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Thames Tutorials Ltd

Providing high quality tuition since 2000

Copyright © 2023 Thames Tutorials Ltd.  All rights reserved

Registered in England.  Company No. 04070805

Frequently Asked Questions

For which subjects do you provide tutors? We currently provide tutors for 11+ common entrance, biology, chemistry, English (language & literature), ICT, maths, physics and science (general). However, we are always looking to recruit high-quality tutors who are qualified to teach other subjects at all levels from Key Stage 1 to A-level. Do you have any students in my local area? Most of our students live in either Oxfordshire or Berkshire, covering a region roughly from Berinsfield in the north to Goring in the south, and from Childrey in the west to Watlington in the east. However, we occasionally receive enquiries from students living outside this area and so we would encourage all high-quality tutors in Oxfordshire, Berkshire and the neighbouring counties to register with us. Will I be expected to travel to the student’s home? Although some parents would prefer the tutor to travel to the student’s home for tutorials, since April 2020 we have encouraged all of our tutors to provide one-to-one online video conferencing lessons instead, if possible. This decision was originally taken to protect the health of our students and tutors during the Coronavirus pandemic. We continue to encourage online lessons for operational efficiency purposes and to support our council’s climate action target to become a carbon neutral district by 2030. If you had to travel to the student’s home, we would not expect you to travel outside a ten-mile radius from your home. Are students taught on their own or in small groups? The majority of our students prefer to be taught on their own as it is this one-to-one assistance that they are often unable to find at school. However, some GCSE and A-level students do prefer to be taught with one or two friends who are studying the same course. As well as making the students feel more relaxed and motivated, being taught in a small group also helps to reduce the tuition costs for each student (see question 9). What qualifications do I need to register as a tutor? All our tutors must have recent experience of teaching in a school or college the National Curriculum or the current course specification for the subject(s) and level(s) they wish to teach — a degree in a relevant subject alone is insufficient. Will you check my suitability to work with children? Yes, before all our tutors are allowed to work with children they must pass an Enhanced DBS Criminal Records process (formerly CRB check) that checks national records for any relevant allegations, complaints or convictions. If you are currently in a teaching post your most recent DBS enhanced disclosure certificate will usually be sufficient. We will also seek a good character reference from a professional, such as your head teacher or college director of studies. Will I be employed by Thames Tutorials Ltd? No, all our tutors work on a self-employed basis. It is each tutor’s responsibility to inform HMRC and any other relevant Government department that they are working as a tutor and to declare all their earnings from tuition on their annual tax forms. Will I have to pay Thames Tutorials any commission? Unlike some other tuition agencies, we do not charge our tutors commission on every lesson that they teach. Instead, each tutor pays a flat fee (currently £7.50) per student per month, based on the number of students we have referred to the tutor and whom the tutor has taught sometime that month. This fee must be received by Thames Tutorials Ltd by the 28th of every month by direct bank transfer or cheque. How much should I charge for tuition? Rates of tuition usually depend on the tutor’s experience and the level of tuition required by the student. However, if the lesson is online or within a ten-mile radius of your home, your tuition fees should not exceed the relevant maximum hourly rates set out in the table below. These rates of tuition are all inclusive and you should not charge students any other expenses (including textbooks, worksheets, past papers and travel) in addition to these figures. If the location of a lesson is considerably further than ten miles from your home you may increase your hourly rate to reflect fairly the extra mileage you need to drive. If you arrange to see two students in the same session we would expect you to reduce your rate of tuition for each student to no more than two thirds of your standard single-student fee. If you arrange to see more than two students in the same session you should reduce your rate of tuition for each student to no more than half of your standard single-student fee. When and how do I get paid for my tuition? Tutors get paid directly by the student at the end of each lesson by direct bank transfer, cheque or cash. However, if a student has more than one lesson in any week it is usual for the tutor to accept a single payment at the end of the last lesson in that week. You may find that some parents will actually prefer to pay for two or even four lessons in advance. What happens if I have to cancel a planned lesson? If you ever have to cancel a planned lesson you should inform your student and their parent directly as soon as possible, and make arrangements to see them at another time that is convenient for both you and the student. Are students expected to pay for any lessons they cancel? If a student gives you a minimum of 48 hours’ notice before cancelling a planned lesson, they are not expected to pay for that lesson. If the period of notice is less than 48 hours you may, at your discretion, charge the student a fair fee up to the full price for that lesson. However, if the short-notice cancellation is due to illness or injury students are not expected to pay for that lesson, provided they inform you before your scheduled online tutorial was due to commence or before you begin your journey to the student’s home for a face-to-face tutorial. What are the best times for lessons? Lessons usually last for one hour, although you are free to arrange any length of time that is convenient for both you and the student. The most popular times for lessons are between 3:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Monday to Friday, although you are free to arrange any time that is convenient for both you and the student. Will I be expected to work during the school holidays? No, our tutors normally work in state school term times only, although you are free to arrange lessons during half-term and the school holidays if that is convenient for both you and the student. Will I be expected to set any homework for my students? Our tutors normally set a little bit of homework that is related to the work they have covered in each lesson, although the amount will vary according to each student’s need and the amount of school homework they receive. Do I have to provide my own resources for the lessons? All our tutors are expected to provide their own worksheets, teaching materials, textbooks, anthologies and past exam papers. Students are expected to provide their own paper on which to take notes, pens, pencils, scientific calculator and the usual mathematical instruments (ruler, protractor and a pair of compasses).
KS1, KS2 & early KS3 (Years 1 - 8)
£34.00
KS3, KS4, GCSE & IGCSE (Years 9 - 11)
£38.00
A-LEVEL (Years 12 & 13)
£42.00
LEVEL OF TUITION REQUIRED
HOURLY RATE FOR A SINGLE STUDENT
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1. For which subjects do you provide tutors?
2. Do you have any students in my local area? 
3. Will I be expected to travel to the student’s home? 
4. Are students taught on their own or in small groups?
5. What qualifications do I need to register as a tutor?
6. Will you check my suitability to work with children? 
7. Will I be employed by Thames Tutorials Ltd?
8. Will I have to pay Thames Tutorials any commission?
9. How much should I charge for tuition?
10. When and how do I get paid for my tuition? 
11. What happens if I have to cancel a planned lesson?
12. Are students expected to pay for any lessons they cancel? 
13. What are the best times for lessons?
14. Will I be expected to work during the school holidays? 
15. Will I be expected to set any homework for my students? 
16. Do I have to provide my own resources for the lessons?
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