An able and experienced educator is required for this full time after school and weekend tutoring role starting as soon as possible. The position is primarily based in Bermuda, with the expectation of some travel to the US and elsewhere. The Tutor will be working predominantly with a 13-year-old boy supporting all of his GCSE core subjects and ideally with GCSE Spanish and French as well. He or she is also expected to spend some time working with two younger boys aged 10 and 7. This is a two, or possibly three-year position commencing as soon as possible and by September 2018 at the latest.
The student is an energetic, competitive 13-year-old boy, who is also an excellent sailor. He is already competing at world championship level and is aiming at the Olympics. However, while his sailing career has gone from strength to strength, he has discovered some problems with his English language abilities. He describes himself as “not a very good reader, not a very good speller, and weak at grammar.” Other subjects such as algebra are being affected by this relative deficiency. For example, he is perfectly capable of solving an algebra problem when he hears it, but he finds it hard to comprehend when the same problem is written down in words. This lack of confidence has started to impact his other subjects, particularly those which are mathematically orientated such as the sciences. He learnt to read using phonics. He doesn’t display many other characteristics of any SEN, and there is no justification for any assessment to be done. A strategy such as moving to whole word recognition rather than relying on phonics will likely be all that is needed to helping him overcome this relative deficit.
The student comes from a kind and loving family. His parents are keen to support their children in every endeavour. He has two younger brothers, aged 10 and 7, and an older brother, 14, who is at boarding school in England. His 10 year old brother is a quick-witted, sensitive and compassionate young man who can be a little shy when he meets someone new. The youngest is enthusiastic, communicative and fun-loving. They are both bright kids who can benefit from being stretched intellectually. Both of them enjoy playing with LEGO and are passionate about dogs.
All three boys like teachers who are not strict and who are able to make learning fun and enjoyable. They learn best when teachers are patient, organised, prepared, and thereby earn the children’s respect. They like teachers who have a light and humorous demeanour. Despite – or perhaps because of his language issues – The primary student prefers the science and technology-based subjects, while his 10 year old brother is strong in all his subjects.
This role is an after-school and weekend support role. The ideal Tutor for this position will have significant experience in teaching GCSE core subjects, as well as a demonstrable understanding of learning differences and various management techniques. The Tutor may need to start by helping the student with his homework, and then using this time to identify any gaps exposed. The Tutor should have the flexibility and understanding to adapt their approach to find effective strategies to fill those gaps and provide strong foundations for future lessons. Tutors who have fluent Spanish or French will find themselves at an advantage.
As a young sportsman, the student sails after school one or two times a week, but there’s no way for him to know which days this might be in advance. He also needs to travel to different locations for races. Therefore, the Tutor should be flexible and adaptable to change at short notice, amending their lesson plans accordingly. He or she may also need to travel with the family following the student’s sailing schedule. When the student is not available for lessons, the Tutor should spend time with his younger brothers, engaging them by designing fun projects and activities and gently stretching their academic and intellectual horizons.
The successful candidate for this role will need to be upbeat and have plenty of energy. This role requires a resourceful, intelligent and knowledgeable tutor who is relaxed and easy-going with a sunny disposition on the one hand whilst also firm, encouraging and sensible on the other. They should be both excellent communicators and record-keepers, able to spot areas of weakness and address them effectively before serious problems develop. The Tutor should be adventurous and engaging – they should have a wide range of interests which they can share with the family, and their enthusiasm for and natural curiosity of the world around them should be infectious.
The Tutor should set a good example for the boys through their behaviour and conduct. It is important that the Tutor remembers that, although the family and working environment may be relaxed compared to formal schooling in Bermuda, it is essential to remain professional at all times and respectful of the family’s privacy. This is especially the case in locations like Bermuda, which is a very small and isolated island in the mid-Atlantic, with a relatively small population. The Tutor should be mindful of their conduct even when not with the family.
There may be some occasions when the Client is busy in the evenings and on these occasions the Tutor will be expected to remain with the boys in a baby-sitting capacity until their parents return. This role may also include some logistical duties such as taking the children to and from places.
The family have houses in Vermont as well as Bermuda, and while it is anticipated that the majority of their time will be spent in Bermuda, the Tutor will move between these houses with them, and probably other locations as well.
The Tutor is normally expected to work 5 days a week – three afternoons/evenings in the week and two full weekend days. They are entitled two consecutive weekdays off, but should not expect these to be regular in their timing due to the student’s unpredictable training schedule.
The Tutor will be entitled to a minimum of 9 weeks (45 working days) paid vacation per annum at times convenient to the Client.
In Bermuda, the Tutor will be provided with a furnished apartment near the family home. This apartment could be suitable for a single person or a couple, but not for a family with children. All rent, utilities, and Internet on the Tutor’s accommodation will be arranged and paid for by the Client save for the Tutor’s personal phone bill. Accommodation will also be provided should the Tutor be traveling with the Client. If the Tutor drives, a car will be made available for their use.
The Tutor must be fit and healthy, and a non-smoker.
The Tutor must ensure that he or she has the requisite travel and health insurance, has received the required vaccinations, and has the necessary visas.