First Tutors new data reveals the national average cost for Private Tuition

First Tutors new data reveals the national average cost for Private Tuition Private tuition is much cheaper than many families suspect, with the national average costing less than 23.00 per hour -- meaning expert help for your child's education is more affordable than you think. Still, there are strong regional variations with Kensington the most expensive area and Newcastle-Upon-Tyne the cheapest place in the country. 20/03/13, London. Families across the nation paid an average of 22.31 per hour for private tuition in the last year. Taken from price data provided by over 15,000 tutors, FirstTutors.com found that families in rural areas are paying on average slightly more than those in major cities (the city average stands at 21.55 while the rural average is 23.07). This can be largely attributed to both higher travel costs and lower competition in rural areas. Equally, tuition costs reflect educational complexity, with the national average ranging from 20.10 for primary and secondary school tuition, to 26.56 for university level tuition. With the UK still in the grip of an economic slump, yet decent university degrees increasingly necessary for anyone wishing to enter the countrys fiercely competitive job market, private tuition is a rapidly growing sector with as much as a quarter of 11-16 year olds benefitting from it some form1, as families do all they can to better their childrens prospects. Anita Lee, Managing Director, observed, There is a prevailing myth that private tutors all charge around 30-40ph, yet our data consistently shows that when tutors set their own rates, as is the case with FirstTutors.com, they actually charge far less than this, on average. The aforementioned figure is more reflective of the hourly fees charged by a minority of London tuition agencies, rather than the reality of how much private tuition costs across most of the country. FirstTutors.com, a web-based agency established in 2005, differs in that it lets the tutors set their own rates and instead charges a small, one-off introductory fee. To illustrate this data FirstTutors.com has created two infographics: the first indicates the average price (per hour) of tuition by learning level, from primary school to university. The second is a map of the UK indicating the average price per hour by town/city. Notes to editors: First Tutors is a online find-your-own-tutor service that helps families find tutors in a wide variety of subjects: from academic, music and languages, to dance, business, IT and beyond; it works by ranking suitable tutors by user feedback and specialist requirements. Founded in 2005, the company is dedicated to making the tuition sector more merit-based and giving tutees the widest range of choice possible. 1 data taken from the Sutton Trust, 2011 For more information, call 0845 224 8294.

Teach Away Telegram - July 2013

Teach Away Telegram - July 2013 We hope everyone in the northern hemisphere is enjoying a wonderful summer, and that our southern hemisphere teachers are getting through winter! Whether you’ve recently been to the beach or are planning your upcoming ski trip, we’re sure you’re keeping busy exploring the world around you.This month, we’ll share our schedule of upcoming webinars for educators hoping to teach abroad. We’ll also give teachers an overview of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month that began early in July. Our country spotlight for July is Kazakhstan.Teach Away WebinarsIn order to improve the ways we provide our teachers with information, Teach Away is offering webinars to educators hoping to teach abroad. These interactive sessions give you the chance to ask your questions to Teach Away representatives, and deliver visual and audio content about teaching, job hunting, and living abroad.Webinars are free to attend and open to anyone interested in teaching overseas someday. Reminders will appear on the Teach Away Facebook page, Google+ page, and Twitter page on the days leading up to the webinars, so follow us for updates! Webinar Schedule for August:A Day in the Life â€" Teach in the UAEAugust 14, 5 pm Eastern Time (New York/Toronto) Register online: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/928765392 If you’re looking for a little more information about what it’s like to teach in the UAE, then this webinar is for you. Join us to find out some more about moving to and living in the UAE, teaching abroad, traveling in the Middle East, and hear from some of our teachers who are currently in the UAE.Impress with your ApplicationAugust 28, 5 pm Eastern Time (New York/Toronto) Register online: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/494942656 Applying for a teaching position can be stressful. Join us for some great tips about how to succeed with a complete profile, impressive resume and well written cover letter, as well as effective preparation for interviews.Ramadan: An OverviewThis m onth marked the beginning of Ramadan in the Islamic world. Many of our teachers who will be moving overseas next year have asked about Ramadan, so read on for a guide. Ramadan basics: Ramadan is observed during the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. It is a month for prayer, charity, and fasting. The Ramadan fast restricts Muslims from eating or drinking from dawn until dusk. Each night, families and communities break their fast with a meal known as iftar. Though Westerners often associate Ramadan only with fasting, Muslims also focus on the importance of charity and generosity. Many volunteer in their communities and make donations of food, clothing, or time.The calendar: The Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar, which means that the dates shift forward each year by about 11 days. In addition, some countries differ by one or two days in their observance of Ramadan. This year, Ramadan is being observed from sunset on July 8th â€" August 7th (or July 9th â€" August 8th). Changes to daily life: If you are in a country where Ramadan is observed, you’ll want to keep in mind that businesses and government offices will usually hold shorter work days. This will affect the speed at which business is done, and will change the timing of rush hours and other busy times of day. Showing respect: Expectations of foreign visitors will vary depending on the country. At a minimum, you should refrain from eating or drinking in public, and keep in mind that many people around you are spending their days without food or water. In some countries, all restaurants will close during the day. Other countries might cater to foreign visitors by keeping restaurants open, although patrons will usually be served indoors. Use common sense and observe the actions of those around you. It’s better to err on the side of caution than risk coming off as disrespectful. What to say: “Ramadan Kareem” and “Ramadan Mubarak” are phrases used as greetings. It’s also fine to say “Happy Ramadan” in English. Ramadan ends in a festival known as Eid al-Fitr. To celebrate the end of Ramadan, you can greet people with “Eid Mubarak!”Country Spotlight: KazakhstanLocated at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, Kazakhstan is a beautiful country for intrepid travelers. The world’s ninth-largest country, it is largely unexplored by foreign visitors, but boasts an array of stunning natural scenery, including snowy mountains, open deserts, and rocky canyons. Kazakhstan is culturally and ethnically diverse, and as a result, people in Kazakhstan are generally known for being tolerant and respectful. Roughly two-thirds of the population speaks Kazakh, though almost everyone speaks Russian, which is also an official language of Kazakhstan. English is slowly becoming more common as the country works to expand its English-language education. Teachers in Kazakhstan can be placed in many cities across the country. Visit the chic cafes of Almaty, the nation’s largest city, or ex plore the diverse influences in the capital city of Astana. Visitors can travel the famous Silk Road, hike mountains and canyons, and explore vast northern glaciers. Teach Away has a number of new positions in Kazakhstan, both in public and private schools. Teaching jobs in Kazakhstan offer competitive salaries with excellent benefits, including accommodation, health care, and generous vacation time. Interested candidates can learn more about teaching in Kazakhstan and about teaching in Nazarbayev Intellectual Schools, an elite network of publicly funded schools throughout the country.