Not to tutor colleague's child

[5hj56]

I teach and examine a core subject and in conversation back in September with a TA who supports some of my lessons, mentioned that I occasionally tutor GCSE too.

He is now looking for a tutor for his son, and caught me off guard during a lesson assuming I'd be available to do this.

I'm not currently tutoring and would really struggle to add to my workload at the moment, but also have reservations about working 'for' a colleague.

AiBU to say sorry I actually can't do this and how is best to go about it without offending him?

Just say sorry I don’t tutor right now, can’t take any more work on at the moment! Hope your boy does well in his studying.

Nothing wrong with saying you don't have availability. Would be helpful to suggest ways to find someone else.

It's a non issue. Just say you would love to help but are not taking on any students at the moment.

This happened to me. It was my partner though we are all teachers but him Maths. She wanted her child to come and tutor at my house after school and sit with me with her other children. They lived out of town.

I said no. I felt bad but I just couldn't have coped with it.

I'm not currently tutoring and would really struggle to add to my workload at the moment

Perfect, say that.

Agree with others that you could say something like, ‘sorry but I’m no longer taking on new students because of my workload’, wish him and his son luck, and suggest any tutoring agencies/sites to him that you know of where he could find a tutor. I don’t think you’ll offend him with this at all, and definitely think you can keep your working relationship.

Recommend another tutor