They have to be ‘inspiring and engaging’, as well as a good musician, a linguist and sporty.
And the ideal candidate should be able to handle a last-minute change of plans with ‘alacrity and grace’.
For anyone who ticks all those prescriptive boxes, the role of a £192,000-a-year tutor to the four ‘very talented’ and ‘convivial’ children of a wealthy British couple might be worth applying for.
The advert for the real-life Maria von Trapp, posted on the website of prestigious firm Tutors International, also states that the successful applicant should be someone raised in a ‘socially appropriate background’.
The tutor would echo the unidentified family in splitting their time between Miami and London, with accommodation and a car all paid for.
The eldest child is a daughter aged 10. She has a younger sister aged four, whilst her brothers are aged eight and six respectively.
‘They are all exceptionally bright, intelligent, and engaged learners who are academically able and motivated self-starters, possessing a genuine love of learning,’ the advert states.
‘They have the imagination and curiosity to create their own projects, sometimes working individually but often pulling together.
‘Their mother described them as “drinking up knowledge” – she has little need to chivvy them into doing home learning tasks as they are so inquisitive and keen to excel.
‘They also enjoy playing chess and demonstrate strong skills in the game. These are truly delightful children.’
Whilst the eldest daughter is ‘broadly able’ in maths and art, she is also a talented musician who plays the guitar and enjoys composing her own songs.
The eldest son is ‘passionate’ about learning Italian on the popular website Duolingo. He also has a ‘wonderful sense of humour’.
The youngest son ‘demonstrates advanced abilities’ and has a personality described as ‘delightful’.
The youngest daughter has not yet started school but she is said to be showing ‘all the same traits’ as her siblings.
‘Together they are a very talented group of siblings, with skills in the arts inherited from their mother, and mathematical brains inherited from their father,’ the advert continues.
The children are also ‘confident, convivial, and caring towards one another’, and ‘echo the example of their parents.
The family will soon be leaving their full-time life in London to live for most of the year in Palm Beach, Florida.
They want a tutor to ensure their three eldest children will ‘remain on a par’ with their peers back in the UK, should the family decide to return to London when the eldest daughter reaches Year 7 – the first year of secondary school.
The tutor would be expected to ‘work on’ the children individually but also sometimes with the eldest two together.
‘The Tutor should be an inspiring and engaging individual, able to explain complex topics simply and in an age-appropriate manner and bringing their own curiosity and enthusiasm for learning to every lesson,’ the advert adds.
A typical day would see the teacher ‘work on academics’ in the morning and then use the afternoons for trips out.
‘These excursions can be an excellent springboard for the children’s lessons, bringing an interactive, practical element to their learning,’ the advert says.
The tutor will also need to be excellent at record keeping, as well as well prepared and organised.
The advert continues: ‘It is unlikely that there will be much travel involved in this role, but a degree of flexibility is always helpful for when family plans change at short notice.
‘The Tutor is expected to be able to respond to any such changes to their timetable with alacrity and grace.’
As for their language skills, the tutor will need to help the family ‘improve their Italian, but French is also useful’.
The tutor will also need to be adept at music theory and be able to play an instrument, in part so they can work on duets with the guitar-playing daughter.
As for the candidate being athletic, the advert adds: ‘The Tutor should be sporty and able to engage the children in various physical activities, incorporating these into their overall learning experience.’
The tutor will be expected to impart their wisdom within a standard 40-hour week, with accommodation in the form of a ‘furnished apartment or AirBnB’ provided.
They will also get a minimum of nine weeks holiday a year.
The posting concludes: ‘The successful candidate will be able to offer more than the minimum requirements of this position and must have been raised in a socially appropriate background.
‘They will not only be excellent practitioners, but also good role models: educated and polished, with excellent manners and personal values.
‘The Tutor must be a fit and healthy non-smoker – active and energetic with a love for the outdoors; the kind of person who always makes the most of their environment to enhance teaching and learning opportunities.’
