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Tutoring costs and value

How much does a private tutor cost in the UK?

A parent’s guide to realistic hourly rates, what changes the price, and how to judge value before you commit.

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  • Portrait of Robin GibbonsLead authorFounder & CEO·Latimer Tuition
  • Reviewed byHeather LatimerTutor Matching & Customer Service·Latimer Tuition
  • Published
  • Last reviewed

UK private tutor cost benchmarks by level and subject

Use these figures as a starting point for judging quotes. The Tutorful figures are platform averages from its June 2024 guide; they are not an official UK rate and they do not show every possible premium or specialist fee.

Benchmarks for private tutor hourly rates by level, subject and format.

Level, subject or formatBenchmarkHow to read itSource note

Overall platform average

£37.45 per hour

A useful mainstream benchmark for many parent quotes.

Tutorful platform guide, June 2024.

Primary

£33.01 per hour

Often below later exam stages, unless the tutoring is 11+, specialist or very intensive.

Tutorful platform average.

KS3

£34.47 per hour

Usually a little above primary support and below GCSE or A level benchmarks.

Tutorful platform average.

GCSE

£35.86 per hour

Exam preparation, mock review and specification knowledge can affect the quote.

Tutorful platform average.

A level

£41.88 per hour

Higher subject depth and exam specialism often push rates above GCSE.

Tutorful platform average.

11+

about £41.12 per hour

Selective-school preparation is often a premium primary-age sub-market.

Tutorful platform average; Parentkind/YouGov reporting also suggested about £41.

Maths and English

Maths £36.12; English £37.51 per hour

Quotes still vary by level, exam goal and tutor background.

Tutorful subject averages.

Biology, chemistry and physics

Biology £39.03; chemistry £39.49; physics £43.04 per hour

Specialist science support, especially at A level, can sit above the overall average.

Tutorful subject averages.

Online and face-to-face

Online £37.45; face-to-face £40.54 per hour

In-person quotes may include travel, room costs or local supply and demand.

Tutorful format averages.

SEN/SEND support

£40.63 per hour

Treat this as one platform benchmark, not a fixed price for autism, ADHD, dyslexia or anxiety support.

Tutorful SEN tutor average.

What does tutoring cost over a few weeks?

Hourly rates are easier to understand when you turn them into a short budget. These examples use one-hour lessons and Tutorful platform averages, so they should be read as calculations from published benchmarks, not as Latimer fees.

Illustrative tutoring budgets using one-hour sessions and published platform averages.

ScenarioCalculationExample totalBudget note

10 online one-hour lessons

10 × £37.45

£374.50

A simple online benchmark for short-term support.

10 face-to-face one-hour lessons

10 × £40.54

£405.40

Travel, location and room costs can increase in-person quotes.

12 GCSE one-hour lessons

12 × £35.86

£430.32

Useful for a termly or mock-to-exam support plan.

12 A level one-hour lessons

12 × £41.88

£502.56

Higher-level specialist support can make a termly block more expensive.

What changes a private tutor’s hourly rate?

When two tutors quote different rates, the difference is usually about more than personality. Use this checklist to work out what you are really paying for.

  • Education stage

    Primary and KS3 support often costs less than GCSE, A level or selective-school entrance preparation because the subject depth and exam pressure are different.

  • Subject scarcity

    High-demand or specialist subjects can cost more, especially sciences, further maths, economics or advanced exam preparation.

  • Tutor background

    Qualified teachers, examiners, specialist SEND experience or a long track record may charge more. That can be justified, but price alone does not prove fit.

  • Online or face-to-face

    Online tutoring can reduce travel and local supply limits. Face-to-face support may cost more where travel time, local demand or room costs are built into the rate.

  • Location

    Large cities and areas with high selective-school demand can produce higher quotes because demand and tutor availability are different.

  • Preparation and marking

    A tutor who reviews mocks, marks written work or prepares bespoke materials may need more paid preparation time than a tutor delivering a standard lesson.

  • Urgency and intensity

    A last-minute exam push, multiple weekly sessions or home-education support is a different commitment from one weekly confidence-building lesson.

