How much does a tutor cost? A guide for parents 2024.

Introduction

Many factors affect the tutoring rates per hour in the UK, but according to our research into some of the UK's most popular tuition agencies, the average cost of a tutor is £39 per hour for face-to-face tuition and £31 per hour for online tuition.

My name is Jim. I have been a teacher for over 25 years and a private tutor for ten years. I also helped home-school my son for his GCSEs and now run a successful tuition agency.

Read this article to find out about:

1. Types of Tuition available.
2. Factors influencing tuition costs.
3. Tutoring rates per hour UK.
4. Choosing the right tutor for you and managing the cost.

Types of Tuition

Face-to-face tuition

The "traditional" form of tuition involves the tutor and student meeting in person, often at the student's home, a library, a cafe, or a designated tuition centre.

Pros: Personal interaction; immediate feedback; more flexibility with teaching methods possible; practical (as well as online) activities possible; students less likely to lose focus; works better than online for younger (especially primary) students.

Cons: £5 to £10ph more expensive than online, tutor choice is restricted to those available locally and tutors may want to add on travel expenses.

Costs: From £20ph (undergraduates/students) to £200ph (so-called "super-tutors").

Online tuition

Allows the tutor to interact with a student virtually. Use has accelerated since the COVID-19 pandemic and with the widespread availability of social media platforms and video websites such as Zoom, Teams, Google Classroom, etc.

Pros: Students can access many more tutors from all around the country or the world; it is cheaper than in-person tuition (with the same teacher); lessons can be recorded for future reference; documents can be easily shared; and digital learning platforms can be utilised.

Cons: Personal interaction much more limited, practical demonstrations and activities more difficult and easier for the student to lose focus.

Costs: From £15ph to £190ph.

Small group tuition

A tutor working with a small group of students simultaneously, typically two to four students, either in person or online.

Pros: Costs are shared amongst the group so they can be half or a third of individual tuition costs; benefits of the one-on-one approach, but with group dynamics and shared learning and a less intense experience for a shy learner.

Cons: Students need to have similar ability levels and need help with the same topics. Progress may be slower than one-to-one tuition.

Costs: from £10ph to £70ph.

Factors influencing how much a tutor costs

The tutor

As already mentioned, what tutors charge varies enormously and several factors affect this.

A qualified teacher with a PGCE or a Doctor with a PhD will charge you more than an undergraduate student.

20 years of teaching experience and curriculum knowledge, or real-world experience in science, engineering, writing literature, etc., will mean you pay more for tuition than you will for a student with recent experience of sitting A-Levels.

While many undergraduates may be able to help out with GCSE science and maths, for example, they will probably not be able to assist with A level, teach a primary student how to write, or know how to help a student with dyslexia.

If a tutor is in a subject-teacher shortage area, either locally or nationally, they will be able to charge you more as there will be more limited availability.

The Tuition

The following may increase how much a tutor costs:

• Specific Purpose: 11+, GCSE, A-Level close to the exams when demand increases.
• Subject complexity: may need specialist tuition, e.g. SEN, Further Maths.
• Level: Higher level, e.g. A-Level.
• Agency fees - either by a registration fee, adding to the hourly rate, or both.
• Location - tuition fees in and around London are higher than elsewhere.
• Residential tutors, e.g. for students travelling overseas, will not be cheap.
• In-person tuition will cost more than online tuition.
• Cancellation fees: cancelling a lesson or missing an agreed notice period.
• Resources: additional resources such as practice books for 11+ or online revision downloads.
• Travel Costs: if the tutor travels to you.

The following may decrease how much a tutor costs:

• Online: no travel costs, a wider pool of tutors to choose from.
• Group tuition: share the costs.
• Free trial lesson: some tutors may offer this or a shortened taster session.
• Tuition Centres: They can be cheaper but maybe computer-based, not tutor-based.
• Funding: An EHCP may allow funding from a Local Authority.
• Lesson Frequency: longer or more frequent lessons may reduce the cost.
• Block bookings: may result in a discount.
• Upfront payments may result in a discount.

Tutoring rates per hour UK

Cost of a tutor from popular Tuition Agencies

Explore Learning: £100 to £150 per month English, Maths, Primary, SATs and 11+

First Tutors: £20 to £40ph plus a one-off fee of £10 to £35. They cover a wide range of subjects and levels and are available to undergraduates, professionals, and teachers.

Fleet Tutors: Expect £30 to £50. Primary to University. Undergraduates, professionals and teachers.

My Tutor: £22 to £52ph. Online only. Mostly GCSE. All tutors are current or recent university students.

Superprof: £15 to £40ph. Leisure interests and academics. Usually, students or undergraduates.

Teachers To Your Home: £30 to £60 Primary to Adult. Face-to-face or online. Qualified teachers only.

Tutorful: £13 to £35ph. local and online tutors. Mostly university students.

TutorHunt: £20 to £40. Online only. Mostly Students and graduates with some qualified teachers.

Cost of a Private Tutor

These may act purely as individuals or may also be signed up to agencies. They will often advertise on Social media such as TikTok or Facebook or in local directories such as Yell or Gumtree.

Undergraduate Students: typically £10 to £30 per hour. They will not have teaching experience, but they are cheap and may relate to the school student.

Specialised professionals: £30 to £80 per hour. For example, scientists, engineers, industry experts, or tutors specialising in School Entrance Exams. They may have no teaching experience but have real-world insight.

Qualified Teachers: £30 to £100 per hour. Bring training, appropriate qualifications and classroom expertise to tuition.

Choosing the right tutor for you and managing the cost

• Meet the tutor first, whether in person or virtually.
  
• Establish their qualifications and experience; read their reviews.
• Define your educational goals and specific subject needs
• Can they teach your subject/specification/modules?
• Do they live close enough for in-person tuition to be viable?
• Which online platform will be used if online is preferred or more viable?
• What extra materials will be required?
• Agree on the costs and frequency of lessons.
• Arrange a trial lesson if the tutor offers this.
• Agree on a minimum cancellation notice period.
• Most important of all - are they the right fit for you?

Investing in your child's education

The cost of a tutor is affected by many factors, including tutor qualifications and experience, subject, subject level and location. The average cost of a tutor is £39 per hour for face-to-face tuition and £31 per hour for online tuition.

For more information, please see How to find a tutor. A guide for parents 2024.