I am often asked what are the benefits of group work. As a former Primary school teacher, former one to one tutor and now director of Genie Tutors I have pulled together research to back up what prompted me to launch Genie Tutors in 2009.

Do you feel that class size affects the quality of learning your child receives?

In January 2016, 540,000 primary school pupils in English state funded schools were in classes with 31 or more students. In secondary schools the number was around 300,000. Class size isn’t a new phenomena – the numbers have been in the hundreds of thousands since records began in 2006. Is the class size situation going to improve?Your guess is as good as any. However, if being in a large class is impacting on your child’s learning potential you are right to be concerned.   https://fullfact.org/education/primary-class-sizes-england-and-wales/

Does class size affect learning?

There has been a considerable amount of research on the affect of class size on learning. There is no definitive answer to the question asked. Teachers, unions, parents and some academics argue that smaller classes mean better teaching and learning. Advisers, policymakers and politicians argue that class size is not important. The latter group cite high performing education systems like those in east Asia that focus on better teachers and not class sizes. They omit to say that Asian education systems do well due to high levels of parental support, cultural factors that favour education and importantly the prevalence of private tutoring.

Who is right – Teachers or Politicians?

Are teachers wrong and their view self serving? or are politicians attempting to justify the effect of budgetary constraints on education?  Perhaps the answer is that schools are being asked to deliver more than they can given the resources at their disposal.

Is more money the answer?

The government is spending £555 million a year on training new teachers but only £36 million on retention and development. In January 2018 the public account committee admonished the education department for not foreseeing the shortage of teachers. More teachers are leaving the profession and pupil numbers are rising.The situation will probably  not improve for some time.  Maybe there is enough money but it is not being spent wisely.

Private tuition

Private tuition can be provided either on a 1 on 1 basis or in small groups. Many feel that 1 on 1 is better because it gives the full attention of the tutor. Something lacking in schools with larger class sizes.

Research undertaken by the University of New South Wales suggests that there are benefits to small group tuition. .https://teaching.unsw.edu.au/small-group-teaching

Small group tuition can:

• improve subject knowledge.
• allow children to discover and engage with others making learning more fun.
• help children with their attitudes  and ideas about the subject matter.
• help develop a willingness to share ideas.
• provide opportunities  to exchange ideas with new friends.
• encourage independent learning – a thirst for knowledge.
• help develop skills in problem-solving, communication, interpersonal relations, teamwork, team leadership and lifelong learning skills.

What can you do if you feel that your school  may not be bringing out the full potential of your child?

You can talk to Genie Tutors.

Genie Tutors has six Tuition Centres in the Birmingham area. The centres are located in Harborne, Edgbaston, Hansdsworth Wood, Kings Heath, Spring Hill and Sutton Coldfield. Each centre offers after school tuition in Maths and English up to year 12. 

All Genie Tutors Birmingham centres are staffed by qualified teachers. They are experts in their field and selected on their ability to motivate and inspire confidence in their students – key factors in helping children develop a thirst for learning and developing to their potential.

Find out the Benefits of Group Work on The Boost Method...