The 5 Best Online Tutoring Websites For UK Schools (Updated For 2024)

The best online tutoring websites will provide high quality tutors, effective diagnostic assessment and detailed feedback on student progress, all at a competitive price. In this article, we compare the best known online tutoring websites who work with schools to help you make the right choice when allocating any tutoring funding or intervention budget available.

Online tutoring in 2024

Online tutoring has experienced huge growth in recent years. In 2019, in-person tutoring was the default option and the preferred approach. Post-covid and post-widespread remote learning, 88% of in-school tutoring is now online and is the preferred approach for pupils, parents, teachers and tutors (Bramble).

Moreover, the National Tutoring Programme has been the key pillar of the government’s education recovery plan, allowing many schools to take advantage of tutoring for the first time. This UK programme provides subsidised catch up tuition to help both primary and secondary pupils (not including post-16 and A-level) catch up on missed learning due to the disruption caused by Covid-19.

In the first year of the National Tutoring Programme, with Covid restrictions still in place, online tutoring for schools accounted for 50% of all the in-school tutoring sessions undertaken, with the vast majority of these sessions being provided by established online tutoring sites for schools, such as Third Space Learning and MyTutor.

Why schools use online tutoring

One to one tuition is proven to be the most effective way for pupils to make additional progress at primary and secondary school, however it has traditionally been too expensive for many schools to offer. 

With online tutoring, costs are decreased without sacrificing impact; the Education Endowment Foundation has found that online tutoring is just as impactful as face to face tutoring. This means that more pupils from less advantaged backgrounds are able to experience the benefits of one to one tuition.

Online tutoring is also extremely efficient in schools as multiple children can have individualised, one-to-one tutoring sessions at the same time, with very little school resource allocated. 

Despite the similar outcomes, online tutoring is not the same as face to face tutoring and does need careful set up and management, in addition to technological and pedagogical expertise. 

With this article, we hope to better prepare you and your team to know what to look for when researching the best online tutoring sites to fit your specific requirements. 

As well as the advantages and disadvantages of online tutoring, we also look at the questions you should ask each online tutoring website to better gauge their method and approach before you buy. Finally, we compare the top 5 online tutoring websites for schools. There are of course more, but in our opinion and in our experience providing online tutoring for schools since 2013, these are the main ones worth your time to investigate.

Advantages of online tutoring

• Cost: With lower overheads and no travel costs, online tutoring tends to be a lot cheaper than in-person tutoring.
• Scale: There is no need to have individual rooms for each tutoring session. You can easily run 30 sessions all from the same room and at the same time, provided you have the technology. This also makes online tutoring easier to integrate with the school timetable.
• Recruitment: Unlike face to face tutoring, when choosing online tutoring you are no longer limited to tutors in the local area. This means you can be more particular about recruiting tutors with experience and subject expertise. Having the best tutors will translate into the best results for your pupils.
• Reporting: Like most online experiences, many elements of online tutoring are automated. The capturing of vital data such as tutor hours, impact, and student progress is all automated and therefore a huge advantage over in-person tutoring, and greatly reduces teacher workload.
• Scheduling: Through using an online platform, it is much easier to schedule and reschedule lessons. Additionally, online providers often have more flexibility on timings for lessons.

Disadvantages of online tutoring

• Technology: The school’s IT needs to be up to the task of running the online tutoring platforms – from laptops, PCs and headsets to wi-fi connections. Poor connectivity impacts rural settings in particular, who may often benefit the most from online options due to recruitment issues.
  
  Additionally, you’ll want to make sure your online tutoring provider of choice has training, tutorials and support available – even better if they can provide you with the hardware you need. For example, schools using Third Space Learning receive headsets free of charge, and our technical support team is on hand to ensure your school’s IT system is set up to enable a smooth start to your tutoring sessions. 
• Usability: Whichever subject is being taught, the online classroom needs to be built with your subject in mind.
  
  For example, the Third Space Learning online classroom has been designed with maths teaching in mind. With an interactive whiteboard-style design, it has quick click buttons to generate mathematical symbols, a library of shapes and visual resources, and our tutors have access to over 750 high quality curriculum aligned lessons to support students.

What the best online tutoring websites offer you

The best online tutoring websites should offer you peace of mind that you are making the correct choice for your pupils. During your research, ask the tutoring provider if they have developed a curriculum of structured and pedagogically-sound lessons for the online tutoring, or if it’s up to the tutor to create them. If they do have a curriculum of lessons, ask to see examples. You will then be able to use your professional knowledge to ensure they align with your school’s approach to classroom teaching.

