5th December 2012 9:00
By Blue Tutors
Private tuition is now a multi-million pound industry, and has is popular amongst graduates looking to supplement their income. However, the wages on offer vary a great deal, and tutors can make as much as £50 an hour, or as little as £15, depending on their qualifications and experience. Those wishing to make as much money as possible in a short period, for example over the summer holidays, are sometimes given the opportunity to live with their students’ families to offer intensive tuition.
Live-in tutors often work with a family for a period of between 1-3 months, and are usually employed to help children catch up at school, or study intensively for upcoming exams. They are paid between £100 and £200 pounds a day, and receive accommodation and meals in addition to this. Some have also reported being taken on holiday with their students’ families, as parents want their children to continue studying over the summer. This can seem like an attractive prospect to tutors, given that the position is well paid, and can offer great benefits.
However, living with a students’ family can present difficulties too. Tutors are sometimes viewed as family friends, and sometimes as staff that are simply there to do a job. Both of these approaches can potentially cause difficulties when a tutor is living-in. If the student is experiencing problems it can be difficult for a tutor who is close to the family to raise any issues, especially when they are beholden to the family for their accommodation. Tutors who are treated as staff, and kept separate from the family can find it hard to forge a good relationship with their student when their position in the family is undermined. Whilst it can be a good experience, tutors should get to know a family before deciding whether living-in is the right option.