The student will be 15 by January 2009, and is the middle of three children. He has been home-schooled all his life, free from the constraints of any particular curriculum. He is highly intelligent, and has been raised to be sceptical of received opinions and to question the source and validity of information.

He has received some private instruction from a local tutor in the core subjects of English and Mathematics, although this is inconsistent. He has also been the recipient of several visiting Tutors provided by Tutors International, covering Theology, Law, Philosophy, Architecture and American Literature. Although the boy is a capable student who has won awards for his writing, he has little experience of the challenges of formal study.

There is an older sister (22 by 2010), who may wish to join some of the seminars, but this unlikely. The tutor should anticipate that the family as a whole may wish to engage in discussion in less formal situations, such as meal times, and when relaxing in the evening.

In 1267, Roger Bacon wrote that there are four obstacles in grasping the truth…fragile and unworthy authority is one, long tradition another, the feelings of the ignorant mob another, and finally the ignorance of individuals concealed with the ostentatious use of wise words.

Albert Einstein echoed this concern some seven centuries later: “The foundation of morality should not be made dependent on myth nor tied to any authority lest doubt about the myth or about the legitimacy of the authority imperil the foundation of sound judgement and action.”

The search for truth and the intelligent questioning of authority is at the heart of these assignments.

Five tutors per annum will be selected to work with the student at the family home, each for periods of two weeks each. These tutors will be experts in their field and will choose their own topic of instruction. All five tutors for 2008 have now been selected; applications for 2010 are now being considered.

There will be a program of study devised by the tutor and agreed with the company and client in advance. Full details of how this will be managed will be made clear at interview.

The preferred subjects are as follows: Philosophy, Astronomy, Psychology, History, World Literature, English Literature, Biology (especially Genetics), Theology, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Sociology, General Medicine (Basic Principles), International and Common Law (Basic Principles), Business, Fine Arts.

The tutor will work five days a week. The tutor should generally expect to be available for work and discourse throughout each day of the assignment. The bulk of the tutoring will take place between the two main meals each day, which are at 10am and 4pm.

The client will provide shared furnished en-suite accommodation, in their home, or in nearby accommodation, throughout the term of the assignment. All meals will be provided by the family chef, and taken with the family.

The client will cover the travel costs for the tutor, to and from the family home, and a car will be provided.