Private tutoring pairs a student with a qualified or experienced teacher for one-to-one or small-group sessions outside school. In the UK, demand has grown steadily throughout the GCSE and A-Level years, with research suggesting targeted tutoring can accelerate progress by several months when it is well-matched to a specific gap and delivered consistently.
What does the research say about private tutoring?
The Education Endowment Foundation (EEF), which reviews educational research for UK schools, identifies one-to-one tuition as a high-impact intervention. Their toolkit reports that one-to-one tutoring produces an average of five additional months' progress for a pupil compared with a control group receiving no extra support — when the tutoring is targeted and the sessions are regular.
The key qualifier is targeted. Generic revision sessions that cover material the student already understands produce little benefit. Tutoring that identifies the specific gap — whether that is algebraic manipulation, essay structure in History, or vocabulary in French — and works systematically on that gap produces the strongest results.
What are the main types of private tutoring?
| Type | Format | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|
| One-to-one in-person | Tutor visits home or pupil visits tutor | Deep subject gaps; younger pupils; those who find online distracting |
| One-to-one online | Video call (Zoom, Google Meet, specialist platforms) | Wider choice of tutor; more flexible scheduling |
| Small group (2–4 pupils) | One tutor, multiple pupils online or in person | Lower cost; works well for exam technique and general revision |
| AI-powered tutoring | Adaptive platform that responds like a tutor (e.g. Socratic models) | Unlimited practice at any time; consistent and patient; suited to independent learners |
Online tutoring has grown significantly since 2020 and now accounts for the majority of sessions in many agencies. Research does not find a consistent quality difference between online and in-person tutoring when both are done well.
How do parents find a private tutor?
The main routes to finding a tutor in the UK are:
- Personal recommendation — by far the most reliable route. Ask teachers, other parents, or the child's school if they know of good local tutors.
- Tutoring agencies — organisations that vet tutors, match them to pupils, and handle payment (Tutorful, Tutors.com, and similar). Agencies typically charge a higher session fee because they take a commission.
- Direct platforms — websites where tutors advertise themselves directly (Superprof, First Tutors). Lower cost than agencies but parents must conduct their own vetting.
- School recommendation — many secondary school teachers tutor privately or can recommend colleagues who do. Former pupils who have excelled in a subject are another resource.
- AI tutoring platforms — growing in quality and breadth, these offer curriculum-aligned tutoring available at any hour, at a fraction of the cost of human tutoring.
When contacting any tutor, ask for their qualifications, recent experience with the relevant exam board and specification, and references or reviews from other families. A DBS (criminal record) check is standard for any tutor working with children.
What happens in a typical tutoring session?
A well-structured tutoring session at GCSE typically follows a pattern:
- Review (5–10 minutes): the tutor checks understanding from the previous session, often using quick questions or a short written task
- Teach and model (15–20 minutes): new content is introduced or a misconception is addressed, with the tutor modelling the approach before handing over to the student
- Guided practice (15–20 minutes): the student attempts problems or tasks with the tutor providing feedback and hints rather than answers
- Independent practice (10 minutes): the student works alone while the tutor observes, which allows the tutor to see genuine gaps
- Set tasks for next session (5 minutes): consolidation work to be done between sessions
The ratio of time the student spends talking and working versus the tutor should be roughly 60:40 or more in the student's favour. A tutor who talks for most of the session is teaching, not tutoring.
How much does private tutoring cost in the UK?
Costs vary significantly by region, subject, and tutor experience. Typical rates in England in 2026:
| Tutor type | Typical hourly rate |
|---|---|
| Sixth-form or undergraduate student | £15–£25/hr |
| Qualified teacher, lower demand area | £30–£50/hr |
| Qualified teacher, London / selective subjects | £60–£100+/hr |
| Specialist exam board or A-Level tutor | £70–£120/hr |
| AI tutoring platform (per month) | £10–£30/month (unlimited sessions) |
Most tutoring sessions run for one hour. Two sessions per week for a student approaching GCSEs is a common commitment for parents seeking sustained improvement. Online AI tutoring is increasingly used for the majority of practice, with a human tutor used for sessions focused on the hardest concepts and exam technique.
When is the right time to start tutoring?
The most effective time to begin depends on the nature of the need:
- Foundation gaps (a child who is behind on a core concept like fractions or algebra): start as early as the gap is identified — ideally in Year 7 or 8 rather than Year 10
- GCSE preparation: beginning in Year 10 (or even late Year 9) gives the tutor time to work through the full specification systematically, not just the last few topics
- Pre-exam intensive: beginning in January of Year 11 is too late to address fundamental gaps but is useful for exam technique, past-paper practice, and targeted topic revision
The most common regret parents report is starting too late — a term before GCSEs, when the scope of what needs to be covered is too wide to address in weekly sessions.
Frequently asked questions
Should I tell the school that my child has a tutor?
It is generally helpful to let the school know, particularly if the tutoring is addressing an identified difficulty. Teachers can tell the tutor which topics are coming up in class, what the school's scheme of work is, and which specific misconceptions the child holds. This coordination between tutor and school produces better results than the two working in parallel without communication.
How do I know if a tutoring arrangement is working?
Improvement should be visible in three ways: the child's confidence when discussing the subject, their performance on school assessments and mock exams, and their ability to explain concepts rather than just reproduce memorised answers. If a tutoring arrangement has been running for six to eight weeks with no visible change in any of these, it may be worth discussing with the tutor whether the focus and approach need to change.
Is one long session per week better than two shorter ones?
Research and practitioner experience both suggest that two shorter sessions (e.g. two 45-minute sessions) outperform a single 90-minute block when the aim is building skill and closing knowledge gaps. Spaced practice — returning to material after an interval — is more effective for retention than massed practice. A single long session is harder to sustain at high concentration levels, particularly for younger pupils.
Can a tutor replace school teaching?
No, and this should not be the aim. Tutoring is a supplement, not a substitute. It is most effective when it works alongside classroom learning — reinforcing, filling gaps, and extending — rather than as a replacement for school. If a child is disengaged from school to the point where they are not attending or engaging in lessons, tutoring alone is unlikely to compensate; the school relationship must also be addressed.
For AI-powered tutoring aligned to the UK national curriculum and GCSE specifications, visit aitutors.me.