Studies by the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA), and other such bodies, show that the UK lags behind other developed nations in education. So, it's no surprise that home tutoring is more relevant and popular than ever before. The scramble for personal tutors is on, but people question the average price range of £33 to £45 for private tutoring. This article answers why those fees seem so high, and other questions people ask.
How Much Does Private Tutoring Cost?
We all know the the saying about the cheapest not necessarily being the best. We often credit its 'wisdom' but, at its heart, it's a general statement that doesn't apply to everything. For one, it doesn't consider the value you get for your money.
For two, it overlooks modern definitions of quality - for instance, online tutoring, versus in-person. As an example, an online tutor can be much cheaper than a tutor who comes to your home, or one who works through a tutoring agency.
An online tutor doesn't have the expenses that other tutors do: commuting,the costs of running an office, and of keeping teaching materials on hand. However, the lower rate doesn't mean you'll receive less value for your money from an online tutor.
How Much is a Home Tutor?
This is a tough question to answer, because tutors' fee per hour depends on several factors. This list of factors helps explain why home tutor prices vary so much.
How much is private tutoring depends on:
1. the subject you need tutoring in
2. the level of study you're at - primary, secondary, and so on
3. whether the tutoring is for a specific purpose - exam prep, homework help, and so on
4. the tutor's experience (with tutoring, and their education level)
5. where you are located (city vs remote location, for example)
6. how many tutors for that subject in your area
7. the lesson delivery method: online, in-person, in an office or agency.
Across the UK, tutors charge an average rate of £37,45 per hour, but that doesn't tell you very much. If the tutor is located in London, fees will likely be higher. If that London tutor gives you lessons online, their per-hour rate will likely be closer to the national average, or perhaps lower.
To get a better idea of the price of tutors, this table shows the current (2025) average rates of private tuition according to subject and level, but not geographical location.
| 📗Subject | 🧒Primary | 👩🦰Secondary | 🥉GCSE | 🥉A Level | 🥇Undergraduate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maths | £28/hr | £33/hr | £34/hr | £41.50/hr | £45 - 80 |
| English | £22/hr | £25/hr | £33/hr | £38/hr | £40 - 75, |
| Science | £21/hr | £30/hr | £38/hr | £45/hr | £45 - 80 |
| French | £22/hr | £25/hr | £29/hr | £33/hr | £35 - 75 |
Tutoring Rates per Hour UK
We've established that the price of private tutorials at home can change, depending on the factors listed above.
Therefore, when looking for a private tutor, you must take into account the reasons why rates vary to find the best price for your needs.
Now, let's look at different scenarios that impact tutor prices, such as students' age and the subject they need tutoring in.
A Tutor for Primary School Students
Tutors who work with this student group often present the greatest price range. That's because the youngest students typically benefit more from an academic coach than a subject-specific mentor. To understand that distinction, we must outline the different types of tutors.
Academic coach
- an ongoing relationship
- teaches students how to learn
- works on developing organisation and learning skills
Homework help tutor
- an ongoing relationship
- focuses on critical thinking and problem-solving
- works with a variety of subject
Test preparation tutor
- a limited-time engagement
- focuses on test-taking strategies
- works only with the exam's subject material
By the time your primary school learner approaches their 11+ exams, it's easy to detect any academic weaknesses. Then, a subject-specific tutor makes more sense.
Up to that point, a general tutor or a homework helper should meet your needs. the average price for such tutors is £33 per hour. Bristol tutors may charge £20, and online tutors might charge even less.
How Much are Private Tutors for GCSE Preparation?
A GCSE prep tutor would be a limited-time engagement. You might find such a master for just one subject, or for all of your subjects.
On the other hand, you may have a solid academic grasp of your topics, but prefer a bit of help getting and staying organised. These are some of the factors to think about for this type of tutor.
Across the UK, the average price for a GCSE tutor is £35,86/hour.
Around our country, personal tutors vary their rates, depending on the subject(s) they specialise in. For a low-demand subject such as Spanish, tutors charge an average of £31,36, UK-wide. Conversely, tutors for more popular subjects, such as Physics or Maths, may command as much as £43/hour.
The qualifications and experience will affect the cost of the tutorials, regardless of the topic. It's unlikely that a tutor starting will charge the same rates as a tutor with 15 years of experience. You pay more to ensure quality knowledge from the beginning.
How Much is a Private Tutor for A-Level Revision?
Now, we're talking about a different tutoring scenario altogether. Such a mentor must be subject-specific, as the student studies five or less topics. Also, students at this level are experienced test takers, so they already know their best strategies for exam success.
The average rate for an hour of tuition at this level is £42.
For this station in your academic career, you want a tutor with some experience - both in your subject, and with tutoring. On the other hand, you have the discipline and know-how to benefit the most from online tutoring sessions.
