It’s no secret that skilled maths teachers are in short supply across the country. And with large class sizes, that means more children are struggling to access the personal support they need.
The private tuition in the UK is a huge and growing market, valued at £6.5bn by The Telegraph. Record numbers of parents are investing in their children’s education: The Sutton Trust reports that over a quarter of secondary school pupils have seen a private tutor.
That’s perhaps not surprising when set against the backdrop of overstretched school budgets since the financial crash tightened public spending. Parents value education above almost anything else, so they’re increasingly seeking extra-curricular tuition which makes a vital difference. Maths changes lives.
Why maths matters
University and workplace entrance requirements keep going up – especially in maths. As the basis for in-demand industries like engineering, economics, science and information technology, strong maths results are crucial. Maths proficiency is considered to be the best foundation and predictor of success in the sciences and when local students don’t measure up, universities are more than willing to accept foreign students that do.
When traditional school instruction flatlines and university and workplace entrance standards become increasingly competitive, it creates a gap that traps far too many students.
Students who don’t excel in maths struggle to gain offers from top-flight universities – even if they intend to pursue a non-science career. They can’t prepare for law, journalism, teaching, and so may other disciplines, because universities require high maths scores for acceptance, regardless of a student’s chosen course.
But understanding maths also impacts so much more than a career path. Maths gives children confidence, teaches them critical thinking and analytical skills, and problem-solving abilities that they take with them throughout their lives.
That’s why so many students who struggle with maths believe they have lower intelligence – and that’s sad, because they are smarter than they believe.
Huge demand + weak competition = enormous opportunity
Ideal market opportunities are not made from huge demand alone; they’re shaped by enormous demand not currently being met by a quality supply.
Ask a parent who is looking for a TV or gaming console if they know where to buy one, and they’ll instantly name both online and and offline options – the list is long and well-known. But ask a parent where they can find valuable tutoring for their child and they likely won’t know. And yet, the amount of money parents spend on supplementary education proves the demand is considerable.
Despite modest expectations and frequently disappointing outcomes, they continue to invest in after-school instruction and programmes. Why? Because they want the best for their children.
This provides an exciting opportunity to help children to unlock their true potential by providing a personalised learning plan that addresses their specific needs.
