‘On the high street’ tuition for primary-aged children in London: Critiquing discourses of accessibility, attainment and assistance

Abstract

Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Private tuition, often referred to as ‘shadow education’, is commercially provided, supplementary education which has been variously constructed to support children in their academic abilities. As growing numbers of children are engaging with tuition, it is receiving greater scrutiny and scholarly attention. This paper explores the growth and role of commercial tuition centres for primary-aged children. Such centres, which operate ‘on the high street’, are not a new phenomenon, but their expansion and assertive commercialisation is notable. With attention to managers’ and tutors’ perspectives, we interrogate the positioning of these services and critically analyse the discursive construction of three ‘As’ of their offer: accessibility of service, promise of enhanced attainment, and assistance with learning. In so doing, tuition centres lead the (re)positioning of private tuition as highly visible private businesses, located within and amongst other commercial enterprises, with an emerging focus on younger children, and are worthy of further research.