FAQs from parents about English tutors

No-one actually asks me these questions, but, well, they probably should. This is a guide for parents and pupils.

What should I look for in an English tutor?

The tutor should be punctual and reliable; they should be able to relate to the pupil; and they should know their subject well.

They should keep you informed of how they have spent each session; let you know if the pupil isn’t applying themselves; and be able to provide homework.

With tutoring, the pupil should show an improvement over time; if not, the tutor should be able to suggest what is going wrong.

A decent tutor will be able to predict whether your child will pass and, roughly, what grade they should expect.


Where can I find tutors?

You will usually find that full-time working teachers are booked up by October week of the school year. Retired teachers, English graduates or graduates of a teaching college may be available out there in cyberspace (I hold a teaching qualification but I’m not a registered teacher).

Parents usually contact tutors for Higher pupils:

• the day after the exam results come out in August
• around the October break, when some pupils fail their first class test
• after the prelim results come out in January

I get all my work from word of mouth, and the website aplustutors.


Why should I screen candidates?

Most websites do not have any form of screening process for people who put themselves forward as tutors. You might want to ask for photographic id before you leave a strange adult alone with your child.

If they claim to have a teaching qualification you can ask to see proof. It will either be a teaching degree or a Post-Graduate Certificate of Education (PGCE) if they trained in Scotland.

Use your own judgement and that of your child.

Most children in Primary 6 and older will be able to tell you if:

a) the tutor is no use

b) the tutor behaves in a way that seems wrong to them

After the visit, ask your child how it went.


Why do most parents/guardians look for English tutors?

Many pupils will be more interested in maths, sciences, languages or practical subjects rather than reading and writing; yet a lot of college and university courses require a pass in English.

On the other hand, many people look for English tutors if their children have somehow turned out to be either less academic or less ambitious than they themselves are. Note that I don’t use the words ‘intelligent’ or ‘talented’ here.

Some pupils have a special learning needs, including dyslexia, dyspraxia, or impaired vision or hearing.


When will an English tutor not last?

It may be a waste of time looking for a tutor for pupils who are not yet in Standard Grade / Intermediate / Higher.

Children who have not acquired an interest in English need to have a goal in sight. A tutor is less likely to inspire your child to start liking English than, say, the sports section of your newspaper or a good book.

A tutor will nearly always help; but they can't always make a difference between a pass or a fail. For me personally, I tend to get the best results from pupils who are capable of passing but have something holding them back - either from a lack of confidence, bad organisation or poor motivation.