How to Get Started As a Private Tutor?

DGarland

My background is bit weird so first that:

I've a bachelor's (honours, Magna c laude) in Finance and Economics from USA.

I have considerable work experience (8 years) in procurement - up to Senior Buyer level.

But as of last year, I'm officially changing careers, as I have always been more interested in writing/English. I have volunteered abroad as English teacher, creative activities facilitator.

I'm a freelance writer, author, and also run online journaling courses from time to time.

I am about to start my Master's in English Literature this September in London - and possibly planning future into Academia as well as writing.

I want to start working as an English Tutor alongside my degree. How do I go about it, without official teaching qualifications or official tutor experience in England?

Do I need to learn about the national curriculum? I'm thinking an easiest way would be to start with one of the agencies. But how do I do that - as in, what do I need to show them, to hire me without previous experience?

I really enjoy teaching, am passionate about English (and the whole study/learning thing), and up until now, I've only had positive experiences of working with children.

All advice appreciated. Thank you.

Pennywise

There is no legal requirement to have a formal teaching qualification to do private tutoring. If you're going to work with children you will need to be CRB checked.

I suspect a lot of people will ask about teaching qualifications when choosing a tutor, so if you don't have it, then you'll have to be ready to give them reassurance that you are up to the job. This is most important at first when you are touting for business. After a few years, you'll start to build up a client base and will start to get recommendations/referrals and then the lack of a teaching qualification won't be as much of a put off.

Yes, you do need to know the syllabus of whatever you're going to teach inside out and backwards, and know the exam structure, and have plenty of study materials and past exam papers. To reduce the amount of learning and materials you'll need, you should probably start by specialising in a particular area/level and then develop your own experience/skills/materials into other areas as you move on.

You also need to be clear as to what you're offering. Some tutors will just be little more than a helping hand to work alongside the school teachers, i.e. to fill the gaps where the pupil is struggling for a short time period but with the school being the lead role. Others will be long term, maybe 1 or 2 years, actually doing all the teaching, eg extra subjects not being taught at school, or exam resits etc., in which case you'd have a leading role yourself. You and your pupils need to be clear exactly what is expected of you.

GCSE and A levels are the obvious areas to offer, but don't over-look 11+ preparation which is a serious business these days. Long gone are the days when little Jimmy will pass because he's bright. When everyone else is getting tutored with the aim of 90%+ scores, it becomes a matter not of who's tutored and who isn't but more of which tutor will take little Jimmy on! A lot of 11+ tutors in the sought after school areas actually do a test before they take on little Jimmy - a sort of pre-11+ as they have their 100% success rate to protect and already have full books and a waiting list so can be picky themselves! Certainly round my way, good 11+ tutors can charge £40 per hour for 1 or 2 years and we're not in a "super selective" area - in those areas, charges are even higher! But for this kind of quality tutor, they have to offer something extra, which is usually that they hire a room over the weekend for tutoring (none of this working at home), prepare their own materials, hire a local hall for mock exams, write their own practice papers, set and mark homework, etc - you certainly can't command that kind of money by just buying an 11+ revision kit off ebay and working through it with little Jimmy!

DGarland

Pennywise,

Thanks. I was thinking starting off working for an agency, just to get some experience.

So what do I need to sell myself to an agency?

I've looked up national syllabus - but that doesn't include what materials the students will be learning in any given school. It just includes the skills they need to acquire. So in that case, how do I go about finding out exactly what the kids at any level would need to learn? And what their objectives would be?

I think I would want to start out by being just being "help with the weak spots" kind of tutor, as opposed to guarantee of marks, until I have more experience.

So the main question now is how to work with agencies?

melysion

I've been a private tutor for quite some time.

You will need a enhanced CRB check. You can't apply for it yourself directly - your best bet is to join an agency first. I got mine though Personal Tutors. It will cost you about £40.

In my experience, however, enrolling with an agency won't get you many clients. Nearly all of mine are from Gumtree. It might also be worth setting up your own website too.

I don't have any teaching qualifications and have never been asked so it hasn't been a problem for me.

It can be hard work but it is rewarding. Good luck

DGarland

melysion wrote: »

I've been a private tutor for quite some time.

You will need a enhanced CRB check. You can't apply for it yourself directly - your best bet is to join an agency first. I got mine though Personal Tutors. It will cost you about £40.

In my experience, however, enrolling with an agency won't get you many clients. Nearly all of mine are from Gumtree. It might also be worth setting up your own website too.

I don't have any teaching qualifications and have never been asked so it hasn't been a problem for me.

It can be hard work but it is rewarding. Good luck

Melyson,

How did you go about deciding what you needed to teach your pupils? Did you decide on an age group?

I don't have previous experience with UK school syllabus. So while I have knowledge of literature (and no problem spending time on enhancing that knowledge), how do I go about figuring out what exactly to offer clients?

trailingspouse

The big player in the business is Kip McGrath. You could maybe apply for work with them - understandably, most work is in the early evenings or at weekends. I think it's a franchise? So you could even look at buying in to it.

DGarland

trailingspouse wrote: »

The big player in the business is Kip McGrath. You could maybe apply for work with them - understandably, most work is in the early evenings or at weekends. I think it's a franchise? So you could even look at buying in to it.

Thanks, Trailingspouse. I'll look them up. My first priority is figuring out what I need to learn/be prepared with.

Do any agencies give you training?

charlie-chan

This thread here may be of use to you.

Mojisola

DGarland wrote: »

How did you go about deciding what you needed to teach your pupils? Did you decide on an age group?

I don't have previous experience with UK school syllabus. So while I have knowledge of literature (and no problem spending time on enhancing that knowledge), how do I go about figuring out what exactly to offer clients?

Don't overlook the possibilities with older age groups. How about "enhanced" reading groups for adults - guided sessions rather than "chat and drink" meetings!

PasturesNew

I don't want to be rude, but your post has many English errors - and even reads oddly, as if you're a foreigner. This might be a barrier at the application stage.... although it depends what subject you are tutoring and to what level I guess, but certainly not for the "English Tutor" you indicate in your post.

DGarland

Mojisola wrote: »

Don't overlook the possibilities with older age groups. How about "enhanced" reading groups for adults - guided sessions rather than "chat and drink" meetings!

That's a great idea. Thanks.