By Lucy Carroll

Copyright smh

New research by University of Technology Sydney social scientist Christina Ho examined the influence of private tutoring at six public primary schools in northern and western Sydney, including three with OCs.

It found between 23 and 59 per cent of year 5 students attended outside-of-school tutoring, with the highest rates in schools with an OC. Most students were tutored for extension and test preparation, with some attending four days a week in the term before the selective test.

In Ho’s interviews with 29 teachers at the schools, some reported students prioritised tutoring over school work, leading to boredom and switching off in class. Teachers also noted some benefits of external tutoring, such as memorisation or remedial support.

The study comes as education researchers and experts call for a national audit of the tutoring sector to assess practices and risks, including child safety screening, Working with Children Checks and tutor credentials.