrence Drew, who wanted to provide a service that was both professional and far reaching on a global scale. The agency now boasts pupils in countries as far as Japan, Australia and Brazil.
Subjects and Qualifications:Currently offering 21 subjects across 13 different qualification categories.
Pros: Organically grown agency, approachable CEO , offering a wide variety of services including the esteemed STEP Mathematics and a consultancy and assessment package.
Cons: Expensive at £70 per hour. That is about 4-5 times the cost of agencies offering a similar service outside London.
Keystone tutors is a London based agency that was set up in 2007, by its founder Will Orr-Ewing, to provide quality private tuition by encouraging students rather than simply providing a crutch for their grades.
Subjects and Qualifications:Currently offering a wide range of subjects (30+) across 5 major school qualifications.
Pros: Tutors must undertake an Oxbridge style interview and asked to commit to the agency for a min of 2 years. Agency has strong ties to Harrow school, for boys taking common entrance.
Cons: Online tuition is charged at the same rate as face to face tuition, which seems to miss the point about online tuition.
Maths Fix is an online agency providing solely Maths tuition to students in the global market place. It markets itself as a no frills website where students can quickly arrange tuition and receive it anywhere in the world.
Subjects and Qualifications:Currently offering Maths for GCSE and C1-4 and M1 for A-levels.
Pros: A simple website to use and they offer a 48 hour refund for any lesson that is not satisfactory.
Cons: No information about the owners of Mathsfix and company policy means that you cannot choose which tutor you are going to get.
First Tutors is a tutoring agency based in Preston. Set up in 2005, it has won a number of awards, has been recommended by ‘ The Good School Guide’ and regularly features in regional and national press releases. It stresses values of choice, affordability and being judged on its merits alone.
Subjects and Qualifications:Currently most subjects across all the major UK qualifications.
Pros: Large database of prospective tutors at affordable prices.
Cons: No power to intervene if a student is not happy with the service a tutor is delivering as they do not manage the ongoing relationship after the initial introduction.
Tutortutor is a Tunbridge Wells based agency that was set up in 2007 by its co-founder Ryder Gourdeaux to provide affordable online tuition using young and erudite graduate and undergraduate tutors from the best UK universities.
Subjects and Qualifications:Currently offering 15 subjects across 7 major school qualification, including STEP Mathematics and first year university exams.
Pros: Affordable online tuition and one of the few agencies that deliberately does not use an intrusive web cam in its virtual classroom.
Cons: Credit can be purchased online at the website, but bookings and reservations need to be made by email or over the phone.
MyTutorWeb is a London based agency that was set up in 2014 by parents frustrated with trying to locate good, affordable and suitable tutors for their children. They use exclusively undergraduates and graduates that have received top grades themselves.
Subjects and Qualifications:Currently offering 30+ subjects across 5 major school qualification, including Further Mathematics and Arabic
Pros: Affordable tuition with wide selection of subjects and levels available.
Cons: The website introduces tutors to pupils, but unlike other agencies doesn’t openly offer a refund if a dispute arises. It just says that it will arbitrate if the client is dissatisfied with the service and come to a decision about a course of action to be taken.
Maths Doctor is a Brighton based agency that was set up in 2008 by founder Simon Walsh which was acquired by Macmillan Science and Education in 2012. Maths Doctor looks at the strength and weaknesses of a candidate and tries to match students to the their perfect tutor.
Hourly online rate: £25 per hour
Registration and Members fee: Free
Subjects and Qualifications:Currently offering a wide range of subjects across 5 major school qualification, including Further Mathematics and STEP MATHEMATICS
Pros: Well designed website and large pool of tutors.
Cons: Now that it is part of a corporate identity, its new aggressive advertising campaigns may cause some parents to question the underlying motivations of this agency.
Adrian Beckett tutors is a London based agency that was set up by its founder Adrian Beckett to help students across 4 major exams: QTS, 11+,GCSE and A-levels. The agency uses a combination of face to face classes and online tuition
Subjects and Qualifications:Currently offering Maths and English across 4 major school qualification, including QTS.
Pros: Tutors go through a rigorous 3 stage selection process to ensure that you will be getting someone that you would like to invite into your home.
School Success is a Bristol based agency that was set up by its founder Bob Foster to help students in years 7 -11 until their GCSEs. Mr Foster uses a combination of face to face classes and online tuition
Subjects and Qualifications:Currently offering Maths and Science through years 7-11 and up to GCSEs.
Pros: Personalized service with care and attention given to each pupil.
Cons: Limited amount of subjects and tutors offered.
TutorMe is an online based agency that was set up by a passionate team of educational specialists in 2011 with a vision of how tutoring could be transformed using modern technology.
New GCSE Grade 5 or above will become the new benchmark for students sitting Maths GCSE from 2017.
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