How to Choose the Right Tutor: What Parents Should Look For
How to Choose the Right Tutor: What Parents Should Look For
Finding a tutor can feel like a minefield. Every website promises results — but what really makes a good tutor, and how do you find someone your child actually connects with?
At Tier Tutors, we work with hundreds of parents who ask this exact question. Here’s a simple, honest guide to choosing the right tutor for your child — whether you’re looking for GCSE tutoring, science help, or medical school application support.
1. Relatability matters as much as qualifications
Of course, you want someone knowledgeable — but what really makes lessons click is relatability.
Students often learn best from near-peer tutors — people who’ve recently been through the same exams and remember what it’s like to struggle with tricky concepts.
That’s why all our tutors are high-achieving university students or recent graduates who know how to explain things in a way that feels simple, clear, and encouraging.
2. Always check for an Enhanced DBS
A tutor working with under-18s should always have a valid Enhanced DBS check.
It’s a basic safeguarding step that protects both the student and the family.
At Tier Tutors, every tutor is DBS-checked and trained in online safety — so you can relax knowing lessons are run professionally and securely.
3. Look for clear progress tracking
A great tutor doesn’t just teach — they show you the results.
Ask how they measure progress, how often they check understanding, and how feedback is shared.
At Tier Tutors, we send monthly parent reports that highlight progress by topic, strengths, and next steps — so you can see your child’s improvement on paper, not just in confidence.
4. Match your child’s exam board and goals
One of the biggest mistakes parents make is choosing a tutor who doesn’t teach to the correct exam board (AQA, OCR, Edexcel, etc.).
Each board has different question styles and command words — and learning the wrong approach can cost marks.
Our tutors plan every session around the right specification and mark scheme, so practice aligns perfectly with the exams your child will actually take.
5. Ask to see a sample lesson or recording
If possible, watch a short clip of a tutor teaching or sit in on the first part of a session.
This gives you a feel for their pace, tone, and interaction style.
At Tier Tutors, all online lessons are recorded for safeguarding and quality, and we’re happy to show parents what a real session looks like.
6. Prioritise patience and encouragement
Even the most talented tutor won’t help if your child feels anxious or judged.
Look for someone who creates a space where it’s okay to make mistakes and ask “silly” questions.
Confidence grows fastest when students feel safe to learn at their own pace.
The takeaway
Choosing the right tutor isn’t about finding the “strictest” or “smartest” — it’s about finding someone who combines expertise, empathy, and structure.
Someone who knows the syllabus inside out, believes in your child, and makes learning feel achievable again.
If you’d like help matching your child with a DBS-checked, university-educated tutor who fits their personality and goals, you can get in touch here — or message us directly to chat about what kind of support would suit your child best.
Because the right tutor doesn’t just boost grades — they rebuild confidence.