GCSE Science Private Tuition

[SupernovaT]

Hello,

I am going to try really hard here not to get this post closed down for 'self promotion'. I would like to point out now that I am not trying to advertise by posting the below - I am desperately after any thoughts and opinions.

I am a 1st Class Chemistry graduate (27 years old) who loves science and tutoring and I have recently set myself up as a private tutor (both face to face in my local area and online for any student, anywhere). I have got the necessary certificates (clean DBS) and full insurance (third party, professional indemnity, etc) and I am registered as self-employed. The problem is getting students!

I have a website (which I won't give out here so as not to clash with posting rules) and I have advertised on GumTree, but I am worried that I am not standing out and as a result my confidence is naturally ebbing away that I can make this into a (albeit small-scale) viable enterprise for myself.

I love working with young people and my subject (all science to GCSE and A-level Chemistry), I have experience working in several secondary schools and have only received glowing feedback (said with as much professional modesty as possible!) with regards to my interaction and tutoring of students.

Do any of you have any advice for me?

What do you look for when you seek a tutor? How do you look for a tutor?

Thank you for reading this, and I really do hope I am not breaking any rules - like I said, this is not an advertisement, it is seeking advice!

Many Thanks.

[Allthebestnamesareused]

What about local Community Facebook Pages or asking the school if they would allow you to put ads up. even a card in the newsagents windows close to major schools that you'd like to target.

[SupernovaT]

I face to face tutor in South Devon, but with online tutoring I can take any student on, regardless of location.

[TinselAngel]

Are you losing out to people who have your qualifications plus a PGCE?

[BuzzKillington]

I had a chemistry tutor for my son, got him through recommendations from other parents but he advertises on First Tutors, and probably other sites.

Personal recommendations would be the best route for me, but I appreciate that's no good for you as you're just starting out.

I would definitely try your local Facebook page and maybe your local secondary schools to see if they would pass on your details.

[Somerville]

How many parents want a science tutor, is I suppose part of the issue. And then where those parents might look. The parents looking for Chemistry A level tuition and double science tuition are probably quite different, so you might need to right two adverts and place them in different places.

[SupernovaT]

Thank you all for the above comments, really appreciate them.

Just have to keep plugging away at local adverts and the like, hoping that eventually it takes off.

Thanks again.

[Somerville]

I just had another thought. It's not quite the time of year for tutor-rush yet. My year 11 daughter feels that one of her languages isn't going well, and has asked for a tutor. But at parents evening her teacher said to keep doing her 10 mins daily revision and wait and see about whether tutor needed after mock result in Jan. So I'd get some more advertising planned for Dec/Jan time, if I were you.

[ReturnfromtheStars]

Hi,

When I worked as a tutor I advertised on several sites, but only ever had tutees from two of them, despite having exactly the same advert. So you might just be advertising on the wrong sites. First tutors was a good one, and the other's name I can't remember but I had to pay a commission to them. On the other hand they specialised in finding local tutors and I had a lovely (and local) tutee via them. I never had luck with online tutoring, although I could only take on a limited number anyway so stopped advertising once I reached my maximum.

Good luck!

[EndoplasmicReticulum]

Hello - I started tutoring last year. I did not find much success with advertisements. I signed up with some tutor agencies - they take a fee per lesson - but found me students. One was a local agency, one was an online UK agency.

Look for agencies in your local area. My local agency organised some meet-ups for tutors which was also very helpful, and once you know a few other tutors you can recommend them to students, and they can do the same for you.

If you can tutor A level chemistry there should be high demand for your services. I agree with a pp about contacting local high schools to see if they will pass on your details to students asking for tutor details. Can you get in touch with the schools you have previously worked in?

You'll find once you get started, if you are good, word of mouth will be a very useful tool.