  • Specialist support

    SEND, autism, anxiety, dyslexia, access-arrangement awareness or complex confidence needs can affect the level of expertise required and the range of prices families see.

Online vs face-to-face tutoring: which is better value?

Tutorful reports a lower platform average for online tuition than face-to-face tuition. The Education Endowment Foundation also says one-to-one studies involving digital technology show broadly similar effects, so online tutoring should not be dismissed automatically. The right choice is the format your child will engage with consistently.

Comparison of online and face-to-face tutoring on cost and value.

FormatCost signalGood value whenWatch for

Online

Tutorful reports £37.45 per hour on average.

The tutor uses shared resources well, your child is comfortable on screen, and the format gives access to better subject fit.

Weak engagement, poor internet setup or lessons that feel like passive video calls.

Face-to-face

Tutorful reports £40.54 per hour on average.

Your child benefits from in-person structure, practical resources or fewer distractions at home.

Travel costs, fewer local specialists, higher local demand and less flexible scheduling.

Is one-to-one tutoring always worth paying more for?

One-to-one support can be powerful, but it is not automatically the best value choice. The Education Endowment Foundation reports that one-to-one tuition can bring “five additional months’ progress on average” when it is well targeted, linked to normal learning and monitored. Its small group tuition evidence reports about four additional months’ progress on average with a lower cost profile.

One-to-one can be highly targeted

It is often easiest to adapt the lesson to one pupil’s gaps, pace, confidence and exam target.

The higher price still needs to earn its keep

A premium hourly rate is poor value if there is no diagnostic starting point, no clear goal and no progress review.

Small group can stretch the budget

A very small group can work well where pupils have similar needs and the lower cost makes regular support sustainable.

Group fit matters

Small-group tutoring becomes weaker value if the group has mixed levels, different goals or one child gets little attention.

How to choose the right level of support for your budget

Start with the educational job the tutor needs to do, then decide the level of support that is proportionate. These options are decision pointers, not packages or fixed prices.

Value-first starting point

Try structured online or very small-group support

Best when the goal is confidence, consolidation or steady curriculum support and your child can engage well online or with peers. Ask how lessons will be targeted and reviewed.

Mainstream one-to-one

Use individual support for a clear gap or goal

Best when your child needs targeted help in a subject, a GCSE or A level plan, mock review or a tutor who can adapt pace and explanations each week.

Premium or specialist support

Reserve higher fees for expertise you can explain

Higher quotes may be reasonable for selective-school preparation, advanced subjects, specialist SEND experience or intensive short-term support, but ask what extra expertise the price buys.

Home-education intensity

Budget differently for ongoing provision

Home-education tutoring may involve more hours, multiple subjects and continuity. It should not be budgeted like one weekly subject lesson.

Discuss tutor fit

How to judge whether a tutor is good value

A good-value tutor is not simply the cheapest tutor. Before committing, look for signs that the tutoring will be targeted, safe and reviewable.

  • Diagnostic start

    The tutor should be able to explain what they will assess first, such as recent work, mock results, confidence, topic gaps or exam technique.

  • Clear goal

    The plan should connect to a real goal: catching up, building confidence, improving written answers, preparing for 11+, GCSE or A level, or supporting home education.

  • Level-specific experience

    A tutor who is strong at GCSE may not automatically be right for A level, 11+ or primary confidence work. Ask about the exact level and exam target.

  • Regular review

    Agree when progress will be reviewed. For example, after four to six lessons, ask what has improved, what still needs work and whether the frequency should change.

  • Sustainable frequency

    A weekly lesson is common, but a short exam burst or home-education arrangement may need a different rhythm. More hours are only worthwhile if they are purposeful.

  • Transparent terms

    Ask about lesson length, payment timing, cancellation, rescheduling, travel, resources, marking and any package commitment before you start.

  • Safeguarding and credentials

    Ask what checks and credentials are relevant to the role, and ask to see evidence where appropriate rather than relying on vague claims.

