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

[heatherheather22]

AMA

Exactly my point @SleepingStandingUp*.
Wrong.*
. No, my point is it isn't racist to say you like someone for being Northern, Southern or any thing inbetween. Don't be so ridiculous

I don''t know why some people are so sniffy on this thread.

I'd rather have an Oxbridge grad (with a decent 2:1 min) teach my kids than a lot of teachers because I know, if they are a clever reflexive type of a person, they know a lot about exam technique as they actually have the type of grades I'd like my children to get. Most teachers don't, some of my students with 2:2's or even low 2:1's who aren't that brilliant want to be teachers.

I have been a tutor, it was relatively easy, some content delivery plus exam technique plus practice. You don't need a PGCE, just be extremely good at exams/assessment yourself and able to read the syllabus, for a limited number of subjects/boards.

I'm sure having the chief examiner would be even better, but there aren't so many of those to go around.

If the OP gets results, and has a list of satisfied clients, then I would go with that- because if they have done that for others, they could do that for your children. Someone may be a great overall class teacher but not particularly specialized in moving children from an A to an A* (or 7 to a 9).

How racist of you *pitwicker^ to just like her on the basis of geography.

^

Not pitwicker. Only a half one. No doubt you're offended by the term halfwit.

SleepingStandingUp

How racist of you *pitwicker^ to just like her on the basis of geography
Not sure were allowed to call northerners a different race...

^

You can call yourself whatever you like halfwit however it's pretty stupid, and yes, ridiculous, to make sweeping statements about people for living in a region,over another.

Also, its possible to be very highly qualified and be a crap teacher without any teaching qualifications. There is a big difference, surely that doesn't need pointing out?

This would be a good thread to start in teachers.

You sound a very genuine person. How you deal with the parent who desperately wants their very average child to, for instance, become a doctor and believes that all DC needs to do is work harder?

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...

I know you listed this as an instance of parental unreasonableness, but I don't think it's the least unreasonable. I teach undergraduates in English literature who have got 'stuck' at the children's/YA fantasy stage, because there seems to have been no expectation that they move on to non-child/YA books other than as 'work' reading for school, and I would expect a normally intelligent child with elite schooling and an extra tutor, to be capable of reading the kind of classics like JE that would be accessible to 12 year olds.

I have to agree with Procne. I am a tutor (and qualified teacher) in central London to exactly the type of families OP mentions (and with many many more years experience!). JA, Dickens, etc are all featured heavily on the 11+ exams to the top London schools and therefore considerd accessible. Of course, despite working for London’s top agencies and having the same glowing references OP talks about, I would never describe myself as a “super tutor” (shudder).

Apologies for the typo. That should have said JE obviously.

I would recommend reaching out to them.

“Reaching out”!? I thought the general idea was that you monetised the Oxbridge cachet, played up the myth of needing insider knowledge for Oxbridge entry and maybe transmitted the Queen’s English to these “international families”?

How you deal with the parent who desperately wants their very average child to, for instance, become a doctor and believes that all DC needs to do is work harder?

Thankfully I've never really had to deal with this situation, but I suppose what I'd do is have a chat with the parents as soon as it became apparent the child didn't have what it takes. Better to "manage expectations" early on, then they don't get angry that you've taken their money but can't deliver.

But of course I'd try my best to help the child academically.

It's horrible seeing children under so much pressure from their parents, it's definitely the worst part of the job. Ultimately I have to remind myself that it's not my business to fix the family dynamic and I'm not responsible for their child's happiness/mental health. But it is frequently quite depressing.

“Reaching out”!? I thought the general idea was that you monetised the Oxbridge cachet, played up the myth of needing insider knowledge for Oxbridge entry and maybe transmitted the Queen’s English to these “international families”?

There's more than enough tutoring work available in London, I don't have a problem with other people signing up to my agencies :p

Don’t the families have a problem eith your mid-atlantic version of english?

Serious question. I had a different concept of what they were paying for.

Re: the 12yo reading classic fiction debate...

I completely agree a bright well-educated 12yo should be CAPABLE of reading these books and it's entirely proper that they're on the school courses. My issue was that the mother thought that was ALL her child should be reading and thought it was unreasonable for her EVER to read something lighter. This was a child who was extremely hothoused already (top school, very intense extra music lessons, competing internationally in her chosen sport) and I just wanted to shout at the mother, "For God's sake, on the rare occasions your child has a bit of spare time will you please let her actually relax and read something she wants to read instead of "extra credit" for her English class?!"

Don’t the families have a problem eith your mid-atlantic version of english?

I don't speak mid-Atlantic English, I've lived in England my whole life.

Youve used American english several times on this thread. I’m actually trying to pin down if you do the same at work, or if you take the Englishness up a notch for tutoring, adopt perfect enunciation, standard english and so on.

I think you just sound very different to my pre-conception of who does this kind of work. I suppose i had a vision of old Etonians in borrowed tweed 😏

"Obviously I'm aware plenty of people who value education can't afford to do so."
This makes zero sense OP.

Youve used American english several times on this thread. I’m actually trying to pin down if you do the same at work, or if you take the Englishness up a notch for tutoring, adopt perfect enunciation, standard english and so on.

Ah I suppose we all have more of an American influence these days with so much American media available...but I'm definitely English! Obviously in class I use slightly more formal language but I've never felt the need to "take the Englishness up a notch", lol. Out of interest, what aspects of my writing do you consider to be "American English"?

I think you just sound very different to my pre-conception of who does this kind of work. I suppose i had a vision of old Etonians in borrowed tweed 😏

Oh there are plenty of those too :p Don't know why they'd be in borrowed tweed though, I'm sure they have their own! In my experience most of the agencies are set up by former public school boys who begin with a clientele of their friends' children. But there are plenty of "non-U" tutors too.

"Obviously I'm aware plenty of people who value education can't afford to do so."
This makes zero sense OP.

Can't afford to pay for private tuition, not can't afford to value education.

Would you say private schools in London are better as a result of tutoring or their own teaching efforts?
I’ve heard the only reason they get the top grades is because most dc are tutored. Do you agree with that?

Not sure why you’re getting such a hard time on this thread op.

Just out of interest did you go to Sheffield Girl’s High? I went to king Edwards for 6th form and those girls were crazy. They used to line up on the fence when we walked past for our lunch so that they could see boys .

Why are the parents so fixated on high grades and getting into Oxbridge? Do they think it will mean their kids have a better career? Or is it so they will mix with the children of the rich / leaders in their fields?

Well i was hoping fir their dake that they wouldnt have tweed of their own in their twenties, but there's a small knot of UGs that do, now i think about it

It was mainly “reaching out to” (rather than “contact” or “get in touch with”) that made my eyebrows take flight. A couple of smaller things like “cliche” (when it should be “cliched”), “kids”, “darn”. Plus you just sound generally so relaxed and casual.

Get out before too long and get a PGCE place before it really gets its claws into you and warps your world view. Some jobs can be seductive like that.

Would you say private schools in London are better as a result of tutoring or their own teaching efforts?
I’ve heard the only reason they get the top grades is because most dc are tutored. Do you agree with that?

Very interesting question. I think the popularity of tutoring is definitely a contributing factor. I'm sure there are other contributing factors too - eg. very ambitious intelligent parents are disproportionately likely to have a job that takes them to London. Their kids are also more likely to be ambitious and intelligent. There are an awful lot of private schools in London, so each school has more of a motivation to be excellent to attract potential clients.

I will say tutoring is also very popular in schools outside London, a lot of my work is Skype lessons with kids in rural boarding schools (though usually their families are based in London).