How to choose a tutor
Shortlist tutors who teach your child's subject and exam board, book a trial lesson with each, and check qualifications, a DBS certificate and references before you commit. Below is the full 10-point checklist, the questions to ask, and the red flags to walk away from.
The 10-point tutor checklist
Work through these before you commit to regular paid sessions. The first few sort the shortlist; the last few tell you whether it is the right tutor for your child.
- 1
Check their subject and exam-board experience
A tutor who teaches your child's exact specification, AQA, Edexcel, OCR, WJEC or Cambridge, can target the mark scheme. Ask which boards they have taught and how recently.
- 2
Ask about qualifications and a DBS check
Ask what they studied, whether they have teaching experience, and whether they hold a current enhanced DBS certificate. A tutor working with children should be comfortable answering both.
- 3
Ask for references or read reviews
A tutor with a track record can point to past families or reviews. Recent, specific feedback about results and reliability is worth more than a star rating alone.
- 4
Start with a trial lesson
One session tells you more than any profile. Watch whether your child is comfortable, whether the tutor listens, and whether the hour is structured rather than vague.
- 5
Confirm how they track progress
Good tutors set a baseline, agree goals, and tell you what is improving. Ask how you will know it is working, and how often you will hear from them.
- 6
Agree logistics: online or in person, and how often
Decide whether online or in-person suits your child, and settle on a regular weekly slot. Consistency over a term is where most of the improvement comes from.
- 7
Be clear on pricing and cancellation
Confirm the hourly rate, how payment works, and the cancellation policy in writing before the first paid session. There should be no surprises and no agency commission on top.
- 8
Check the fit with your child's learning style
A patient, encouraging tutor suits an anxious child; a brisk, challenge-led one suits a confident child who is coasting. The right match matters as much as the qualifications.
- 9
Ask how they communicate with parents
You should know how to reach the tutor and roughly when to expect an update. A short note after each session, or a summary each half-term, keeps everyone aligned.
- 10
Trust the relationship, not just the CV
Credentials get a tutor onto the shortlist. Whether your child looks forward to the session, and comes out understanding more, is what tells you it is the right one.
Red flags to walk away from
Most tutors are excellent. These are the warning signs that mean you should keep looking.
| Red flag | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Won't discuss a DBS check or safeguarding | Anyone working one-to-one with a child should be open about this. Evasion is a reason to stop. |
| Vague about the exam board | If they cannot say which specification they teach, they cannot target the mark scheme your child is sitting. |
| Guarantees a specific grade | No honest tutor can promise a grade. It depends on the child's effort and starting point. A guarantee is a sales tactic. |
| Refuses a trial lesson | A confident tutor welcomes one session to show what they offer. Refusal suggests they are unsure of the fit too. |
| Pressures you to book a long block upfront | Paying for a term before you have seen a single lesson shifts all the risk onto you. Start small. |
| Won't provide references | An established tutor can point to past families or reviews. A flat refusal with no track record is worth questioning. |
How TutorLab helps you choose
Search by subject and area
Filter to tutors who teach your child's exact subject and level near you, so the shortlist is relevant from the start.
Message tutors directly
Ask your checklist questions and arrange a trial lesson without an agency in the middle, and with no commission on any session.
See real profiles and rates
Each profile shows the tutor's subjects, experience and hourly rate up front, so you can compare before you reach out.
Choosing a tutor: common questions
How do I find a good tutor?
Start by searching for tutors who teach your child's subject and level in your area, shortlist two or three, and book a trial lesson with each. Use the trial to judge the fit, then check qualifications, a DBS certificate and references before committing to regular sessions.
What questions should I ask a tutor before hiring them?
Ask which exam boards they teach, what their relevant experience is, whether they hold a current enhanced DBS check, how they track progress, what they charge, and what their cancellation policy is. A good tutor answers all of these clearly.
Should a private tutor have a DBS check?
A tutor working one-to-one with a child should hold a current enhanced DBS certificate, and should be willing to show it on request. It is a reasonable thing to ask for, and a tutor who is reluctant is a red flag.
How much should I pay for a tutor?
UK private tutoring typically runs between £25 and £60 an hour depending on the level and the tutor's experience, with London and the South East at the higher end. Agree the rate in writing before the first paid session.
Is online or in-person tutoring better?
Both work well. Online removes travel, widens your choice of tutors and suits self-motivated children; in-person can suit younger children or those who focus better with someone in the room. The quality of the tutor matters more than the format.
Weighing up the cost first? Read is private tutoring worth it, or compare online tutoring with finding someone local. For a child with dyslexia, see tutoring for dyslexia. To weigh up the platforms themselves, see UK tutoring platforms compared. Before you book, run through the questions to ask a tutor.
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