Safeguarding and credentials: what price does not tell you

A higher price does not prove that a tutor is safer, better qualified or better suited to your child. These checks help separate cost from confidence.

  • Qualified teacher status

    In England, QTS is a formal teaching credential. GOV.UK says it is legally required in many maintained schools and non-maintained special schools, but academies, free schools and private schools can employ teachers without QTS.

  • Teacher-record checks in England

    If a tutor says they have QTS or a teaching record in England, GOV.UK’s check a teacher’s record service can help verify information such as QTS, induction, prohibitions and certain sanctions.

  • DBS evidence in England and Wales

    For direct hiring, GOV.UK advises parents to ask to see the original certificate, check that the details match, check the issue date and look for relevant wording such as “child workforce” where the person is working with a child.

  • Self-employed tutors

    GOV.UK guidance on DBS checks for self-employed people and personal employees, published in January 2026, explains that eligible self-employed people and personal employees can obtain enhanced DBS checks, including an official private maths tutor example. Use the current guidance before relying on old assumptions.

  • Scotland and Northern Ireland

    GOV.UK states that Scotland and Northern Ireland use different processes from the England and Wales DBS check tool. Scotland uses the PVG scheme through Disclosure Scotland for regulated roles.

  • Fit still matters

    Credentials and checks are important, but they do not replace a good match: subject knowledge, communication, reliability, boundaries and progress review all affect value.

Questions to ask before booking

Suggested wording you can adapt

When this applies

You have found a tutor who may be suitable, but you want to understand the likely budget and how the support will work.

Suggested wording

Hello, I am looking for tutoring for my child in [subject/level]. Before we book, could you please confirm your hourly rate, whether the lesson is online or face-to-face, and whether there are any extra costs such as travel, marking, resources or platform fees? I would also like to understand what you would assess in the first lesson, how you would link the tutoring to schoolwork or exam goals, when progress would be reviewed, what your cancellation or rescheduling terms are, and what safeguarding evidence or relevant credentials you can show for this role.

Why this helps

It keeps the conversation practical. You are asking about the total likely cost, the educational plan, progress review and evidence of suitability before regular lessons begin.

Key terms parents may see

These terms often appear in tutoring quotes, profiles and safeguarding conversations.

Hourly rate

The price for one hour of tuition. Your monthly or termly spend also depends on lesson length, frequency, cancellation terms and extras.

Online tutoring

Tuition delivered remotely, usually by video call and shared digital resources. It can be cheaper, but value depends on engagement and structure.

Face-to-face tutoring

In-person tuition at the family home, tutor’s premises or another agreed place. It can cost more because of travel, room costs or local demand.

QTS

Qualified Teacher Status in England. It is a useful credential to understand, but not the only possible sign of tutor suitability.

DBS check

A criminal-record check used in England and Wales. Parents should ask what evidence is relevant to the tutoring role and check original documentation where appropriate.

PVG scheme

Scotland’s Protecting Vulnerable Groups scheme, administered by Disclosure Scotland for regulated roles with children and protected adults.

One-to-one tuition

Tuition for one learner at a time. It can be highly targeted, but the higher price should be justified by fit, structure and review.

Small group tuition

Tuition for a small group. It may be better value where pupils have similar goals and the group is genuinely small.

Sources and how to read the figures

The price figures in this guide come from platform and survey evidence, while the safeguarding, QTS, home-education and childcare points use official guidance. That mix matters: pricing benchmarks help you judge quotes, but they are not a national tariff.

  • Tutorful pricing guide

    Used for platform averages by level, subject and format.

    Open source

  • Parentkind/YouGov survey reported by The Times

    Used for parent survey context and reported average rates.

    Open source

  • Education Endowment Foundation: one-to-one tuition

    Used for evidence on targeted tutoring, digital delivery and progress monitoring.

    Open source

  • Education Endowment Foundation: small group tuition

    Used for the value comparison between one-to-one and small-group support.

    Open source

  • GOV.UK: Qualified Teacher Status

    Used for careful wording on QTS in England.

