Tutors International is in talks with private tutor agencies to form new Association of Private Tutors
Adam Caller, founder of Tutors International, is spearheading discussions regarding the formation of a new Association of Private Tutors with two fellow private tuition agencies.


OXFORD, UK, June 29, 2009 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Tutors International has revealed that talks are underway between Adam Caller, founder of Tutors International, and two other major private tutor agencies with the aim of forming a new Association of Private Tutors. The association would increase the credibility of the professionals working within the private tuition industry by providing a means of accrediting private tutors, thereby guaranteeing professional standards that are currently unregulated by any professional body. "We're still in the early stages but we have already made excellent progress," Adam enthused. "It seems incredible to me that no formal body exists to provide support to individuals working as private tutors, nor any means for parents wishing to hire a tutor to discover whether they meet the high standard they have every right to expect." For more information, visit www.tutors-international.com or call +44 (0) 1865 435 135.

Reputable private tutor agencies carry out background checks on tutors, however there is no industry agreed standard that a tutor must meet, nor specialised qualifications for those who wish to pursue a career as a private tutor. "We feel that the lack of minimal standards, poor vetting and inadequate background checks and the absence of specialised qualifications are seriously undermining the credibility of the private tuition industry," Adam commented. "At Tutors International we already have a rigorous screening process, and so we can bring a huge amount of experience in this area to the new association. Currently many people hire private tutors without adequate vetting - sometimes none at all if they are dealing with a tutor directly who isn't part of an agency. When one considers that a private tutor is going to come into a family's home and have a huge impact upon a child's educational success, the fact that there are no vetting mechanisms in place for all tutors, nor industry wide objective measures of good practice is appalling."

When asked why standard teaching qualifications aren't sufficient for the private tuition industry, Adam explained; "On the one hand, there are many excellent private tutors who have no formal training and so have no teaching qualification. On the other, having a formal teaching qualification, such as a PGCE or BEd, doesn't automatically guarantee that an individual is suited to being private tutor. The skill sets may have parallels, but they are radically different, especially for a full-time private tutor who may be responsible for teaching an entire curriculum. This makes the need for a comprehensive, objective measure of good practice so important."

"There are other services the Association of Private Tutors will provide," Adam continued. "Private Tutors would benefit immensely from trustworthy advice about professional indemnity, developments in education and the law relating to it, and also having a means of connecting with others in their industry. Currently, many private tutors have very limited opportunities to meet other tutors and form networks, so it's also our hope that the new Association of Private Tutors would also provide a means to disseminate good ideas and good practice between the tutors themselves."

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David Spencer
Tutors International
Private Tutoring & Tuition
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Oxford, Oxfordshire
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