BRITISH SCHOOLS 'FACE MOUNTAIN TO CLIMB' UNLESS CHILDREN BENEFIT FROM VIRTUAL TUITION 

Education supplier says online learning is crucial for Covid catch-up plan

SCHOOLS face an uphill struggle to catch-up from the impact of Covid-19 unless the Government includes online learning in the National Tuition Programme, a leading educational supplier has warned.

With Government funding for the current catch-up plan estimated at just £80-per-pupil*, experts say it is essential that virtual tuition be used as part of a mixed approach alongside human teaching.

Richard Marett, CEO of Whizz Education, which is accredited to BESA (the British Educational Suppliers Association, said: "We are facing a challenge of unprecedented scale. Schools have a mountain to climb unless the Government urgently rolls-out virtual tuition alongside human tutoring.
 

"A mixed approach that combines virtual and human tutors will save the time and energy of teachers, prevent burnout, and increase the sustainability of educational relief efforts at a fraction of the cost the current proposals, which focus mainly on human tutors. It costs £700 to tutor one child for 12 weeks but virtual tutoring can produce comparable results for around £150."
 

Around 250 schools in UK are already using a maths program supplied by Whizz Education called 'Maths-Whizz', which is driven by artificial intelligence (AI). The program is also being used by hundreds of schools around the globe.
 

The online platform delivers virtual tuition that is tailor made to the ability of individual pupils.  Teachers set lessons that use interactive technology to ensure each child can learn at their own pace. 
 

A project in Kenya supported by the Department for International Development (DFID) previously found 'Maths-Whizz' doubled learning rates.
 

The program is also available to Multi Academy Trusts or direct to parents.
 

Whizz Education recently submitted evidence to a UK select committee inquiry into Covid-19, calling for virtual tuition to be included in the National Tuition Programme.
 

Richard Marett told the Education Committee: "Our technology has lessened the educational burden of COVID-19 on students and teachers over the past few months.The feedback we receive from schools and families informs us that products like Maths-Whizz should feature in contingency planning and will ensure the resilience of the education sector in case of any future national emergency." 

Among the schools in the UK that are using the online program isMonkfield Park Primary School inCambourne, Cambridgeshire. It is also being used in by schools in Mexico, the USA, and Russia.

Teacher Natasha Johnson, Maths Coordinator atMonkfield l,said: "The best thing about the program is that the levels are tailor made for each pupil. There are also online webinars for teachers and parents to support the use of the software."

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EDITOR'S NOTES:

• Internationally, teachers are overworked. Only 8% have been adequately exposed to the potential of thoughtfully designed technology.

• In the UK, technology-enabled virtual tutoring could save teachers 7 hours each week, and free up a further 13 hours to re-allocate to aspects of their job where their human impact is the greatest.  

Richard Marett is available for interview. 

Please contact Melanie Faldo or Gary Thompson at KBA PR via melanie@kbapr.com or gary@kbapr.com