How do I become a tutor?

Select Become a tutor on tutorspot.co.uk, create your account and go through the welcome guide to set up your profile. Our team reviews your profile before it goes live. After that, potential students can message you. See Create your tutor account.

Do I need tutoring experience to register?

No. Some students want very experienced tutors, and others are happy with a new tutor.

What qualifications do I need to register as a tutor?

A good degree in the subject you want to tutor at A level, and good A levels or above in subjects for GCSE students and below. Add your qualifications to your profile so students can see them. See Qualifications and certificates.

What qualities do I need?

A very good knowledge of your subjects and the exam boards, a strong commitment to helping your students achieve the best grade they're capable of, and an ability to build a good rapport with students.

Do I need to prepare for lessons?

Yes. Speak with students before lessons start if you can, and find out what they need so you can prepare lesson plans. Switch off your mobile phone during lessons, and set homework. See Set homework for a student.

How many students can Tutorspot provide me with?

We'll work with you to provide as many or as few students as you want.

What do I need to do to get lots of students?

Reply quickly to every message from potential students. Take time over your profile: highlight your experience as a tutor or teacher, what makes you a good tutor, and successes with previous students. You can also share your profile link. See Preview and share your profile.

How are lessons booked?

Agree the days, times and rate with the student or parent in Tutorspot messages, then send them a lesson reservation. Don't share contact details, or where you work, in messages. Lessons are booked once they accept. See How Tutorspot works for tutors.

When can lessons start?

As soon as the client has accepted your lesson reservation. They add how they'll pay as they accept.

Can I ever work directly with a student?

No, never. All lessons have to be booked, and all payments processed, through Tutorspot. See clauses 9.8 to 9.12 of our Terms and Conditions. If a student asks you to work with them directly, tell them you can't and that they need to book lessons on Tutorspot.

Can I teach other students as well as students from Tutorspot?

Yes. But any students recommended to you by a current or recent (within the past 2 years) Tutorspot student need to book lessons with you on Tutorspot too.

What rate can I charge?

You set an hourly rate for each subject and level, for online and in-person lessons. Be realistic: a rate that's too high can put students off. Clients pay the rate you set. Tutorspot's fee is £3 plus 15% of your hourly rate, per hour, so at £30 an hour you receive £22.50. As you type a rate, You will receive shows what reaches you. See Subjects, rates and fees.

What happens if I have to cancel a lesson?

You can cancel a single lesson at any time before it starts, from the lesson's page. If it's less than 48 hours away, let your client know, as it's short notice. See Cancel a lesson.

What if I need to cancel all of the lessons?

If you can no longer tutor a student, you need to give 2 weeks' notice on Tutorspot to cancel a series of lessons. The lessons during the 2-week notice period have to take place, and clauses 9.10 to 9.12 of our Terms and Conditions apply. See Cancel or withdraw a reservation.

What happens if a client cancels a lesson?

Clients can cancel a single lesson through Tutorspot more than 48 hours before it starts, and it isn't charged. Closer to the lesson, they can ask to cancel, and you decide whether to accept, for example if the student is ill. If you accept, the client isn't charged. To end a series of lessons, clients give 2 weeks' notice. See A client asked to cancel a lesson.

When do I receive payment?

You're paid for each lesson once you've completed its lesson report. Payouts go to your bank through Stripe, our payment provider. Payments in your account shows what's on its way and what you've been paid. See Complete your lesson reports and Your payouts.

How do I find a suitable tutor?

On tutorspot.co.uk, enter the subject, the level (for example GCSE, A level or IB) and your postcode or town, or choose online lessons. Read the tutors' profiles and decide who to message. See Search for a tutor.

How many tutors can I message?

As many as you like. You can send your message to similar tutors in one go. See Send your message to similar tutors.

How does a lesson get booked?

Once you and the tutor have agreed the days, times and start date, the tutor sends you a lesson reservation. Accept it to book the lessons. See Accept a lesson reservation and book your lessons.

How do I pay for lessons?

When you accept a reservation, you add a card or other payment method. Each lesson is charged to it after the lesson takes place. Payments are processed by Stripe, our payment provider. See Add or replace your payment method.

Where do lessons take place?

At your home, at the tutor's, somewhere else you agree with the tutor, or online. Each tutor's profile shows whether they teach in person, online or both. Online lessons happen in the Tutorspot Online Classroom or on the tutor's video link. See Join a lesson.

Do I need to be at home when the lesson takes place?

For students under 18, an adult needs to be at home.

What happens if I have to cancel a lesson?

You can cancel a single lesson through Tutorspot more than 48 hours before it starts, and you won't be charged. With less than 48 hours' notice, you can ask your tutor to cancel. If they accept, you won't be charged. Otherwise, the lesson is charged in full. See Can't make a lesson?.

How do I cancel all of the lessons?

Cancel the reservation on Tutorspot. You need to give 2 weeks' notice: lessons in the next two weeks still happen and are charged, and later lessons are cancelled. Clauses 9.10 to 9.12 of our Terms and Conditions apply. See Cancel a reservation.

What happens if a tutor cancels a lesson?

Tutors can cancel a single lesson at any time before it starts, and you'll be told. If a tutor can no longer teach you, for example for health reasons, they need to give 2 weeks' notice to cancel a series of lessons. The lessons during the notice period take place, and clause 9.12 of our Terms and Conditions applies.

What happens if I'm not happy with a tutor?

Tell us within 24 hours of the end of the lesson you're not happy about. See Get help from Tutorspot.

Does Tutorspot check the tutors on the website?

Our team approves every tutor's profile before it's listed. Each profile shows what we've checked and what the tutor has provided, such as a DBS certificate, references and qualifications. Tutors also confirm their identity with Stripe before they can be paid. We can't guarantee anything, so speak with the tutor and check their paperwork after the lessons are confirmed and before the first lesson. See Read a tutor's profile.

How often do lessons take place?

The tutor and client decide how often and for how long, for example weekly for an hour from September to June. The lesson reservation sets the days, times and end date, and the tutor can change it later.

Can we speak to each other before the lessons start?

Yes, in Tutorspot messages. Use them to ask questions and agree the details before and after booking.

What happens when lessons have been booked?

The lessons appear in your account and you can add them to your calendar. Use Tutorspot messages to arrange anything else. See What happens after you accept a reservation.

How is payment made?

Payments are taken and processed by Stripe, our payment provider. You can see your payments, and open a receipt for each, in your account. See Receipts and payment history.

Can we contact each other directly once lessons have started?

All bookings and communication between tutors and clients should take place through Tutorspot.

What happens if we move house or change our phone number?

Update your address and phone numbers under Settings > Personal details. See Update your details and password.

For anything else, see Get help from Tutorspot.