How much does private tutoring cost and what are the alternatives?

Every parent wants the best possible education for their children. 

For some parents that means ensuring they live in the catchment area of a well-regarded school; for some it involves paying to put them through public school; for some home education is the best option, and for some families hiring private tutors seems the best option.

Finally, for some - particularly around the 11+, the step from Key Stage 2 to 3 and up to GCSEs and then onto A-levels - it is a combination of school, home education and private tutoring.

However, the unfortunate reality is that financial constraints and rising costs make all of these options difficult, or simply impossible for many families around the UK. 

The financial (and hidden) costs of private tuition

Hiring a private tutor to supplement a student’s learning has long been seen as an effective - if expensive - option to try and boost a child’s grades.

In the vast majority of cases tutors charge an hourly rate for their services. Depending on the tutor, the course, and the level being taught, costs can vary wildly. At the time of writing, most sources suggest the average is around £40 per hour. To give just one example, Tutorful puts the average price of a maths tutor at £41.75 per hour, with prices ranging from £30 to just over £70 per hour.

Location has an effect too, with the lowest Tutorful price available in Liverpool, while the highest was found in London. That’s not a surprise, given Tuition Consultants Tayberry report private tutor prices are 20-30% higher in London than in the rest of the UK.

A tutor’s qualifications also have a big impact on what they can charge. At the lower end of the spectrum you have recent graduates - or even current students looking to supplement their student loans - all the way up to qualified teachers. For example if a tutor boasts a Master’s Degree that alone can increase the hourly rate from £50 to £75. 

And these are just the visible costs. The hidden costs of hiring a private tutor include having to find, assess and properly vet potential tutors and their credentials which takes lots of time and effort. Then, there is the requirement for one, or both, parties to commute to the session - adding more time and money. Sessions also need to be scheduled far in advance, leading to a rigid structure which can be difficult to fit into already busy family lives. 

Then there is the pressure and intensity that many students report feeling when being taught in a one-to-one session. In such environments some students - particularly those who are less confident - can feel put on the spot and lack the well-known benefits that come with collaborative learning. 

Cost effective alternatives to one-to-one tuition

Luckily, there are alternatives, which provide high-quality tuition from highly-qualified teachers, proven to boost grades, including the benefits of collaborative learning in a supportive environment, and flexible enough to fit into any schedule - all starting from as little as £5 an hour.

It may sound too good to be true, but by investing in the right technology and the UK’s top teaching talent, at MyEdSpace we have made it so every student - no matter their background - can enjoy the very best education possible.

At MyEdSpace our approach teaches hundreds of students at once in twice-weekly, online, live, lessons that create a fun and interactive, but safe and supportive environment. Every lesson is also recorded and available to students to watch on-demand, meaning they can fit them into any schedule and benefit from an invaluable revision aid when those all-important exams roll around. 

Students are provided with a bespoke workbook for each lesson and receive weekly homework with accompanying video explanations, which provide a fun way to reinforce learning and track progress, so no student is left behind. Plus, parents receive a monthly progress report for their child, so everybody is kept up to speed. 

While private tutors sometimes require a set number of sessions to be booked and paid for in advance, locking students in, with MyEdSpace the no-quibbles 14-day money back guarantee means you can try it first and see if it works for you and your family situation.