A tutor is a meaningful investment of time and money, so it's worth getting the decision right. Here's an honest, balanced guide to what actually matters - whoever you end up choosing.
If you're reading this, your child is probably struggling with maths, losing confidence, or facing an exam that feels too close for comfort. Tutoring can make a real difference - but only the right tutoring, and "right" looks different for every family. This guide walks through the genuine trade-offs, the questions worth asking before you book anyone, and how to tell whether it's actually helping once you've started.
We run a tutoring company, so we're not pretending to be neutral about whether tutoring helps. But this page isn't a pitch for Robinson Tuition specifically - it's meant to be useful whoever you choose, because a parent who asks good questions gets a better outcome regardless of who they book with.
Each route has genuine strengths. None is right for every child.
Deep knowledge of the exam board's assessment objectives and mark schemes, and experience spotting exactly why a student is losing marks. Usually the strongest choice for GCSE grade-boundary work or A-Level. Tends to sit at the higher end of the price range, and the best ones can be in high demand around exam season.
Often excellent for building confidence, consolidating fundamentals, or working with a younger child who responds well to a more relatable, near-peer tutor. Generally more affordable. Quality varies more widely than with qualified teachers, so ask about their own results and any tutoring experience specifically - not just that they're "good at maths."
A smaller agency (like ours) can hand-pick and personally match tutors, and a named person is accountable if things aren't working. Large marketplace platforms offer more choice and often lower prices, but vetting and quality control can be thinner, and you may be doing more of the matching work yourself. Neither is automatically better - it depends how much hand-holding you want.
Non-negotiable for anyone working one-to-one with a child. A reputable provider will mention this before you even ask, and should be able to show you evidence.
Ask who the tutor reports to if they have a concern about a child, and how sessions are conducted safely - especially online. There should be a clear, written answer, not a shrug.
AQA, Edexcel and OCR papers differ in style and emphasis. A tutor who knows the specific board your child sits can target revision far more precisely than one working from general knowledge.
Good tutors diagnose before they teach - a first-session assessment, a look at recent test papers, or targeted questioning. Be wary of anyone who launches straight into generic worksheets.
Ask exactly what "reporting back" looks like: a message after each session, a monthly summary, or nothing unless you chase it. Agree this upfront so you're not left guessing.
Personalities matter as much as qualifications. Ask what happens if your child doesn't click with the tutor - a good provider will rematch you without a fuss or a fight over cancellation terms.
Online tuition has become the default for most families, and for good reason. A tutor can share a screen, mark work live, and draw on a shared whiteboard just as they would at a kitchen table - without anyone driving anywhere. It also widens your pool of tutors well beyond your postcode, which matters if you're looking for someone experienced with a specific exam board or a harder-to-find subject combination.
In-person tuition still suits some families and some children better - particularly younger children who focus more easily face to face, or households without a quiet space and reliable internet for video calls. Neither format is objectively superior. What matters far more is whether the tutor is well prepared, genuinely one-to-one, and easy for your child to talk to.
Robinson Tuition is online, one-to-one, in Maths, English and Science from KS2 through to A-Level, plus 11+/13+ and Oxbridge admissions support. Tutors are qualified teachers and high-performing university tutors, hand-picked for the student.
See subjects & levelsPrices across the UK vary widely, and anyone who tells you there's one "right" rate is oversimplifying. As a rough guide:
Price alone doesn't tell you much about quality - there are excellent tutors at £25 an hour and mediocre ones at £70. What matters more is whether the price is transparent (no vague "packages" that turn out to include hidden fees), whether you're locked into a long contract, and whether you can trial a tutor before committing serious money. We charge from £40 an hour with no long contracts, pay as you go, and the first 30-minute session is free with no obligation - so you can judge the fit before spending anything.
If someone can't or won't confirm an enhanced DBS check, that's a hard stop - regardless of how strong their maths knowledge is.
Be cautious of anyone asking for a term or year paid upfront before you've had a single session together. Pay-as-you-go protects you if it's not working out.
A tutor who can't explain what they're working on and why - beyond "more practice" - probably isn't diagnosing your child's actual gaps.
Confident tutors are specific: their degree, their teaching experience, the exam boards they know well. Vagueness here is usually a sign to look elsewhere.
If you have to chase for any update on progress after several sessions, that's a communication gap that tends to get worse, not better.
Legitimate tutors and agencies are happy for you to think it over or try a free session first. Urgency tactics are a warning sign.
Give any new tutor a fair run before deciding - four to six sessions is usually enough to tell. Look for three things. First, attitude: is your child arriving more willing, even if only slightly, rather than dreading it more each week? Second, specificity: can the tutor tell you, without prompting, exactly what your child is improving at and what still needs work - not just "they're doing well"? Third, evidence: are you seeing small, real signs of progress in homework, class tests or how your child talks about maths at home?
If none of that is showing after six sessions, it's fair to ask direct questions, request a different tutor, or look elsewhere. A good provider won't be offended by that - it's a normal, healthy part of finding the right fit.
Most UK maths tutors charge somewhere between £20 and £80+ an hour, depending on their experience, qualifications and whether they're independent or working through an agency. University students tend to sit at the lower end, qualified teachers and specialists at the higher end. Robinson Tuition starts from £40 an hour, with no long contracts and a free first 30-minute session.
For most families, yes. Online one-to-one tuition with a good screen-share setup lets a tutor mark work, annotate questions and explain method in real time, without travel time cutting into the lesson. What matters far more than the format is whether the tutor is skilled, prepared and genuinely one-to-one.
It depends on the goal. A qualified teacher usually brings deeper exam-board knowledge and assessment experience, which matters most for GCSE and A-Level grade-boundary work. A strong university student tutor can be excellent for building confidence, consolidating basics, or working with a younger child, often at a lower price. Ask about experience with your child's specific level and exam board rather than assuming either route is automatically better.
Give it four to six sessions. Look for your child arriving more willing (or at least less reluctant), a tutor who can tell you specifically what's improving and what still needs work, and small but real signs of progress in homework or class tests. If none of that is showing after six sessions, it's fair to ask direct questions or try someone else.
Any tutor working one-to-one with children should hold an enhanced DBS check, and a reputable tutoring provider will tell you this clearly and unprompted. If you're hiring privately, it's reasonable to ask to see the certificate. Robinson Tuition publishes its full safeguarding policy, including DBS checks and a named Designated Safeguarding Lead.
Whatever you decide, a free trial session is the fastest way to judge fit. Book your free 30-minute session with Robinson Tuition - no card, no obligation - and meet a specialist qualified teacher or high-performing university tutor matched to your child.
