Finding a tutor for your child should be straightforward. But when you start searching, you're faced with hundreds of options, wildly varying prices, and no clear way to tell who's actually good and who's just got a nice website.
I'm Aadam, and I've been tutoring students for over five years at SHLC. I've seen both sides of this: what parents struggle with when searching, and what actually makes a tutor effective. In this guide, I'm breaking down exactly how to find the right tutor for your child, what questions to ask, and what red flags to watch out for.
Why Getting This Right Matters
Let's be clear about the stakes. Research shows that it takes just 8 hours of tutoring to move up one GCSE grade. And as we've covered in our article on GCSE earning power, each grade improvement is worth around £23,000 in lifetime earnings.
The right tutor can genuinely change your child's academic trajectory. The wrong one wastes time, money and can actually damage their confidence.
So how do you find the right one?
Step 1: Get Clear on What You Actually Need
Before you start searching, you need to answer three questions:
What specific help does your child need? "Help with maths" is too vague. Is it algebra specifically? Exam technique? Confidence? Understanding exactly where your child struggles makes it far easier to find someone who can help.
Speak to your child's teacher first. They know your child's learning style and can pinpoint specific areas that need work. This conversation also shows the school you're being proactive, which they appreciate.
What's your goal? Are you trying to:
- Move from a grade 4 to a grade 5 to meet university requirements?
- Build confidence in a subject they find intimidating?
- Stretch a high achiever who's not challenged enough at school?
- Catch up after illness or absence?
- Prepare specifically for 11+ or GCSE exams?
Different goals suit different tutors.
What's your realistic budget? Tutors in the UK typically charge from £26 per hour at GCSE level, with most charging between £26 and £40 an hour. More experienced tutors or those in London often charge £40 to £60+ per hour.
Work out what you can afford consistently. One hour a week for six months beats three hours a week for one month.
Step 2: Understand Your Options
You've got several routes to finding a tutor. Each has advantages and disadvantages.
Option 1: Word of Mouth (The Gold Standard)
Asking around is the most popular way to source good tutors. Parents whose children have just taken the relevant exam are often your best source.
Advantages:
- You get a real, honest review from someone you trust
- You know the tutor has delivered actual results
- Often the most reliable route to quality
Disadvantages:
- The best local tutors are usually very busy and may well have waiting lists
- Parents sometimes guard good tutors jealously
- What worked for one child might not work for yours
How to do it well: Ask specific questions. "Do you recommend your tutor?" isn't enough. Ask:
- What specifically improved?
- How does the tutor explain difficult concepts?
- How do they handle a child who's struggling or unmotivated?
- Are they reliable with timing and communication?
Option 2: Online Tutor Directories
Websites like First Tutors, Tutor Hunt, and MyTutor act like search engines for tutors. You filter by subject, level, location and price, then browse profiles.
Advantages:
- The matching is automatic and does not require any human intervention, so the overall cost is usually a good deal cheaper than the more personal tutor agencies
- You can compare many tutors quickly
- Usually covers tutors nationwide
- You can read reviews from other parents
Disadvantages:
- These companies take little or no responsibility for the tutors they list
- There is likely to be little support if things go wrong
- Quality varies enormously
- You're doing all the vetting yourself
How to do it well: Don't just pick the cheapest or the one with the nicest profile picture. Read reviews carefully, looking for specific mentions of improvement. Check their qualifications match what you need. Message several tutors before deciding.
Option 3: Professional Tutoring Services
Companies like SHLC, Tutorful, and PMT Education provide carefully vetted tutors with proper safeguarding checks and quality standards.
Advantages:
- All tutors have 2+ years' experience and are individually evaluated
- Professional agencies conduct background checks and verify qualifications
- You get support if things aren't working
- Often includes resources like past papers and tracking tools
Disadvantages:
- Usually costs more than finding someone independently
- Less flexibility in choosing exactly who you work with
How to do it well: Look for services that offer a trial or introductory session. At SHLC, I provide this so you can see if we're the right fit before committing.
Option 4: Your Child's School
Some schools have tutors they recommend or run their own tutoring programmes.
Advantages:
- Nobody knows your child's learning style better than your teacher
- School recommended tutors understand the specific curriculum
- The school can monitor progress alongside tutoring
Disadvantages:
- You don't want your child's teacher to feel you are being critical, suggesting it is their fault
- Limited choice
- Potential conflicts of interest
How to do it well: Approach it as a partnership. Frame it as "we want to support what you're doing in class" rather than "school isn't enough."
