Starting a tuition business
Discussion
Good morning folks
I hope you're well. I love maths and would dearly like to teach students both young and mature up to GCSE level.
I have advertised in the local paper but didn't get much of a response and I was under the impression that GCSE maths would have a great demand!
Could someone kindly advice the best way to gain students on my books?
Thanks in advance for your replies
I hope you're well. I love maths and would dearly like to teach students both young and mature up to GCSE level.
I have advertised in the local paper but didn't get much of a response and I was under the impression that GCSE maths would have a great demand!
Could someone kindly advice the best way to gain students on my books?
Thanks in advance for your replies
geek84 said:
I have a DBS but not affiliated to any schools since teachers get the impression that I would be undermining them.
What is the best way to advertise online?Thanks
The DBS helps. What qualifies you to teach Maths? As a very basic rule of thumb you need to be proficient in the level above what you want to teach as a very bare minimum (that doesn't take into account the actual ability to teach mind) ideally 2 levels above. IE I am a History graduate and I can teach A level history but I really need to be on my game and have to study up on subjects I am teaching to not be caught out and actually be of support to the students rather than them just learning by rote. GCSE is no problems at all. I can and have taught Maths GCSE but I don't feel comfortable as a tutor charging, Primary maths not a problem. What is the best way to advertise online?Thanks
Not sure I understand the teachers not letting into school incase you undermine them. It wouldn't be the teacher deciding if you were allowed in.
You haven't stated how much you would like to earn, I think this might have a part to play in all of this. You need to be a proven entity to get business really. Being a teacher, or some teaching experience that is verifiable will mean people can trust you. If you don;t have this then you need reviews. Bare in mind there are retired headteachers, heads of year/ subject charging £20-25 depending on location going to peoples houses. You need to think how you compare to them and the value you are offering.
To start with you really need the reviews on tutor websites. To get those you are going to need to offer to do face to face tuition rather than just online, probably at a lower rate than other on the tutors on websites to get some business to start with, then get the reviews and your base should build from there. Once you are established you won't need to advertise as you will get recommendations from parents if you are any good and priced fairly.
What would help would be reading your advert, your qualification and how they read on your ad and your pricing really.
edited to add, I am not saying you can't do this or shouldn't attempt,nor am I saying you need to be a teacher to teach, just that it helps others understand what they are getting from an advert. I just want to find out the bits that need sorting and help you overcome them.
Edited by Tampon on Monday 19th March 12:05
Hi
Many thanks for your reply
I have an A level maths qualification and some of my degree course contained maths. I only want to teach to GCSE level.
I could try to write to different schools in my area and my rate would be between £20-£25 per hour.
Could someone be kind enough to give an idea of how to write the letter?
Thanks
Many thanks for your reply
I have an A level maths qualification and some of my degree course contained maths. I only want to teach to GCSE level.
I could try to write to different schools in my area and my rate would be between £20-£25 per hour.
Could someone be kind enough to give an idea of how to write the letter?
Thanks
geek84 said:
Hi
Many thanks for your reply
I have an A level maths qualification and some of my degree course contained maths. I only want to teach to GCSE level.
I could try to write to different schools in my area and my rate would be between £20-£25 per hour.
Could someone be kind enough to give an idea of how to write the letter?
Thanks
Not a problem bud.Many thanks for your reply
I have an A level maths qualification and some of my degree course contained maths. I only want to teach to GCSE level.
I could try to write to different schools in my area and my rate would be between £20-£25 per hour.
Could someone be kind enough to give an idea of how to write the letter?
Thanks
Your best bet is to ring a school (email if you have to but always better to speak to people) and tell them you are getting into teaching (don;t say tutoring) and you would like some observation time in class. This is a very common request and schools normally accommodate people trying to get into the industry. People need to have a certain amount of hours in the class before they can apply for teacher training or a teaching assistant role.
Do yourself a favour and mention it is maths teaching you want to do so they can A) put you in a maths class and B) make it more likely to get some time in class as they kind of hope you might end up teaching maths there (schools are desperate for maths teachers). Observations are literally that, they will just expect you to observe how the teacher is teaching the class, they might ask you to help some students if you can. Use that time to see the techniques and to nick ideas. Every time I watch another teacher teach I always find some little trick that improves my practice.
I think your rate is a little strong to start with to be honest bud. Aim for £15 to start with just to build up your client base and to reduce expectations of you. You need to say what your degree is in and how maths plays a strong role in that. Remember it is a long term thing you are looking for so starting a bit cheaper to get a reputation you can charge for later is fine.
You need to understand that your qualifications look on paper like their older brother with A level maths could do the same job (just for clarity I couldn't do A level maths, studying it let alone teaching it!).
As for teaching skills, you said you have tutored for 10 years, if this was to numerous people then try and get some testimonials. If it was just a few I recommend looking on YouTube for ways to teach some of the common areas of the GCSE syllabus and different techniques and ideas to make it really accessible for your students. Become a member of TES, there are lots of worksheets and forums to talk to other teachers about methods and problems. Also lots of other teachers who tutor.
Facebook, Gumtree, your local paper, card in the window of local shop, the tutoring websites. Banner on your house advertising your business, magnetic placards/ sign write you car.
You could try leafleting cars round local schools, leaflet in local newspaper.
Remember this is a business you want to start so adverts need a little time to be seen to work it isn't an instant thing.
Before I became a teacher I used to advertise my upholstery business in the local paper and yellow pages. Even when I stopped after 10 years people would remember the advert they saw week in week out and try and get in contact after remembering it. Every time I got an offer from a magazine or new paper about some space they had that month and gave whooping discounts for I never saw a uptake because of it.
You could try leafleting cars round local schools, leaflet in local newspaper.
Remember this is a business you want to start so adverts need a little time to be seen to work it isn't an instant thing.
Before I became a teacher I used to advertise my upholstery business in the local paper and yellow pages. Even when I stopped after 10 years people would remember the advert they saw week in week out and try and get in contact after remembering it. Every time I got an offer from a magazine or new paper about some space they had that month and gave whooping discounts for I never saw a uptake because of it.
I have a friend who does this. It's big online now, and he's got a bit of an association going https://twitter.com/uk_indie_tutors?lang=en . He charges £50 and hour and judging by Faceache he seems to spend a fair amount of time tutoring at the homes of well to do folk in Yorkshire.
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