Parents are often surprised that there is no single price for a private tutor in the UK. Hourly rates vary widely, and the cheapest option is not always the best value. This guide explains what drives the price, what to compare and how to avoid paying for things you do not need.
What affects the price of a tutor
Experience and qualifications. A newly qualified teacher, a university student, a retired teacher and a specialist who marks exams for a board are all "tutors", but they charge differently and offer different things. Exam-board experience is especially valuable for GCSE and A-Level.
Subject and level. A-Level maths or chemistry usually costs more than primary tuition, because there are fewer people qualified to teach it well.
Online or in person. Online lessons remove travel time and widen your choice of tutors, so they are often better value. Face-to-face tuition adds travel and is limited by where you live. Our guide to online versus face-to-face tutoring covers the trade-offs.
How the tutor is found. A tutor you find yourself may charge less per hour, but you carry the risk: checking qualifications, safeguarding, references and finding a replacement if they move on. Agencies and consultancies charge for that work.
What to compare, besides the hourly rate
When you collect quotes, ask the same questions each time:
- Is the tutor UK-qualified, and can you see evidence of it?
- Who checked their identity and safeguarding history?
- Is the tutor chosen for your child, or simply the next person available?
- Who oversees progress, and how often will you hear about it?
- What happens if the tutor becomes unavailable mid-term?
- Are there joining fees, minimum terms, or charges for cancelling lessons?
Our guide on how to choose a private tutor goes through ten questions worth asking before you commit.
Paying by the hour or by the month
Booking lessons one at a time gives flexibility but makes the cost unpredictable and can leave your child without a regular slot. A monthly plan fixes the cost and the routine.
At Britannia Crown, Academic Partner Membership starts at £200 a month for 4 hours of online tutoring (about £50 an hour), with a monthly parent check-in. The Partner plan is £360 a month for 8 hours with the same tutor each week and a monthly call with your education consultant, which works out at £45 an hour. You can cancel or pause at any time. See the Partner plan for everything included.
The main types of tutor, and what each trade-off means
Prices follow experience and what is included, so it helps to know what you are comparing. Rates are not quoted here because they vary by area and subject, so use this as a checklist when you collect quotes.
| Type of tutor | Typically strong on | Things to check |
|---|---|---|
| University student or recent graduate | Energy, relatable, often lower rates | Subject depth, exam-board knowledge, consistency, safeguarding checks |
| Qualified teacher tutoring privately | Knows the curriculum and exam technique | Availability around their day job, references, who covers if they are ill |
| Specialist or former examiner | Deep exam-board knowledge, technique at higher grades | Cost, availability, fit for your child's age |
| Agency or consultancy tutor | Vetting, matching, a replacement if needed, oversight | What the fee includes, minimum terms and whether the tutor is chosen for your child |
None is automatically "best". A confident, well-matched student tutor can be ideal for a Year 7 confidence boost, while a specialist may be worth paying for before A-Level exams.
A worked example: comparing three quotes
Imagine you receive three quotes for Year 10 maths, once a week:
- Tutor A charges the lowest hourly rate, has no references and cannot say who covers if they cancel.
- Tutor B charges a middling rate, is a qualified teacher, provides references and sends a short note after each lesson.
- A consultancy plan charges a fixed monthly fee for a set number of hours, chooses the tutor for your child, and includes a monthly progress conversation and a replacement tutor if needed.
The cheapest hour is not necessarily the cheapest outcome. If Tutor A cancels twice a term, your child loses lessons and you lose time finding a replacement. Adding up hours actually delivered, progress made and your own time gives a truer picture than comparing hourly rates alone.
Hidden costs and red flags
Ask about all of these before committing:
- Joining or registration fees, and whether they are refundable.
- Minimum terms or block bookings you must pay for in advance.
- Cancellation charges if you or your child cannot attend.
- Travel charges for face-to-face tutoring.
- Materials such as books, past papers or software.
- VAT or other charges that may or may not be included in a quote.
Red flags include pressure to pay for a long block immediately, unwillingness to share qualifications or references, vague answers about safeguarding and promises of guaranteed grades. No honest tutor can guarantee a result.
Questions to ask about fees
- What exactly is included in the price?
- What happens if my child is ill, or if the tutor is?
- Is there a trial lesson or a way to stop without penalty?
- How is progress measured and reported?
- Can I see the full terms in writing before I pay?
Ways to keep the cost sensible
- Be specific about the goal. "Raise a grade 5 to a grade 6 in maths by June" is easier to plan, and price, than "help with maths".
- Start with a trial or consultation so you are not committed to a block of lessons with the wrong tutor.
- Use lessons for what a tutor does best: explaining difficult ideas and exam technique, not supervising homework.
- Review after a half-term. Ask for evidence of progress, and adjust hours up or down.
Is a tutor worth it?
A good tutor is worth it when they address a specific gap, build confidence and give your child a regular routine. A poor match is expensive at any price. That is why matching and oversight matter more than shaving a few pounds off the hourly rate.
If you would like advice on what level of support your child actually needs, book a free consultation and we will give you an honest recommendation, including when we think tutoring is not the right answer.