If you’re planning for a career in education or teaching, then keep reading! As the effects of Covid-19 on young people’s education become more and more obvious, guest blogger Kitty at TutorsGreen offers insights from the industry through Tutoring, as well as tips on the top qualities to present at an interview.
This blog was written by Kitty Pendrigh at Tutors Green
What’s happening in UK education at the moment?
The last year has certainly been an unprecedented one. Since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in the early months of 2020, in the UK we have seen through three lockdowns and countless dramatic changes to our daily lives. For young people, the threat of the virus itself might be seemingly small, but its impact on schooling and educational access has been devastating.
Since March 2020, school children across the UK have lost out on half a year’s worth of in-person teaching as a result of nationwide school closures. Students in years 11-13 have also faced not only disruption but uncertainty and confusion about the fate of their GCSE and A-Level exams. Not only has this hindered students’ educational progress, but it has also taken a significant toll on their mental well-being.
Diverse needs and disadvantaged learners
While there have been measures in place to reduce disruption, such as online teaching and free resources, these measures have not been accessible to all. This has meant that students who are already disadvantaged have felt the effects most significantly. For example, the remote-learning system adopted in the UK during school closures was far better suited to some students over others. Those who did not have access to electronic devices and/or internet at home were unable to undertake lessons online and their home-learning resources were significantly reduced.
This system also privileged students with parental support and space, over those without. As a result, disadvantaged students have felt, and will continue to feel, the effects of the pandemic on their education far more than others, and, in turn, this will widen existing inequalities longer term.
As schools consider how best to support students in catching up on what has been missed over months of disruption, it begs the question of what more can be done, especially for the disadvantaged students who have suffered most.
Reflecting on my work at Tutors Green
At Tutors Green, our mission is to make first-class education accessible to all. While Covid-19 has certainly posed new challenges for us and our tutors, we are committed to helping students overcome the setbacks imposed on them by the pandemic. For example, we run a number of catch-up programmes in schools to ensure that students have the support they need to reach their goals, as well as tutoring outside of school hours.
Additionally, we run pro-bono mentorship programmes to help students who are applying for Oxbridge, a service that may be more needed this year than ever before. Finally, we work with a diverse range of students from all backgrounds, so that this support does not serve to further the divide in educational access. We are looking forward to delivering more in-person tutoring as these opportunities open up and hope to help as many students as we can in the face of this educational crisis.
What makes a good tutor – tips for your next interview!
There are many qualities that can make a good tutor. But here are our tips on the most sought-out ones – so when you’re next preparing for an interview, have a think of ways to demonstrate these qualities.
- Compassion and equal treatment of all students, regardless of their circumstance.
- Patience and readiness to go at a slower pace if needed.
- An individualised approach to teaching – good tutors are adaptable and dynamic and tailor their lessons to each individual student according to their interests and needs.
- Ability to create a unified approach with students’ schools and/or people who work with them.
At Tutors Green, our most successful tutors are those who share our core values: they are people-focused, innovative, and engaging.
Tutors Green is committed to the safeguarding of children and young people. For more information about our work, please visit tutorsgreen.com.
This content was provided by an external organisation and does not necessarily represent the views of King’s College London. We cannot accept responsibility for errors or inaccuracies in this content.