English Tutor

The successful candidate must, by the start of the position, have the right to work in the UK. If you are applying for a Tees Valley role specifically through Unitemps, you can be on a UK Student Visa, provided you comply with your visa's work limits. If you are not applying through Unitemps, you must also have the right to register as self-employed by the start of the position (before training begins).

About us: Proudly Northern, we're a not-for-profit charity transforming young lives through subsidised, high-quality tutoring. We champion educational equity, ensuring support reaches those who need it most, regardless of postcode or background. Specialising in impactful SATs and GCSE tutoring in core subjects (English, maths, science), we collaborate with schools, colleges, and Alternative Provision providers throughout Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire, Merseyside, and Tees Valley. We are particularly committed to supporting young people in Alternative Provision and children in care.

About the role: As an English tutor, you’ll plan and deliver tuition for small groups of up to four pupils (occasionally up to six), building meaningful relationships over the course of a typical 15-hour assignment. Sessions take place strictly during the school day, so you’ll need to be available on weekdays between 8am and 4pm. We don’t currently offer after‑school, evening or weekend hours. This is a self‑employed role. You’ll be working directly with children and young people in schools, which means this is a regulated activity under the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006.

The kind of tutor we’re looking for: We’ve built our expectations around three competencies that describe what great tutoring looks like in practice. You don’t need to arrive as the finished article. We invest heavily in training and development. But we do need to see the foundations from the start.

• The Expert: You care about your subject and want to get better at teaching it. You explain things clearly, adapt when something isn't landing, and hold yourself to a high standard.
• The Professional: You show up on time, prepared, and ready to give your best. You understand that for the young people you work with, reliability and attention to detail matter just as much as what happens in the session.
• The Relationship Builder: You see your pupils as individuals, believe every young person can make progress, and bring warmth and energy while respecting professional boundaries.

What you’ll do: Plan and deliver engaging, well‑structured English sessions tailored to your pupils’ needs. Build trusting, boundaried relationships with the young people you work with over a sustained period of up to 15 school weeks. Track pupil progress and complete session reports and registers accurately and on time. Follow school safeguarding policies and Tutor Trust’s own safeguarding procedures. Communicate proactively with your coordinator and the schools you’re placed in. Attend all required training, including safeguarding training, before you begin tutoring. Reflect on your practice and act on feedback to keep improving. Contribute to Tutor Trust’s development by providing regular feedback and suggesting programme improvements.

What we’re offering: Competitive pay: £20 per hour for planning and delivering tuition. Comprehensive training: Our tutor training programme is delivered online through a mix of self‑led and group sessions, requiring approximately 10 to 15 hours over three weeks. Please note that tutors are not paid separately for completing this initial training. Ongoing support: A dedicated coordinator supports you throughout your placements. Flexible self‑employment: Fit tuition around your existing commitments. Real impact: Contribute directly to educational equity in the North of England. You’ll see the difference you make, session by session.

What you’ll need: We value potential, passion for education, and the ability to connect with young people. We welcome applicants with strong critical thinking, communication skills and enthusiasm for their subject. Aged 18 or over and not currently undertaking sixth form, college, or equivalent. A genuine passion for education and a belief in educational equity for all young people. Availability for tutoring during the school day (Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm). Demonstrable skills and knowledge equivalent to a grade 6 in GCSE English Language. The ability to explain concepts clearly, build rapport with pupils from diverse backgrounds, and adapt your teaching to individual needs. Strong communication skills for working with school and college staff as well as the Tutor Trust team. Ability to build impactful relationships with pupils over a sustained period (up to 15 school weeks) to support their progress. The legal right to work in the UK and register as self‑employed with HMRC by the start of the position (upon receipt of a conditional offer). Willingness to contribute to The Tutor Trust's development and advocacy by providing regular feedback, suggesting programme improvements, and promoting our mission of educational equity. Willingness and ability to travel to school sites across your selected region. Assignments aren’t limited to city centres or your immediate area. Willingness to undergo an enhanced DBS check with a barred list check.

What will set you apart: Experience of working with young people from a variety of backgrounds is highly desirable but not essential. We welcome all applicants who can demonstrate transferable skills relevant to the role, including mentoring, communication, leadership or problem‑solving, including those with experience outside of traditional educational or tutoring settings. Please highlight these skills in your application. Understanding of systemic inequalities: An awareness of the systemic inequalities that affect educational outcomes for young people from marginalised backgrounds. Higher academic qualifications: Applicants with A Levels, university degrees or postgraduate qualifications in their chosen subject are welcome to apply. This may open up opportunities to be involved in some of our diversified programmes. Qualified Teacher Status (QTS): QTS is welcomed for the pedagogical expertise it offers, but it’s not a requirement. We greatly value the subject knowledge and varied backgrounds of all applicants, regardless of QTS status.

Safeguarding: Tutor Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. We expect all candidates to share this commitment. As a tutor, you’ll be in unsupervised contact with children. This role is classified as a regulated activity under the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006. It is a legal offence to apply if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children. We will undertake all necessary safer recruitment checks, including an Enhanced DBS check, on all successful applicants. It is a legal requirement that all our tutors have an Enhanced DBS check on the Update Service.

What we expect from you: An awareness of safeguarding and what it means to work with young people. Completing Tutor Trust’s safeguarding training upon a successful interview, and annually thereafter. Following all of Tutor Trust’s safeguarding policies and procedures at all times. Recognising and responding to potential signs of abuse, neglect or harm. Reporting any safeguarding concerns promptly and in line with our procedures to the designated safeguarding lead. Maintaining appropriate professional boundaries with pupils. Promoting a safe and secure learning environment for every pupil.

Background checks: The following are mandatory for all applicants. An offer is conditional on satisfactory completion of these checks. Enhanced DBS check: This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. All successful applicants must undergo an enhanced DBS check with a check of the barred list. Right to work in the UK: All applicants must be legally entitled to work in the UK by the start of the position (upon receipt of a conditional offer and before the commencement of training). Self‑employment status: If you are applying for a Tees Valley role specifically through Unitemps, you can be on a UK Student Visa, provided you comply with your visa's work limits. If you are not applying through Unitemps, you must also have the right to register as self‑employed by the start of the position (before training begins).

We’re building a tutor community that mirrors the diverse backgrounds of the young people we support. We actively encourage applications from individuals with varied experiences and perspectives, particularly those from under‑represented backgrounds and those with lived experience of marginalisation. We believe this diversity enriches our team and helps us connect with and support our pupils more effectively. We aim to create an inclusive recruitment process. If you need any reasonable adjustments to participate fully in the application or interview stages, please let us know.