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Useful experience for private teachers/tutors includes:

• teaching or coaching adults or school students
• work with children, such as youth leader work.

Useful experience for private teachers/tutors in the arts also includes:

• playing, performing and composing – for music tutors
• working in theatre, film and radio – for drama tutors
• working as an artist – for art tutors
• performing on stage – for dance tutors.

Private teachers/tutors may do some or all of the following:

• plan lessons according to students' ability
• teach students the subject knowledge and skills they need
• assess and mark student work
• keep up to date with education curriculum changes and assessment methods
• keep up to date with technology, such as apps that enhance teaching 
• prepare students for exams or assessments
• organise student performances or exhibitions
• keep records and write reports on students
• meet with parents, whānau/family or caregivers to discuss students' progress.

Good opportunities for private teachers/tutors who teach academic subjects

The private teaching industry has grown, especially in the area of after-school tuition.

Vacancies arise fairly frequently for private teachers/tutors who teach academic subjects such as maths and English, because:

• more parents are paying for private teachers/tutors to help their children with these subjects
• private teachers/tutors often combine this work with university study, and move into other jobs once they get their degree.

If you have good subject knowledge and teaching or tutoring experience, and can communicate well with children, you have a good chance of getting a job.

Fewer opportunities for private teachers/tutors who teach the arts

Private teachers/tutors who teach the arts make up about three-quarters of the workforce. Although there are opportunities for teaching art, music, dance and drama, many people combine this work with another source of income.

Opportunities for qualified music teachers, especially those teaching piano, are better.

Private teachers/tutors who teach the arts can increase their chances of getting students by:

• specialising in a particular area of their subject
• marketing themselves well, which may include being involved in community events.

According to the Census, 5,169 private teachers/tutors worked in New Zealand in 2018.

Types of employers varied

Private teachers/tutors can be:

• employed by tutoring franchises or private tutoring businesses
• self-employed itinerant teachers, such as part-time music tutors who teach a particular instrument to small groups or individuals
• self-employed tutors working from home or private studios.

Institute of Registered Music Teachers of NZ (IRMTNZ)

(04) 479 2722 - www.irmt.org.nz

TeachNZ

0800 165 225 - TeachNZ.admin@minedu.govt.nz - www.teachnz.govt.nz/

Private teachers/tutors may progress to a management position, or run their own business.

Private teachers/tutors may specialise in a particular subject including:

• the arts, such as art, dance, drama or music
• academic subjects, such as maths or English
• a language, such as te reo Māori or French.

Private teachers/tutors need:

• good communication skills and the ability to relate well to students from a range of backgrounds
• good organisational and time management skills
• to be understanding, patient and tolerant
• to be supportive and positive
• to be enthusiastic and open-minded
• to be good at networking with other teachers.