Tutor Jobs for Graduates Without QTS: How to Get Started

If you’ve graduated, you’re interested in education, and every role you see seems to ask for QTS, it’s easy to feel stuck. Many graduates reach this point and start to wonder whether they’ve missed a step or chosen the wrong route.

The good news? You haven’t.

In fact, tutor jobs have become one of the most straightforward and flexible ways for graduates to get started in education, and you don’t need formal teaching qualifications to do it. Schools actively look for graduates who can support pupils in a more focused, one-to-one way. As a result, tutoring has grown into a respected and established route into education.

Importantly, tutoring isn’t about sitting at a kitchen table helping with homework for an hour. Today’s tutoring roles often take place in schools. They focus on real learning outcomes and give you hands-on experience supporting pupils who genuinely need extra help. So, if you’re trying to work out how to start a career in education without QTS, you’re not behind. You’re simply looking in the right place.

You Don’t Need QTS to Work in Education (Seriously)

For a long time, there’s been a myth that teacher training is the only way into education. Schools rely on a whole ecosystem of professionals and tutor jobs sit right at the centre of it.

Across the UK, schools face growing pressure to close learning gaps, support pupils with additional needs, and deliver targeted academic support. At the same time, classroom teachers are already stretched. Because of this, schools increasingly turn to tutors for extra support.

That’s where graduates come in. For graduates, this creates a huge opportunity. Schools want people who are confident, reliable, and able to build strong connections with young people in one-to-one or small group settings. They don’t expect you to arrive as a fully formed teacher. Instead, they look for potential, adaptability, and the right attitude.

Why Tutor Jobs Are Growing So Fast

Tutor jobs aren’t a temporary trend. They’ve become one of the fastest-growing areas in UK education.

Since the pandemic, demand for tutors has risen sharply. Catch-up funding, greater awareness of SEND and SEMH needs, and a stronger focus on personalised learning have all played a role. As a result, the UK tutoring sector is now worth hundreds of millions of pounds. More schools now outsource targeted support rather than relying solely on classroom teaching.

For graduates, this matters. Tutor jobs aren’t just widely available; schools actively need them. They want people who can step in quickly, adapt fast, and support pupils in a way that feels personal rather than institutional.

Do You Need a Specific Degree for Tutor Jobs?

Short answer: no.

Long answer: schools care far more about how you communicate than what your degree certificate says. They want graduates who can explain ideas clearly, stay calm under pressure, and build trust with pupils.

That said, graduates from subjects such as English, Maths, Psychology, Geography, History, and the Sciences are always in demand. However, many successful tutors also come from Sociology, Sports Science, Languages, and even creative subjects. If you can break things down clearly and show genuine interest in helping young people progress, tutor jobs are very much open to you.

Tutor Jobs vs Teaching Assistant Roles: Which Is Better?

This is a question graduates ask all the time. The honest answer is simple, neither role is “better”. Instead, they offer different experiences. Tutor jobs usually give you more autonomy. You often work with fewer pupils at a time and focus on specific learning outcomes. Because of this, many graduates see progress quickly. This can build confidence fast and help you develop your own teaching style without the pressure of managing a full classroom.

Teaching assistant roles, on the other hand, offer broader classroom exposure. They’re ideal for understanding how schools work day-to-day and for gaining experience across different lessons and year groups. In practice, many graduates do both. Some start in tutor jobs and later move into teaching assistant roles. Others do the reverse. Both routes offer valuable experience and can lead to long-term careers in education.

The Value of Tutors for Future Teachers

If you’re even slightly considering teacher training one day, tutor jobs are one of the best ways to prepare. Tutoring helps you work out whether you genuinely enjoy working with young people. That might sound obvious, but it matters more than most people realise. It also gives you hands-on experience with behaviour management, safeguarding, SEND awareness, and adapting learning in real time.

These are exactly the skills teacher training providers look for. However, they’re hard to evidence without school-based experience. Tutor jobs give you that experience early on. Many graduates also gain clarity through tutoring. Some realise teaching is the right path. Others discover they love education but prefer support-focused roles. Either way, tutor jobs move you forward rather than locking you into one route.

Some FAQs…

How Much Do Tutor Jobs Pay?

Entry-level tutor jobs in the UK usually pay between £15 and £25 per hour. Higher rates are often available for SEN support or more specialised subjects. Some school-based tutor jobs also offer day rates, which can compare well with other graduate roles. For many graduates, this is a big advantage. Tutor jobs offer meaningful work that pays fairly, without tying you to a rigid 9-5 structure.

What Do Schools Really Want from Tutors? 

Schools aren’t expecting perfection, instead, they want graduates who are reliable, communicate clearly, and stay calm when things don’t go to plan. Most importantly, they want people who genuinely care about helping pupils improve. Confidence develops with time. At the start, attitude matters far more. If you can show empathy, consistency, and a willingness to learn, you’re already a strong candidate for tutor jobs.

Are Tutor Jobs a Fallback? 

For graduates who want to work in education without QTS, tutor jobs aren’t a second-best option. They’re a practical, respected, and increasingly important part of the education system. They help you build confidence, gain real experience, and decide what you want your future in education to look like. Most importantly, they allow you to make a genuine difference to pupils’ lives along the way.