The Sutton Trust's research reveals that 21% of Year 11 pupils in state schools received private tutoring in 2023, a substantial increase from 10% in 2013. This trend is fueled by increased competition for university places and the perception that tutoring enhances educational performance.
Several factors contribute to the rise in private tutoring:
The cost of tutoring varies widely, with intensive revision camps reaching £2,000 per week.
The Sutton Trust expresses concern that this trend exacerbates existing educational inequalities, giving an advantage to those who can afford private tutoring. The availability of tutoring services disproportionately benefits wealthier students, widening the gap between them and their less-advantaged peers. There's debate about whether the pressure and resources invested in tutoring actually benefit students long-term.
The Sutton Trust advocates for a revival of the national tutoring programme, which aimed to help disadvantaged pupils recover from pandemic-related learning disruption. This underscores the need for government intervention to address educational inequalities.