THE FAMILY
A private family based in Chelsea is seeking an exceptional Private Family Tutor & Governor/Governess to take a leading role in the academic education, personal development and character formation of their four children.
The children are attending school in London. They are a close-knit family, and the parents are seeking an experienced, highly educated and emotionally intelligent professional who can provide a consistent and structured educational presence alongside the children's formal schooling.
This is a particularly attractive opportunity for an experienced private educator who enjoys working with several children at different developmental stages and who is confident balancing academic excellence with manners, discipline, emotional development and personal responsibility.
The successful candidate will become a trusted member of the family's wider support structure and will work closely with the parents to ensure that the children receive a consistent and thoughtful approach to both education and behaviour.
The family is seeking someone who is capable of becoming a long-term, trusted presence in the children's lives.
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THE POSITION
The core purpose of the role is to provide high-level academic support while acting as a positive role model, mentor and guide to the children.
The successful candidate will bring structure and consistency to the children's educational routines and will work with each child according to their individual age, personality, learning style and academic needs.
This is not a conventional homework-help position.
The family is seeking an individual who can take a holistic view of education, helping the children to develop not only academically but also socially, emotionally and personally.
The role will combine:
• Private tutoring
• Homework and study supervision
• Academic extension and enrichment
• Educational planning
• Learning-habit development
• Positive behaviour guidance
• Manners and social development
• Emotional intelligence and resilience
• Independence and personal responsibility
• Sibling relationship guidance
• Liaison with parents and, where appropriate, schools and other educators
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KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Academic Education & Tuition
The successful candidate will provide tailored academic support to all four children, adapting the approach according to age and ability.
Responsibilities will include:
• Providing one-to-one and small-group tuition.
• Supporting and reinforcing the children's school curriculum.
• Supervising daily homework and independent study.
• Identifying gaps in understanding and providing targeted support.
• Extending children who are academically strong and challenging them appropriately.
• Developing strong literacy, numeracy and general academic foundations.
• Encouraging reading, intellectual curiosity and a broad interest in the world.
• Supporting the children with school projects, presentations and assignments.
• Helping children develop effective study and revision techniques.
• Encouraging independence rather than creating reliance on adult support.
• Preparing older children for future academic milestones and school transitions where appropriate.
• Creating additional educational opportunities beyond the school curriculum.
• Encouraging critical thinking, curiosity and confidence in learning.
The successful candidate should be capable of assessing the individual needs of each child and developing an appropriate approach rather than applying a single teaching method across all four children.
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2. Individual Child Development
The family recognises that each child has a distinct personality, temperament and learning style.
The successful candidate will therefore be expected to:
• Build a strong, trusting relationship with each child.
• Understand individual strengths and areas for development.
• Adapt communication and teaching styles appropriately.
• Encourage confidence without entitlement.
• Develop independence and self-motivation.
• Help children recognise and take pride in their own progress.
• Encourage perseverance when faced with challenging tasks.
• Help children develop resilience and a positive attitude towards mistakes.
• Support children in becoming increasingly responsible for their own routines and commitments.
The ideal candidate will be naturally observant and able to recognise when a child needs additional encouragement, greater challenge, clearer boundaries or simply a different approach.
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3. Behaviour, Boundaries & Character Development
An important part of the position will be supporting the children in developing positive behaviour and strong personal values.
The successful candidate will work closely with the parents to establish a consistent approach to:
• Respect and courtesy.
• Good manners.
• Listening and communication.
• Following instructions.
• Taking responsibility for actions.
• Understanding appropriate consequences.
• Managing frustration and disappointment.
• Emotional regulation.
• Conflict resolution.
• Respectful sibling relationships.
• Consideration for others.
• Personal responsibility and accountability.
The family is looking for a candidate who can provide calm, consistent and positive authority.
The successful candidate should be comfortable setting boundaries and addressing inappropriate behaviour while maintaining a warm and trusting relationship with the children.
The preferred approach is one based on consistency, emotional intelligence and positive reinforcement, rather than punitive or overly authoritarian discipline.
The candidate should be able to identify patterns of behaviour, communicate observations constructively to the parents and work collaboratively to develop practical strategies where required.
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4. Sibling Dynamics
With four children of different ages, the successful candidate will play an important role in supporting positive sibling relationships.
Responsibilities may include:
• Encouraging cooperation and mutual respect.
• Helping children resolve disagreements constructively.
• Supporting the older children in developing appropriate leadership and responsibility.
• Encouraging the twins to develop individuality and independence.
• Ensuring that each child receives appropriate individual attention.
• Helping children understand fairness and consideration.
• Supporting a positive and harmonious family dynamic.
The candidate should be particularly skilled at balancing the needs of several children without creating unnecessary competition or comparison.
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5. Educational Organisation & Structure
The successful candidate will help create a calm, structured and productive educational environment.
This may include:
• Establishing effective after-school routines.
• Organising homework and study periods.
• Preparing educational materials.
• Planning age-appropriate learning activities.
• Monitoring academic progress.
• Maintaining appropriate records of work and development.
• Preparing regular updates for the parents.
• Helping children organise school materials and responsibilities.
• Coordinating academic commitments alongside extracurricular activities.
• Ensuring that educational routines remain consistent while retaining flexibility.
The successful candidate should be proactive and capable of taking ownership of the educational programme without requiring constant direction from the parents.
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6. Communication with Parents
The successful candidate will establish an open and professional relationship with the parents.
They will be expected to:
• Provide regular feedback on academic progress.
• Communicate relevant behavioural observations.
• Highlight areas of concern at an early stage.
• Celebrate achievements and positive developments.
• Discuss strategies for supporting individual children.
• Maintain consistency between the family's expectations and the candidate's approach.
• Respect the parents' role as the ultimate decision-makers regarding the children.
The ideal candidate will have excellent judgement and know when to take initiative and when to consult the parents.
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7. Liaison with Schools & External Professionals
Where appropriate and with the parents' approval, the successful candidate may liaise with:
• Class teachers.
• School tutors.
• Heads of year or pastoral staff.
• Specialist subject tutors.
• Coaches and extracurricular providers.
• Educational consultants.
• Other household educators and childcare professionals.
The objective will be to ensure that the children receive a coherent and coordinated approach to their education and development.
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ESSENTIAL EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS
Candidates should ideally demonstrate:
• University degree or equivalent higher education.
• Recognised teaching qualification and/or substantial private tutoring experience.
• Extensive experience with children aged approximately 7–12.
• Experience teaching English and Mathematics.
• Experience supporting multiple children of different ages.
• Demonstrable experience in positive behaviour management.
• A Natural Role Model - Someone whose own conduct reflects the manners, respect, resilience, discipline and integrity they seek to instil in the children.
• Excellent written and spoken English.
• Strong knowledge of the UK education system.
• Experience within the independent-school sector would be advantageous.
• Excellent professional references.
• Enhanced DBS or willingness to obtain one.
• Right to work in the UK.
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DESIRABLE ADDITIONAL SKILLS
The following would be advantageous:
• Experience preparing children for 7+, 8+, 11+ or independent-school entrance examinations.
• Experience working with academically ambitious families.
• Knowledge of London independent schools.
• Experience with children preparing for Common Entrance or equivalent examinations.
• Educational psychology or child-development experience.
• Experience supporting children with different learning needs.
• Additional language skills.
• Experience coordinating with schools and external tutors.
• Experience working alongside nannies and other private household staff.
• Flexibility to travel with the family during school holidays, if required.
