There are three boys who require tutoring – a 17 year old, who is the main focus of this assignment, and his two brothers, aged 15.

The oldest is an internationally renowned athlete. Since starting competitions at the age of 9, he has been at the top of his sport nationally, retaining his title in each consecutive year. However, while his sporting career has gone from strength to strength, his academic studies have plateaued. With university entrance not too far away, he is planning to take a step back from international competition to focus on his schoolwork.

In September 2018, he is due to enter grade 11 at an international school in Switzerland. He will be studying the full IB Diploma program with aspirations of gaining entry into a top-level Ivy League college. As he aims to further his studies in the US, he will need to be trained in the SAT alongside his IB work, and will benefit from the wisdom and experience of a Tutor who fully understands both the US and IB systems.

As with most sportsmen of his age, he is a determined young man and is able to apply himself to a given task with focus, care and dedication. He is committed to excelling at his studies and certainly has the capacity and drive to succeed. The right Tutor will find him a willing and engaging student who is keen to learn, and they should have no trouble getting him up to a level where he can make competitive applications to his chosen universities.

The 15 year old boys attend the same school and are on track to begin their IB Diploma Program in September 2019. Although close in age they are not twins, but they are in the same year group at school and get on with one another very well. Like their older brother, both boys are intelligent, articulate and have high academic goals. One would ultimately like to attend a London university reading economics and/or business. His brother is a little less focused but is considering a career in medicine, probably studying in the US.

The IB MYP is not necessarily the best spring-board into the intense IBDP, and it is becoming obvious to the boys’ family that they need a little help in terms of both improving their study habits and ensuring they have solid academic foundations before starting the IBDP. They have a tendency to distract one another and, because they find their current work level very manageable, they procrastinate over homework.

Like their brother, the 15 year olds are accomplished athletes in their own fields. One is a left-handed field hockey player at county level, and the other is a soccer player who is currently trying out for county level teams. Unsurprisingly both boys are very fit and active and have a busy sporting and social timetable to fit around their schoolwork.

All three boys come from a loving and stable family. Conversation and dialogue are considered very important, and the topics discussed are wide ranging and enlightening. The three boys are mature and considered in their communications (both written and spoken) and there is no animosity or unfriendly rivalry between them. The family is kind, welcoming and warm.

This position requires an energetic, enthusiastic and interesting teacher who has experience working with both the US and IB curricula. The Tutor’s role will be to provide after-school support to all three boys with the oldest as the main focus in the short term. The Tutor is expected to ensure that all work covered during school hours is fully understood and that the foundations of knowledge are sound. They will be required to oversee homework assignments, giving direction and assistance where necessary, while ensuring that all three boys develop exemplary study skills and techniques. The Tutor should provide tricks and tips for effective study methods, as well as revision strategies and stress management exercises which could help all three in their future lives – academic and professional and sporting.

Given that two of the three boys have expressed an interest in studying in the US, the Tutor should expect to prepare for the SAT and completing their College applications. The Tutor will also be required to assist with university applications, entrance essays and interview techniques for the boys’ chosen institutions, wherever they may be, including the UK, EU, or Switzerland.

While the younger two are still on the IB MYP and are not being fully stretched, the Tutor should teach them a few of IGCSE courses which can be run in parallel with their school studies. These additional qualifications would help acclimatise the younger boys to the increased workload expected of them when they reach the diploma years, as well as giving them a broader range of qualifications to present on future university applications. The boys should do as many IGCSEs as time will permit. Some of these courses will be relatively easy for them (the boys are already fluent in German – and Russian may also be a possibility) and many of the courses will have significant overlap with the IB MYP. The Tutor should investigate the IGCSE courses that have similar content to current studies and use them as a way to fill their ‘slack time’ more productively.

The Tutor will need to be highly organised and an excellent record keeper. He or she should be eloquent, knowledgeable and able to inspire with their enthusiasm for any given subject. The Tutor should be an exceptional role model; diplomatic, polite and friendly at all times. It is essential that the Tutor speaks and writes impeccable English – the oldest has already written a book of such a high standard that with just a little editing it could well be published. Indeed, this is something that the Tutor should consider exploring, as having an ISBN at his age is certainly impressive and would look very good on any resume or university application.

The Tutor should be organised, kind, fun, inspiring, efficient and flexible in their work. They should have a good sense of adventure as well as a good sense of humour. They should be flexible enough in their lesson plans to allow tangential lines of enquiry to be followed but structured enough to ensure that their lessons are not consistently hijacked. They must be able to balance excellent teaching with accurate record keeping, research and administrative skills.

The right Tutor for this role will have a very positive attitude and will embrace the opportunities that this position affords. They are likely to get as much from their time tutoring the boys as the boys will get from the tutoring.

The Tutor will typically work with the students for about 30-40 hours over 5 days each week, usually Wednesday-Sunday, with obvious loading at the weekends. Preparation time is not part of these contact hours. The timetable must be established with reference to any extracurricular activities and travel arrangements and be flexible enough to accommodate unexpected changes.

The Tutor is entitled to two consecutive days off per week but should not expect these to occur at weekends or to be regular in their timing. As far as possible the Client will try to give the Tutor at least two weeks’ notice of when their ‘weekend’ break will be, but the Tutor will need to understand this is not always possible. The standard minimum 9 weeks (45 working days) of paid vacation allowance applies to this contract, with these breaks being taken at times convenient to the Client.

Any untaken vacation allowance or untaken weekend days that have accrued will be compensated by payment in lieu at a pro-rated day rate.

The Tutor will be provided with furnished accommodation in Zurich. The rent, utilities and Internet on this apartment will be arranged and paid for by the Client. It may be that the classroom forms part of the Tutor’s accommodation – the other option is to use a room in a nearby office suite as a dedicated learning space.

The Client is not responsible for the Tutor’s personal phone bills.

The Tutor will be reimbursed for all local public transport and any travels costs incurred while travelling with the family (though these occasions are likely to be few and far between). The Client is not responsible for the costs of personal travel when the Tutor is taking paid vacation beyond the requirements regarding flights to the Tutor’s place of normal residence as set out in the Terms.

They Tutor may sometimes be asked to travel with the oldest so that he can be tutored while training or competing. The Client is responsible for all Tutor expenses while travelling.

The successful candidate will be able to offer more than the minimum requirements of this position and will need to have been raised in a socially appropriate background. He or she will not only be an excellent educator, but also a good role model for teenage boys: educated and polished, with excellent manners and personal values.

The Tutor should be fit and healthy, a non-smoker.