Working in Alternative Provisions – Rehannah’s Story  

I began working in an AP (Alternative Provision) in May 2023, having previously tutored only private students. 

I was warned that my first student was ‘a bit of a handful,’ having had several tutors before me, but with that in mind, I went into the tutorial with the intention of getting to know him and not making any pre-judgements. The student was very defensive and had obviously decided that we weren’t going to get on before he arrived. 

I explained who I was and told him about my background working in TV, and that I didn’t do very well at school, which interested him. I also told him that the reasons that had brought him to AP were not of concern to me – although, he could tell me if he wanted. 

After this point he opened up and we got on relatively well for the three months that we were in the tutorials together. 

A year and a half down the track, I’ve learned a lot about how to deal with different personality types, and how to get the kids onside. There are a lot of challenges to deal with, such as bad behaviour, foul language and general bad manners – I’ve had to break up a fight between my student and another student in the library, and deal with a child tearing up his house around me – where the police were brought in. 

Often the students don’t turn up, and you are left sitting alone in the library all day, and you’re never sure what mood they are going to turn up in on the day, but the good thing about being an AP tutor is that we have the time to invest in them ,and to spend a couple of hours allowing them to offload all of their life worries. It’s not unusual for us to go out for a walk and a cup of tea for a few hours if that’s what’s needed. That ‘time’ is something that isn’t available for them in mainstream school. 

But for all the challenges, the job is mostly rewarding. Seeing a student slowly build confidence over the year and begin to understand subjects that they never dreamed that they would understand, is lovely to witness. The job is as much about building confidence in the student and socialising them, as getting them through their GCSEs. 

I think that as long as you’re willing to stay calm and centred when a student’s emotions are heightened, and not try to discipline them too strictly, you can get a lot further in helping that child. 

It’s not a job for everyone, and it certainly takes a willingness to adapt your teaching style to each individual student, however, I’ve ended up having really a really positive and fun tutor/student relationship with most of my students and the job feel easier now that I know what to expect.