With so many excellent tutors available, how do you know which one is right for your child? They are all fully qualified but that does not mean that they will be the right fit, and finding the right fit is key to boosting academic success and confidence. Therefore, the Scholar Hub team have put together this guide to help you choose the right tutor.

What does your child need?

Before doing anything else, this is what you have to figure out. Do they need support in one particular subject? Or are you looking for extra support before exams? Something else? Once you’ve answered this question then you can start searching for a tutor. Some tutors will have experience marking for exam boards and others might have taken on pastoral roles and would be a great fit for more emotional, confidence-boosting support.

Learning styles

While lots of tutors can adapt their teaching for your child’s learning style, it is useful to go into your search knowing how your child best learns so you can narrow down your options.

Qualifications & experience

It is up to you to figure out which qualifications & experiences are a priority for you. There will be tutors with subject degrees & teaching degrees, but also student tutors who have successfully sat the exams your child will be taking and have recent first-hand experience that could be helpful. There will be tutors who have experience teaching different age groups, and some that have only taught GCSE age students.

Personality

This is something you will be able to assess from their reviews and a trial session should they offer one. You might not work well with a specific colleague for example, and the same goes for your child. A tutor’s personality can influence your child’s confidence, motivation, and engagement.

Availability & flexibility

This is the most obvious one, but it is important to remember going into your search how many sessions you’ll be needing a week, whether you want in person or online lessons, and whether you want to be able to book last minute sessions during exam seasons.

Cost & your budget

It is easy to think that the most expensive tutor is automatically the best one, but everyone sets their prices differently. Keep a budget in mind when searching for your tutor and also decide whether your child needs private or group sessions.

References & reviews

See what other parents & students have said about your tutor and see if they have any success stories to help you make your choice.

Evaluate Regularly

Organise regular check ins with your tutor and monitor your child’s progress & how they feel about their tutor. You might find the right match immediately or it might take a few tries - regular evaluation is the best way to figure out if you struck gold or if it’s time to try someone new.