Step 3: Check Qualifications and Experience (Non-Negotiable)
You need to make sure your tutor has teaching qualifications (or, at the very least, is up to date with the latest curriculum) and has direct experience teaching children in your child's age range in the chosen subject.
Here's what to verify:
Teaching Qualifications An experienced and qualified teacher makes the best tutor, as they are up to date with the latest curriculum and have real experience teaching children of all ages.
Ask:
- What professional teaching qualifications do you have?
- Are you a qualified teacher (QTS) or a subject specialist?
- What experience do you have teaching this specific age group?
Subject Expertise Having a maths degree doesn't automatically make someone a good GCSE maths tutor. You need someone who understands the exam board requirements, common misconceptions and how to explain concepts to teenagers specifically.
Current Knowledge How do they stay updated with the latest curriculum and exam board updates?
Exam specifications change. A tutor who last taught the curriculum five years ago might be teaching outdated content.
Proven Results Ask for evidence. Can they show you student progress? Do they have testimonials from parents? What percentage of their students improve by at least one grade?
Step 4: Safeguarding Checks (Absolutely Essential)
Make sure the tutor undertakes appropriate vetting checks and that you are happy they are suited to working with children before you hire them. This should include criminal records checks and full reference checks as a minimum.
What to request:
- A tutor should be able to show you up to date references and criminal records certificates
- DBS check (Disclosure and Barring Service)
- Professional references
- Proof of qualifications
Red flags:
- Reluctance to provide safeguarding documentation
- Requests to meet your child alone before you've verified checks
- Pressure to start immediately without proper vetting
Professional services like SHLC handle all safeguarding checks as standard, which gives parents peace of mind.
Step 5: The Trial Session (Make or Break)
Book an introductory meet with tutors to see if you 'click' and to discuss learning needs before committing to a series of lessons.
What to watch for:
Rapport with Your Child Nerdy Nick might have worked a treat with your friend's son, whereas your child will find him dull as dishwater. Meanwhile, gregarious Gail may be a huge hit with your offspring but would develop no rapport with your neighbour's child.
The best qualified tutor in the world won't help if your child dreads the sessions.
Teaching Style A good tutor will use tools but also spend time talking to their student and working through the materials with them, asking follow up questions, checking learnings, and drawing from their own experience to make more relevant examples.
You know you have a good tutor when you hear an engaging conversation during their lessons, not just silence and pencil scratchings.
Clear Planning The tutor should ask specific questions about your child's current level, what they're struggling with, and what your goals are. They should outline how they'll structure sessions and track progress.
Honest Assessment A good tutor will be realistic about timescales. If they promise a grade 4 student will reach grade 9 in two months, they're either lying or deluded.
Step 6: Set Clear Expectations from Day One
Talk to the tutor about boundaries and appropriate behaviours before they start. You may want to agree a list of appropriate behaviours and expectations together to prevent any misunderstandings.
Discuss:
Communication Agree how you'll communicate with the tutor outside of sessions, for example by text, phone or email. Make sure the tutor always contacts you and never has direct contact with your child outside a session.
Progress Updates Ask the tutor for regular updates on your child's progress, for example at the end of each session, and discuss any concerns or issues that might have come up during sessions.
Session Logistics Agree how the tutoring will take place safely, whether it's online or in someone's home. For home sessions, you'll need a desk or table where children can work quietly and it shouldn't be in a bedroom. Make sure the door to the room is left open, the room has windows with open curtains so that someone can see in, and that you or another adult are within earshot.
Homework and Resources Who provides materials? Will there be homework between sessions? How long should your child spend on it?
Review Points Agree to review progress every half term or after 10 sessions to assess whether it's working.
Red Flags: When to Walk Away
Some warning signs should make you reconsider:
Guarantees That Sound Too Good No ethical tutor guarantees specific grades. Too many variables are involved.
Vague About Qualifications "I have experience" without specific details is a red flag.
Poor Communication If they're flaky about responding before you've hired them, it'll get worse after.
No Structure They can't articulate how they'll approach sessions or track progress.
Unwilling to Provide References or Checks Self explanatory. Walk away immediately.
Boundary Issues Any attempt to contact your child directly or reluctance to update you regularly.
