Private Exam Tutor

Here is the business opportunity profile for a Private Exam Tutor.

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Introduction

A private exam tutor provides one-to-one coaching for school, college and university students preparing for examinations. These may be internal end-of-year tests co-ordinated by the school, 11-plus entrance exams to grammar schools, Common Entrance exams for independent schools, public exams such as GCSEs and A levels, or final university exams.

The purpose of hiring a tutor is to give students more in-depth and personalised coaching than is available at school or university, often with the aim of achieving a higher grade than they have been predicted to achieve. Students may be hoping to be accepted by a particular school, or to win a scholarship. Tutors should be able to guide their students at an appropriate pace to suit each individual, pass on techniques and give advice on taking the exam. Much of this knowledge comes from experience, and any aspiring tutor must have a solid understanding of the exam curricula they cover.

This profile looks at starting a business as a private exam tutor. It examines the qualifications and skills required, and identifies some of the key issues currently affecting the market. It also outlines some of the main legislation relating to the sector and provides sources of further information.

Qualifications and skills

A private tutor is likely to have previous experience in teaching and will probably hold a formal teaching qualification such as a Professional Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) with Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), which is required to teach in state schools.

Some tutoring agencies accept candidates without a formal teaching qualification but do require a minimum of a BA or BSc degree. People who have a degree but no formal teacher training may study for qualifications aimed at helping them develop their tutoring skills:

• The Open University (OU) provides a PGCE qualification by distance learning which incorporates QTS. Courses are currently available in six secondary subjects. For more information see www3.open.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/education/pgce/index.htm.
• Canterbury Christ Church University provides an online PGCE qualification aimed at increasing the numbers of qualified science teachers. The course takes 18 months to complete and can be studied part-time but requires students to complete school placements in England. See www.canterbury.ac.uk/education/iteach/documents/about-iteach.pdf for more information.

Some tutors now teach pupils online with live tutoring over the Internet. Courses that may be useful for this type of work include:

• Oxford University provides a course on 'Effective Online Tutoring' which lasts for seven weeks and covers the practical skills needed when tutoring online. For more information see http://cpd.conted.ox.ac.uk/personaldev/courses/effective_online_tutoring.asp.
• The Online College provides Learning to Teach Online (LeTTOL) which covers topics including teaching online, supporting learners through e-mail and managing online learning provision. Course fees are £450. See www.sheffcol.ac.uk/index.cfm?ParentID=dd22687d-39f7-412e-9a00-c9bb33e12b45 for more information.

Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) can keep you up to date with the latest coaching theories. Professional bodies approve training and set minimum standards of good practice for private exam tutors.

• Teachers TV provides free presentations for CPD leaders which may be of interest to private exam tutors and which cover various subjects at primary and secondary levels. See www.teachers.tv/cpdleaders for more details.
• Science Learning Centres provide CPD opportunities for science teachers and tutors, including information on science in the news, new resources and details of forthcoming conferences. See www.sciencelearningcentres.org.uk for information.
• The National Union of Teachers (NUT) provides a programme of one-day conferences and seminars. Costs for members are usually around £25 and costs for other delegates around £100. For more details see www.teachers.org.uk/story.php?id=3843.

Key market issues

Some of the key market issues affecting a private exam tutor include:

