In teaching, Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is typically structured and scheduled — and while this has its benefits, such as ensuring important topics such as safeguarding are covered sufficiently, the training is not always tailored to each teacher’s needs. In tutoring, however, the picture is more complex. Many tutors recognise the value of CPD, yet without a planned pathway or external support, it can fall by the wayside. Busy schedules, the constant need to find and retain students, and the realities of running a tutoring business all compete for attention.
This flexibility can be empowering. Tutors have the freedom to seek out learning that truly fits their practice. But without dedicated time or clear direction, CPD risks becoming inconsistent — or ignored altogether. And when that happens, tutors miss opportunities to refresh their skills, boost their confidence, and ultimately, enhance outcomes for their students.
Prioritising CPD isn’t just good practice — it’s what sets great tutors apart.
Tutors: Often Left to Fend for Themselves
Unlike teachers in schools, tutors typically have no headteacher, no line manager, and no inbuilt timetable for CPD. This freedom can be liberating. Tutors can seek out training that is precisely aligned to their learners and their practice, rather than ticking boxes.
But there’s a flip side.
Tutors juggle many hats: marketer, administrator, accountant — and of course, educator. With so much energy spent finding and retaining clients, it’s all too easy for CPD to slide down the priority list.
And yet, when CPD is neglected, tutors are left without the latest strategies, disconnected from peers, and stuck in routines that may not serve their students as well as they could. Ironically, this makes it harder to secure and retain clients in the long run.
Neglecting CPD is counterproductive. The very pressures that push it aside are the same ones that CPD helps to ease.
What the Research Says
1. CPD improves pupil outcomes.
According to the Education Endowment Foundation, effective CPD can lead to up to two months’ additional progress per year for pupils. (EEF, 2021)
2. Tutors benefit from shared learning.
Over 75% of teachers say CPD is most impactful when delivered in a collaborative setting — the same holds true for tutors. Community matters. (Chartered College of Teaching)
3. Real-world CPD is king.
Practical, immediately applicable training is twice as valuable as theoretical sessions. Tutors need strategies they can use tomorrow. (ScienceDirect, 2023)
4. Off-site CPD offers vital reflection time.
Teachers consistently rate off-site CPD as enjoyable and impactful — it allows time to breathe, reflect and connect. Tutors rarely get this unless they actively seek it. (Teacher Tapp, 2024)
5. CPD fosters belonging and retention.
Collaborative CPD is linked with higher retention rates and stronger outcomes — crucial for independent tutors who can otherwise feel isolated. (Chartered College of Teaching)
The Benefits of the Inset Approach
The ‘Inset’ model brings clear advantages for tutors. Unlike ad hoc or piecemeal learning, inset-style CPD is:
- Planned and Purposeful: It ensures important topics are covered and creates a clear structure for learning.
- Allocated Time: Time is set aside, protecting CPD from being squeezed out by day-to-day demands.
- Practical and Progressive: At its best, inset CPD is not simply academic — it drives tangible progress in tutoring practice.
- Shared and Collaborative: Tutors come together, creating a shared experience that builds community, sparks new ideas, and reinforces professional identity.
Enter Inset for Tutors
This is exactly why Qualified Tutor created the Inset for Tutors programme.
Inset for Tutors is CPD designed with tutors — and tutoring life — in mind:
- Convenient and Flexible: Fits around tutoring schedules, not the other way around.
- Focused on Real Tutoring Challenges: Practical, immediately usable techniques.
- Collaborative and Connected: Build your network and learn from peers.
- Reflective: Step back and focus on improving your craft.
Whether you are new to tutoring or deeply experienced, this programme ensures that professional development is no longer left to chance.
The Bottom Line
Inset-style CPD offers the balance that tutors often need but struggle to find: it is planned yet adaptable, allocated yet flexible, and collective yet personal. By carving out dedicated time and ensuring key themes are explored together, Inset for Tutors turns professional learning from an afterthought into a powerful, shared journey.
Tutors deserve — and need — structured, high-quality CPD as much as anyone in education. In fact, with the pressures and isolation that can come with independent tutoring, they arguably need it more.
Inset for Tutors makes professional development accessible, relevant, and energising. If you are serious about being the best tutor you can be — for your students and for your career — it’s time to prioritise CPD.
Enrol today and invest in your growth and impact.
Inset for Tutors