New online tutoring tool helps boost maths grades

Sept. 10, 2010 - PRLog -- Parents wanting to help boost their child’s maths grades can breathe a sigh of relief this term. For the first time, BrightSpark Education (www.brightsparkeducation.com) is offering all 7 to 16 year-olds one-to-one maths tuition online, delivered by top maths graduates and former teachers. For just £12 an hour, students can log on at home to receive specialist tutoring on maths topics they need extra support with. They can book a tutor 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and they only need to give 24 hours notice!

A 2010 report by the Royal Society has identified a need for more specialist maths teachers in primary schools. Furthermore, research from The Institute of Education shows that only 11 percent of tutor agencies in the UK require their tutors to have a degree in the subject they teach, and only 8 percent offer any training. BrightSpark Education employs Indian-based tutors, all of whom are maths graduates or former maths teachers, fully trained in the mathematics curriculum at Key Stages 2, 3 and 4.

Accessible from anywhere with an internet connection, students can benefit from BrightSpark Education’s tutoring at home or school. A student typically logs in to a secure site to receive a one-hour session with a specialist tutor on a pre-agreed topic, breaking the curriculum down into bite-size topics. In addition, students have free and unlimited use of online testing, presentations, past papers and mark schemes covering all aspects of the curriculum.

According to the government’s ‘Next Generation Learning’ research, pupils studying Key Stage 2 maths, science and English using ICT improve at twice the rate of the national average. Using BrightSpark Education, student and tutor can talk live and clearly to each other through simple online whiteboards with integrated voice technology.  Each session is delivered using an engaging mix of audio and visual tools, helping to aid comprehension and reinforce learning. The virtual whiteboards allow student and tutor to draw, type, create shapes and graphs, as well as upload presentations on any topic.

Designed to provide accountability to parents and teachers, whilst building an ongoing reference point for students, sessions are recorded and logged into the student’s account. Teachers or parents can look at the feedback, playback the recording and pick up on any issues to take up in class, or let the student choose what they want to focus on. All BrightSpark Education tutors undergo official security checks and operate from the official BrightSpark Centre under the supervision of the in-house academic team.

Rebecca Stacey, Assistant Headteacher and Head of Key Stage 2 at Ashmount Primary School in Islington, comments: “BrightSpark Education is effective because it provides targeted one-to-one maths help for students through online technology, which would otherwise be too expensive to facilitate. Each of our pupils who have used it have improved and become more confident in their maths ability. They have learnt to express their thinking and use mathematical vocabulary correctly.

“It has also given pupils the perfect opportunity to work online and improve their IT skills at the same time. Many pupils intend to sign up at home to benefit from the service for their homework and revision.”

Tom Hooper, Founder and Managing Director at BrightSpark Education, adds: “We are delighted to be able to offer UK students this world-class service delivered by specialist maths tutors consisting of India’s top graduates and teachers. Whilst the national average price for tutoring is £25 an hour, our specialist focus and pricing at just £12 per hour offers both quality and value for money. Completely flexible to support the busy and varied schedules of parents and students, tutors can be booked at just 24-hours notice and accessed 24 hours a day, seven days a week from anywhere with an internet connection.”

For further information about BrightSpark Education please visit the website: www.brightsparkeducation.com.

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BrightSpark Education provides specialist one-to-one maths tuition online for students aged 7 to 16. Its tutors are all maths graduates or former maths teachers, fully trained in the mathematics curriculum at Key Stages 2, 3 and 4. Accessible from anywhere with an internet connection, student and tutor can talk live and clearly to each other via simple online whiteboards with integrated voice technology to ensure clear and immediate connection. Specialist tutors deliver structured sessions based upon a pre-agreed topic, combining the latest lesson plans, activities and past test papers to engage students in their learning. Tutors are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Sessions can be booked at just 24-hours notice.