How do I find a private tutor?

[SurferJet]

I've googled 'private tutor' & it's directing me to various websites where I have to pay £20 just to get a tutors contact details.
Is this normal? I'm sure it is but just wondering if these sites are any good?
Any advice welcome. ( it's for gcse btw )

[MrsLeighHalfpenny]

We asked DD's maths teacher, who recommended a great maths tutor.

[SurferJet]

Hmm, yes, I really should go through the school shouldn't I.
Thank you.

[noblegiraffe]

Ask the school first. They may know of ex teachers or supply teachers who do tutoring. Also are any friends tutored? Word of mouth is better than an agency which can be expensive.

[PurpleDaisies]

Ask around at school-parents and teachers. lots of tutors will operate by word of mouth. I'm a private tutor and I don't advertise. A personal recommendation is much more likely to be worth using, as well as not costing you anything!

[Mehitabel6]

I asked the teacher of the subject and she came up with an ex member of staff who was a SAHM and glad to earn money. I would always go by word of mouth.

[SurferJet]

Thanks everyone - should I email the school & ask if they can recommend anyone?
I could ask around ds's friends but I don't really see their mums often, you lose touch a bit once they start secondary school.

[Sallyhasleftthebuilding]

Schools have a social message board/staff board and can advertise for you. Worth a mention, but not all teachers like kids to be tutored.

[PurpleDaisies]

I'd try the school first-either his teacher or the head of department.

[SurferJet]

Great - I'll get onto the school tomorrow, see what they say.

[noblegiraffe]

but not all teachers like kids to be tutored.

Which is weird, tutor works with kid, kid gets good results, I get my payrise and the credit.

[Sallyhasleftthebuilding]

I know some sensetive teachers that feel their teaching is being quearioned IYSWIM? Im not against it .. just a thought when asking.

[PurpleDaisies]

I agree with nobel. Everybody wins. Teachers occasionally recommend extra tutoring to parents if the student just needs a bit of extra help or confidence building but it can't be managed in the time available in school. Some teachers even write me lists of topics to cover. I don't think I've ever heard of a teacher not wanting a student to get a tutor.

[PurpleDaisies]

Just remembered, one teacher said tutoring was a waste of time because the student would never get a C grade. She got a B. Her teacher sounded spectacularly unhelpful in general though.

And if the student was a lazy bones not intending on working and thought the student would magically get better grades by virtue of just having a tutor the teacher might say it was a waste of time (which would be true!).

[Mehitabel6]

I haven't come across a teacher against getting some extra help.

[cressetmama]

Have a look at MyTutorWeb if you need help from GCSE upwards or you struggle to find someone IRL. It's purely online but the tutors are undergraduate and postgraduate students, usually at good universities. You can look at their profiles and ratings without any commitment. I thought it was better than TutorFirst, although the tutors prefer the latter because they are paid slightly more. HTH.

[MrsLeighHalfpenny]

I must admit, it is a bit galling to hear how great the school did in xx subject, when you know that a little bit of that greatness cost you personally £££, and same for other parents paying for tutors due to inadequate teaching, unruly classess etc etc.

[SurferJet]

Thanks cresse

[Sallyhasleftthebuilding]

It would be inyeresting to know how many kids are tutored per school ...

[MrsLeighHalfpenny]

I expect it would vary a lot according to where the school is.

[HMF1]

My oldest CD tutored while he was in his final year at School. You might be able to find a senior pupil at the school who could help, might depend on the stage she is at.

[DickDewy]

Recommendation has to best, I reckon.

[MagratGarlikAgain]

Personal recommendation is always best, however, sometimes parents are not prepared to share details of "their" tutors, because they get worried their own child will loose the advantage! I tutor full time and also employ other tutors to work for me too. Approximately 90% of our work is from recommendation.

During quieter times of year, I do have a profile on the likes of Tutor Hunt, but due to my previous working history, I am very google-able. Many parents therefore first see me on Tutor Hunt and then google me to find my details elsewhere on the web, so avoiding the £20 fee....

If you go past the first page on a Google search, you are also likely to find tutor's own websites, rather than the large agency sites.

Personally, I'd avoid using older students (who may not approach it as professionally as someone doing it full-time), but use someone who holds appropriate qualifications and preferably is registered with The Tutor's Association, which independently checks qualifications, experience and client references.

Do be very clear about your expectations of the tutor, though. I always agree early on what the aims/goals of tuition are and regularly assess progress against these goals. I also provide regular (monthly) written reports on our sessions, which parents can share with teachers, if they wish, so that I can work collaboratively with the school.

[SurferJet]

oh dear - I didn't check any of that Magrat - I've found a tutor via a website (similar to the one you mentioned) & assumed anyone on there is ok? I've obviously read her profile & she seems really good so I'll just see how it goes. It's a bit of a minefield tbh.

[MagratGarlikAgain]

Many of the online "matching" sites don't verify qualifications, DBS checks etc of tutors. Whilst these sites are perfectly fine to use, I'd always just check for myself the qualifications, experience, DBS status etc of anyone who is coming in for tuition. I usually take my certificates, DBS check etc with me to a first session with a student (and always ask that an adult is in the house when tutoring under-18's - however, that's just my personal preference). I also offer parents to stay in the room whilst tutoring if they want, so they can see for themselves what I do, how I work etc.

Always check their qualifications and experience etc though for yourself.