• The Government's introduction of the new Diploma for 14 to 19 year olds offers school and college students an extra choice of qualification they can study. It differs from GCSEs and A levels in that it provides a practical element and work experience as well as theoretical study. (See www.dcsf.gov.uk/14-19/index.cfm for details.) However, some modules for certain subjects will still need to be formally assessed by examination, which may present private tutors with new opportunities. All Diplomas teach functional English, maths and IT skills. The assessment criteria for each subject within the Diploma range are available at www.accreditedqualifications.org.uk/index.aspx. For details of qualifications in Scotland see www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Education.
• A 2008 survey for the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) revealed that 11% of parents and carers in England said their child received private tuition in an academic subject (something other than music or sport). The same survey also concluded that primary-age children are more likely to receive tuition than those at secondary school. Parents with an income of more than £50,000 per year are most likely to hire a private tutor for their child. See www.dcsf.gov.uk/research/data/uploadfiles/DCSF-RBX-09-01.pdf for details.
• The competition for grammar school places has intensified during the economic downturn, according to reports. Parents who could previously afford to send their children to private school are trying to send them to grammar schools instead. This is in turn increasing demand for private tutors who can help pupils prepare for the grammar school entrance exam, the 11-plus. See www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/4839415/Tutors-in-demand-in-race-for-grammar-schools.html for details.
• The DCSF report 'Private Tuition in England' was commissioned to investigate the market for private tuition, given that there has been little research into it in the past. The report revealed that:
• Two-fifths of agencies that took part in the report confirmed that all their tutors are qualified teachers.
• Four-fifths of agencies report that their tutors have been checked by the Criminal Records Bureau.
• A significant number of tutors specialise in maths, English or both.
• Key Stage 2 is the most popular level at which to engage a tutor - this is thought to be because at Key Stage 2 children are preparing for school entrance exams and private tuition can play an important role in improving results. Go to www.dcsf.gov.uk/research/data/uploadfiles/DCSF-RR081.pdf to view the full report.
• The DCSF is working with schools to develop one-to-one tuition programmes to help children who are behind in English and maths. A grant of £15 million has been launched to help schools recruit and train tutors and ensure the tutors work closely with schools to develop and monitor students' progress. See http://inclusion.ngfl.gov.uk/index.php?i=302&keywords=private+tutors&ni=1 for details.
• Research by Cambridge University in early 2008 revealed that business productivity in the UK suffers because school leavers lack basic literacy and numeracy skills. Similarly, the Public Accounts Committee recently reported that the number of adults in England struggling with basic literacy or numeracy remains too high. See www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmselect/cmpubacc/154/154.pdf for more details.
• Some private and grammar schools are choosing international GCSEs, or IGCSEs, over the standard GCSE, as they are seen as more challenging and are predominantly exam-based, rather than being centred on coursework or projects. Popular IGCSE subjects include maths, biology, chemistry and physics.

Trading issues

Some of the key trading issues affecting a private exam tutor include:

When do you work?

The amount of time spent working will depend on your circumstances, any other work commitments, and whether you choose to travel or teach in your own home. If you offer tuition to students of school age, you will have to be available for work after 4pm during weekdays and at weekends. Older students, studying A levels, degree level courses and vocational courses, will have more flexibility as they may be given free periods during the daytime. Most students will not require exam tuition in the summer holidays, which will limit your earning potential.

Contracts

You will need to draw up a contract, or tutoring agreement, detailing the Terms and Conditions (Ts & Cs) of the services you offer and your standard charging rates. Your Ts & Cs should outline specific processes used when working with students and whether you follow an agreed Code of Conduct.

The contract should include details of confidentiality issues, costs of each session, the frequency of the sessions provided and your payment terms. It can be worthwhile having a solicitor examine the contract to ensure it complies with the law.

Record-keeping and confidentiality

Any personal details or information that students or their parents provide (anything relating to a student's special needs for example) must be kept confidential. Personal information will need to be stored securely, in line with the Data Protection Act 1998, for an agreed length of time.

You will need to keep comprehensive records of the key issues discussed in each tutorial to document the topics that have been covered in teaching sessions, the guidance you have given to the student, the targets and goals that have been agreed and achieved - or lack of progress made. You will need this documentation for professional indemnity insurance purposes and to produce as evidence if a client should accuse you of negligence.

Charges and getting paid

Tutors usually charge by the hour and the fee is paid in cash or by cheque at the end of the session.

Charges vary depending on the level being taught and the area of the country in which you are based.

The rate for primary exam level tuition starts at around £15-£20 per hour (Key Stage 1 and 2). GCSE level tuition (Key Stage 3 and 4) typically costs between £20-25 per hour. AS and A level tuition will be in the range of £25-£30 per hour. Hourly rates for undergraduate exam tuition will be in excess of £30 per hour.

You can provide tuition in your own home, or travel to students' homes. If you travel you will need to take account of travel costs when you set your rates.

Cancellation policy

Many tutors require notice if a tuition session is cancelled. Some charge a cancellation fee or ask for payment in advance. If the student cancels the lesson, they forfeit the payment. These terms and conditions should be explained to the student and/or their parents during your initial meeting with them.

Sources of work

Few tutors manage to get regular work directly from clients when they first enter the market, so working via agencies is a common way to gain experience and build a reputation.

To apply, you will need to send a CV with covering letter, evidence of qualifications, and references where possible, or complete an application form (often found on the agency's website). Needless to say you should target agencies that offer your subject combinations and specialised fields.

