How to find a private tutor in the UK (2026 guide)

Finding the right private tutor for your child is not difficult — but finding the right one takes a little more thought than just booking whoever comes up first in a search. This guide covers how to search, what to look for in a profile, how to evaluate a tutor before committing, and what red flags to watch for.

Where to find a private tutor in the UK

There are broadly three routes to finding a tutor:

Tutor directories and platforms. Sites where tutors publish their own profiles with rates, experience and subjects. You browse and contact directly. TutorLab, Tutorful, First Tutors and Superprof all work this way, though the fees and commission structures vary significantly.
Tutoring agencies.Agencies match you with tutors from their vetted pool. Convenience costs money — agencies typically add a fee on top of the tutor's rate, and you may not see the tutor's profile before they are matched to you.
Word of mouth.Asking other parents or your child's school is still the highest-trust route. A tutor recommended by three families you know is unlikely to be a bad choice.

For most families, a tutor directory is the best starting point — you get to see rates, read bios, and filter by subject and location before making any contact or payment.

What to look for in a tutor's profile

A good tutor profile tells you enough to make a confident first contact. Look for:

Subject and level specificity.A tutor who lists “Maths, GCSE AQA” knows your child's actual exam. A tutor who lists “Maths, all levels” might be spreading themselves too thin.
A bio that explains their approach, not just their CV.“I have a first-class degree in Mathematics” tells you less than “I focus on building exam technique through past papers and targeted practice — most of my students improve by at least one grade boundary within eight weeks.”
A clear rate.Tutors who are transparent about their hourly rate before you contact them are usually easier to work with generally. Hidden fees or “rates on request” tend to be a friction point later.
Testimonials or reviews.Not essential for a newer tutor, but reassuring if they exist. Look for testimonials that mention specific outcomes (“went from a 4 to a 7 in Maths”) rather than vague praise.
Accepting students. Some tutors are full and not taking new students. A good directory will show this clearly.

Online or in-person?

Both work. Online tuition has improved dramatically — shared digital whiteboards, screen sharing and video calling make it just as interactive as sitting at a kitchen table. Online tuition is also typically 10–20% cheaper because the tutor has no travel time, and it opens up a much larger pool of specialists.

In-person tutoring suits younger children who benefit from physical presence, or students who find it harder to focus on a screen. If you have a specific local requirement — for instance, a tutor who can come to your home — you can filter by location on most directories.

Many families start with online sessions and find they prefer them. It is worth trying before ruling it out.

How to approach a tutor for the first time

Your first message sets the tone. A short, clear enquiry is all you need:

Your child's year group and the subject you need help with
The exam board if they're in Year 10 or above (AQA, Edexcel, OCR etc.)
What they're struggling with, or what grade they're targeting
When you're looking to start and how regularly

Most tutors will reply within 24–48 hours. If a tutor takes more than a week to respond to an initial enquiry, that is a signal about how organised they are generally.

Always do a trial session first

Almost all tutors offer a first session with no obligation to continue. Take it. The most important thing is whether your child responds well to this particular tutor — their qualifications matter less than whether they can explain things in a way your child actually understands.

After the first session, ask your child:

Did they explain things clearly?
Did you feel comfortable asking questions?
Did you feel like you were making progress?

If the answers are yes, book the next session. If there's doubt, try a different tutor — there is no obligation after a trial.

Red flags to watch for

No DBS check for in-person work with under-18s. All tutors working in person with children should have an Enhanced DBS certificate.
No cancellation policy. A tutor without a clear cancellation policy tends to be less organised about everything else too.
Guaranteed grades. No tutor can guarantee a grade. Anyone who does is telling you what you want to hear.
Upfront payment for many sessions. Paying one session at a time, or a week in advance, is standard. Paying for a ten-session block before you've met is higher risk.

Find a tutor near you

You can browse UK private tutors by subject and location on TutorLab — rates are visible before you contact anyone, there are no agency fees, and enquiries go directly to the tutor:

Or browse the full directory to filter by subject, level and location.

How to find a good private tutor in the UK