What is a private tutor?
A private tutor is a highly knowledgeable, usually somewhat qualified individual who teaches students privately to help them develop their knowledge of certain subjects. Tutoring can be a fulfilling and very lucrative part-time job – or even full time, if you gain enough students.
Who would hire a private tutor?
Private tutors teach tutees of all age groups, from very young children to mature adults. There are a huge number of reasons why someone might hire a private tutor – private tutoring is popular with many different people. They may be:
- A teenager wanting to improve on a certain subject that they are struggling with for their GCSE’s
- Parents of a home educated child, who feel that their own knowledge or teaching skills in some subjects is lacking
- A mature student (or indeed any student) who feels the need to ‘bulk up’ their learning outside of school hours
- Anybody who feels they need a more tailored approach to education than a school environment can offer
How much will a private tutor cost?
Depending on the subject and level of education, you can expect to pay somewhere between £20-£35 per hour for private tutoring. However, many trainee teachers will offer their services as a private tutor for much less than this as a way to hone their teaching skills further. If the private tutor will have to travel, it is generally expected that the tutee will pay their travel expenses.
I want to become a private tutor. What qualifications do I need?
You will need to have an excellent level of knowledge in the subject you wish to teach, plus the ability to tailor your teaching techniques to your student. Excellent interpersonal skills are of a very high priority. It is not necessary to have a teaching qualification, however your level of formal qualification will dictate how much you can charge. PGCE graduates will be able to charge more than those who haven’t qualified yet, just as experienced teachers will be able to charge more than NQT’s (Newly Qualified Teachers)
How can I find work as a private tutor?
You can advertise your services anywhere you wish – local papers, shop windows and billboards are popular choices. However, arguably the best way to advertise is through specialist agencies. These of course will charge a fee but many feel that it is a small price to pay to ensure your ad reaches those who want to see it. Many private tutors find work solely through word-of-mouth recommendations, so do a good job and you may find your tutees spread the word!
Is there anything else I need to know?
As a private tutor you will be self-employed, so you will need to deal with your own income tax and National Insurance contributions. Also, it would be very beneficial for you to obtain an enhanced CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) check. At the present time it is not possible for individuals to obtain these, so signing up with an agency for private tutors would be a good idea.