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Understanding Our Approach
Studycise’s Approach
Support for pupils from less fortunate backgrounds comes in many forms, and numerous organisations in the UK are dedicated to improving the life chances of these students through tutoring. Some notable organisations include Action Tutoring, Equal Education, and the Tutor Trust. Recently, the government launched the National Tutoring Programme, an initiative that provides funding for schools to offer tutoring.
Organisations like The Sutton Trust, the Education Endowment Foundation, and the National Foundation for Educational Research have all conducted research on the benefits of maths tutoring. Despite their independent studies, they have reached the same conclusion: extra maths tuition benefits learners. It’s no wonder that so many organisations exist to offer tutoring, especially for pupils from lower socio-economic backgrounds.
Studycise also aimed to support pupils through small group tutoring, but due to a lack of resources, this was not possible. Instead, I decided to use videos explaining core mathematical skills such as addition and multiplication. While this approach is not exactly the same as tutoring, it is the next best thing. For example, if a parent knows which maths skill their child is struggling with, they can target that skill using this website. This is similar to the role a tutor would play. Additionally, unlike physical lessons, videos can be watched multiple times, allowing children to learn at their own pace.
Understanding Educational Inequality
What is Educational Inequality?
Educational inequality is a complex social issue that can be understood from various perspectives. Some people view it in terms of access and experience within the education system, while others consider it in terms of outcomes after students leave the system.
In general, educational inequality refers to the disparities in academic achievement among children from different socioeconomic backgrounds. For instance, children from lower socioeconomic backgrounds are more likely to underachieve in school compared to their peers from higher-income families.
Socio-Economic Status
Why is SES Important?
Socio-economic status (SES) is crucial because of its profound impact on children’s education and life chances. SES helps us understand how parents’ income, education, and occupation affect children’s educational outcomes. Various measures of SES are often linked to different outcomes. For example, research has shown that children with parents holding degree qualifications or parents in professional occupations are more likely to receive private tuition.
Studies have also explored differences in private tuition uptake according to SES, revealing that children from higher-income families are more likely to receive private tuition than those from lower-income families. The affordability of private tuition likely explains this disparity.
These findings demonstrate the significant role that SES plays in shaping educational opportunities. Understanding these dynamics is essential for addressing educational inequality and ensuring that all children have an equal chance to succeed, regardless of their socio-economic background.