New Success Tutoring data reveals the surprising reasons parents are turning to tutoring and it's no longer just about better marks
For decades, tutoring was seen as something students needed if they were falling behind in class however, today, that has changed dramatically.
New internal data from Success Tutoring centres across Australia and New Zealand has revealed that while improving academic performance is often the primary reason many parents enroll their children in tutoring, the reasons behind the decision are changing rapidly.
Interestingly, parents are increasingly also seeking help with life skills, communication, confidence and learning foundations that many believe are no longer being adequately developed through mainstream education alone.
Michael Black, founder and Global CEO of Success Tutoring, said the findings highlight a significant shift in both education and parenting.
"We've seen a fundamental change in why families walk through our doors," Black said.
"Parents aren't just asking us to help their children get better grades. They're asking us to help build confident, resilient young people who can communicate, think critically and succeed both inside and outside the classroom."
The latest data from Success Tutoring which now operates centres across Australia and New Zealand and has expanded into the US, Canada and India, tutoring over 2,000 students per year, shows that the reasons why parents are turning to tutoring is the result of cultural shifts and a dissatisifcation with the methods being used in school classrooms.
The six biggest reasons parents are seeking tutoring
Based on enrolment discussions across Success Tutoring's network, the six most common reasons parents are seeking support are:
1. Parents don't feel they have the skills, time or confidence to teach or help their children at home
Black said many parents genuinely want to help but feel overwhelmed by today's curriculum.
"The way math and English are taught has changed enormously," Black said.
"Many parents simply don't feel equipped to explain concepts the way schools now teach them."
Others are balancing demanding careers and family commitments, leaving little time for consistent academic support.
2. English is becoming a bigger challenge for many families
Black said language barriers are becoming increasingly common.
"We work with many families where English isn't spoken as the primary language at home," Black said.
"Parents are incredibly supportive of their children's education, but often want extra assistance with reading, writing, comprehension and communication."
3. Confidence has become just as important as academic ability
Perhaps the biggest surprise, according to Black, is how many parents are seeking tutoring primarily to build confidence.
"We regularly hear parents say, my child has the ability, they just don't believe in themselves or have the confidence to ask questions or put up their hand to let their teacher know they are struggling,” Black said.
“Unfortunately many schools don’t have the capacity to offer the additional support. The other issue is that many classrooms are relying on online learning and devices and this doesn’t optimise engagement and interactive learning.
"When confidence grows, academic performance almost always follows. We know that hands on one on one learning achieves this outcome.
He said students who become more confident ask more questions, participate more in class and approach learning with a far more positive mindset.
4. Parents want children who can actually communicate
Black believes one of the biggest concerns facing families today extends well beyond school results.
"Parents are increasingly worried that children are losing the ability to communicate face-to-face," Black said.
"They're growing up in a world of screens, messages and social media."
"When students spend time learning alongside tutors and other children, they naturally develop stronger communication skills, greater confidence and better critical thinking."
"Those skills will serve them for life."
5. The basics are becoming more important than ever
Many parents are enrolling children simply to strengthen core literacy and numeracy.
"If children don't master the fundamentals of English and mathematics early, everything else becomes more difficult," Black said.
"We spend a lot of time helping students build those foundations because confidence comes from understanding."
6. Catching up before the gap becomes too large
Black said parents are acting much earlier than they did in the past.
"Families no longer want to wait until report cards reveal major problems. They're being proactive and they want small learning gaps addressed before they become much bigger challenges,” Black said.
Tutoring has become about preparing children for life
Black believes the data reflects a much broader change in what Australian and New Zealand parents expect from education.
"Parents want children who can solve problems, communicate confidently, think critically and believe in themselves," Black said.
"They understand success isn't determined solely by exam results, it is determined by confidence, resilience, curiosity and the ability to engage with other people."
He said face-to-face tutoring continues to play an increasingly important role because it develops both academic capability and personal confidence.
"When students sit with a real tutor every week, they're doing much more than learning maths or English," Black said.
"They're learning how to ask questions, communicate their ideas, solve problems, think independently and build relationships."
"Those are the skills that help children succeed at school, but more importantly, they help them succeed in life."
Black added that he sees the education system continuing to face challenges into the future as governments fail to provide sufficient funding.
“The need for tutoring is growing, not reducing which is why we are actively expanding our centre sites across the country and overseas,” Black said.
About Success Tutoring
Founded by Michael Black in 2017, Success Tutoring is the world’s fastest growing education and tutoring brand with multiple centre locations across Australia and New Zealand and further sites opening in the US, Singapore, India and Canada. The company offers weekly tutoring sessions in English and math for students aged five to 17, with a school readiness program for kids even younger and selective school exam preparation tutoring also available. The Success Model not only empowers students to work at their own pace towards progress but also finds success in the social aspect of students coming together and working as a community of students to find motivation, inspiration and a lifelong love of learning.
Business Daily Media
