Hiring a tutor is a serious financial commitment. Asking the right questions upfront helps you avoid wasted money — and find a tutor who'll really help.
The 8 questions
1. "Which schools have your students gone on to?"
A good tutor will have a track record. Specific names of schools matter more than headline percentages. Look for names of schools your child wants to attend.
2. "Which exam boards do you specialise in?"
GL Assessment, CEM, ISEB, CSSE, school-specific. Make sure the tutor has direct experience with the exam your child will sit.
3. "Do you have a DBS check?"
Non-negotiable for any tutor working with under-18s. Ask to see the certificate.
4. "How do you assess where my child is at?"
Good answer: "I'll do a diagnostic in the first session and write you a plan." Bad answer: "I just teach the syllabus."
5. "How will you measure progress?"
Look for: monthly mock scores, written progress reports, specific targets.
6. "What happens if my child misses a session?"
Most reputable tutors offer one make-up per term. Watch for tutors who charge for missed sessions with no flexibility — sign of inflexibility elsewhere.
7. "What's your homework expectation between sessions?"
Good answer: 15-30 minutes daily, with specific tasks. Bad answer: "Whatever you can manage."
8. "What's your trial / cancellation policy?"
Most good tutors offer 3-4 trial sessions before committing to a longer block. Reasonable cancellation terms (one month's notice).
Red flags
- Tutors who can't name specific schools their students have gone to.
- Refusal to share a DBS certificate.
- "Guaranteed" results — no honest tutor guarantees outcomes.
- Pressure to commit to large upfront blocks.
- No trial sessions offered.
Where to find tutors
Word of mouth from school parents is best. Then registered services (Tutor Hunt, TheTutors), then individual tutor websites. Avoid Gumtree / classifieds for anything as serious as 11+.
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