College Lecturer Photography jobs

Hours: 3 hours per week
Schedule: Weekday sessions – times to be agreed
Start Date: September 2026 / ASAP
Delivery: 1:1 online tuition
Subject: GCSE Photography
Goal: GCSE Photography studies
Needs: SEMH, anxiety, emotional dysregulation & barriers to accessing education
Tutor: Experienced GCSE Photography tutor preferred

The Role

Study Mind is seeking a confident, engaging and patient GCSE Photography Tutor to provide 1:1 online support to a young person working towards GCSE Photography.

The student has Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs and experiences anxiety and emotional overwhelm, particularly in environments involving increased social interaction, distractions or classroom-based learning.

They engage positively with online and independent learning and benefit from a calm, structured and low-pressure approach.

This is a Photography-specific placement for approximately 3 hours per week, delivered fully online.

GCSE Photography Focus

The tutor will support the student with:

• GCSE Photography
• Developing photographic techniques and skills
• Understanding composition, lighting, colour and visual communication
• Exploring different photographic styles and approaches
• Developing creative ideas and concepts
• Researching and responding to photographers and artists
• Annotation and written analysis
• Developing a personal photography portfolio
• Supporting coursework and portfolio development
• Preparing work to GCSE standard
• Developing confidence and independence with creative projects

The student is capable of engaging well when interested in a subject and benefits from learning that is creative, purposeful and connected to their interests.

The tutor should be able to maintain structure while allowing appropriate flexibility around the student's engagement and emotional regulation.

SEMH, Anxiety & Engagement

The successful tutor will need to understand that anxiety and emotional regulation can affect engagement.

The student can:

• Become highly focused on topics that interest them
• Develop strong opinions and find it difficult to move on from a particular subject
• Lose interest when working on topics they do not find engaging
• Find adult expectations, structure and instructions challenging
• Become overwhelmed by social interaction
• Experience increased anxiety in busy or distracting environments
• Find group work and interaction with peers challenging

For this reason, we need somebody who is:

• Calm, patient and consistent
• Experienced supporting students with SEMH and anxiety
• Confident building a positive 1:1 relationship
• Able to provide clear structure without creating unnecessary pressure
• Flexible when engagement fluctuates
• Able to redirect the student sensitively when they become fixated on a particular topic
• Encouraging of independence
• Confident delivering engaging online lessons

The right tutor will understand that the student's difficulties with engagement are linked to anxiety and emotional regulation rather than a lack of academic potential.

Communication Approach

The student has social communication differences which can affect how they interact with others.

They communicate particularly well when discussing topics that interest them but can find it difficult to recognise social cues and may sometimes communicate in an abrupt or direct manner.

The tutor should therefore be comfortable:

• Giving clear and direct instructions
• Allowing appropriate processing time
• Using predictable lesson structures
• Keeping sessions focused and purposeful
• Redirecting conversations when they move away from the learning objective
• Encouraging communication without putting unnecessary pressure on the student
• Recognising signs of anxiety or overwhelm
• Providing clear encouragement and constructive feedback

The objective is to create a positive and trusting tutoring relationship where the student feels comfortable engaging with Photography and gradually develops greater independence.

Interests & Strengths

The student has a number of interests that can help with engagement and rapport, including:

• Technology and computers
• Fixing laptops
• Creative and independent activities
• Developing their future education and career interests

They engage positively with online learning and are particularly suited to an environment where they can work independently with minimal distractions.

Where appropriate, the tutor should look for opportunities to connect Photography projects to the student's interests to make learning more engaging and meaningful.

The Ideal Tutor

We are looking for someone who:

• Can confidently teach GCSE Photography
• Has strong knowledge of the GCSE Photography curriculum
• Has experience supporting students with SEMH and anxiety
• Understands emotional regulation and barriers to education
• Is patient, calm and adaptable
• Can build rapport with a student who may become anxious or disengaged
• Is confident delivering 1:1 online tuition
• Can provide appropriate structure while allowing creative freedom
• Can redirect and refocus the student sensitively
• Can encourage independence and confidence
• Is able to adapt lessons to the student's interests and individual learning style
• Can support the development of GCSE-standard photographic work and a suitable portfolio

Personality fit will be extremely important. We are particularly interested in a tutor who is warm, approachable and creative, while also being confident enough to provide structure and maintain the focus of the session.

Longer-Term Goal

The aim of tuition is to help the student successfully engage with GCSE Photography while developing confidence, independence and creative skills.

Tuition should help them:

• Build confidence in their academic abilities
• Develop a positive relationship with a consistent tutor
• Increase confidence with structured learning
• Develop their photographic and creative skills
• Work towards GCSE-level standards
• Develop independence with creative projects
• Build confidence in communicating their ideas
• Develop a portfolio of suitable photographic work

Hours & Location

3 hours per week

Sessions will be delivered online, with exact days and times to be agreed.

This is afully remote 1:1 placement.

The student benefits from online learning and a quieter environment with reduced peer interaction and distractions.

This placement would suit a creative, patient and confident GCSE Photography specialist who understands that anxiety and SEMH needs can create barriers to learning but do not define a student's academic potential.

For the right tutor, this is an opportunity to provide consistent, personalised support and help a young person develop their confidence and skills in Photography through a successful online learning environment.

Company Overview

At Study Mind, we believe that every child deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential, regardless of their circumstances. We specialise in providing high-quality, 1:1 tuition for students with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) who require personalised academic support outside mainstream education. Through our tailored approach, we help students build confidence, engage with learning, and achieve academic success.

Pay: £25.00-£30.00 per hour

Work Location: Remote