Become a tutor

Teachers have long been able to pick up a bit of private tutoring work via agencies or local ads, but now there are more opportunities out there, especially since the launch of the One To One Tuition Programme, the previous government’s drive to help low-achieving pupils.

The One To One Tuition Programme

Piloted in 2007 as Making Good Progress, this scheme was launched in England in September 2009 to provide individual tutoring to children falling behind in the classroom. From September 2010, pupils in key stages 2, 3 and (in National Challenge schools) 4 who enter the stage behind expectation are entitled to help in English and mathematics. Local authorities have been allocated funding based on 3.5 per cent of its cohort needing extra tuition in these subjects – nationally about 300,000 pupils per subject. However, budgetary trimmings to the project, to the tune of £47 million in unallocated funds, were announced by Michael Gove, the new education secretary, in the emergency budget in June.

Under the scheme, each pupils receives ten hours of one-to-one tuition time, in one-hour sessions, with targets agreed by the tutor, the classroom teacher and the pupil. Sessions can take place at school, the pupil’s home or at a local library (as decided by the local authority).

Who can apply to be a tutor?

Tutors on this scheme must have, or be about to attain, Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) in England or Wales, or a subject-specific FE or HE qualification. A QTS obtained outside England or Wales will need to be accompanied by written confirmation from the General Teaching Council for England that the qualification is equivalent. You do not have to be teaching currently.

Contact your local authority, which will have a tuition lead. Individual authorities may offer tuition training.

Pay

Tutors are paid for 12 hours with the pupil – 10 hours tuition and two hours planning / liaising with the classroom teacher. If the tuition is during the school day, tutors are paid according to classroom teachers’ main pay scales. If outside school hours, pay is agreed with the local authority.

Typical rates are, per hour, £33 inner London, £32 outer London and £29 rest of England (these figures include £4 administration costs).

More info

More information on individual tuition in the TES supplement 1-2-1: How individual tuition is revolutionising learning.

If you are interested in the scheme, you can register online with the Training and Development Agency (http://www.tda.gov.uk/onetoone) who will pass your application on to your local authority. Online registration: http://www.tda.gov.uk/teachers/onetoonetuition/onetoone.aspx

Private tutoring

Alternatively you could go down the private route, advertising locally or registering with an agency or online directory like Tutor Pages. Private tutors are not subject to the same kind of regulation as teachers but, of course, the more credentials you have, the better your chances of getting work. For example, parents are likely to prefer a tutor for their children who has a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) disclosure certificate, even though it’s not mandatory.

Private tutors are not required to be registered with the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA), which covers anyone working or volunteering with children or vulnerable adults “on a frequent or intensive basis” (registration began in July 2010). However, tutors might consider joining the scheme voluntarily (this costs £64) as parents may ask that a tutor be ISA-registered.

The months up to exams in June tend to be the busiest but there are likely to be potential students all year round. Pay varies according to region, time of year and your own experience and qualifications. The Home Tutors Directory suggests that average rates are £15-£20 per hour for primary, £20-£25 per hour for secondary, £25-£30 per hour for A-level and £30+ for degree level.