Becoming a private tutor- all questions here

geek84

Good Morning Folks

Another way that I thought of which could increase the number of students that I teach, is to stand outside schools and distribute leaflets advertising my serviees, to students who are coming out of the school building at 'hometime'.

Do you think this is a good idea? Are there any laws against doing this? Do I have to get permission from the school or local authority to do this?

Thanks in advance

therivierakid

geek84 wrote: »

Good Morning Folks

Another way that I thought of which could increase the number of students that I teach, is to stand outside schools and distribute leaflets advertising my serviees, to students who are coming out of the school building at 'hometime'.

Do you think this is a good idea? Are there any laws against doing this? Do I have to get permission from the school or local authority to do this?

Thanks in advance

I'd be very wary of doing something like this. Doing anything that looks remotely "dodgy" outside a school isn't going to endear you to anyone.

Far better is to write to the head of whichever subject you're teaching, introduce yourself and send them some flyers (business cards in my case). If you can say that you've taught kids from that particular school then so much the better.

Another option is buy a box of drawing pins and locate the odd notice board

therivierakid

Gemsie wrote: »

Hello, I've been asked to do some tutoring but I would like to set up a spreadsheet to help me work out expenses, etc. What am I allowed to class as expenses? Does anyone have a template spreadsheet that I could borrow? Many thanks.

Anything that you use in order to conduct your business can be classed as an expense. For example, I'm putting down printer ink, fuel (@ 40p per mile), books, stationery, advertising costs etc etc. You can also claim for a percentage of your electricity/gas/phone bill. Do a search for self-employed expenses. HTH.

sdk20

Hi Everyone,

Happy New Year. I've read through most of this thread and it all seems quite interesting. To cut along story short I would like to start tutoring maths. I work as a Structural Engineer in London and have done for the last 3 years since graduating. I got a 1st in my Masters Degree (Civil Engineering), and previous to this I got an A at GCSE and A Level Maths. I'm very confident of my ability in maths, I also enjoy being able to teach new skills to people, and find that I am quite good at being able to explain new processes and calculations. I have done this very successfully with new graduates that join the company I work for, but I don't have very much experience teaching younger children. I feel that tutoring would be something I would find very rewarding.

I want to start tutoring maybe a couple of hours a week, but I really don't know where to start. If anyone could give some guidance on the questions below, I would very much appreciate it.

1) Should I join and Agency, and if so, which one?

2) Is the only way to get a CRB check to join an Agency? And how much should it cost?

3) How much should I charge to start with? I'm not too interested in earning a lot of money from it, as I already work, and I imagine my tutoring is not worth much when I first start. However, I do want to actually get some work, and I know that a low charge out rate will make me look amateurish, when actually my Maths knowledge is very good.

4) There are several different examination companies. Do the parents know which board of examiners the school uses? For example AQA, Edexcel or OCR.

5) I think I would be best off starting with GCSE tutoring, but does anyone think I should start somewhere else?

6) How do you prepare for your first tutoring lesson? How many different things are you expected to teach in one hour? For example, do you spend an hour making sure your tutee can calculate the area of a circle, or do you make sure they can calculate the volume of spheres, cubes and other shapes, and are well on to the next topic? I guess it depends a lot on the Childs ability, but how do you judge this before you meet them?

7) Lastly, if anyone could give me a short explanation as to how they started out being a private tutor, I would be very greatful. I always think the best way to learn is from yours or others experience.

Thank you all for you time.

Kind regards,

Sam

Mrs_Money

You don't actually need a CRB check - but parents may ask for one (sorry I don't know how much an agency would charge for that). In the past, I've just advertised in our local Friday-Ad (not always successfully!) but have friends that have used agencies successfully.
It sounds like GCSE level would be about right for you to tutor - then perhaps AS? I've recently been working in FE and maths AS seems to be so difficult for everyone!
Good luck with it - maths tutoring is always in demand it seems- unfortunately I'm an English teacher and I've found that many students (and their parents) feel that English is "a doss" - after all they think, they all can speak it, read it and write it - how hard can it be? LOL!

therivierakid

sdk20 wrote: »

Hi Everyone,

Happy New Year. I've read through most of this thread and it all seems quite interesting. To cut along story short I would like to start tutoring maths. I work as a Structural Engineer in London and have done for the last 3 years since graduating. I got a 1st in my Masters Degree (Civil Engineering), and previous to this I got an A at GCSE and A Level Maths. I'm very confident of my ability in maths, I also enjoy being able to teach new skills to people, and find that I am quite good at being able to explain new processes and calculations. I have done this very successfully with new graduates that join the company I work for, but I don't have very much experience teaching younger children. I feel that tutoring would be something I would find very rewarding.

I want to start tutoring maybe a couple of hours a week, but I really don't know where to start. If anyone could give some guidance on the questions below, I would very much appreciate it.

1) Should I join and Agency, and if so, which one?

2) Is the only way to get a CRB check to join an Agency? And how much should it cost?

3) How much should I charge to start with? I'm not too interested in earning a lot of money from it, as I already work, and I imagine my tutoring is not worth much when I first start. However, I do want to actually get some work, and I know that a low charge out rate will make me look amateurish, when actually my Maths knowledge is very good.

