The 18 year old student is an intelligent and well-spoken young man, conversationally engaging and able to express his thoughts clearly and rationally. He has been educated in the British system, although his family are now based in Belgium. He has completed his GCSEs and AS levels in Maths, Physics and Chemistry. Although he obviously has the potential to achieve whatever he wishes academically, both his GCSE and AS results are rather lacklustre at the moment. As with many young people of his age, he does not yet have a clear sense of direction, although he most certainly does want to get good enough A levels to go to a good University. His plan is to apply once he has his results, and his most recent thoughts on the subject are to study Psychology, perhaps at Newcastle University. With this in mind, he has asked that as well as repeating the already taken modules of his AS Physics, Chemistry and Maths, he would like to add Psychology.

The student got himself into some trouble in Brussels involving his behaviour, and is now enrolled at Bonneville Canyon Retreat (BCR) in Belfast, Maine, in the north-eastern United States. BCR is a “life skills” centre specialising in “helping young male adults (18 and over) find that path that leads to a successful and positive life.” This program helps its students to identify the issues that have led them to where they are now and develops in them the inner strength to change. It is hoped that through the close supervision and support of this program, he will come to terms with the need to take personal responsibility for the consequences of his decisions, not only with regard to the immediate events that brought him to BCR, but also on a broader basis encompassing his personal academic goals.

The student has a certain level of scepticism about authority in general. He desires to be sure that the perspectives he is presented be based on firm foundations rather than personal opinion extends to his studies. The young man’s favourite teachers are those who have the knowledge and patience to explain ideas thoroughly and clearly, someone who never needs to retreat from firm and direct questioning.

The Tutor will work with the student at Bonneville Canyon while he’s there, at first focussing on repeating the AS modules already taken and then starting the Psychology course. The Tutor will be responsible for planning the day in cooperation with the staff at BCR so that the student’s academic track is restored while he continues to receive guidance from the staff at the centre. It will be essential for the Tutor to establish a warm, friendly and productive relationship with the BCR staff, and to take their advice regarding the student’s overall progress there.

While it is not known at this stage exactly how many hours a day will be available for the tutoring, BCR has made it clear that they consider academics to be of paramount importance and will try to be as accommodating as possible in this respect. At the very least, the Tutor should anticipate an hour and half per subject per day until the June exams; probably more as the exams approach. In addition, the student will need time for periods of self-study and practice. There is no need, however, to waste time with busy work, or to go over and over material that he clearly understands. Further, there exists the opportunity for a talented educator to link the subject material together where possible, such as using a Physics problem to teach a Mathematical skill.

In addition to the formal teaching of book-based material will be the need to develop practical experiences. In BCR there are facilities such as a workshop that a creative Tutor will be able to use to make equipment for demonstration purposes. It is also hoped that the Tutor will be able to create appropriate relations with the local high school and so access other practical opportunities on behalf of the student.

The timing of any move to the UK will depend on the BCR management appraisal of the student’s accomplishments there. When the position does relocate to UK, the current thinking is that the Client will provide accommodation for the Tutor and the student to share. Here the Tutor and he will be jointly responsible for managing the day-to-day domestic responsibilities while the Tutor continues to work with him on his A level preparation. Again the Tutor would need to identify local opportunities for lab work and demonstration of key principles — Tutors International would be able to help significantly in this regard. This arrangement could allow, if the Tutor felt it did not have a detrimental effect on the educational goals, for the student to work part time, perhaps by arranging the schooling to permit time for some suitable work experience.

It is part of the Tutor’s responsibilities to help the student with choosing a University/Course and to guide him through admission processes including UCAS and interview preparation where appropriate.

The Tutor will typically work with the student for at least 6 hours per day. In addition, the Tutor will need to set suitable practice work to be done independently and allow time for his or her own preparation and local resourcing.

The Tutor is entitled to the standard 9 weeks paid vacation per annum.

The Client will provide a stipend to cover the rental and utilities cost of suitable, furnished accommodation for the Tutor. Short-term rentals in Belfast are around $3000 USD per calendar month, which is about £2000 GBP per month. It is not known at this stage whether this stipend will be added to the Tutor’s fees and the property rented by the Tutor, whether the accommodation will be rented by Tutors International, or will be rented with the help of BCR staff.

It is also not known at this stage where the tutoring will take place in Belfast. Either a suitably quiet place will be found at BCR, or a meeting room at a nearby hotel will be arranged. It is also possible that the tutoring could take place at the Tutor’s lodging. When the role is relocated to England the tutoring will probably take place at the Tutor/Student accommodation.

The Client is responsible for the Tutor’s first outward and final return journeys to and from Belfast. In addition the Client will be responsible for one intermediate return journey to their home in England for every six months during the contract term.

In addition to the fees, the Client will provide a stipend of £1000 GBP per calendar month for the Tutor to rent a car for his or her personal use during the contract. This is enough to cover the rental and insurance for a small car on a long-term rental from a well-known company such as Hertz or Avis. Should the Tutor wish to upgrade to a better car then they are free to do so at their own expense. The Client will be responsible for fuel for the Tutor’s travel to and from work; the Tutor will be responsible for all other costs arising from the use of the car, including insurance excess and fuel for personal use.

While the student is at Bonneville Canyon Retreat the Tutor should take direction regarding all aspects of his daily activities with the exception of the content of the teaching from the head of the centre, who is in charge of his programme. He appreciates that the student’s academics are extremely important and will endeavour not interfere in the tutoring — the Tutor too must avoid interfering with the head’s work with the student.