The private tuition industry in the UK is booming. More school-age and university students than ever before are working with a private tutor to help achieve their academic goals.
But what about the idea of tutoring as a way to earn money while at university? Plenty of university students do so, and there are a variety of reasons why it can be an appealing option.
‘No qualifications needed’
Strange as it may seem, there are officially no qualifications required to set yourself up as a private tutor. In fact, the UK’s first qualification in private tutoring was only developed this year at the University of Worcester.
Although some private tutors have had teacher training, many others instead rely on the qualifications they themselves passed with flying colours.
In this regard, university students can be at quite an advantage over those whose schooldays may only be a distant memory. You’ve only fairly recently taken your GCSEs or A-level exams and remember exactly what it was like. Not only does that mean you’re familiar with the curricula, you are in a strong position to show empathy with your students and to act as a good role model for them.
This can mean you are an attractive choice of a tutor. Read up on the skills you’ll need for good communication and one-to-one teaching and you’ll be away.
How to find tutoring work
Sometimes all you might need to find tutoring work is to ask friends and family to help spread the word.
To build up more students, however, you could join a private tuition agency. Either Google one in your area, or have a look at those agencies that are members of The Tutors’ Association.
Another approach is to go completely independent and advertise yourself in a tutor directory such as The Tutor Pages. That way, no commission from your lessons will go to any agency.
Whichever approach you use, you are very likely to need to register as self-employed, so make sure you check out the tax office advice on this.
Other considerations
There are a number of other areas you should consider as a tutor:
- Face-to-face vs online. Online tuition (for example, using Skype and/or an online whiteboard) is becoming increasingly popular because of its flexibility and convenience. Several tuition agencies run an exclusively online tuition model.
- How much to charge. Across the UK, tutors charge on average between £30 and £35 for GCSE and A-level tuition respectively. This is certainly competitive compared to other part-time work you could pick up.
- Safety issues. Parents are often more comfortable employing a tutor who has a DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) certificate. This document shows there’s no known reason why an individual may not work with children. You should also consider your own personal safety when meeting strangers for the first time.
- Learn from other tutors. For example, this private tuition Linkedin discussion group is a good place to start.
All in all, becoming a private tutor is a well-paid, flexible and rewarding part-time job opportunity for university students. Why not give it a go?
Henry Fagg is founder of The Tutor Pages, the longest-running directory and resource website for the UK private tuition industry.
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