Inside the scramble for London grammar school places as children as young five get private tutoring

"Every parent wants to give their child the best possible start in life and that often begins with education. For many in London, decisions about schooling that once felt far off are now weighing on minds much earlier than expected. Private tutoring, traditionally reserved for exam years or for children struggling in a subject, is increasingly starting in early childhood."

"Hannah Titley, a former teacher and researcher at Oxford University, likened life in London to being in a bubble, where parents have to go to greater lengths to secure school places than anywhere else in the country because it is incredibly competitive. This is due in part to the introduction of VAT on private school fees, which has made private education unaffordable for some families. It's easy to get absorbed by the London rush, Ms Titley said."

"There are parents who have decided they won't be able to send their children to an independent school until aged 11, or even full stop, so they see having a tutor who can keep their children on top of things and the curriculum as necessary. Ms Titley is the founder of Golden Circle Tutors, a south-west London tutoring agency with a network of more than 300 teachers, offering subjects ranging from maths and English to history and modern languages across areas including Battersea, South Kensington,"

Private tutoring in London increasingly begins in early childhood, with children as young as three tutored for 4+ exams and five- or six-year-olds receiving 11+ preparation. Growing competition and oversubscription for grammar and elite independent school places fuels anxiety and an education arms race as parents fear children falling behind and classmates follow. Introduction of VAT on private school fees has made private education unaffordable for some families, increasing reliance on tutors. Tutoring agencies operate networks of hundreds of teachers across areas including Battersea, South Kensington and Chelsea, offering maths, English, history and modern languages. Elite school fees range from £7,000 to £16,000 per term.

Read at www.standard.co.uk