Finding the best online tutor agency

With so many to choose from, finding a suitable online tutor agency can be a minefield. The quality of tutors varies hugely from company to company, as does the cost of lessons.

When you are looking for an online tutor agency, therefore, it is important to do your research. Are the tutors experienced, vetted and highly qualified? Does the agency have access to the best tech tools? How much do lessons cost – and are there any hidden fees?

Thankfully, we have done some of the hard work for you. Here is a shortlist of seven of the best online agencies operating today:

Hampstead and Frognal Tutors

Established by Mark Taylor PGCE, a former teacher at Haberdashers’ Aske’s Boys’ School and South Hampstead High School, Hampstead and Frognal Tutors has fast become one of London’s leading providers of education consultancy and tutoring services.

Upfront fees	One-off registration fee: £96
Average cost	Average fee for online tutoring: £65 per hour Average fee for one-to-one tuition: £80 per hour.
Customer service support	Free consultation, plus an email address and phone number. Tutors file a report at the end of every lesson to keep parents informed about their child’s progress.
Year established	2010
Services	One-to-one tuition for students of all ages, including: school entrance, GCSEs, A Levels and university admissions. A full academic assessment and educational consultancy services are also available.
Online tools	Video conferencing software such as Zoom and Skype; screen sharing and integrated online whiteboard technology; ability to record lessons and share notes in the cloud.

Enjoy Education

Based in South London, Enjoy Education offers award-winning tutoring and home-schooling.

Upfront fees	One-off arrangement fee: £90 per tutor.
Average cost	£59 – £88 for school age and national exam tuition. £88 – £128 for university and adult learners.
Customer service support	Email address, phone number, and a no-obligation consultation service.
Year established	2006
Services	Tuition for all ages, educational advice, university admissions support, home-schooling and relocation support.
Online tools	Sessions can be recorded on the agency’s teaching platforms, allowing for playback and revision in the future.

Keystone Tutors

With offices in London, Hong Kong and Singapore, Keystone Tutors  employs over 50 full-time UK based tutors and represents a select pool of freelance tutors.

Upfront fees	Not specified.
Average cost	Private tutoring rates start at £70 per hour Online group courses start at £30 per hour.
Customer service support	An email address and phone numbers for London, Hong Kong and Singapore offices are provided.
Year established	2007
Services	One-to-one tutoring and group courses. Help with school & university entrance exams, GCSE, IGCSE, IB and A Level preparation.
Online tools	Spoken communication is over video conferencing (such as Teams, Skype or Zoom) and written communication is via an online, interactive whiteboard. Students are able to access the whiteboard after lessons to assist with homework and revision.

Tutor House

Tutor House connects students with personally interviewed & DBS checked tutors.

Upfront fees	None
Average cost	£20 – £90 depending on the tutor. Tutors set their own hourly rate based on their previous experience.
Customer service support	Free trial call, email address and phone number.
Year established	2013
Services	Tuition for all ages, homeschooling, university admissions, retake and revision courses.
Online tools	Not specified

Mentor Education

For almost forty years, Mentor Education has offered professional one-to-one tuition in London and worldwide.

Upfront fees	Registration fee: £60
Average cost	£80+ for one-to-one tuition. £245 for online academic assessment. £345+ for 11+ course
Customer service support	Phone number, email address and Whatsapp details.
Year established	1982
Services	7+, 11+, GCSE, A Level, interview practice, and consultancy services.
Online tools	Tools such as Zoom and interactive whiteboards, which are updated in real time.

Simply Learning

Simply Learning Tuition was founded in 2009, by Nathaniel McCullagh, a private tutor working in London. The agency now represents 300 private tutors.

Upfront fees	Registration fee: £125 (this includes registration for all siblings)
Average cost	Hourly tuition in person (London) or online range from £76 – £130
Customer service support	Phone number and email address.
Year established	2009
Services	One-to-one private tuition in London, the South East of the UK and residential tuition across the globe. Online tutoring and educational consultancy.
Online tools	Not specified

Dulwich Tutors

Dulwich Tutors is an established agency with a close-knit team of tutors and consultants.

Upfront fees	Registration Fee: £60
Average cost	£40–80 per hour for private tuition. On bank holidays and weekends, an extra £5 per hour is added to invoices. Home schooling – price on application. Assessments for entrance exams and specific subjects – price on application. For tutorials with two or more students – price on application.
Customer service support	Phone number and email addresses for general and account queries.
Year established	2009
Services	Online tuition, all school exams, Oxbridge entrance, in-school tuition and home schooling.
Online tools	Skype, Zoom, Bitpaper and Google Hangouts.

Pros and cons of using an online tutor agency

Sourcing a tutor directly rather than via a tutoring agency can be cheaper – hourly rates are often lower and there is rarely a registration fee. However going solo makes it significantly more difficult to find experienced, qualified tutors who meet your child’s specific requirements. 

The role of a good online tutor agency is to ensure students get the most suitable tutor for them, and to iron out any problems should they arise. Agencies also vet tutors before taking them on, with many conducting face-to-face interviews, carrying out DBS and reference checks, and verifying candidates’ qualifications.

In most cases, hiring a tutor directly by searching newspapers or online also requires more time and effort. With agencies, you fill in your details, your requirements, and you’re off. However, going direct means parents get to choose a specific tutor, rather than getting ‘matched’ with a suitable candidate.

There are a variety of different factors to consider when it comes to hiring a tutor, and every student and family have different requirements. However, if you are looking for high quality teaching and attentive customer service, online agencies are an excellent place to start.