Pupil Tutoring: the educational conjuring trick

A pilot project for pupil tutoring was undertaken in which six 'persistent truants' (aged 15 plus) were placed in a Primary School to tutor twelve children aged 5‐8 who had been identified as 'slow learners' by their teacher. Each pupil tutor was responsible for tutoring two of the younger children. Pupil tutors attended for 82#fr1/2> hour sessions. Improvements were noted in pupil tutors' attitudes to school and teachers, self‐concept, basic skills of reading and writing and their understanding of child rearing practices. The teacher of the pupil tutees noted improvements in their language and reading skills as a results of the programme.