Hiring a governess is not like hiring a nanny or a tutor. The process requires more due diligence, a clearer brief, and a better understanding of what you are actually looking for. Get it right and you will transform your child’s education. Get it wrong and you will be starting over in six months.
This guide walks through every step of the process — from defining your brief to making the final offer.
Step 1: Define What You Actually Need
Before speaking to any agency or candidate, you need to be clear on your requirements. Vague briefs produce unsuitable candidates.
Children’s Ages & Numbers
A governess for a 4-year-old looks very different from one for three school-age children. Age shapes curriculum, pace and the skills required.
Live-In or Live-Out
Most quality governesses are live-in, particularly for international placements. Define this early — it affects the candidate pool significantly.
Home Education vs Supplementary
Are you replacing school entirely, supplementing it, or covering periods of travel? Each requires a different approach and qualification set.
Language Requirements
Do you want native-level French, Mandarin, Arabic or Spanish immersion? Bilingual governesses are rarer — define this upfront so the search is targeted.
Travel & Locations
Will the governess accompany the family to multiple residences internationally? This is common in UHNW placements and requires specific flexibility and passport requirements.
Discretion & NDA
UHNW families should specify NDA requirements and media exposure protocols upfront. EED handles this as standard — all candidates sign NDAs before placement.
Step 2: Understand Qualifications
Not all governesses are equally qualified. At EED we require a full teaching qualification as a baseline — but beyond that there is significant variation in quality and specialism.
Required
PGCE, QTS or International Equivalent
A Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) or Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) confirms formal training in pedagogy, curriculum delivery and assessment. For international families, the International Baccalaureate certification or equivalent is acceptable.
Strongly Preferred
Subject Specialism & Degree
A governess with a first-class degree in maths, languages or sciences from a leading university brings genuine academic depth. For older children especially, subject expertise matters significantly.
Premium Qualifier
Bilingual or Multilingual
A native or near-native second language — French, Mandarin, Arabic, Russian — is the single biggest premium factor in the governess market. These candidates are rare and command salaries at the top of the range.
Step 3: Budget Realistically
Governess salaries in London and internationally have risen sharply. Families who try to hire below market rate consistently report poor outcomes — either they cannot attract the right candidates, or the placement breaks down quickly.
Step 4: The Recruitment Process
Whether you work with EED or recruit independently, the process follows the same broad stages:
- Brief and agency registration — Define your requirements formally in writing
- Longlist presentation — Review anonymised CVs and profiles (EED presents 3–5 targeted candidates, not a bulk list)
- First interviews — Video or in-person; assess personality, communication and fit as much as credentials
- Trial lesson or trial day — Essential for any governess placement; observe how she interacts with your children directly
- Reference checks — Speak to previous employers directly; written references are not sufficient for this level of placement
- DBS / background checks — Enhanced DBS for UK placements; equivalent checks for international roles
- Contract and NDA — Use a professionally drafted employment contract; EED can advise
Step 5: The Trial Period
Even the most thorough recruitment process cannot guarantee fit until the governess is in the household. A structured trial period — typically 4–8 weeks — protects both parties.
Set Clear Expectations
Agree specific educational goals, working hours, household protocols and reporting expectations before the trial begins.
Schedule a Review
Build a formal review meeting at the end of the trial period into the contract. Feedback should be mutual — the governess’s perspective matters too.
Involve the Children
Children’s engagement and enthusiasm for learning with the governess is the clearest signal of fit. Trust what you observe in the first two weeks.
EED’s Aftercare
EED stays in contact with both family and candidate throughout the trial and beyond. If something isn’t working, we address it early rather than waiting for a breakdown.
Ready to begin your governess search?
Register as a family with EED and we will advise on the right brief, the right salary and the right candidate profile before we begin the search.
Governess Salary Guide
Current salary benchmarks for governess, rota governess, bilingual governess and nanny governess roles.
What Is a Governess?
Qualifications, responsibilities and how the modern governess role differs from its Victorian origins.