AIBU to think this tutor has an attitude?

But when you looked for a tutor did you specify you were looking for one who specialises in revision techniques and mind maps and the like - or just look for a history tutor??

It sounds like this tutor is not for you OP.

It's pretty clear you want someone to reach your DS how to revise. The tutor has been really clear upfront that is not his role and "tutoring is to complement ongoing revision".
By your admission, DS isn't good at revising and doesn't make notes. He needs to be taught the basics before attempting to prigress further.
This is not the tutoring relationship for you. He's not an unreasonable tutor, he just tutors history not revision.

Just want to add that DD got a fairly effortless 8 in their GCSE but struggled with the transition to A level for the first term or two and similarly to studying it at uni. I think it’s not the subject for him

Why don't you totor your kid yourself if you know that much about how it should be done?

You can only revise a subject if you learnt it in the first place. If your son has "knowledge gaps" it sounds like he isn't absorbing the knowledge from his school classes to start with, so how can he revise something he doesn't know? And it sounds like you want the tutor to teach your son skills to learn and retain the subject matter from the outset, not just to revise it?

Your son has my utmost sympathy. I did history at A level and really struggled stepping up from O-level to A-level requirements and eventually failed it. A-level isn't just remembering history as a narrative of events, you're supposed to be able to analyse causes or outcomes and give your opinion. I had difficulty remembering dates, identifying the relevant parts to support an argument and not just recite a timeline, and I couldn't understand how I, as a 16 year old student, was supposed to form knowledgeable opinions on subjects that professional historians spent their whole careers researching. Why were they asking me what the causes of the English Civil War were? Go and read a book by CV Wedgwood - she's the expert!

If the tutor is saying A-level History isn't suitable for your son, it's because he knows what's required for studying at that level, not questioning your parenting skills.

It doesn’t address the immediate issue of getting a decent grade at GCSE but what is wonderful about history is how many books and resources are available which means he can just enjoy it as a subject without having to study it.

As a history graduate who hasn’t used the degree itself in life I would say this is the best route to follow. Focus on the subjects that you can do well in, and might lead to a decent career and leave history as an extra curricular, purely enjoyment subject.

Tell me you’re not a teacher without telling me you’re not a teacher 😂

turning up late, demanding revision techniques rather than building a knowledge base 🤦‍♀️

From what you’ve written OP, I think you are an enabler of your DS. You are working yourself up trying to sort things for him, when he’s not doing the basics himself.

If it were me, I would insist he makes notes in class. This is really 101 stuff at GSCE. What’s he like in other subjects?

It doesn’t sound like the tutor is the problem.

If you wanted a tutor to teach him revision skills then you needed to look for a tutor for study skills or similar.

They do exist my DS had one at a similar age.

however in all honesty if your DS has not been taking notes and struggles with dates and doesn’t even know what time period he is studying (!!) you have a much bigger problem.

some tutors will take your money and let your kid fail, this tutor is being honest and telling you now your kid is not suited to it.

also i'd have an issue tutoring someone who doesn't take notes in lessons because (in the child's opinion) the teacher isn't very good.

The tutor was trying to help you both by explaining A level isn’t suitable. He’s also right that filling knowledge gaps is really important! There are loads of videos on websites like BBC Bitesize on how to mind map or make flash cards.

Do you know which topics he is doing and for which exam board? I would contact the teacher if you’re not sure. This will help you all to focus the revision.

https://senecalearning.com/en-GB/blog/gcse-history-revision-guide/ Good website for basic revision.

Getting the tutor to fill gaps and practise technique are probably the most helpful things.

How can he revise history if he doesn’t have a clue what he is doing in lessons in the first place

The "attitude" seems to be coming from your son and yourself, quite frankly.

I'd be sighing if - the very first tuition session - the student was late because he'd slept in.

You are wasting your money 100% sorry.

your attitude is also problematic, OP.

I do tutoring and if i encountered a parent like you i would say "nope, not with me"
You need to make sure your son is on time, not oversleeping, and you need to wind your neck in telling a tutor how to do their job (teach mindmaps, quizzes and flashcards?)

You and your son need to accept that for him history is only ever going to be a hobby.

You really are not doing your son any favours with your attitude. What happens when he fails in a couple of years, and then sleeps in for a job interview, etc.

He said that there are loads of issues regarding essay-writing and analysing sources and interpretations

This, I think, is the crux of it; because these are the essential skills of history, and your tutor is saying your son can't do them. No amount of mind maps or skeleton diagrams will help if he fundamentally can't analyse, interpret, and write essays. A mind map might help him remember dates, but that won't get him anywhere without these skills. And the tutor is saying he can support your son with these skills, but it's going to be an uphill battle which is starting very late in the day for someone wanting to do A level.

The question is, is your son willing to undergo that uphill battle? It doesn't sound like it from your post, but it's the conversation you need to have with him.

So one teacher told you that he was better off not taking it for GCSE and then a couple of years later another teacher/ tutor tells you that he wouldn’t recommend taking it for an A Level? And you’ve chosen to ignore both because “your son likes it”.
It is not a tutors job to teach your son to revise; you can do that or he could look at the millions of sources online. If there are gaps in knowledge I would absolutely focus on that at this point.
YABVU.

A tutor is there to fill in the gaps, not teach your DS the whole scheme of work for History. Ultimately, your DS isn't going to be able to revise content that he doesn't have general understanding of. The best way forward is to speak to the school, who will be best placed to advise on how to proceed for next year.

the tutor needs to sack you off as a customer. You clearly don't listen to experts and want to do your own thing (at the expense of your DS).
The teacher and the tutor have both told you history is not for your DS. Why are you insisting he does it?

It is a huge bloody thing to mistake the Cold War for something else if you want to take history

Is this a reverse? It must be, or all made up 😂 can't honestly believe you think you're the reasonable one after what I just read.