Choosing a tutor is easier when you start with what your child needs, not with who is available first. This guide gives you a short checklist you can use with any tutor — on Blueblack or elsewhere.
What should I look for in a tutor?
Look for four things: subject knowledge at your child's level, teaching experience with learners of that age, a clear plan, and trust and safety. A brilliant university student may be ideal for Grade 12 Physical Sciences, while a Foundation Phase reader may need a qualified teacher who is patient with young children.
- Level and curriculum: check that the tutor teaches your child's grade and curriculum (CAPS, IEB or Cambridge).
- Experience: ask how long they have tutored and what kind of learners they usually work with.
- Approach: a good tutor can explain how they will find the gaps and how they will measure progress.
- Practicalities: online or in person, travel distance, times that suit your family, and the hourly rate.
Which questions should I ask before the first lesson?
- How will you find out where my child is struggling?
- What will a typical session look like?
- How will you report progress to me, and how often?
- What do you need from us (past tests, textbooks, the school's work schedule)?
- What happens if a session has to be cancelled?
What safety checks matter for learners under 18?
When a tutor works with a minor, ask for proof of identity and a police clearance certificate, and agree where lessons happen. For in-person lessons at home, an adult should be at home. For online lessons, use a shared space rather than a bedroom, and keep messages on a platform that records them.
On Blueblack, our team checks each tutor's identity document and qualification before their profile is listed, and tutors who work with learners under 18 must provide a police clearance certificate. See Trust & safety for the full list.
How do I know if tutoring is working?
Give it four to six weeks. Look for better homework and test results, but also for confidence: is your child attempting questions they used to skip? Ask the tutor for a short written update, and compare school reports term by term. If nothing is changing, talk to the tutor about adjusting the plan — or try someone else.
Ready to compare tutors?
Browse tutors by subject — for example Mathematics — or use Find a tutor to filter by level, area and online or in-person lessons. You see a full quotation before you pay anything.
This guide gives general information, not professional advice for your specific situation. Spotted something out of date? Let us know.