15th February 2012 9:00
By Blue Tutors
January is the peak season for private tutors reads an article on the Telegraph’s website. Of course, this isn’t true, and May and June see far more lessons being tutored, but what is true is that in January almost every student, of any age, is taking exams which will shape their future education. It’s not just modules and mocks for GCSE and A Level students, but also students taking 11+ and Common Entrance exams to get into a good selective school.
The article features a head teacher who says that a few years ago he didn’t think that any student necessarily needed a private tutor, but that, with increasing class sizes, it is becoming more and more difficult for state school students to compete with their fee-paying counterparts. He continues to say that there also seems to be a feeling among parents now that not to have a tutor is tantamount to failure when other parents can’t stop bragging about how good their tutor is.
Here is the advice given to help you to find the perfect tutor:
Ask other students and parents at school, or the school itself.
Ask for references, but be aware that delays may lead to the best tutors being booked up by less fussy parents.
Request a trial session to see if student and tutor get on.
Be prepared to agree to early morning or weekend lessons so that the best tutors can fit you in.
Travel to the tutor to avoid paying the tutor’s travelling expenses.