calling all secondary teachers - question about tutoring

[TinyChancer]

Trying to find DD a new English tutor.
Those of you who saw my prelim thread may recall the first English tutor, from a tutoring website, was very sweary and turned out to have an assault conviction 😬then the second tutor was a recommendation from a friend, cancelled on us three times, then said she was no longer available. Said they were a teacher, but turned out although qualified, was actually working in pupil support (we want someone actually teaching English with up to date knowledge of curriculum, which brings me to the current issue)
I've contacted 4 potential tutors who can do it via zoom (not having any luck searching for in person tutors).
all 4 claim to be practising teachers. sorry if I sound a bit OTT but after the above experiences, I am determined to make sure so have been frantically googling them. Please tell me if I'm using the GTCS register wrong and if there's another way to find out if they are actual teachers! Tell me who you think I should book!

tutor 1 - registered on GTCS website to teach in N Lanarkshire but is not listed on any staff lists and all I can find online is a reference to them being a probationer in 2021. Teaching style is past papers which DD could probably find online along with marking instructions. 2 positive reviews. They could potentially be an independent school teacher although I suspect independent schools would prefer to recruit someone with a bit more experience.
tutor 2 - also claims to be currently teaching in N Lanarkshire. No mention of her anywhere on the GTCS website unless married/divorced but no indication of that on social media profile. Not on any school staff lists. Does appear to have studied teaching though as one of her essays is online. Teaching style is powerpoints apparently.
tutor 3 - has lots of positive reviews and runs a tutoring agency. Claims they are all practising teachers. He is not available. Instead, gave me the number of a woman who claims to be a teacher. Texted her. Only have her first name so can't check register. Have asked where she teaches. No response as yet.
tutor 4 - has 4 reviews on facebook, only 3 I can see, says she teaches (profile says lives in renfrew, works in Glasgow) but again can't see her on school staff lists or on GTCS register.

What am I doing wrong? Am I being lied to? Am I being overly fussy? Help!

School staff lists on websites are frequently years out of date so that's a non-starter for checking. As for the GTCS website it relies on the teacher to update details. I too would only pay full tutoring rates for someone fully searchable on the register with PVG number (unless perhaps someone I knew through a friend of a friend who was retired etc).

As a teacher myself I wouldn't mind you politely enquiring about my current and previous teaching experience as it's only fair you know what you are paying for. I see so many students advertising on Facebook as tutors for much the same rate as I would charge. Just because they got an A at higher/advanced higher doesn't mean they have the skills or strategies to teach.

I would however say that zoom sessions can be very effective with the advances in resources and teacher's experience of distance learning over the past few years. I much prefer it as always found going to people's homes a bit strange. And saves the travel hassle. You get the full time dedicated to the learning.

Thanks, yeah I did wonder if the school lists were up to date but most did seem like they were (eg 22/23 handbooks). I thought they weren't allowed to teach unless they paid/updated their GTCS registration yearly?

They could be supply teachers. This could be anything from day to day supply, to long term contracts such as covering a maternity leave. They would not appear on the staff list for a school in this case. Some authorities are stingy with permanent contracts and it is extremely common for teachers not to get permanent contracts especially soon after probation year.

Yes you have to pay the annual subs and complete 5 yearly update to remain on the register. However if they aren't currently in a permanent position the LA listed on the register when you search may be out of date or missing if they haven't manually updated it on myGTCS.

God that's awful! You have my sympathies - we had a nightmare trying to find a tutor.
One thing I'd say is don't be against online/zoom. It's been a lot more effective for us than face to face with the tutors we've found.
And also from our personal experience I would now not recommend a trained teacher as a tutor. We tried four different teachers and they all had the same 'style' of teaching. The reason my children were struggling in school was because that 'style' doesn't work for them!!! So for us, finding someone who was a specific 'tutor', rather than a teacher with some free time, was like a breath of fresh air to them and they explained things in a much clearer and unique manner.

I've asked a few if they are currently teaching and it has gone quiet! I asked again, and explained the problems I'd had in the past as being the reason I was checking. No response from most and one said basically she didn't think it was appropriate to say where she worked, which I kind of understand but also is a bit of a suspicious excuse too. Really worried now about whether I'll be able to find someone who isn't already booked. Is it really too much to ask for someone with current and up to date knowledge of the curriculum? I got DD a tutor for another subject and she was more than happy to say where she worked.

English teacher here. Not offering to tutor but I have colleagues who tutor via Zoom if that will work. If you let me know on here and tag me so I see it, I can DM you a mobile number or two. I am a PT in a large department in a superb school but unless you are Dundee it would need to be online.

Thank you so much, I have booked someone now to start next week. Not cheap but is a qualified English teacher with good reviews on the tutoring site. She's on the GTCS and was also happy to tell me the school in NLanarkshire she works in (I also checked the school staff list). Only potential issue is that she is not currently working as an English teacher but in the SFL department. Not sure if that will make any difference to how she tutors but we will see. Hopefully it will be a better experience this time around. I will report back!

As above, the gtcs website isn’t updated and really isn’t actually used in a hugely functional way.

I’m and English teacher in a school in east Dunbartonshire and if you need a number or help with a tutor in the future, send a message!

Good luck!

Honestly you don't necessarily need a teacher currently teaching. A tutor will suffice. I was a teacher and I've been a tutor for ten years. It's my full time job. Problem is you are looking for someone with immediate availability. I'm booked up months in advance and won't have space until June now. By July I will be fully booked for September.

I’m not sure why you think a professional tutor
wouldn’t have up to date knowledge of the curriculum?

I think many teachers wouldn’t have the time
or energy to tutor in their spare time - but a dedicated tutor who always tutors online would have resources specifically tailored to their work?

Good luck - I hope your latest find is successful for you!

Thanks everyone, I'll come back to this thread if I need any help in future.

Hello, I am looking for an online Higher English tutor and saw this thread. I am needing someone who is a current or recent SQA marker to start as soon as possible. Initially to focus on RUAE. Please contact me if you can help.

@Cismyfatarse Hello, I have sent you a DM hoping you can help me find an online tutor for Higher English. Kindest regards Janet

We have used tutors in the past - although Maths, not English. It's always been through word of mouth from other parents who I know personally, not social media recommendations, or last time I spoke directly to my child's own maths teacher for a recommendation. She put us in touch with a recently retired teacher who was brilliant, loads of experience and the fact she wasn't currently teaching in a school didn't really matter. This was Nat 5 level though.

It can be a bit of a nightmare, PVG checks are not needed for self-employed private tutors so you can't even use that for a bit of reassurance

I can help. Am out of the country and will try to respond. But if not, will do so in 10 days.