How to Find a Design and Technology Tutor

 It's been estimated that the UK has only half the number of engineers it needs, and it's not difficult to see why. Design and Technology has a very low priority in schools, in spite of being both an important skill and a path to a great career. If your child has an aptitude for Design and Technology, they could have a bright future in front of them — if they can find someone to teach them. If their school isn't any help, that's going to mean finding a private tutor. How feasible is that?

Who Might Want a Design and Technology Tutor?

 It's easy to think of Design and Technology as being for older students preparing for their career, but in fact it's relevant to all ages. Most Design and Technology tutors will be concentrating on GCSE and A-level, with some offering help with degree work. However, courses are available from primary level to adult learning. This shouldn't be surprising, as the subject is at the heart of our society. Primary school children, for example, can learn the basics of how techniques like Computer Aided Design (CAD) work, which will stand them in good stead when the time comes to studyin more detail.

What Does a Design and Technology Tutor Offer?

 In general, most tutors offering Design and Technology are likely to include it in a range of subjects on offer. Depending on the direction the tutor is coming from, these might range from art or crafts to computing or electronics, and noting the other subjects offered might give a clue to where their strengths lie. In general, you should expect the course to cover both theory and practical projects, helping to build a portfolio. Where appropriate, the tutor will help your child prepare for whatever exams may be relevant. Classes may be one-to-one, group sessions or workshops to work on projects, depending on whether your child would benefit more from individual attention or learning with friends. At the moment, of course, these will generally be held online, and with so much modern design being computer based, online learning is relatively straightforward for the subject.

How Much Does a Design and Technology Tutor Cost?

 There's no standard price for tutors, and that's particularly true for Design and Technology tutors. One-to-one classes may cost as little as £25 per hour or as much as £100 per hour, although group lessons are likely to be cheaper for each individual student. Broadly speaking, there are three main reasons for the difference in prices:

• Location — tutors in some locations (notably London) can charge more.
• Qualifications — for instance, a tutor with a relevant doctorate may charge more than one with a first degree.
• Experience — practical experience in Design and Technology can count, as long as it's relatively recent.

 However, this doesn't mean that a cheaper tutor won't be the right one. If they're in the early stages of their career, for instance, they may actually be more focused on building their reputation by giving excellent classes.

 It's important to check out everything you can about a tutor, including reviews, to find out not only how good they are, but also whether their style would suit you or your child. Register with TutorExtra to check out our extensive database of Design and Technology tutors.