Interview with the Founder of Tutor House
It’s hard to believe but this year Tutor House is celebrating its ten year anniversary! How time flies when you’re changing the face of the education industry (if we do say so ourselves)! To mark the occasion, we caught up with our CEO, Alex Dyer, to discuss the founding of Tutor House all those years ago and what he’s learned about all things education, tutoring and students since his vision came to fruition.
Alex, what motivated you to set up Tutor House?
Having spent eight years teaching, I realised that many students simply were not getting what they needed from their day-to-day schooling, largely due to class sizes. Those who could afford it would turn to private tutoring to bridge the gap, but there was a problem here too - namely a lack of tutors who were both good quality, with a thorough knowledge of the syllabus, and affordable. So I decided to do something about it, and set up a company aiming to make tutoring accessible and affordable for all. And I’ve never looked back.
Why do you think tutoring is worth the money?
At the heart of tutoring is self-investment. When you hire a tutor, you’re demonstrating that you recognise the importance of education to open up opportunities and lead you down your chosen career path. Tutoring isn’t just about learning; it’s about building confidence, learning to tackle diverse challenges and applying what you know in unexpected ways. An investment of 20 hours of tutoring will get you a long way.
What sets Tutor House apart from other tutoring companies?
We’re a tight-knit team and are always brainstorming ways of making students’ learning experiences that bit better. Our tutors go through a rigorous training process to make sure they’re all Tutor House ready before they start. We take the time to get to know all our tutors so we can recommend tutors who perfectly match prospective students’ needs.
What has covid taught us about private tutoring?
Covid demonstrated how essential online tutoring really is. Everyone needs it. When schools closed, tutoring played a huge role in saving students’ learning experiences and showed us that, when there’s an emergency, we have alternatives to the classroom.
What qualities make a good tutor?
The best tutors are flexible, patient and, of course, know their subject inside out. They need to be adaptable and able to adjust their approach to all students, even ones they have taught for years. As students grow older, their interests and learning styles might well shift and it’s up to tutors to be ready to roll with the punches and adapt to the changing seasons.
What is the best thing about your job?
I love the flexibility in my day-to-day. Plus, it’s always great to work with so many tutors, all from different walks of life with different scopes of experience.
When you’re not running Tutor House, what do you enjoy doing?
Teaching, playing squash, cooking.
What was your favourite subject at school?
Psychology. So much of what I learned in psychology was relevant to my own life.
What is a skill you would like to learn as an adult?
I’ve started boxing, which is great - it combines fitness, skill and patience. It’s a very complex sport and one I personally think every school should offer. It’s important to keep in mind that it’s not violent when you approach it correctly.
What is your favourite book?
Aristotle's Way - check it out.
Do you have any tips for making the most of your tutoring experience as a student?
Tutoring is a marathon, not a sprint, so don’t wait until the last minute to start! It’s human nature to procrastinate but resisting this urge will set you up for success in the long run. In my experience, candidates who start work with a tutor in September consistently do better than those who leave it until March.
Any advice for students struggling to cope with their workload?
Less is more. Many assume that limiting your materials is the wrong approach to take when studying, but that simply is not true. Make sure you’re working with a manageable number of resources. There is no need to have textbook after textbook - in fact this can often do more harm than good by muddying the waters. Keep notes, use flashcards and where possible draw diagrams to explain key concepts and syllabus points.
What is a study app you would recommend to students?
Sharpen Notes is a great one for note taking and managing homework.
Thanks Alex!