The tutoring market in France

The tutoring market in France, also known as "shadow education" (or shadow education occupies an increasingly important place in the French educational landscape. This market encompasses all activities aimed at supporting pupils, whether in primary or secondary school, to help them improve their academic performance. This may involve private tutoring, homework help, courses during the school vacations, or even proofreading. Although this industry has existed in various forms for decades, it has grown considerably in recent years, fueled by the increasing demands of the education system and the pressure to succeed placed on students.

Tutoring has been around since the Thirty Glorious Years. More and more families were banking on academic success to ensure that their children benefited from the economic boom and advanced socially through long studies. They want their children to have a degree, and to be able to work in a profession that will guarantee them a higher standard of living than their own. As a result, more and more of them are seeking the services of private tutors to help them fill in the gaps and improve their results.

Since then, tutoring has grown steadily in France and around the world.

It's mainly high school students who use tutoring services, with strong demand in the run-up to exams such as the baccalauréat. However, it's important to note that in the majority of cases, it's parents who initiate the process. They want to give their children the best possible chance of success, and are prepared to invest in a wide range of often expensive services to achieve this goal. This distinction between the customer, i.e. the pupil, and the demander, i.e. the parents, is essential tounderstanding the workings and dynamics of the market.

In 2008, the sector experienced a major crisis due to scandals linked to dubious hiring methods and incompetent teachers, which had a negative impact on operators' image.Faced with this crisis of credibility, a number of operators, including Anacours and Cours Legendre, embarked on Qualicert certification procedures aimed at regaining a positive, qualitative image.

The year 2020, however, put the resilience of this market to the test, with successive confinements and school closures. These circumstances changed families' expectations and forced companies to adapt quickly. School reforms and the cancellation of competitions and exams have disrupted the habits of students and parents alike. Yet by 2021, the sector had bounced back by reinventing itself, thanks in particular to the rise of EdTech (educational technology) and online platforms. These innovations now make it possible to offer flexible, accessible and often more personalized tutoring solutions, which has helped to boost the market.

The tutoring market is currently growing in France, and by 2023 will account for almost 12% of the French school-going population.the positive dynamics of the tutoring market have also encouraged new companies to enter the market, such as O2, a specialist in personal assistance.