4) There are several different examination companies. Do the parents know which board of examiners the school uses? For example AQA, Edexcel or OCR.

5) I think I would be best off starting with GCSE tutoring, but does anyone think I should start somewhere else?

6) How do you prepare for your first tutoring lesson? How many different things are you expected to teach in one hour? For example, do you spend an hour making sure your tutee can calculate the area of a circle, or do you make sure they can calculate the volume of spheres, cubes and other shapes, and are well on to the next topic? I guess it depends a lot on the Childs ability, but how do you judge this before you meet them?

7) Lastly, if anyone could give me a short explanation as to how they started out being a private tutor, I would be very greatful. I always think the best way to learn is from yours or others experience.

Thank you all for you time.

Kind regards,

Sam

1. A well-established local agency should be your first stop. Make sure you don't have to pay a fee to join. Most work on a commission basis.

2. You could do some volunteering to get a CRB. Joining an agency is probably your best bet though. Expect to pay for it mind.

3. Do some research on what people are charging in your local area. Pitch yourself near the bottom of that range.

4. Generally yes. If not, ask the student to ask their teacher. It does vary from subject to subject.

5. If you're confident enough to teach AS or A level then go for it. GCSE is probably the easiest place to start as the material is the same across the exam boards.

6. It varies. Have some books and perhaps a past paper or two. Find out where the child thinks they're struggling or just look through their exercise books. Try and get them to explain how to do a particular question. Once you've got to know the child things should naturally fall into place in terms of the content of your lessons.

7. Have a look at the start of this thread!

londoner01

I'm not sure if someone has mentioned this before, but TheTutorPages is a listing website that has helped some friends and my partner a lot when they started out as private tutors. You spend £30 to create your profile and after that you have to write an article, but it grants you visibility because if you are smart you can get it chosen as "editor's pick" easily (go for the less common ones).

That way you will get your first clients and if you're a good tutor you'll immediately start getting extra enquiries via word of mouth.

This works for both people with no teaching qualifications or no CRB check, and my partner was completing a PGCE when he started. You can see what other people are charging in the area and charge accordingly. If you've got the entrepreneurial spirit this website is perfect for you and will help you set up - of course the rest of it depends on whether you are a good tutor!

Teacher2301

CRB's are institution specific - you have to have one for each place of work with children, vulnerable dependants and adults - so if you already have one for another organisation, you cannot use it for tutoring or other organisations. This may well be changing under some current government guidelines but CRB's are still in place for all those who work with or volunteer within a supervisory capacity with children orvulnerable adults.

Costs for CRB's privately are about £25.

Average rate for professional teachers who do private tuition vary from area to area but at GCSE expect to see charges from £20 to £25 - unqualified graduates may charge this price but they will not know the specifications and may not be able to actually teach. They may also be far 'too intelligent' and will have forgotten how to explain things simply for a D grade student looking to get a C. Never trust a tutor who promises to get you your grade either - they are lying and you will only know the final grade until the exam results are published at the end of a module or in August by which time they will have taken your money and have changed their mobile phone number.

Just because one knows something doesn't make one a good teacher...understanding how to get that knowledge across to someone who doesn't understand makes one a good teacher. There is that saying about those who can't do, teach but they just teach ineffectively and to be honest they will never be the inspirational teacher that gets everyone to learn. Tutors aren't teachers granted but then again they haven't trained and if one takes a tutor on without checking their really know what they are doing - that tutor could be doing more damage to your child than having no tutor...

Answer these questions to see what I mean


1. Where do babies live in a woman?
2. What are plants made from?
3. What is energy?

Good (science) teachers would know the differences and be able to explain the answers to children - some graduates have forgotten the real answer and often revert back to their first learned experience - so what would you answer?

amaster_130

I find private tutoring rewarding both with the satisfaction of helping students and financially.

to start of I recommend registering with some agencies.
there are some that aim at local areas and then theres some national ones.

take a look at uktutorsdirectory.co.uk

it gives a free webpage that you can use as part of your own marketing.

this site won't help you with a crb but its definately worth getting.:j

bubbleoflife_2

sdk20

>1)Should I join and Agency, and if so, which one?

Decide first what subjects your wish to teach (Maths or Science; I would stick to Maths because there's less reading to do ). And how far you're prepared to travel to your pupils and if you can offer tuition at your own place. I would keep it within 2 to 3 miles the most because you don't want to spend too long commuting for 1 hour lesson. Bare in mind that your GCSE level pupils will be available after 4pm and your A level students can be available on some days after 2pm. So, you'll end up mostly tutoring between 4 and 6pm. I wouldn't recommend tutoring after 6pm because your pupils are tired and you'll get not a lot of response and I can assure you that's a real drag to try to get a young person to 'think' on a simple sum or multiplication when he/she has had the whole day in school with a good dose of sugary drinks, sweets and chocolate bars that can provide enough energy to fuel your house .
Do make use of 1/2 terms when the students are off school to teach in the late morning or early afternoon when your pupils will be more alert.

