Tutoring...how likely?

[kandinskysgirl]

I have been looking at various tutoring websites and have joined up to a few of them in the hope to make some more money.

I just wanted the opinions of parents as to how likely they would be to employ me?

I have a degree and MA and have said I am happy to tutor both History and English from 12yrs up to A Level. (I did English Lit and History at A Level not that long ago and my degree is related to both). However I have no special teaching qualifications and not much experience tutoring in an official capacity. I am on the other hand very enthusiastic, would take it very seriously and lesson plan etc...

So parents do you think that me checking my inbox frantically for any contact is a waste of time or might I have some chance of tutoring?

I'd prefer someone with experience but if I had to approach a less experienced tutor I'd be looking for :
Crb check, knowledge of the syllabus of my childs exam board, knowledge of the marking keys of my childs syllabus, an appreciation of how they would assess my childs current strengths and weaknesses before starting tutoring.

Personally, I would imagine History has less demand for tutoring as a subject than English. Mainly because everyone needs English, whereas most who choose History as an option do so because they are quite good at it (mind you, there may be some need for those on an A to get them up to A* - again knowledge of the exam boards paramount). English is a vital subject as I did, once, think of employing a tutor for my daughter.

Thank you very much Kez for your response.

Some brilliant pointers for me to work on if anyone does approach me. Yes I think English is more likely but that is ok as it is my stronger subject .

My sons tutor is a actual teacher which I have to say I prefer as she knows how teachers want things taught is familiar with the syllabus

All my sons tutors have either been teachers or collage tutors

I do some tutoring alongside teaching and I have to say that parents seem to prefer people who are currently teaching or who have been teaching recently, especially since exam technique is so important these days. You might get a better start if you began with teaching literacy perhas at KS3 and then gained experience as you went along. I think as an inexperienced teacher they may expect you to be cheaper as well, I charge £30 for A_level in my specialist subject

You're more likely to find work in schools i'd have thought, via pupil premium funded tutoring.

The most important thing for a tutor is to know how exam mark schemes work and what things marks are awarded for. I tutor but as an experienced teacher I know the little things that get you extra marks. This is really important to share with tutees. Can you get into exam marking for a while so you gain this understanding? Alternatively do you know anyone you could tutor for free to get a reference?
There are plenty of people round here who tutor and have no experience of tutoring. They do get some work but quite a few of my students come from them as after a while they realise that whilst the tutor has the subject knowledge, they dont have the exam knowledge iykwim.