Should I switch tutors if it's not working?

Switching tutors is a reasonable decision when there's a genuine, persistent mismatch, but it's worth distinguishing between normal early-stage friction (which often resolves) and a fundamental mismatch (which usually doesn't) before deciding.

Signs that suggest persisting a little longer is worthwhile:

• It's still very early (fewer than 4–5 sessions), since a genuine working rhythm and rapport often takes a few sessions to properly establish
• Your child's discomfort seems to be more about the subject itself, or being challenged appropriately, than the tutor specifically
• Progress on specific, targeted areas is measurable, even if your child isn't expressing much enthusiasm about the sessions themselves

Signs that suggest switching is the right call:

• Your child is consistently and specifically dreading sessions in a way that goes beyond normal reluctance to do schoolwork generally
• The tutor doesn't seem to know your child's specific exam board or level well, despite this being clarified upfront
• Communication from the tutor is inconsistent or unclear about what's actually being covered and why
• After a genuine, sustained period (8+ sessions), there's no discernible change in confidence, engagement or measurable performance

How to make the switch reasonably: give the current tutor clear, direct feedback rather than simply disappearing, both as a courtesy and because it sometimes surfaces a fixable issue you hadn't considered. If switching, be specific with the new tutor about what didn't work previously, so they can adjust their approach from the start. On TutorLab, you can browse and contact a different tutor directly at any point.