I can't advise you about agencies but I can recommend you to start advertising in libraries within your catchment area. I find that people like to see an advert by a real person who they can contact by themselves.

>2) Is the only way to get a CRB check to join an Agency? And how much should it cost?

You can't get a CRB check by yourself by I read somewhere in this thread that there is the Scottish equivalent which, as I understand, it is valid also in England. However, I do not have a CRB check BUT I always make sure that parents are around during my tutoring session. I don't appreciate when the parents are NOT around because I am not their child babysitter and if he/she does becomes despondent or disrespectful I make it very clear that I am NOT the babysitter and if their child is NOT interested in learning, then I am NOT interested in teaching him/her
Do keep the parents involved (i.e. explain topics you've worked on with their son/daughter) but do not have them distracting you with questions during tutoring.


>3) How much should I charge to start with? I'm not too interested in earning a lot of money from it, as I already work, and I imagine my tutoring is not worth much when I first start. However, I do want to actually get some work, and I know that a low charge out rate will make me look amateurish, when actually my Maths knowledge is very good.

For KS3,KS3 and GCSE I think that £20 per hour is a fair amount (unless you see a Bentley and a couple of BMWs outside their house, in which case go as high as you like. It has not happened to me yet, but I can assure you that I can't wait to raise my hourly rate to a lot more for such cases ) .
I would charge nothing less than £25 per hour for AS because it's a lot more involved as you will have to re-learn some of the Maths topics and spend some time practicing too. Actually, some of the Maths topics of GCSE/IGCS Higher are on the boarder with AS level and you will need to refresh your memory. Also, preparing homework for those who request them (by the way, the parents will make that request not the student, especially KS3/4 level...)

>4) There are several different examination companies. Do the parents know which board of examiners the school uses? For example AQA, Edexcel or OCR.

I'm afraid you will find that often parent nor child knows the examining board. Therefore, the first think you will want to know, during your introductory meeting with parents and pupil is to ask your pupil to find out next time he/she is in school and let you know asap.
Keep in contact with both parent & child via email or texting or both especially when emailing homework. DO NOT email homework ONLY to your pupils because they will find some excuse about 'not having received the email'

>5) I think I would be best off starting with GCSE tutoring, but does anyone think I should start somewhere else?

I would suggest you to start with KS3 to GCSE/IGCSE Higher (there's GCSE Foundation too) to familiarize yourself with the curriculum and the areas where your pupils are weakest in Maths. It's going to be a steep learing curve for you as a tutor in the beginning.
And you'll also be shocked to discover that GCSE/IGCSE students struggle with adding/subtracting fractions, 2-3 digits multiplication, long divisions and the very basics of Algebra :eek: (multiplying out, simple equations, indices).
I always spend regular time ensuring that my pupils know how to work out the above, as they see later on that those basic skills become very useful once they have to start working with Trigonometry (e.g. sine & cosine rule), Calculus (IGCSE Higher DO some differentiation) etc. That's when they appreciate my efforts in insisting that they can work out fractions, manipulate simple equations, etc.

>6) How do you prepare for your first tutoring lesson? How many different things are you expected to teach in one hour? For example, do you spend an hour making sure your tutee can calculate the area of a circle, or do you make sure they can calculate the volume of spheres, cubes and other shapes, and are well on to the next topic? I guess it depends a lot on the Childs ability, but how do you judge this before you meet them?

When you first receive a call/email/text from a parent, discuss a suitable time to meet parents and tutee and talk about the areas where student is weak. In fact, take a long some paper and pens and ask simple questions like, 'if I draw this 90 deg triangle, could you find the hypotenuse?' or ask the child to work out the sum of mixed fractions BUT stay calm, smile and make it clear that that's NOT a test and you're not there to judge but to help.
You will find that each tutee has different needs and some are keener that others. Some can be a real drag to teach to and you'll have to repeat yourself many times, but others can be very rewarding and challenging too.
Be also prepared to spend 1/2 hour to an hour per child planning lessons, writing out homework, emailing & texting (one of my tutees cannot receive email so I drop off her homework by hand) .

>7) Lastly, if anyone could give me a short explanation as to how they started out being a private tutor, I would be very greatful. I always think the best way to learn is from yours or others experience.

I needed to work; job-center and agencies could not help me ; I was, and still am, studying towards a BSc Life Sciences degree by distance learning so I thought of putting my studies to good use and start paying some bills.
I do enjoy teaching one-to-one as it is very rewarding to see a child doing well in school after a few sessions with me Also, I decide who to teach and who NOT to teach (and I most definitely drop a tutee who does not show much interest or gives me a hard time--though I do give a 2nd or 3rd chance but that's all).
Also, by teaching I don't forget skills I have learned.


Be prepared to invest in a few books (charity shops are great for finding textbooks that your tutees use in school) You can find many useful resources on the Net but there is one I regularly use is http://www.tes.co.uk/ with lots of material for teachers.

Enjoy your experience as a private tutor. It's hard work but you will find that most parents are struggling to get their children to do well in such difficult times, and in the end they will appreciate your help.

Good luck