A private tutoring service that helps students who have fallen behind their classmates or push brighter children to the next level, will now be offered in both Hamilton and St. George's a year after the business was set up by former Whitney Institute mathematics teacher Sergio Pitcher.

With the standard of education in Bermuda a hot topic, Mr. Pitcher's enterprise has coincidently tapped into a potentially strong market where parents keen to give their children the best start in life are willing to pay a little extra for after-school individual tutoring with a certified teacher.

At present By The Numbers - the name of the business - has a number of teachers on its roll offering tutoring in maths, English and reading at primary, middle and high school levels.

It can offer 23 hours of additional one-hour session tutoring each week during term-time with a maximum of three children to one tutor, although the ratio can be two students to a teacher or even a one-on-one tutoring.

Explaining the concept Mr. Pitcher said: "We offer one hour sessions with a certified teacher and we keep in touch with the child's school teacher and parents so we are in line with their classroom teaching or even slightly ahead. What we do is fill in the gaps, help them to catch up if they are being left behind, or if they are brighter than average we push them forward."

Having formerly taught classroom maths for five years, Mr. Pitcher is aware of where weaknesses can occur in a child's education, regardless of how good their schoolteacher might be.

"Some kids are timid and do not ask questions in class. Most teachers do a good job but they can't get to all the kids, and sometimes a kid who is ahead of the others is not being challenged enough in the classroom to progress."

He added: "We are helping the ones who are falling behind or who need to push ahead."

The tutoring offered through By The Numbers involves one hour sessions with a certified teacher and either one, two or three students. Each student has their own desk and computer and regular update reports are sent to the child's parents.

Mr. Pitcher set up the business last October. He said: "I decided last summer I was going to do this. I found that in the classroom I was not able to give the personal attention needed for some students, so I decided I would work towards building a tutoring company."

The 30-year-old took a pay cut to do so, but he does not regret his decision and he is seeing results in the youngsters who have so far used the private tutoring.

"I have seen them grow in confidence, showing a lot more confidence in the classroom. Parents have told me that they love the service and that they have seen the difference in their kid."

And for Mr. Pitcher himself the enterprise has been beneficial, he said: "I get a lot of personal satisfaction, a better relationship with the children and I get to see the individual children's progress, that is satisfying."

The By The Numbers tutoring service is located in Union Street, Hamilton and at Town Square, St. George's. Further details are available by calling 336-6284, emailing tutor@home.bm or visiting the web site www.btntutors.com