Private Tutor Costs UK
Private tutors in the UK charge £25-60 per hour for GCSE and A-Level tuition, with specialist tutors and locations commanding higher rates up to £80-150/hour. Understanding tutoring costs, effectiveness, and when to invest helps parents support children's education within budget. Primary school tutoring costs £20-40/hour, secondary £30-60/hour, and university level £40-80/hour. Weekly hour-long sessions cost £100-240/month or £1,200-2,880/year per subject. Let's explore UK tutoring costs for 2025.
Tutoring options include one-to-one home visits (most expensive but personalized), online tutoring (cheaper with similar effectiveness), small group tutoring (2-4 students sharing costs), and tutoring centers offering structured programs. Subject complexity, qualification level, and tutor experience significantly affect pricing.
How Much Do Tutors Cost?
Primary School (KS1-KS2): £20 to £40 per hour. Basic literacy/numeracy £20-30/hour, 11+ exam preparation £35-50/hour. London £30-50/hour, regions £20-35/hour.
Secondary School GCSE: £30 to £55 per hour. Core subjects (Maths, English, Science) £30-45/hour. Specialist subjects or experienced tutors £40-60/hour. London £40-60/hour, regions £28-45/hour.
A-Level Tutoring: £35 to £70 per hour. Standard subjects £35-50/hour, STEM subjects (Maths, Physics, Chemistry) £45-70/hour due to tutor scarcity. Oxbridge preparation £60-100/hour.
University Level: £40 to £100 per hour. Undergraduate tutoring £40-65/hour, postgraduate/professional exams £60-100/hour. Specialist subjects (law, medicine, engineering) command premiums.
Online Tutoring: £15 to £45 per hour. Typically 20-30% cheaper than in-person. GCSE online £22-40/hour versus in-person £30-55/hour. Same quality, more flexible scheduling.
Small Group Tutoring (2-4 Students): £12 to £30 per student per hour. Tutors charge £40-80/hour total split between students. £60/hour tutor with 3 students = £20 each. Good for motivated peer groups.
Tutoring Centers: £80 to £200 per month for weekly sessions. Kumon, Explore Learning offer structured programs. Includes materials and progress tracking. £120/month average versus £160-240/month for private hourly tutoring.
Factors Affecting Tutor Costs
🎓 Tutor Qualifications
Undergraduate student tutors charge £20-35/hour. Qualified teachers £35-55/hour. Oxbridge graduates or subject specialists £50-80/hour. Former examiners £60-100/hour offering insights into marking schemes.
📚 Subject Complexity
Languages, English, History £25-45/hour (more tutors available). Maths, Sciences, Further Maths £35-70/hour (tutor scarcity). Very specialist subjects (Economics, Politics) £40-65/hour.
📍 Location
London tutors charge £40-80/hour for GCSE/A-Level. South East £35-60/hour. Midlands/North £25-45/hour. Online tutoring eliminates location premium - access London-quality tutor at £30-50/hour from anywhere.
⏰ Session Frequency
Once-weekly regular students sometimes negotiate £5-10/hour discount versus ad-hoc sessions. Booking 10-20 session blocks upfront can secure 10-15% discount.
Is Tutoring Worth It?
Effective For: Targeted exam preparation (6-12 months before GCSEs/A-Levels), specific weak subjects, building confidence, understanding difficult concepts. £1,500 invested in 40 hours tutoring improving GCSE grade from 6 to 8 opens better sixth form and university options.
Less Effective For: Unmotivated students, very young children without learning issues, broad "keep up with class" rather than specific goals. Money better spent on resources, books, online courses for self-motivated learners.
ROI Consideration: £2,000/year tutoring for 2 years = £4,000. If improves university choice from mid-tier to Russell Group, lifetime earnings boost £50,000-150,000 making tutoring excellent investment. However, correlation not causation - motivated student might succeed without tutoring.
FAQs
How much is a tutor per hour UK?
£25-60/hour for GCSE/A-Level tutoring. Primary £20-40/hour, secondary £30-55/hour, university £40-80/hour. London £40-80/hour, regions £25-50/hour. Online tutoring 20-30% cheaper.
How often should my child see tutor?
Once weekly (1-2 hours) sufficient for most students (£120-240/month). Intensive exam prep may require 2-3 times weekly (£240-720/month). Less than weekly loses momentum. More than 3 hours weekly risks burnout.
Is online tutoring as good as in-person?
Yes, studies show similar effectiveness for motivated students. Online saves £5-20/hour and eliminates travel time. Zoom/Teams allow screen sharing, digital whiteboards. Less effective for very young children or those struggling with focus.
Should I hire qualified teacher or student tutor?
Qualified teachers (£40-60/hour) better for comprehensive teaching and exam preparation. Student tutors (£20-35/hour) adequate for homework help or confidence building. Recent graduates with top grades offer good middle ground at £30-45/hour.
How much should I budget for tutoring?
£1,200-3,000/year for weekly sessions in one subject. Exam year intensive tutoring £2,000-5,000. Multiple subjects or children multiplies costs. Budget £150-250/month for regular ongoing support.
Conclusion
Tutors in UK charge £25-60/hour depending on level, subject, and location, with typical families spending £1,200-3,000/year for weekly sessions. Online tutoring saves 20-30% versus in-person at £20-45/hour. Group tutoring reduces individual costs to £12-30/hour. Choose qualified teachers for exam preparation and student tutors for homework help to balance cost and quality. Intensive pre-exam tutoring (20-40 hours) costs £800-2,400 but potentially worth thousands in better university opportunities. Compare £3,000/year tutoring versus £18,000/year private school - tutoring offers targeted support at fraction of cost. Most effective for motivated students with specific goals rather than general "keeping up" which free school support handles. 📚
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Jane Smith |
| Am British, live in London (1985–present) |
