Case Study: Impact of Tutoring on Student Achievement

Background: A study conducted by the Department for Education in the UK examined the impact of one-to-one tutoring on the academic achievement of primary school students.

Intervention: The study involved 10,600 students in 180 schools who were randomly assigned to either receive one-to-one tutoring in math or continue with regular classroom instruction. The tutoring sessions were delivered by trained teaching assistants and focused on improving basic math skills.

Methodology:

• Pre- and post-assessment: Students’ math skills were assessed before the tutoring began and again after the intervention to measure improvement.
• Control group: The control group of students continued with regular classroom instruction and did not receive tutoring.
• Follow-up assessments: Follow-up assessments were conducted six months and 12 months after the tutoring to assess the long-term impact.

Results:

• The study found that students who received one-to-one tutoring made significantly more progress in math compared to those who did not receive tutoring.
• The impact of tutoring was particularly pronounced for students from disadvantaged backgrounds, with these students making even greater progress than their peers.
• The effects of tutoring were sustained over time, with students who received tutoring continuing to outperform their peers in follow-up assessments.

Conclusion: This case study demonstrates the positive impact of tutoring on student achievement, particularly for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. The study highlights the importance of targeted intervention and personalized instruction in improving academic outcomes for all students.