Private Tutor for A levels

[Eloise01]

Have now registered with First Tutors for DS struggling somewhat with a science A level subject. Has anyone used them successfully or otherwise? Onus is on the parent to find tutors from a list and check any ID etc but there is a charge - parent 'pays' about £20.00 for a tutor once both sides agree.

This would be our first experience with private tutors and though it will be a struggle, financially, we have little choice as DS is asking for additional help and presently getting lower than expected scores.

We tried Fleet Tutors once - never went anywhere. What little contact we had was pretty awful. Very hefty fee and a referral to a tutor with very little relevant experience.

Anyone recommend a site or agency that's worked for their DCs? Thanks!

Do you have friends with older DCs? I believe you can't beat personal recommendations!

Eloise - I posted exactly this earlier this week (well apart from I wanted to know how to get a private tutor for my ds AS german!) - I looked at firsttutors and was a bit at £5-£20 per introduction; presumably if you don't get on with the first you need to pay again for a second.
Anyway - I was advised to contact the local school/college/uni - if there is one - and I have had an email back from a TA at college who is looking for tutoring experience.

I had a couple of really good tutors on FirstTutors and then one I thought was good but who decided to disappear and be uncontactable just before an AS exam when DD needed her. First Tutors gave me a credit but the damage was done. They have also not stopped her advertising. So if you are using them for Chemistry in west London - beware!

Whereabouts are you OP. In my experience small local agencies work better than the national chains and I could recommend some in my local area. Some agencies are better than others at checking tutor's qualifications and experience and it usually works out better to pay a charge per actual lessons taught rather than for a list of tutors.
Am not sure whether I would be happy with a TA providing A level tutoring, unless they had a relevant degree or (for languages) were a native speaker.

Crazymum - she is a native german speaker, working over here to get experience and will be going back to germany in June to work as a teacher over there.

The agencies tend to return at least 2-3 pages of results on google. Try searching on google your area (maybe check out nearby places too) and the subject as well as tutor. Check through 3-4 pages and you are likely to find their own details/websites if they have one. One person found me (privately) by using the info on the agency site and a bit more googling. Personally I prefer to meet with parents students first without them having to pay anything as I think it's important to see if you will get on with the tutor. Also ask at their school, and check out the yellow pages (or yell.com)

Hi, I am a tutor and advertise on First Tutors when I have spaces available. Initially I thought it wouldn't be popular because of the charge but I actually find I get more work through them than anyone. You can chat with potential tutors first and are under no obligation to pay for details unless you are sure. One of my clients did get a tutor who didn't turn up (before they contacted me) and they did get their money back. Certainly everyone who I've met through the site has been happy with it.

I agree that most tutors will advertise in different places though so have a look around. I used to be on The Tutor Pages, have you had a look on there?

Most of my work is through word of mouth, and previous colleagues of mine who are still teachers give my number to parents who enquire - have you asked your child's teacher if they have anyone they can recommend?

Am watching with interest as I want to get someone to give ds some help with AS maths. He doesn't want to take it to A2 but insisted on doing AS as he thinks it will be useful. I'm at a loss as to how to find someone!

Longing, if you say your area, you may get a recommendation on here. I have a great maths tutor in Cheshire.

mindgone - wrong end of the country I'm afraid, but thanks anyway!

I looked on the First Tutors website last night and came across a chap in his 20s who went to the same school as ds, left with excellent results and did maths at uni. He also said - for me - the right things in his blurb. Fingers crossed he can take ds!

I advertise as a tutor The Tutor Pages. It's free but does the same job. Beware of tutors who have no teaching qualifications or experience - knowledge of a subject and ability to teach it to meet the needs of a board are two very different things!

Many, many thanks, all of you. I've had some replies from the tutors I contacted through First Tutors. They also run a kind of market place system, where you can put out a general enquiry. A couple got back - one who hasn't been fully ID'd (so what this person was doing getting in touch, I don't know) and another who wanted nearly £90 for two hours tuition (OK, they were factoring in traveling time though they're not that far away).

However, a couple do seem fine and I'll probably make contact. I could also ask DS's teacher (excellent suggestion) and look at Tutor Pages.

Yes, I think year 12 can be a huge challenge and I only wish that I'd sorted DS out with additional help last year (this is a re-take year - it didn't go at all well).

Another very good suggestion, ask other parents. I'm about to send an email to some Mums I know, so thanks. For some reason, that hadn't occurred to me.

If I unearth anything useful in these efforts, I feed back as you all kindly have.

I no longer work in London but often used to get tutor requests via the school I worked at (very academic London school). Lots of the younger teachers. (All highly qualified but short of cash) took on tutoring for pupils from other schools. I think tutoring your own pupils is a bit unethical. Is it worth writing to the HOD of your nearest good schools (not your son's)?