Some tutor agencies charge a monthly membership fee of around £5 (which may be discounted to around £3 per month if the tutor agrees to join for 12 months) or a commission based on the tutoring hours worked. Commission will often be in the region of £5 per hour which is usually paid by the student on top of the tutor's own fee.

Sources of work include:

• The Yellow Pages (www.yell.com) and Thomson (www.thomsonlocal.com) offer contact details for agencies across the UK.
• Home Tutors Directory (www.hometutorsdirectory.co.uk) is an online directory of tutors and tuition agencies throughout the UK.
• Tutors Directory is an online resource with a 'find a tutor facility'. See www.tutors-online.co.uk for details.
• UK Tutors offers a free registration facility for prospective tutors throughout the UK. See www.uktutors.com for details.

Some local authorities require tutors to work for a few hours a week with young people who are in care or who are receiving home tutoring due to illness. Many of these contracts are awarded through tutoring agencies such as Fleet Tutors (www.fleet-tutors.co.uk/) and are advertised online on sites such as All Teaching Jobs.co.uk. For examples of tutoring opportunities see www.allteachingjobs.co.uk and select 'local authority' in the search section and then select 'tutor' from the drop-down list.

Vetting schemes

People who work unsupervised with children and young people under 18 years of age and/or and vulnerable adults (people with learning or physical disabilities, physical or mental illness or a reduction in physical or mental capacity) usually require a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check. In Scotland similar checks are conducted by Disclosure Scotland (www.disclosurescotland.co.uk). In Northern Ireland the checks are carried out by Access Northern Ireland (www.accessni.gov.uk).

However, there is currently no mandatory requirement for a private exam tutor to be vetted but parents, particularly those with younger children, will have more confidence and trust in a tutor who has had disclosure checks carried out. Undergoing a check will give you documentary evidence, which you can show to parents to reassure them of your suitability to work with their children. Applications for CRB checks must be endorsed by a registered body, such as a school or a tuition agency.

From October 2009, people working in England, Wales and Northern Ireland with children and vulnerable adults in certain regulated activities will need to register with the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) as part of a rolling programme of registration under a new vetting and barring scheme (VBS), which was created under the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006. For more information go to www.isa-gov.org.uk. A separate but aligned scheme is being established in Scotland, under the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007.

Insurance

Private exam tutors require a number of insurance policies. These include:

• Professional indemnity insurance , which will cover you against claims for negligence in the delivery and performance of the services you offer. It will usually cover any legal costs incurred in the defence and settlement of any claim for negligence against your business.
• Public liability insurance , which will cover your business against claims from members of the public arising as a result of your business activities.
• Contract dispute insurance, which will cover your business against claims arising from disputes with clients or third parties in relation to the service you provide.
• Third-party motor vehicle insurance that includes cover for business use, if you are commuting to the student's home to carry out tutoring.

To find an insurance broker contact the British Insurance Brokers' Association (BIBA, www.biba.org.uk).

For further guidance on the range of policies available and their implications for your business see BIF 6, An Introduction to Insurance Cover for Business.

Professional associations

Joining a professional association will provide benefits including networking opportunities, training, discounted insurance and advice and information. Associations that can support the work of a private exam tutor include:

• The College of Teachers offers member benefits including a journal and newsletter, discounts on insurance, access to professional support and the opportunity to register for a college award. Membership fees depend on grade but range from £32 to £66 per year. See www.collegeofteachers.ac.uk/membership/index.htm for more information.
• The Association of Part-Time Tutors (APTT) provides support and training including e-learning courses for part-time workers in the post-compulsory education sector. Full membership costs £15 per year. See www.aptt.org.uk for details.

Promotion

Opportunities for promoting your business include:

• Advertising in online directories such as A+ Tutors UK (www.aplustutors.co.uk) and Personal Tutors (www.personal-tutors.co.uk).
• Personal recommendations and testimonials from students who have successfully passed exams following your tuition are an excellent method of promotion.
• Placing small adverts in your local newspaper or parish magazine will raise the profile of your business. See www.newspapersoc.org.uk to find your local paper.
• Placing cards in local shops and newsagents' windows is a cost-effective method of promotion.
• Networking with local schools whose pupils may require extra tuition can lead to opportunities for work. See schools web directory (www.schoolswebdirectory.co.uk) for a database of schools in the UK.

