The student is a pleasant, highly intelligent, well-motivated and determined young man. He is also a talented and ambitious tennis player with a place at one of the top training academies in Italy. He wishes to excel in both his studies and his sport, and is willing to put in the effort required to prepare for entry to one of the best US colleges.

For the last 18 months he has been working on his UK GCSEs, the last of which he took in June 2007. During this time he has worked with a private tutor and is already familiar with the way in which his academic instruction must be integrated into his tennis program.

The student has decided to apply to colleges in the US in order to maintain his dual tennis and academic potential. This will mean a change from the British system in which he has been educated all his life.

The young man will be homeschooled and is enrolled in a fully accredited online course, which the tutor will support, through 11th and 12th grades. These courses allow a great deal of flexibility in the work schedule, which might mean intensive periods of study in occasional tennis lulls, followed by periods of relative academic calm during tournaments.

The young man will start with Math, Biology and English in order to get him prepared for his SATs, but after this there will be much more flexibility in his choice of courses. To some extent this will be governed by graduation requirements, such as with Maths and English, but as his strengths are in History and Languages, it is likely that AP courses in these subjects will be taken where possible. The ideal tutor will need to have a thorough grounding in European and American History, or have a keen interest in these subjects, as well as being able to support the Maths, English and Science requirements. An ability in at least one Romance language would be an advantage.

The tutor will be responsible for ensuring that the student has the requisite credits for graduation with an excellent GPA, and that his UK credentials are assessed for their US equivalence. The tutor will also be responsible for SAT and/or ACT preparation, and for college applications.

Clearly the reliance on properly functioning computer hardware and software will be significant. Most work will be turned in by uploading files to the online school�s web site, most tests and quizzes will be taken online, and most feedback from course leaders will be by email. It is therefore essential that the tutor is competent with the appropriate technologies, and is resourceful in finding alternatives when circumstances interfere with carefully laid plans.

The young man will benefit from a youthful yet firm tutor, someone who appreciates their role in being part of the team supporting a professional tennis career. The academics are important, of course, but the tutor must appreciate that the main goal is to help a young man with exceptional tennis ability to reach his full potential. This will require creativity and fun � to keep studies running through a punishing training schedule � great flexibility, and close communication with family and tennis professionals. The ideal tutor will also join in to support the role outside the teaching, sharing in the preparation of meals, travel and other light duties.

Tutoring will need to be designed to fit around the training and tournament program, which will leave an estimated maximum 3 hours a day, 6 days a week, for study. When not working with the student, the tutor will need to prepare materials to ensure that work time is as productive as possible. The Tutor will also need to plan what work the boy will need to do when not with the Tutor, to ensure that progress is maintained on schedule through the courses.

There will be 9 weeks paid holiday per annum, (as per our standard Terms), to be taken at times convenient to the client.

The client will provide lodging in an apartment near the tennis academy. The accommodation could be suitable for a couple.

When accompanying the young man to a tournament, the tutor will need to be flexible about accommodation arrangements, as these are not always known in advance.

When the tutor travels to tournaments, with the student, the cost will be met by the client. However, if a couple take up the position, only the travel costs of one of them will be met.

The client will provide a car, as needed, for the tutor. He or she will need a clean licence and be willing to drive (a manual) in Italy.