What Actually Makes a Great Tutor?
Beyond qualifications and checks, here's what separates good tutors from exceptional ones:
They Build Confidence, Not Just Knowledge The best tutors understand that a student who believes they can improve will put in more effort. They celebrate small wins and reframe mistakes as learning opportunities.
They Teach Learning Skills, Not Just Content A tutor provides a tailored learning experience that plays to your child's strengths, helps them overcome their struggles, and keeps them motivated.
Great tutors teach students how to revise effectively, how to approach exam questions strategically, and how to identify their own weak areas.
They Adapt Every student learns differently. A great tutor adjusts their approach based on what's working, not what worked for their last student.
They're Honest They tell you when progress is slower than expected and why. They admit when something's outside their expertise and recommend alternatives.
They Track Everything They maintain records of topics covered, scores on practice questions, and areas that need more work. You can see exactly where the money's going.
Common Parent Mistakes to Avoid
Starting Too Late Don't wait until two months before exams. Students with a private tutor typically progress much faster than they would in a traditional classroom setting, but they still need time.
Choosing Based on Price Alone The cheapest tutor can end up being the most expensive if they don't deliver results and you have to start over.
Not Involving Your Child Consider your child's needs and preferences when it comes to tuition and learning. You could ask them what they'd find most helpful for their learning and if they have a preference around whether the tutoring takes place at home or online.
Micromanaging Trust the tutor to do their job. Constantly hovering or questioning their methods undermines both the tutor and your child's confidence.
Expecting Miracles Without Effort Tutoring works best when it complements your child's own revision. An hour a week with a tutor won't fix chronic lack of practice between sessions.
Online vs Face to Face: What's Better?
The pandemic made online tutoring mainstream. Here's the honest comparison:
Online Tutoring Advantages:
- No travel time or costs
- Being in their own room, being able to fiddle with their stuff can help some children, especially those with SEN, feel more comfortable
- Access to tutors anywhere in the UK
- Often slightly cheaper
- Easy to record sessions for review
Face to Face Advantages:
- Some children focus better without screen distractions
- Easier to work through physical materials together
- Clearer body language and engagement cues
- Can feel more personal
The reality: Both work brilliantly if the tutor is good. The format matters less than the quality of teaching. At SHLC, I work online with students across the UK and achieve excellent results through structured sessions and engaging resources.
The SHLC Approach
At SHLC, I've spent five years refining what actually works. Here's what I provide:
Qualified, Experienced Teaching I'm a qualified teacher with specific expertise in KS2 through GCSE maths. I understand not just the content but how students learn and where they commonly struggle.
Complete Resources Students get access to comprehensive past papers, worked solutions and structured revision materials.
Progress Tracking Every session builds on the last. I use my digital revision planner to track exactly what we've covered and where more work is needed.
Professional Marking Through my mock exam marking service, students get detailed feedback on practice papers showing exactly where marks are being lost.
Strategic, Not Random We don't just work through textbooks. We target the specific areas that will make the biggest difference to your child's grade.
Parent Partnership You get regular updates, clear communication and honest assessments of progress.
Making Your Decision
Here's your action plan:
- Define your needs - What specifically does your child need help with?
- Set your budget - What can you afford consistently?
- Gather options - Word of mouth, directories, professional services
- Verify credentials - Qualifications, experience, safeguarding checks
- Trial session - Does your child click with them?
- Set expectations - Communication, progress tracking, reviews
- Monitor progress - Review every half term
Remember: If for any reason you feel your tutor or lesson wasn't right, we'll give your money back is the kind of guarantee you should expect from professional services.
The Investment That Pays Back
Finding the right tutor takes effort. But when you consider that proper tutoring can improve your child's grades, which translates to thousands of pounds in future earnings, plus increased confidence and better life opportunities, it's one of the most valuable investments you can make.
Don't rush it. Don't pick based on price alone. And don't ignore red flags hoping they'll resolve themselves.
Your child deserves someone who understands how they learn, can explain concepts clearly, builds their confidence and delivers measurable results.
If you're looking for that level of support for 11+ or GCSE preparation, particularly in maths, get in touch with SHLC. Let's discuss your child's specific needs and how I can help them achieve the grades that will open doors throughout their life.
Ready to find the right tutoring support for your child? Book a free consultation with SHLC to discuss their needs and how I can help them succeed.