Legislation

This section is intended as a starting point only. It provides an introduction to some of the key legislation affecting private exam tutors in the UK. You should always seek professional advice about the impact of legislation before making any business decisions.

In the UK freelance tutors providing services to private students and businesses need to be aware of the following:

• The Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982. The Act requires businesses to provide their services with reasonable care and skill, and, unless otherwise agreed, within a reasonable time, while making no more than a reasonable charge. For example, a parent contracting with a tutor to provide tuition for their son or daughter can expect the tutor to ensure that the student makes a certain amount of progress in their studies. The Act applies to England, Wales and Northern Ireland; Scottish common law imposes a similar requirement. See www.berr.gov.uk/whatwedo/consumers/fact-sheets/page38337.html and BIF 156, A Guide to the Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982 for details.
• The Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977. The Act makes it illegal for a business to enforce unfair terms in a contract with a customer. It defines the situations where liability for negligence cannot be avoided, and sets out the circumstances under which an exclusion clause can be deemed 'reasonable'. It also covers liability for breach of contract. See www.berr.gov.uk/whatwedo/consumers/buying-selling/sale-supply/unfair-contracts/act for more information.
• The Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999. The Regulations are similar to the Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977, and in some cases overlap. They cover exclusion and limitation clauses, the ways customers can cancel a service without incurring penalties, and require a general transparency and clarity in a contract between a business and a customer. See www.oft.gov.uk/advice_and_resources/resource_base/legal/unfair-terms and BIF 223, A Guide to the Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999 for guidance.
• The Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008. The Regulations forbid misleading practices such as false or deceptive messages about the service offered. They also outlaw 31 specific practices, including faking credentials and endorsements and aggressive sales techniques. The honest representation of credentials such as qualifications or membership of professional organisations is particularly relevant to tutors. See www.oft.gov.uk/advice_and_resources/small_businesses/competing/protection for comprehensive guidance on the Regulations and also BIF 462, A Guide to the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008.

Further information

For practical start up and small business tips, ideas and news, go to:
Website: www.enterprisequest.com

To access hundreds of practical factsheets, market reports and small business guides, go to:
Website: www.scavenger.net

BOP 54 Private Music Tutor

BOP 371 Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) Tutor

BOP 514 Language Tutor

Useful contacts

The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) maintains and develops the National Curriculum and associated tests, exams and qualifications.

83 Piccadilly

London

W1J 8QA

Tel: (020) 7509 5555

Website: www.qca.org.uk

The Assessment and Qualifications Alliance (AQA) is the largest of the three English examination awarding bodies. It administers a range of qualifications and provides guidance for teachers. It should be contacted via your regional office, which can be found on the website.

Website: www.aqa.org.uk

Edexcel is another umbrella examining and awarding body, covering qualifications in the UK.

190 High Holborn

London

WC1V 7BH

Tel: 0870 240 9800

Website: www.edexcel.com

The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) is the national body administering qualifications in Scotland.

The Optima Building

58 Robertson Street

Glasgow

G2 8DQ

Tel: 0845 279 1000

Website: www.sqa.org.uk

The Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) has information about Government education strategies, performance tables, higher and adult education, as well as a Curriculum Online service.

Sanctuary Buildings

Great Smith Street

London

SW1P 3BT

Tel: 0870 000 2288

Website: www.dcsf.gov.uk

The College of Teachers is a professional organisation devoted to the Continuing Professional Development of all teachers.

Institute of Education

University of London

20 Bedford Way

London

WC1H 0AL

Tel: (020) 7911 5536

Website: www.collegeofteachers.ac.uk

The Association of Part-Time Tutors (APTT) is a support, training and development group for tutors in the post-compulsory education sector.

Wallsend People's Centre

Memorial Hall

Frank Street

Wallsend

NE28 6RN

Tel: (0191) 263 5029

Website: www.aptt.org.uk

Useful sector websites and portals

The Times Educational Supplement (TES) is the UK's leading education newspaper, and covers relevant school and curriculum issues as well as providing advertising space.

Website: www.tes.co.uk

Education Guardian, also a national education supplement, provides news, features and advertising space.

Website: www.guardian.co.uk/education

Further legislative information is available from the:

• Office of Public Sector Information - www.opsi.gov.uk.
• Scottish Government - www.scotland.gov.uk.
• Northern Ireland Executive - www.northernireland.gov.uk.
• Welsh Assembly Government - www.wales.gov.uk.

