How to Find the Right Tutor: The Questions Every Parent Should Ask
If you've started looking for a tutor, you've probably noticed how overwhelming it feels. A quick search brings up dozens of tuition companies, each promising results and each with glowing testimonials. When it's your child's future at stake, it's hard to know who to trust. That's completely understandable, and you're not alone.
Why the search feels so difficult
Demand for tuition is huge, especially in the capital. Sutton Trust research found that 46% of state-school pupils in London have had private tutoring at some point. The industry is also little regulated, which means anyone can call themselves a tutor.
Many companies will happily pair you with a gap-year student or recent graduate. They may be bright and personable, but they often have no experience of working with children, no classroom teaching background and no teaching qualification. Crucially, they may not understand the 7+, 8+ or 11+ process at all.
Six questions to ask any tuition company
Confident, informed questions are the best way to cut through the noise:
Are you a qualified teacher? Qualified Teacher Status shows formal training in how children learn.
Have you worked in a classroom? Real teaching experience shapes how a tutor explains, pitches and encourages.
Do you have relevant experience of 7+, 8+ and 11+ tuition? This is a specialist area, not general homework help.
Do you know the process my child will go through? Every school has its own assessments, formats and interviews.
Can you show me how you've used past papers to prepare children for specific schools? Good preparation is tailored, not generic.
Who plans and quality-assures the programme of work? Consistency matters, and someone should be accountable for it.
Why it matters
Good tutoring is about far more than knowing the answers. It's about building a child's confidence, spotting gaps quickly, teaching exam technique and keeping things calm, encouraging and paced to the individual child. A tutor's qualifications and experience make all the difference.
The Jackson Prep difference
At Jackson Prep, every tutor is a fully qualified teacher with classroom experience. Every tutor holds Qualified Teacher Status, has relevant experience of independent school entry, and teaches from carefully chosen resources.
Behind every child's programme is Jackson himself, who prepares, manages, oversees and quality-assures all the work. He brings 20 years of experience in the independent sector, so families can be confident the guidance is informed, consistent and tailored to their child's target schools.
Take the next step
Choosing a tutor doesn't have to feel like a gamble. If you'd like to talk through your child's 11+ journey, get in touch and we'll be delighted to help.