Kip McGrath Barrington is an English and maths tutoring centre at 231 Barrington Street in Spreydon, Christchurch. It takes students from Year 1 to Year 13, and the centre is run by Janine and Brendan Climo. Janine is a former local teacher with over 25 years in the classroom, and many of the tutors still teach in local schools, so the work follows the New Zealand curriculum.
Every child starts with a free assessment by a qualified teacher, with no obligation to continue. The results decide the level the child starts at, and each child gets an individual learning plan. The centre also offers online tutoring for families who prefer to study from home.
Parents say a child who was behind at school was tested, placed at the right level, and began to do well and regain confidence. Another says their daughter's fear of maths has gone, and that she now answers questions openly in class. A third says their son's reading age rose by two years in about six months.