I'm a "super-tutor" to the London elite

[heatherheather22]

AMA

What makes you 'super'?

I’m singing ABBA now. I’m never going to get that out of my head. Thanks heather.

What does a super-tutor do? Do you have to be super because the children are exceptional, or are you super because they are average but their parents expect exceptional results?

What makes you 'super'?

Prestigious qualifications (Oxford graduate), 3 years of experience, positive reviews from previous clients.

Who are the 'London elite'?

Still don’t get how that makes you super! Do you get paid a lot more than the market rate?

And what subject?

What does a super-tutor do?

I personally tutor French, Italian, English and Religious Studies. You can find a tutor for pretty much any subject. It's intensive one-on-one tutoring, going over schoolwork and teaching "bonus" extra material.

Do you have to be super because the children are exceptional, or are you super because they are average but their parents expect exceptional results?

The majority of my clients are students at top private schools trying to get from an A to an A*. I probably have a skewed view of what is "average" because I work with children who are already very well-educated. My "worst" students expect to get all Bs, minimum. Some of my students agree to tutoring because of parental pressure, some are genuinely very keen to improve their marks. I don't like classifying children as exceptional or average because I've come to realise that the quality of education you have access to is far more of an influencing factor than native intelligence.

Wow I tutored for a bit as an Oxford graduate. Maybe i can call myself a super tutor...

What is the most needy parent request?

What is your top exam revision tip?

Who are the 'London elite'?

Rich people, basically. Over half of my clients are international families. Most of my clients have made money in business; a few are old money British aristocrats. People who value education. The vast majority live in properties worth several million.

How much do you charge? What are the kids like? Do they get everything they want? and do they have a very privileged perspective on the world?

Do you get paid a lot more than the market rate?

Yep. I think the average rate for tutoring in London is about £35/hour. My fees start at £50/hour, usually I charge £70/hour.

Ah the 'business' of having lots of money (probably through unethical means and being born into privilege😆

)

If i was paying squillions for private school and had to pay 70quid an hour for a tutor as well I'd be wondering ...

What is the most needy parent request?

One mother asked me to recommend "proper" books for her daughter, she was upset and worried that her 12yo wanted to read kids' fantasy books instead of Jane Eyre...

What is your top exam revision tip?

Learn to structure an essay well. Make sure you are answering what the question actually asks. Keep calm and remember that exam results are not the most important thing in life.

Do you think that you are a better teacher than someone who didn't go to Oxford?

I ask because the ability to disseminate knowledge to others is not predicated on the ability to pass exams.

And you're hardly a super tutor if your students are already privileged and well-educated to begin with.

What are the kids like? Do they get everything they want? and do they have a very privileged perspective on the world?

The kids vary a lot. Some are lovely, some are awful. They certainly don't get everything they want - I would imagine that what most of them want more than anything is a weekend without any homework or revision, but most of them have very pushy parents. But yes they do tend to have very expensive phones/clothes/toys etc.

The younger ones often have a very privileged - one 12yo couldn't believe I was going to wait for a bus in the rain - "Why don't you just get a taxi?" A 14yo at one of the most expensive schools in London told me he goes to Pret for lunch every day because he doesn't like the school canteen food. Normally by the time they get to 17/18 they have realised how privileged they are and don't make comments like that.

How might you get into this role? I have a doctorate but not in a school-taught subject, is this useful?

If i was paying squillions for private school and had to pay 70quid an hour for a tutor as well I'd be wondering ...

To be honest £70/week is not a considerable amount of money for these people. If you're already forking out tens of thousands to the school, what's a few hundred more to a tutor?

I don’t believe in tutoring.

My DS didn’t pass the 11 plus but is now at an excellent grammar 6th form after GCSEs at a very mediocre comp.

You get what you work for off your own back really i guess - and I say this as a high income family who could easily afford tutors.

I’ve seen lots of ds (and dd before him) struggle when they get to grammar and tutoring falls off.

Everyone being very snide that you call yourself a super-tutor but do you really get the results to merit that title? Could you get an average student from a normal comp who is currently predicted just passing grades up to A*s?

Do you think that you are a better teacher than someone who didn't go to Oxford?

Nope, not at all. However, my clients want someone who knows the Oxbridge system and how to pass Oxbridge entrance interviews. That's what they're paying for.