Recommendations for reliable online A level computer science tutors - have you tried Tutorful, Spires, etc?

[AstonCanKissMyArse]

I've heard good things about Tutorful (but then again Spires has generally good reviews). Has anyone else had good or bad experiences with these, or could suggest somewhere else i could look for an A level computer science tutor (online)?

I found one via Spires last summer. He seemed really good but then ghosted my son after 2 months! I finally managed to catch up with him via Spires and he said he had become too busy to deliver the 1 hr /week he had agreed to. Rubbish service and communication. Spires were not interested at all, they just wanted to get us to sign up to someone else through them. Needless to say I didn't.

We found someone else through word of mouth but again he cancelled after 2 months - he said his wife was taken ill and he had to focus on supporting her. He seemed genuine but honestly, who knows.

We're now a bit stuck, my son has ADHD and needs a one a week/ fortnight session to keep him on track. He loves the subject and works hard (got an 8 at GCSE. He was doing his sessions in a shared family area of the house so we could monitor his engagement and he was being polite, engaged and working well. In fact the second tutor gave him a glowing report).

I don't know if we've just been really unlucky but I'm loathe to sign up with someone else who might just bin him off, especially via an expensive brokering service, but i don't know where else to look. He didn't seem too bothered about being cancelled but I was upset on his behalf. It could be very demotivating.

I really need someone who is going to be reliable.

We’ve used TutorHunt not for CS but for other subjects both at GCSE and ALevel. Found tutors to be both reliable and consistent.

We used Sherpa for my son's a level chem and bio. It was excellent and the tutors were so supportive with his audhd. He now tutors (not cs) for them.

Thanks both. I think we've just been unlucky but its so disheartening.

We had similar experiences with tutorhunt and tutorful - we also found that because they charge such extortionate fees, it's really expensive for not a very good service! I will DM who we used

You are often paying between 15-52% more for the same tutors on these platforms than you can find on commission free tutoring directories. The commission free platform also has all the trust signals checking ID, validating safeguarding and even go one step further than Tutorful - checking teaching qualifications - on Tutorful you can just self declare! That's the 'Finders Fee Tutor Platform' model where you find a tutor and pay them directly!

My Tutor -40% commission plus VAT = 52%
Tutorful 35% 'service fee'
Tutorhunt 32% commission
Sherpa 28% commission

I've used Nexus Tutoring in the past - they only have current Oxbridge Undergrads as tutors. It's a bit more costly at £60/hour, but I thought they were worth it!

Exactly what this poster has said. These platforms take an enormous chunk of the tutor's pay in commission.

Look on TutorDex or UK Tutors. TutorDex charges a one time finders fee (it used to be First Tutors before that platform folded), whereas UK Tutors charges both parent and tutor a one time fee. You then pay the tutor direct. You can check their qualifications, DBS etc yourself so there's no need to be paying an ongoing chunk of your money to these platforms.

Otherwise search for computer science tutors in your area via Google and once you are past all the agency ads you'll find all the independent tutors websites. Independent is always the way to go. If someone has been doing it full time for years they are probably good at it. If they weren't they wouldn't be able to make it pay long term. Agencies will be full of inexperienced students (no matter which university they are at, do they know the requirements for the exact specification you need? etc etc) or teachers doing it as a side show to their main job, which will always take priority.

I searched online, honestly couldn't find anything but these big platforms.

ETA: We had an indie guy, had recommendations but he let us down. Maybe we were just unlucky.

Good tip about Tutordex, thanks.

Are you sure you need a tutor? CS is not a hard A level (I'm an ex CS teacher and tutor). Would something like these videos help? There are short, engaging and cover the whole curriculum.
m.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCiOXwirraUDUYF_qDYcZV8Hce8dsE_Ho&ra=m