Whether your child is struggling with maths or doesn’t feel prepared for their looming 11-plus exams, private tutoring is a great way to get them up to speed and feeling confident in their academic abilities.
And there are plenty of studies to confirm this. A meta-analysis of 29 studies showed that tutoring proved very effective at helping US students at risk of reading failure. Likewise, a UK-based tutored reading programme involving over 2,300 students saw their reading comprehension improve at more than four times the normal rate.
But which is better, one-to-one private tuition or group tuition? Let’s take a look!
Advantages of One-to-One Private Tuition
Private one-to-one tuition can involve home tutoring, sessions in a tuition centre classroom, or connecting with a tutor online. But as the name suggests, this kind of tuition means one tutor and one child. Here are some advantages of this type of tuition:
Fewer Distractions
One of the main benefits of one-to-one tuition is the lack of distractions. This kind of tutoring creates an environment where no other children are vying for the tutor’s attention. As a result, the tutor is then able to focus on your child and your child to focus on their work.
Personalised Guidance
Every student is unique and has different learning needs, strengths, and weaknesses. In one-on-one sessions, tutors can tailor their style, teaching methods, and materials to suit the individual needs of their only student.
Personalisation also means that the focus could change according to the student’s schedule. For example, the sessions might start off as general maths and English tuition. But tutoring could then evolve to include exam preparation when necessary.
Consistency
It can be disruptive when students arrive late, are absent, or drop out altogether. One-to-one tuition avoids the possibility of all these scenarios, ensuring a consistent environment and pace that group tuition can’t always guarantee. Also, if your child can’t make a session, they won’t feel behind when they next see their tutor.
Disadvantages of One-to-One Private Tuition
Despite the advantages listed above, one-to-one tuition does come with some disadvantages:
Expense
When comparing tuition costs, one-to-one tuition tends to be more expensive than group tuition for children. This is because you will often pay a higher premium for the tutor’s undivided time and attention in private one-to-one sessions. That said, there are ways to save money on private tuition through various government schemes and the like.
High Demand
Most families prefer the idea of one-to-one tuition to group tuition. But tutors are not in endless supply and there are a limited number of after-school and weekend hours for tutoring. This means that good tuition programmes are in high demand, making it difficult for some parents to secure the tuition they want.
Advantages of Group Private Tuition
Group tuition takes place either online or in tuition centre classrooms. These sessions involve small groups of usually between two and six students led by one tutor. Here are some advantages of this type of tuition:
Affordability
Group classes allow tutors to tutor several different children at once, reducing the cost per hour for each child. This can be a big draw for parents with a smaller budget or for those with several children requiring tuition.
Interaction & Socialisation
Group tuition allows for group problem-solving and discussions. It can even involve some friendly competition if groups or individuals go head-to-head in a task.
For children who thrive on the social element of school, tuition in small groups is a great way to tap into this while providing them with the extra attention of a private tutor. And for quieter children, small groups can often encourage the kind of peer interaction that they might find difficult in larger school groups.
Rich Learning Environment
Having more students means more voices and more unique perspectives. Group tuition encourages students to bounce ideas off each other and share different insights. This creates a rich learning environment where students can learn from each other as well as from the tutor.
Disadvantages of Group Private Tuition
While there are several convincing benefits to group tuition, here are a couple of cons to bear in mind:
Tutor Must Accommodate Everyone’s Needs
Group sessions offer students a lot more focus and personalisation than regular school classes since the student-to-teacher ratio is still much more favourable. As a result, every group member will get the individual attention they need when they need it.
That said, the tutor will have to lead each session in a way that accommodates every group member’s needs. This could mean that a student may need extra clarification about an issue that other students don’t, or might have to find a solution for themselves while the tutor is helping another student.
Fixed Schedule
Private group tuition tends to follow a preset schedule, such as Saturday morning classes or Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. Tuition centres design these schedules to suit as many children and their parents as possible in order to form groups with matched abilities.
Unfortunately, these set times and days aren’t always going to be good for everyone who wants to attend. If your child already has after school commitments on certain days of the week or is busy on Saturdays, you might have to rule out group tuition for the time being and go for the flexibility of one-to-one tuition instead.
One-to-One Private Tuition vs. Group Private Tuition
As this guide shows, both types of tuition have various pros and cons.
While one-to-one private tuition offers more personalised and consistent support for your child, it tends to be more expensive. In comparison, although group private tuition encourages socialisation and is often more affordable, group sessions aren’t always the most convenient for students and parents with busy schedules.
But, as when making any decision, it’s important to consider all the factors involved and choose the best option for you and your child.
Want to find out more about Ant Learning and how we can support your child? Feel free to contact us today with any questions or queries.