Second Post

So here's the list of weblinks as promised on the first post.

By the way, I mentioned igotmunchies.co.uk but never explained the relevance. Well, igotmunchies is a site that links to local food takeaway services on the internet. The business took off and now they are running a competition to help other people in the Newport area set up their own online business. If you look at the "Competition" link you can find out all about it.

So what about that list of links then?

I've not had chance to check these sites out yet - that's the point of this blog - so I can store the links and easily check through them when I have time or whenver I need to.

www.enterprisequest.com - This site has practical startup tips and ideas.

www.scavenger.net - Practical factsheets, small business guide, market reports, 300 business profiles of business opportunities, reports for small businesses

www.opsi.gov.uk - Office of Public Sector Information

Next, links for finding info on businesses:

www.ons.gov.uk - Office of National Statistics - to get statistics (obviously!)

www.ons.gov.uk/census - for census information

www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk - local stats

www.upmystreet.com - analysis of area - education etc.

www.checkmyfile.com - same as above - local area stuff

And some discussion forums:

www.ukbusinessforums.co.uk

and blogs.....

www.socialmedialibrary.co.uk

Trade association forums...

www.taforum.org

www.britishservices.co.uk/associations.htm

Info on business customers..

www.icnetwork.co.uk- click on Business Finder

www.british-towns.net - to find info about businesses in area

www.direct.gov.uk - directory of businesses in area

www.nfea.com - enterprise eye

www.britishchambers.org.uk - info about businesses in area

Online Networking...

www.business-network.co.uk - new developments

www.connectbuzz.com - online business networking club

www.bizface.co.uk/bizfaceforum - online forum - info on business opportunities

Trade mags..

www.mediauk.com - all mags list

www.tradepub.com - list of trade publications

Info on competitors - How much they charge etc.

www.kompass.co.uk/info/op_ukk_register.htm - UK Kompass Register

www.dnb.co.uk/sales_marketing/EKBE.asp

www.kellysearch.co.uk - Business 2 Business

Basic Info....

www.askalix.com

www.countryweb.co.uk

www.britishcompanies.co.uk

www.yell.com

www.thomsonlocal.com

www.statistics.gov.uk - free stats

www.bl.uk - British Library

First post

This is the first post on "Risca Business Startup Blog" or "rbsb2.blogspot.com".

I've spent the past year teaching BTEC Business. I've had to do a lot of research to help my lesson preparation. In this time I have found some useful links on the internet about business. I was looking mostly for sites to help me teach BTEC. Along the way I have found resources that help people start up their own business.

The most useful resource I've found is not on the internet - as I understand - but is available on the intranet in Newport Library. It's called CoBRA. This stands for Complete Business Reference (can't remember what the "A" stands for!). To access it you have to go into the Reference section of the library and ask to be logged into CoBRA. They will put the passwords in for you and get you started. They will probably give you a little tour of the site depending on which staff member you get or how busy they are.

CoBRA has many Business Opportunity Profiles (BOPs) - e.g. BOP 504 Private Music Tutor. This profile would contain a lot of useful information about starting up a business as a private music tutor. It would tell you what sort of equipment you might need, how much it would all cost, any legal issues you might need to consider, useful websites and services you can register with etc.

Also, CoBRA has a vast array of information and weblinks for everything you might need to know when starting up a business. I used it recently and wrote down a load of links that might help me with my lesson planning but also help me with my interest in starting my own business - I started my own record label with a friend in 1998 and I am a private maths tutor. Now I am thinking of starting other ventures.

So, whilst lying in bed just now I thought about setting up a blog to record all the links that I find about starting up a business. I can use it as an "aide memoire" and it enables me to share this information with others.

The first website that sounded useful as a business resource is www.scavenger.net

This site has business opportunity profiles - but you have to pay for them - about six quid each. You receive then as PDFs in an email. This would be the same info that you could get for free in Newport Library on CoBRA (I presume so as I've not bought any).

What I will do with this blog is publish all the links that I've written down so far about setting up your own business. I linked the scavenger site first as it is the most memorable name I came across and not because it is neccessarily the most useful.

Oh yeah, if you're thinking of setting up your own business - good luck!! Just thought of another useful link - igotmunchies.co.uk