A presentation from Tutorhub about the recent consultation on the online tutoring market and if anyone would actually benefit from joining The Tutor's Association.

1. Who Will Really Benefit
From A New National
Association For Private
Tutors?
Brought to you by tutorhub.com

2. The Tutors Association
● As Tutorhub reported on 22nd May, there is
currently a consultation going on in the UK.
● The consultation may lead to new rules that
provide some regulation for the private
tutoring market.

3. A New Expectation For Tutors?
● Tutors will be expected to abide by minimum
qualifications standards and sign up to a
national association for tutors.
● Why? Concerns were being raised that poor
tutoring was actually damaging education.
● It's important to stress that membership will
not compulsory. However, it would serve as
a kite-mark for the industry.

4. Before We Get Carried Away
Though...
● It comes down to the main question:
Incompetent Tutors - myth or reality?
● It's feared that some tutors prey on parental
anxiety over school places and exam
grades.
● Problems arise when tutors undermine
school work and cause confusion for
students and parents.

5. Does this happen in practice?
● Do we actually believe the recent media
hype? How common is incompetent
tutoring?
● How many instances have you actually
heard about from your friends and
acquaintances from direct experience?
● A problem over-blown by a sensation-
seeking media?

6. There's No Secret...
● Word of mouth oils the wheels of the private tutoring
machine.
● The show is run by whispered recommendations - good
tutors are passed from family to family.
● Safe to assume that a bad tutor gets chatted about just
as quickly - one bad session or one perceived grievance
and a young tutor's copybook is blotted before they've
turned the page...

7. An Effective Tutor?
● Effective tutors are those who can actually
teach the child one-on-one.
● Do you really need a degree for this?
● Asking for minimum qualifications is all very
well, but sometimes that's a step further than
teachers are subjected to, according to this
article!

8. How Will The Association Work?
● The Association will be a voluntary group,
we know that for sure. However, there are
many unanswered questions:
● What will the remit be? Who will run it? Will
it have any teeth? How much will it cost and
who will fund it - its not coming out the public
purse?
● What happens if a complaint is made?

9. So Who Will Really Benefit?
● Will a hard-strapped teacher sidelining as a
tutor a few nights a week be inclined to shell
out for the pleasure?
● My guess is not - too much hassle and their
pool of happy clients won't show them the
door in any hurry.

10. What About Those Who Do Sign Up?
● They'll be likely to have to put up their fees
for starters - they need to cover their costs.
We also have to remember that tutors are in
it for the money primarily.
● Hourly rates will rise - while some parents
will happily pay, others will struggle,
especially when many are already scrimping
and saving for tutoring as it is.

11. If This Happens...
Membership for tutors will be largely irrelevant!

12. Lets Not Throw The Baby Out With
The Bathwater However...
● It's not just about raising the standards of
private tutoring, it's about protecting our children
too.
● In other professions where adults have direct
contact with children DBS/CRB checks are
mandatory parts of the process.
● There should be a standard code of conduct in
place and an improvement in standards across
the board.

13. So Overall...
● I am left asking the same question about "who
will benefit?"
● Cannot deny the negative perceptions of tutors,
paying for regulation and concerns about
uptake.
● This is what the consultation hopes to highlight.