    Open source

  • GOV.UK: Check a teacher’s record

    Used for teacher-record checks in England.

    Open source

  • GOV.UK: DBS guidance for private individuals

    Used for what parents can ask to see on relevant original DBS evidence.

    Open source

  • GOV.UK: DBS checks for self-employed people and personal employees

    Used for the current self-employed DBS process and private tutor example.

    Open source

  • GOV.UK: Find out which DBS check is right

    Used for the England and Wales scope note and UK-nation caveat.

    Open source

  • GOV.UK home education

    Used for England-specific home-education context.

    Open source

  • GOV.UK Tax-Free Childcare

    Used for the approved-childcare caution.

    Open source

  • mygov.scot PVG scheme

    Used for Scotland-specific safeguarding terminology.

    Open source

Related guidance

More guidance from this section

More guidance from this part of the Ed Centre that may help with the same decision, stage or next step.

Related guidance

Finding the right tutor for your child

A concise directory for parent guides about whether tutoring is the right next step, what to ask before booking, and how to compare safe, suitable support.

Support and clarity

Frequently asked questions

Straight answers to the questions people ask most often.

How much does a private tutor cost per hour in the UK?

A sensible current benchmark is around the high-£30s per hour. Tutorful reports a platform average of £37.45 per hour, and Parentkind/YouGov survey reporting put the average tutoring rate at £37.50. Treat those figures as benchmarks, not an official UK rate, because the price changes by level, subject, location, format and specialist need.

Is online tutoring cheaper than face-to-face tutoring?

It often can be. Tutorful reports average online tuition at £37.45 per hour and face-to-face tuition at £40.54 per hour. Online is not automatically better value, though: choose the format that gives your child stronger engagement, structure and progress review.

How much does a private maths or English tutor cost?

Tutorful reports subject averages of £36.12 per hour for maths and £37.51 per hour for English. These are platform benchmarks. A GCSE English tutor, an A level maths tutor and a primary confidence tutor may all quote differently because the level and goal are different.

How much does 11+ tutoring cost?

Tutorful reports about £41.12 per hour for 11+ tutoring, and Parentkind/YouGov reporting suggested around £41. 11+ support can become more expensive where selective-school demand is high, the tutor has specialist entrance-exam experience, or the family wants intensive preparation.

Does a more expensive tutor mean better value?

No. A higher hourly rate may reflect experience, subject scarcity or specialist support, but value depends on fit and structure. Look for a diagnostic starting point, a clear plan, links to schoolwork or exam goals, regular progress review, transparent terms and relevant safeguarding evidence.

How much does a tutor for a child with SEND or autism cost?

There is no safe single price for SEND or autism-specialist tutoring. Tutorful reports an SEN tutor average of £40.63 per hour, but specialist support can vary widely. Focus on relevant experience, communication style, safeguarding evidence, adaptability and family fit rather than assuming one standard rate.

How much does tutoring for home education cost?

Home-education tutoring is usually a different cost proposition from one weekly subject lesson. Families may need more hours, multiple subjects, planning and continuity. GOV.UK guidance cited here is England-specific, and home-education rules and processes vary across the UK.

Can Tax-Free Childcare be used for private tutoring?

Do not assume ordinary academic tutoring qualifies. GOV.UK describes Tax-Free Childcare as support for approved childcare providers and categories. A tutoring arrangement would need to meet the relevant approved-childcare requirements for the service being paid for.

Should a private tutor be DBS checked or a qualified teacher?

Ask what evidence is relevant to the tutoring role rather than assuming every tutor has the same certificate or qualification. In England, GOV.UK can help verify teacher-record information such as QTS where a tutor claims it. DBS terminology applies to England and Wales, Scotland uses PVG, and Northern Ireland has a separate process, so do not rely on England-and-Wales wording across the whole UK.

Sources and references

Sources and references

Official guidance

Peer-reviewed research

News and analysis

Other sources

  • 1.
    Tutorful pricing guide

    Tutorful · June 2024 · Accessed

    Platform averages for private tutor prices by level, subject and format.