Granted, online revision has some downsides, but the pluses outweigh them, as this comparison shows:
Online tutoring pros
- revise on your schedule
- record and save your lessons
- no need to go out, or have someone in
- online tools (media, whiteboard) make lessons richer
- often less expensive
Online tutoring cons
- harder to establish trust bond (maybe)
- more complicated to share work (maybe)
- possible tech glitches/lack of equipment
- possibly more distractions
The Advantage of a Superprof Online Tutor
As you prepare for A-Levels, and the scramble to prepare for university life, you hardly have the time and energy to search for qualified tutors. Lucky for you, your tutor quest is as close - and as quick, as your phone or computer.
and description
On the Superprof homepage, you only need to enter the A-Level subject you need help with, and then choose 'online' from the next pulldown menu. After that, it's just a matter of choosing a few Superprofs with profiles that meet your revision needs, so you can interview them.
In all, Superprof delivers on these points:
How Much Is Home Tutoring?
Paying your tutor a fair price is the best way to ensure quality service. So, you shouldn't baulk at the costs of tutorials.
Especially not if:
- The certified tutor offers intensive test prep across a few subjects ('the sciences', for example)
- The tutor stands out for their exceptional success record, according to student testimonials
- They bring unique skills, such as working with neurodivergent students
Don't forget to factor in everything else this article discusses, from your geographical location, to your study level. To give you a baseline of prices you might expect, these are average per-hour tutoring rates in various subjects, as of 2025:
- Maths: £36
- Biology: £39
- Chemistry: £39,50
- English: £38
- French: £35
- Spanish: £31
- Geography: £43
- History: £37
- Psychology: £41
- Economics: £50
Ultimately, tutors can charge as much or as little as they want. You can keep tutor prices down by shopping around for the tutor that meets your needs at the lowest price.
You can also opt for online tutoring, or ask prospective tutors if they don't mind tutoring small groups. That way, you and two or three mates can share the costs.
Is the Cost of Private Tutoring Worth it?
This is a valid question, considering the cost of living in the UK, right now. On the other hand, if you think that private tutorials are an investment into your future, paying those fees now are worth it. Think about how much lower the chances will be that you will leave school without any certificates.
Or, how much more/better you might learn from someone with a different teaching style. Someone whose job it is to focus exclusively on your educational needs.
Think about the transferable skills you'll develop. Your tutor will have the time to train your mind how to think creatively, and how to solve problems using logic and reasoning.
In the short run, a tutor can help you pass exams.
In the long run, your tutor helps you learn for life.
It's hard to put a price tag on the priceless gains private tutors deliver. After all, what's in our wallets is transitory. And besides, the value of our wallet's contents hardly stacks up to what's in our minds. So, isn't it better shop (wisely!) for a reasonable 1 on 1 tutoring price, than forever wonder what might have been?
Enjoyed this article? Leave a rating!
Loading...
Hi I feel the average tuition rate is actually much higher than what is given in this article. It can widely vary from £15 for a student tutor to £75 for an experienced, advanced degree tutor. The average is more likely to be £35-40. I would not be able to live off of £20/hour tutoring. When you factor in costs of running a business etc. and fees £35/hour seems like a more likely rate if a tutor wants to do this professionally.
I agree with you. I charged these rates about 6-7 years ago. Now I would charge £35-£40 but teach in small groups so parents could split the cost. But what if one or more students were absent?
Helpful
Hi Kara—-as they said it all depends where you live. I have a Masters degree and B.A. Honours and have been charging £15 per hour for GCSE and £18 for A level. Yes , I realise it’s very little but people just can’t afford to pay much more here in N Ireland. I am , however , going to have to increase my prices by £5 now.
Hello. Please, I live in Africa and I have a Grade four pupil in the UK. I’ll be teaching her online for one hour at three times in a week, what can I possibility charge?
I totally agree.. In my area, when I started 10 years ago, after retiring from teaching, the average fee was £25.00 per hour.
Totally agree with this. Ive done GCSE science tutoring for a number of years, and most people only want short amounts in preparation for exams. Average is definitely more around £30-35 per hour mark.
I m a Maths teacher and want give online tuition to UK students of primary, secondary and also of gcse level.I m from Pakistan
I m a Maths tutor and computer science and mostly programming and want give online tuition to UK students of primary, secondary and also of gcse level.I m from USA
I am a fluent and ‘non-native native’ level speaker with 30 years of experience as an English teacher and trainer. I utilize stimulating strategies to train students and am now endeavouring to conduct online classes to foreign students, especially senior students, businessmen and professionals. The information given here is useful. However, I believe the reasonable average rate per hour for a dedicated highly skilled tutor / trainer should be around GBP 30. That should be reasonable to both the student and the tutor / trainer.
If there are any learners of English who wish to contact me, I am available on WhatsApp +94-782029010
Cheers,
Leo Gun (Gunasinghe)