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George Hall Tuition
Before each lesson, a quick nine-point check runs to make sure everything will work smoothly. Here's what each one does, in plain English.
These checks are advisory. They exist to spot problems before a lesson starts, not to lock anyone out. Usually, students can choose “Continue anyway” and join the lesson – we'd always rather they tried than not at all. The only exception is if one of the checks fails so significantly that the lesson can't go ahead. In line with this, please note that lessons that fail the tech check may not be refunded, as the student's device is a family responsibility.
This simply confirms the student's lesson room is open and ready for them.
How it's assessed: When the check starts, the room is asked whether the student is allowed in. It almost always comes back straight away with "You have permission to use LetsMeet".
If it fails: Access to a room is only ever suspended if a student leaves tuition. If you see this message and you're still having lessons, something has gone wrong on my end – phone me and I'll sort it immediately.
LetsMeet needs a Mac or Windows laptop or desktop with a screen of 13 inches or bigger.
How it's assessed: The check reads what kind of device is being used and how large the screen is. Tablets, phones and Chromebooks are picked up here, as are very old versions of Windows that are no longer supported.
If it fails: If this fails, the device genuinely won't run the lesson properly – please use a Mac or Windows computer instead. If you believe your computer has been detected incorrectly (this can occasionally happen with unusual setups), let me know and I'll take a look.
LetsMeet works best in Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge on a computer.
How it's assessed: The check identifies which browser is being used. Chrome and Edge get a green tick. Safari works but occasionally misbehaves with video, so it shows as an amber warning rather than a fail.
If it fails: If Firefox or another browser is flagged, the fix is simple: download Google Chrome (it's free) and open the lesson link in that instead. One more thing to check: if your child has a school-issued Google account, make sure Chrome isn't signed into that school profile – school accounts can sometimes restrict what the browser is allowed to do.
Lessons are face-to-face, so a working camera is essential.
How it's assessed: The check asks the browser to open the camera briefly – you'll usually see a permission pop-up the first time. Nothing is recorded or sent anywhere; it just confirms a picture comes through.
If it fails: If it fails, check that no other app (Zoom, Teams, Photo Booth) is already using the camera, that the browser has permission to use it, and that any physical camera switch or keyboard shortcut on the laptop is turned on. If your child has a school-issued Google account, also make sure the browser isn't signed into that school profile – school accounts can sometimes restrict camera access. Restarting the computer fixes most camera problems.
The student needs to be heard clearly, so the microphone is tested too.
How it's assessed: Like the camera, the check opens the microphone for a moment and listens for a signal. Nothing is recorded or stored.
If it fails: If it fails, check the browser has microphone permission, the laptop isn't muted, and the correct microphone is selected (headsets can sometimes confuse things). If your child has a school-issued Google account, also make sure the browser isn't signed into that school profile – school accounts can sometimes restrict microphone access. Again, a restart solves most microphone issues.
Video lessons need a reasonably quick, responsive connection.
How it's assessed: The check measures download speed and ping (how quickly the connection responds). Amber appears if the connection is a little slow or laggy; red only appears if it's genuinely too poor for video – or if the ping is very high, which causes frozen video and delayed audio even on a fast connection.
If it fails: If this warns or fails, try moving closer to the Wi-Fi router, plugging in an ethernet cable if you have one, and asking others in the house to pause downloads or streaming during the lesson.
If it repeatedly fails: Evaluate where your Wi-Fi router is positioned and/or phone your internet provider to look at whether you're eligible for an upgrade in speed.
The computer itself needs to be quick enough to handle video, screen sharing and interactive activities at the same time.
How it's assessed: The check looks at the processor (how many cores it has), the memory (RAM), whether graphics acceleration is switched on, and runs a short one-second speed test. An amber result means the computer may struggle a little; red means it's genuinely too slow for a smooth lesson.
If it fails: If it warns, closing other apps and browser tabs before the lesson usually helps a lot, as does plugging the laptop into power (some laptops slow down on battery). If graphics acceleration is off, turning on "Use graphics acceleration" in Chrome's settings makes a big difference.
If it repeatedly fails: This is usually the time you need to look at buying a new computer. Old devices can struggle to keep up with modern lesson software, even when they were perfectly quick when you bought them. I personally recommend the MacBook Neo – you can see more on my LMS requirements page below.
Moodle is where homework, resources and messages live, so the check confirms things are ticking along nicely there.
How it's assessed: Students are required to have their homework in on time to ensure that lesson time is used in the most productive manner. The check simply confirms the required work has been completed.
If it fails: If this check fails, students have not completed the required work. Please contact me directly to discuss this.
TutorBird is the system that handles invoicing and payments.
How it's assessed: The check confirms the account is in good order.
If it fails: If it fails, this is due to an outstanding bill on TutorBird. Please note that payments, while reflected on TutorBird immediately, take up to 24 hours to reflect on LetsMeet – so please phone me immediately if you get stuck at this error.
If a check keeps failing and you can't work out why, please phone me and we can talk about this. Please note that repeated fails on the computer check are usually indicative of a computer that needs replacing, and internet speed can be either the positioning of your Wi-Fi router or the internet you are pulling in from the internet company themselves.
Back to the tech checkParents often ask me which laptop will last their child through school without the headaches. My answer is always a MacBook. They run quietly, the battery lasts all day, and everything on LetsMeet just works.
If you want to check whether your current computer measures up, have a read of my LMS requirements page.