Science Tutor needed!

[kinvorbud]

Hello, everybody. Just joined Mumsnet, having resisted for some time (evils of the internet blah blah blah...), but am pulling my hair our over DS1's science. He used to love it until a couple of years ago and now it's a battle - tears and tantrums - every time it's homework night. I know that he has ability but some of the concepts are beyond him and, being a linguist, I'm not much use. Anyone able to recommend a tutor in the Cambridge area who can do CE and/or Scholarship level tutoring in Science for private schools. (Aiming for Eton - gulp...)

How old is he?
[Can't help at all; just being nosey].
I have state school children but am curious to why you want Eton if live in Cambridge. Are the private schools crap here?!
Is DS crying because under too much pressure?

He's just turned 12, in Y7, so moving on next year. Eton is more his and his father's choice than mine. (I would prefer something closer to, eg Uppingham, but not going to come to blows over it.) He wants to board, though, and it looks like 2 or 3 friends will be going to Eton too, so we thought we'd give it a try. He got through the pre-test no problem, but it's just making sure that he meets the 70+% at Common Entrance. Yes, he's under pressure, but more that he cannot quite manage what is expected of him work-wise at the moment than us cracking the whip!

I sympathise. Having difficulties with mine (same age, similar future schooling thoughts) coping with the increased demands of his work now that we know what we're aiming for. Maths is his problem. Loves his English and humanities but just can't get his head around abstract maths concepts. Oh well - we'll stick at it!
Anyway, have heard of a very highly regarded science teacher advertising tutoring vacancies in Cambridge at the moment. Oxbridge-educated apparently, specialising in Chemistry. He's meant to be offering mainly A Level or GCSE tutoring, but I'm sure you could ask about CE/Scholarship level. Message me and I'll get you the details.

Thanks, sikorsky. Any idea what the going rate is for an hour's tutoring at the moment? No idea what's reasonable!

£40 an hour is about the going rate these days, I think. A niece of mine was paying that for A-Level tuition in French in Cambridge anyway. Tutors are usually quite flexible, so if you can only afford a few sessions or want them fortnightly rather than weekly, the will often be open to negotiation. Also, clubbing together with another family in a similar situation could be an option, as 2 to 1 tutoring is arguably as good as 1 to 1, and you get the split the cost.

Got the tutoring sorted now, thanks. He's certainly worth every penny. DS1: "I've learnt more in one hour than I have in the past 6 months" (!) Dishy to boot - LOL... Hubby sending out jealous vibes already!!!