subject: Ensuring the quality of private tuition [print this page] Ensuring the quality of private tuition Ensuring the quality of private tuition
The decision to hire a full-time private tutor is one that will have an incredible impact on a child's life, especially if the child in question has struggled to succeed in traditional schooling.
Finding the right tutor to play such a critical role in your child's life is a multi-layered process, and one that the best private tuition providers should approach with diligence. There are many individuals seeking employment as a private tutor, but finding the best of those applicants is a rigorous process beyond the means of most families.
In order to illustrate the importance of this process, here is an overview of how Tutors International identifies candidates for private tutoring positions to be put forward to the family for their final decision.
How a private tutor is recruited by Tutors International
Applicants may see an advert for a post in a prominent education publication, such as the Times Educational Supplement and decide to apply, they may have heard about Tutors International from a friend, or they may have come across one of the many articles and press releases about us online. Regardless of how they discover us, the process first directs them to a website specifically created for the recruitment of potential private tutors.
Registration of the candidate
This is the first part of the screening process. Private tutors who are responsible for the education of a child in the twenty first century need to be able to navigate and use a website at the very least, to pay attention to detail and to follow instructions provided.
The application process is extensive, beginning with a detailed registration process that takes approximately fifteen minutes to complete. Once registered, the prospective tutor can then apply for a particular position, requiring the provision of a formal letter of application, the detailed answering of several questions and an up-to-date curriculum vitae which clearly demonstrates the suitability of the candidate. On average, this stage takes a candidate approximately forty five minutes to complete, perhaps longer.
Application for a specific private tutoring position
The application process is designed to be easy to understand on a technical level, i.e. the different stages have screens that take the candidate through the process step-by-step, however, the questions are designed to explore the candidate's experience and skills in great depth.
Should a candidate's application fulfil all of the required criteria for the position, he or she will be invited for interview and a thorough background check is carried out including an ECRB and a tailored background check carried out by Kroll, a leading security firm. References are also checked and if necessary, translators are employed to verify references provided by individuals in foreign countries. If the candidate is impressive in the interview and all of the checks are sound, then they will be presented as a shortlisted candidate to the family.
Filtering out the poor applicants
This process takes a lot of time and effort, both on the part of Tutors International and the candidate and we believe that's absolutely critical. Each stage of the process is designed to protect our clients not only from dangerous individuals but also from those who will never be able to provide education of the quality that is demanded by our company and expected by our clients.
Use of the website
If the candidate is unable to use a simple website that gives clear instructions at every step, their application will not reach us, thereby eliminating individuals without basic computer skills.
Attention to detail
In order to apply, the candidate must provide a great deal of information and evidence that they have the skills and experience required by the role. We make it clear that the candidate must be able to satisfy all criteria to be considered, so if they miss something out, they either cannot follow the instructions, or do not have the experience or skills required. Either way, they cannot progress.
Demonstration of written communication skills
In answering the questions on the application form, the applicants are required to demonstrate written communication skills, and through those, demonstrate they are able to understand the requirements of the role and prove their suitability. A large number of candidates fail at this point, and some applications are shockingly poor.
Sadly, many individuals applying for jobs in education now were failed by the system themselves, and we see the result in poor grammar, appalling spelling and an inability to express themselves eloquently. This is immediately apparent when reading an application and unless the answers are impeccable, the candidate cannot progress.
Performance at interview
The small percentage of applicants that reach the interview stage are not only evaluated by their responses to the interview in person, but also how they conduct themselves during arrangement of the interview including how they cope with any unforeseen circumstances. To illustrate; one candidate knew that she would be unable to reach the interview in time due to transport difficulties, but did not have a mobile phone to call. Instead, she found an internet caf and emailed us to apologise and appraise us of her estimated arrival time. Needless to say her thoughtfulness in the event of adverse circumstances spoke well for her.
Previous employment in a private school does not guarantee quality
Tutors International has one of the most rigorous application processes for private tutors in the education industry, and nowadays that process is needed more than ever. If you are considering hiring a private tutor, don't believe that a previous position in a school automatically means the candidate has excellent communication skills, academic ability, in depth experience of their specialist subjects and a professional attitude. You may find that the standards you expect and we demand are much higher than those of other education establishments.
