Why should I select a qualified teacher for tuition? A guide for parents.

Teacher or tutor?

If you are looking for someone experienced and trained to teach, you should select a qualified teacher for tuition. It might sound obvious, but if your tutor has teaching qualifications, they will have direct experience teaching children in your child's age range in the chosen subject. Your tutor will be a subject specialist, able to assess and measure progress, liaise with your school (if required), and be up to date with the latest curriculum changes and exam specifications.

Teachers To Your Home brings the classroom to your home with high-quality tuition from fully qualified teachers. All our tutors are experienced, professional teachers vetted by us and with enhanced DBS checks.

On average, twenty qualified and experienced teachers join our service each week. Most of our teachers continue to work in schools; some have become full-time tutors. They come from the state, grammar, and independent sectors, with experience in primary, secondary, and further education.

We also receive many applications from unqualified (though often experienced) tutors and undergraduates, but we turn them all away because we believe that "teachers do it best." A qualified and experienced schoolteacher provides the best, most reliable, relevant, and safest education for your child. That's why we only offer experienced and qualified teachers as tutors.

What if I do not want a qualified teacher?

There are reasons why you may consider an unqualified tutor a better fit for your needs than a qualified teacher. You may be looking for someone of a similar age to your child who can act more as a peer mentor and role model than as an educator. Another reason might be cost. Often, unqualified tutors charge less, and a quick scroll on your social media will source tutors for as little as £10 per hour.

Unqualified tutors may have achieved great academic results in their own education, but beware of subject experts who can't teach. Their experience and knowledge of teaching can massively vary (especially when working with younger children), and this is difficult to identify until you hire them and see how they interact with your child.

Many unqualified tutors rely on worksheets, the equivalent of extra homework, rather than an engaging learning experience. They may also be unable to build rapport or uncertain how to structure a lesson or assess your child's needs and progress.

If you are not looking for a qualified teacher for tuition, you can find individual tutors through the following methods:

• Personal recommendations.
• Social media such as Facebook or Instagram.
• A quick search on Google or other search engines.

Working with an individual tutor is often the cheapest method for tutoring, as you can agree on fees upfront, and the tutor doesn't pay VAT or commissions to agencies.

But the problem with these options is that you have to reach out to each tutor individually, find out if they are available for and interested in a job, interview them, agree on a fee and payment terms, and then hope that they are as good as they say they are!

This all takes time and, in our experience, leads to a lot of disappointment (the number one complaint parents have about finding a tutor is finding one who is available in the first place).

These frustrations (and the growth of the tutoring industry generally) inevitably have led to online marketplaces for tutors and tutoring agencies.

Comparing Popular Tutoring Agencies in the UK

Explore Learning provides tuition centres that support primary and secondary school children aged 4 to 16. They offer a combination of online and in-person tuition and focus on teaching English, Maths, Primary, SATs, and School Entrance Exams. Costs: Their tutors are not qualified teachers. Explore Learning operates on a membership basis, where students attend multiple monthly sessions. Monthly membership fees can range from £100 to £150, depending on the location and programme.

First Tutors is an online platform connecting students with private tutors across various subjects and levels. The platform allows students to browse profiles, read reviews, and choose a tutor based on their preferences. Their tutors are a mix of undergraduates, professionals, and qualified teachers. Costs: The prices of First Tutors vary depending on the subject and the tutor's experience. On average, you can expect to pay between £20 and £40 per hour for the tuition, and you also pay a one-off fee to the platform (between £9.99 to £34.99) to be able to connect with your chosen tutor.

Fleet Tutors specialises in providing private tuition for students of all ages, from primary school to university, with English, Maths, Science and School Entrance Exams as the main focus. They offer face-to-face and online tutoring options. Their tutors are a mix of undergraduates, professionals, and qualified teachers. Costs: Fleet Tutors does not openly disclose its pricing on its website, and you must phone a consultant to find this. However, based on industry averages, you can expect costs to range from £30 to £50 per hour.

Kip McGrath is a well-established tutoring franchise with a network of tuition centres across the UK. It offers face-to-face and online tutoring in English and maths for primary and secondary school students up to 16 years old. Most tutors are qualified teachers. Costs: Vary based on the location and the specific programme, but on average cost £34 per hour.

MyTutor offers online tuition only. It provides a platform for tutors to create profiles and for students to find the right match for their learning needs. All tutors are current or recent undergraduate students. Costs: Tutors on MyTutor set their own rates, and prices can vary based on the subject and the tutor's experience. Expect to pay between £22 and £57 per hour.

Superprof is an online platform that connects students with tutors across various subjects and interests, including music tuition, Rubik's Cube coaches, drumming lessons, and art and cooking classes. It caters to a global audience, allowing students to find tutors both locally and internationally. Tutors are generally students and undergraduates, not often qualified teachers. Costs: Superprof allows tutors to set their own rates. On average, you can expect to pay between £15 and £40 per hour, though some charge more than this.

Tutor Doctor is a global tutoring franchise that offers personalised in-home and online tutoring services. It matches students with tutors based on individual needs and learning styles. Tutors are generally students and undergraduates, not often qualified teachers. Costs: Like many other tutoring agencies, Tutor Doctor does not openly disclose pricing on its website. Costs can vary based on location, subject, and tutor experience, with average prices ranging from £30 to £50 per hour.

Tutorful is an online platform that connects students with local and online tutors. It provides a platform for tutors to showcase their qualifications and expertise. Tutors are generally students and undergraduates, not often qualified teachers. Costs: Tutorful allows tutors to set their own prices. On average, tutors charge between £13 and £35 per hour.

Tutorhunt is a service that offers online tuition only. It provides a platform for tutors to create profiles and for students to find the right match for their learning needs. Its tutors are a mix of students, undergraduates, and some qualified teachers. Costs: Tutors on Tutorhunt set their own rates, and prices can vary based on the subject and the tutor's experience. Expect to pay between £20 and £40 per hour.

Wherever you go and whoever you choose, please take the time to interview your tutor first, check their credentials and be sure they are safe to work with your child.