Head of department tutoring turns years of leadership into some of the most credible tutoring a family can book. As an HoD, you’ve planned the curriculum, moderated coursework, analysed results and mentored other teachers. You know not just the subject, but how students at every level move through it. This guide is for heads of department, heads of subject and senior teachers, particularly in international schools, considering online tutoring. It covers what families value, how to present leadership experience, the contract questions to check, and how to apply to Tutopiya.

Key takeaways

• Heads of department are priority applicants on Tutopiya, alongside examiners and international-school staff.
• Families value HoDs for syllabus depth, experience across ability levels and results insight.
• Check your contract on tutoring, especially of your own school’s students.
• Choose the “International school teacher” tag on your profile and describe your leadership role specifically.
• You keep 100% of your hourly rate. Tutopiya’s commission is added on top.

Why families value heads of department

A head of department has done things most tutors haven’t:

• Planned the whole course, so they know which topics build on which.
• Tracked results across classes and years, so they know where students commonly fail.
• Moderated and standardised marking, so they mark close to the board’s standard.
• Taught every ability level, from students needing support to those aiming for A*s or 7s.

Tutopiya’s Become a Tutor page lists international school staff, heads of department and board examiners among its priority applicants. Browse subjects on the Cambridge International A Level tutor jobs hub and the IB DP tutor jobs hub.

HoD vs classroom teacher vs tutor: what transfers

HoD skill	How it helps in tutoring
Curriculum planning	Building a term-by-term plan for each student
Results analysis	Diagnosing weak topics quickly in a trial
Moderation	Marking close to board standard and explaining it
Mentoring teachers	Explaining clearly and adapting to the learner
Parent communication	Clear, professional updates to families

What to check before you start

1. Your contract. Many schools restrict private tutoring, especially of their own students.
2. Conflicts of interest. Avoid tutoring students whose work you moderate or assess.
3. Confidentiality. Never use school-internal materials, assessments or data.
4. Time. Leadership roles are demanding. Start with a few weekly slots.
5. Your visa or work status, if you work abroad. Some countries have rules on additional work, so check locally.

How to present leadership experience on your profile

Weak	Strong
”Head of Science"	"Head of Science at a British international school in Dubai, 5 years; Cambridge IGCSE and A Level Chemistry"
"Experienced teacher"	"15 years teaching IB Maths; HoD for 6, leading IA moderation"
"Good results"	"Department IGCSE results improved over my time as HoD”, only if true and shareable

Name the curriculum and board first, then the role. Parents scan for their child’s exam.

How to start tutoring as an HoD: step by step

1. Check your contract and confirm any restrictions.
2. Choose one or two subjects and levels where your leadership experience is deepest.
3. Gather proof: degree, teaching qualification, and a reference or record of your role if you can.
4. Create your Tutopiya profile. It takes about 15 minutes over 10 stages. Choose the “International school teacher” tag and describe your leadership.
5. Choose a plan: SGD 10/month, SGD 20 for 3 months or SGD 90/year.
6. Open a few peak slots. Evenings and weekends suit most school leaders.
7. Run diagnostic trials and share a short plan with each family.

Using results analysis in tutoring

As an HoD you’ve analysed results by topic, question and student group. Use the same approach one student at a time:

1. Collect evidence: the student’s latest mock paper and marks by question.
2. Group the lost marks by topic and by skill, such as recall, application or exam technique.
3. Prioritise: the topics worth most marks that the student is closest to securing.
4. Plan four to six lessons around those priorities, and share the plan with the family.
5. Re-test with a fresh past paper and compare.

Families recognise this kind of structured approach immediately. It’s what separates an HoD’s tutoring from ad-hoc homework help.

How tutoring with Tutopiya works

Tutopiya is a 1-on-1 online tutoring platform for Cambridge IGCSE, Edexcel IGCSE, IB and International A Level students. You set your starting hourly rate when you create your profile and keep all of it, because Tutopiya’s 40–50% commission is added on top and paid by the student. Later rate changes are requested through Tutopiya, which approves them at its discretion. You add free slots, Tutopiya converts time zones and matches students to you, and you’re paid on the 15th of each month for the previous month’s lessons. Trial lessons last an hour and are unpaid. Every plan includes Microsoft Teams, past papers, learning resources, AI tools and free teacher training. If you need time off, you can set your profile to “On a Break” whenever you have no classes booked. Full details are on the Tutopiya Become a Tutor page.

Common mistakes HoDs make when they start tutoring

• Over-committing. Start small alongside a leadership role.
• Generic profiles. Name the school type, board and subject.
• Classroom-style trials. Diagnose one student, not a class.
• Using school materials. Use published papers and Tutopiya’s resources.
• Ignoring contract terms. Check before tutoring anyone connected to your school.

Talk to us

If you’ve also examined, read from exam board examiner to online tutor. Thinking of leaving school altogether? See should you leave teaching to tutor online full-time?. Questions? Contact the Tutopiya team.

Frequently asked questions

Is online tutoring a good fit for heads of department? +

Often, yes. HoDs bring deep syllabus knowledge, experience across ability levels, and insight from tracking results and moderating work. Online tutoring lets you use that expertise flexibly, alongside a leadership role, during a career break, or after leaving school.

How should I describe my head of department role on a tutor profile? +

Name the school type and curriculum, the department, your years in the role, and what it involved, such as curriculum planning, moderation and results. On Tutopiya, choose the 'International school teacher' tag, which asks about leadership roles such as HoD.

Can I tutor students from my own school? +

Check your contract and school policy. Many schools prohibit or restrict staff tutoring their own students privately, because of conflicts of interest. Tutoring students elsewhere is usually more straightforward, but confirm your obligations first.

Ready to Become a Tutor?

Teach IGCSE, IB, and A-Level students worldwide from home. Tutopiya connects specialist tutors with families around the world — keep 100% of your hourly rate, use AI-powered resources, and apply in minutes.

Become a Tutor