Tutoring & Learning
What a PVG check actually means (and why it matters for online tutoring)
2 July 2026
If you've come across "DBS checked" in tutoring or childcare contexts, it's worth knowing that's England's scheme, not Scotland's; Scotland uses the PVG (Protecting Vulnerable Groups) scheme, run through Disclosure Scotland. Functionally similar in purpose, administratively separate.
A PVG check confirms someone isn't barred from working with children or protected adults, and surfaces relevant criminal history; it's the standard safeguarding check for anyone working regularly with young people in Scotland, tutoring included.
For online tutoring specifically, safeguarding checks matter just as much as in-person work, even though there's no physical access to a child; a PVG check is about who someone is and their history, not the format of the session.
Every tutor on Wild Cats is PVG-verified before their profile goes live. Worth asking directly of any tutor you're considering elsewhere, and worth being cautious of anyone who can't confirm it clearly.
General guidance, not professional or legal advice, for anything that matters for your specific situation (exam-board deadlines, your local authority's requirements, ASN entitlements), confirm directly with the relevant official body.