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Here are some answers to questions Tutors' Alliance commonly receives from pupils and parents:
1. Why should I get a tutor?
Every pupil has a different motivation for getting a tutor. Here are some of the most common situations in which a tutor may be beneficial:
- A pupil is struggling with a particular subject in the run-up to exams
- A pupil has missed school as a result of illness etc. and needs to catch-up
- A pupil lacks confidence in his or her own abilities
- A pupil has a particular need requiring additional assistance such as having English as an Additional Language or a learning difficulty
- A pupil is very bright and is not getting the support he or she needs at school
- A learner has taken on a new job or additional responsibilites and needs to learn a language
- A learner has other commitments and cannot take up an evening class, for example
- A learner wants an alternative to the classroom sceanario
- A learner has a desire to learn something new
However, there are a number of different situations too and each pupil has to be considered individually. Please be aware that all Tutors' Alliance members offer an initial meeting with pupils for free to allow parents and pupils to discuss the pupils' needs and to work out if the tutoring will be suitable. Tutoring is a two-way relationship and it is important for the pupil to get to know the tutor and the tutor to get to know the pupil.
2. What should I look for in a tutor?
Every pupil will need a tutor for a different reasons and so it is important to think about what you are looking for before you start looking. However there are key factors that every pupil should look for:
- Enhanced Disclosure Scotland/CRB check
- suitable qualifications
- references
- excellent communication skills
- very good knowledge of the education system
- experience of working with young people and the ability to build good working relations with pupils
- a passion for sharing knowledge
Not all tutors are teachers and some of the best tutors are not teachers. Although we at Tutors' Alliance understand that some pupils prefer qualified teachers, we do not limit our membership to teachers. Our members are a mix of teachers and tutors with varied backgrounds and different skills. All are suitable tutors and have undergone Enhanced Disclosure Scotland or CRB Enhanced Disclosure checks. It is our goal to ensure parents are put in touch with the tutor who best meets their requirements.
3. How much does a tutor cost?
This varies depending on the qualifications, experience and geographic area in which a tutor works but as a rough estimate, most Tutors' Alliance members charge between £20 and £40 per hour. Tutors' Alliance members are self-employed and pay an annual membership fee to Tutors' Alliance. Tutors' Alliance is not an agency and so does not charge commission.
4. What makes Tutors' Alliance different from an agency?
We do not get involved in individual agreements between tutors and pupils. It is up to both sides to come to agreements about hours, place of work, time of sessions and fees. If there are specific problems, Tutors' Alliance is unable to resolve these. We operate Tutors' Alliance because we believe that it is crucial more safety and regulation is brought into the tutoring industry. We understand tutoring and its core principles as Valerie Kemp is an experienced tutor herself and as she continues to tutor at the same time as running Tutors' Alliance, she understands the needs of tutor, parents and pupils. Tutors' Alliance does work with agencies and we believe that agencies may be very beneficial when parents want additional guidance from an educational professional to match the needs of a pupil to a particular tutor. Agencies also manage the relationship between the agency, tutor and pupil on an ongoing basis. It is a matter of personal choice for a pupil whether they opt for an agency or self-employed tutor.
5. How do I find a tutor?
Tutors' Alliance can provide parents and pupils with the contact details of tutors of the requried subject in their area. For more information about finding a tutor, please see Tutors' Alliance Connect.
6. What feedback has Tutors' Alliance had?
Tutors' Alliance has received very positive feedback from a number of parents and pupils who have been put in touch with a Tutors' Alliance tutor. All have commented how useful it is to have the information contained in the Tutor Check in an easy-to-read document. They also stated that having a tutor who is a member of a national tutoring organisation shows that the tutor has a professional attitude to his or her work.
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