Finding a tutor is easy. Finding the right tutor takes a little more care, especially when lessons happen in your home.

Start with the syllabus, not the subject

"Mathematics tutor" can mean many things: primary numeracy, JHS BECE preparation, IGCSE extended papers or IB analysis and approaches. Ask which curriculum and level the tutor has actually taught, and for how long.

Ask for references

A good tutor should be comfortable with a reference from a past family. One conversation about punctuality, communication and results tells you more than a certificate alone.

Use a trial lesson

One paid trial session protects everyone. Watch for three things:

  • Does the tutor assess before teaching, or launch into a prepared topic?
  • Can your child explain something afterwards that they could not explain before?
  • Does the tutor give clear, specific feedback to you?

Check safeguarding and boundaries

Lessons at home should have clear expectations: who is present, how sessions start and end, and how communication happens. A professional tutor will welcome these questions rather than avoid them.

Look for consistency

The best tutor is the one who turns up every week, prepared, for the whole term. Enthusiasm in the first lesson matters far less than reliability in the tenth.

Red flags

  • Vague answers about experience or curriculum.
  • No willingness to follow the school's topics.
  • Frequent rescheduling.
  • Promises of guaranteed grades.
  • No feedback to parents beyond "they are doing fine".

How we screen tutors

Every tutor we place is interviewed, checked on subject knowledge and references, and matched to the learner's level and schedule. We also follow up during the term so problems are caught early.

If you would like to see how that works in practice, request a free assessment and we will recommend a tutor for your child's exact needs.