International Academic Quality Standards Agency

Standards in Tuition​

Ethical/Educational Standards in Tuition ‘Clients’ refers to students and/or their parents/legal guardians. I will:
  1. Understand, encourage and enable.
    1. I will take a proactive approach to understanding the strengths and weaknesses of all students.
    2. I will encourage students according to their individuals needs.
    3. I will enable students to help themselves, thus preventing tutor reliance.
  2. Consistently perceive, acknowledge and communicate need.
    1. I will be perceptive to the development of each student and advise/teach accordingly.
    2. I will take a discerning approach towards ascertaining the specific needs of each student.
    3. I will regularly communicate student needs to parents or legal guardians in the interest of managing expectations and establishing professional rapport.
    4. I will avoid providing tuition if there is reliable and consistent evidence that it is not needed.
    5. I will be honest in the feedback I provide to clients.
  3. Refuse to plagiarise.
    1. I will take all necessary measures to avoid committing plagiarism, including (but not restricted to):
      • Allocating sufficient preparation time for tuition sessions,
      • Saving electronic drafts of all independent and personal publication material, at each stage of development, and
      • Refraining from copying existing publications.
    2. I will ensure that all publication materials in my use will reflect my own ideas, knowledge and efforts.
    3. I accept the only exception to standard 3b) is appropriate citation and reference to an existing publication, having obtained permission from copyright owner(s).
  4. Provide constructive criticism and positive feedback.
    1. I will not make disparaging remarks about any student, nor his or her circumstances.
    2. I will refrain from using critical absolutes, such as: ‘You are dumb.’
    3. I will seek to provide solutions to every problem encountered, or suggest more appropriate sources of guidance if I am not in a position to provide it myself.
    4. I will provide balanced, unbiased feedback so as to be a true reflection of a student’s overall capability.
    5. I will provide praise where possible, in order to encourage student self-confidence.
  5. Be dynamic.
    1. I will adapt my communication style according to student needs, as far as reasonably practicable.
    2. I will respond to challenges promptly and in a deserving manner.
    3. I will continuously assess student progress and within my educational remit, make subtle adjustments to teaching approach where necessary and/or appropriate.
  6. Maintain subject knowledge.
    1. I will stay up to date with any and all mandatory professional exams that apply to my circumstances.
    2. I will find opportunities to update myself on subject-specific knowledge, on a continual basis.
    3. I will take a proactive approach towards my continuous professional development.
    4. I will address concerns about any teaching material that I am given to use, should I deem it inappropriate or redundant.
    5. I will acquire basic knowledge (at a minimum and within reason) of the upcoming internal and external assessment(s)/examination(s)/test(s) that apply to each of my students.
    6. I will use the information from standard 6e) to put the tuition into context.
    7. I will always seek to teach academic material that aligns with the current educational curriculum for each student.
  1. Raise concerns.
    1. I will promptly alert the relevant authority if I have any concerns about a student, my role as a tutor or any other matter pertaining to my provision of tuition.
  2. Acknowledge personal limitations.
    1. I will not advance beyond my own subject-specific knowledge when tutoring.
    2. I will only teach what I personally know to be true and factual.
  3. Accept a duty of care and perform reliably.
    1. I will maintain a high standard of punctuality for all tutoring appointments and sessions.
    2. I will adhere by strict timekeeping rules so that clients obtain value for money for each tutoring session.
    3. I will strive to maintain full attendance for all tutoring appointments and sessions to avoid disruption to student progress.
    4. I understand that my role as a tutor involves a duty of care and that I must act responsibly in all matters pertaining to the provision of tuition.
    5. I acknowledge that as a tutor, I am afforded a position of authority and a level of respect that must be consistently earned through my actions.
  4. Maintain accurate and relevant records.
    1. I will document student progress, attendance, payment records and any other relevant details on a regular basis.
    2. I will ensure that all records are an accurate reflection of true events that take place in relation to the tuition provided.
    3. I will not fabricate results or falsify information for my own personal gain, be that financial or otherwise.
    4. I will disregard all information received from clients that is not relevant to the tuition that I provide.
  5. Avoid conflicts of interest.
    1. I will obey regulations pertaining to conflicts of interest for the tuition company that I am currently affiliated with (if applicable.)
    2. I will not collude with other tuition providers at the expense of any of my clients.
    3. I will not operate in a way that undermines the academic or financial position of any of my clients, or compromises my professional obligations to them.
    4. I will decline to provide tuition to any student with whom I am socially acquainted with or related to.
    5. I will cease provision of tuition if I become aware of a previously unknown conflict of interest.
    6. I will refer any queries regarding potential conflicts of interest to the Internatioanl Academic Quality Standards Agency for final judgement.
    7. I will not express my personal beliefs (including political, religious or moral beliefs) to clients in any way that exploits their vulnerability or could cause them distress.
  6. Not discriminate.
    1. I will not discriminate against any existing or prospective clients based on their: age, gender, disability, nationality, sexuality, medical history, religion/belief, or lifestyle choices.
    2. I will regard all clients with impartiality and objectivity.
  7. Maintain confidentiality.
    1. I will keep all client details confidential.
    2. I will store client records/details safely and securely.
    3. I will only use clients’ information for the purpose for which it was given.
    4. I will not release clients’ information without their permission.
  8. Conform to professional boundaries.
    1. I will treat all clients, colleagues and members of the public fairly, with dignity and in line with the law.
    2. I will not make disparaging remarks about anyone that I interact with on a professional level.
    3. I will not publish anything that could affect clients’ and the public’s confidence in me, or the tuition sector, in any public media, unless this is done as a form of raising a concern.
    4. I will not take advantage of my position as a tutor in my relationships with clients.
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