When reviewing lessons, check the pedagogical approach, for example the use of pictorial representations and the language used, e.g. ‘exchanging’ instead of ‘regrouping’. If these don’t align to your own calculation policy, can the tuition company adapt?

Communication is key. Contact information should be available and clearly signposted on the website. The best online tutoring platforms have a dedicated customer support team, contactable via phone, email or online chat so you have the option to talk to someone straight away to answer all your questions. At Third Space Learning, we additionally assign each school a personal account manager to support them through their journey.

What to look for in an online tutoring website

As an educator looking for online tuition for your school, you have the expertise to assess what’s been offered with a professional eye. You may find that some online tutoring companies who are more used to dealing with parents struggle to provide what you need. At a minimum, you should expect to see:  

• Images of the online classroom

• Diagnostic assessment used to identify individual pupil gaps

• Details of the curriculum and how lessons are sequenced

• Structure of a lesson

• Videos of real sessions
• Verbatim quotes from other schools and teachers (not just from private, at-home students)

Good practice for online tutoring in the UK

At Third Space Learning, we’ve been tutoring UK school children online since 2013, well before the National Tutoring Programme. This is a quick summary of what good practice in the sector looks like and what we see as essentials to the Third Space Learning online tutoring offer to schools: 

1. Lessons should follow the national curriculum for England and Wales – or make it clear why they don’t.

2. Each lesson should be personalised to the individual student, both by teaching to their specific gaps, and in the pitch, pace and progression of the lesson.

3. Diagnostic assessment is essential for a truly individualised experience for the pupil – always check how any online tutoring organisation knows where each individual pupil’s gaps lie and what they should be teaching your pupils.

4. You should expect high quality, qualified tutors (with a DBS check) who have tutoring experience, are trained and are provided with regular CPD to continue to improve their tutoring skills.

5. Budgets are tight across the country in schools. Each provider will set their own pricing. When you’re purchasing multiple slots from a teaching company, the costs should be significantly lower than private online tutoring (which can cost upwards of £30). One way to reduce your costs is to request group tutoring – but be aware that the learning experience for the child then becomes much less personalised and less likely to achieve the outcomes you require.

The EEF found that the impact on student outcomes rapidly decreased in tutoring groups of over 6 students.

6. Online tutoring relies on technology so check that the support that’s in place will help you with the initial set up and beyond.

Questions to ask your online tutor or online tutoring company

• How do you recruit, train and monitor your tutors?
• How do you ensure students make progress?
• What results do you typically see from tuition?
• How many children can receive tutoring at the same time? 
• Is there any flexibility to swap tutors if the rapport fails to develop?
• How do tutors keep students engaged?
• Finally, it’s also worth asking about the commitment and personal investment of effort that you or a colleague will have to make to the programme. The best online tutoring providers will make school leaders’ lives easier, not add to their workload! Ensure you understand set-up requirements, any equipment or resources you’ll need and how data is collected and used to track pupil progress.   

Below, we’ve selected 5 of the best online tutoring websites approved by the National Tutoring Programme and provided you with all the essential information to help you choose the right tutoring provider for your school.

List of the top 5 UK online tutoring websites approved by the government’s National Tutoring Programme for Schools 

1. Third Space Learning

Introduction

Third Space Learning are maths specialists who provide personalised online one to one maths tutoring, from primary school, including KS1 to KS2 tutoring and a dedicated SATs programme, to secondary school and GCSE..

Summary

What teachers say

“The diagnostic assessment personalises the lessons but still allows us to have input – we really enjoyed that flexibility. It’s one to one so the pupil is the only person that can respond and answer – there’s nowhere to hide! They love being online and using the computer, and they really look forward to their Third Space lessons. The impact has been really positive.”

Lindsey Lynd, Deputy Headteacher, St Paul’s Catholic Junior School

What students say

“I liked the lesson because I learnt new things and I really enjoyed it. I enjoyed learning how to see how to place numbers on the number line.”

Primary pupil

What parents say

“The parents have adored [Third Space Learning]. They’ve loved the fact that their child is getting this one on one lesson every week and I mean, they would have loved it to carry on in the holidays! The parents are very grateful. They feel that their child is being prioritised with their maths which they know that they should be.”

Primary teacher on parents’ feedback

What are the lessons like?

• All lessons are developed by former teachers.
• Lessons are structured to promote progress following an ‘I do, We do, You do’ approach and scaffolding slides.
• By using diagnostic and ongoing assessment, learners’ misconceptions are diagnosed and gaps are plugged with a personalised programme of sessions. 
• All Third Space Learning tuition is one to one and online. 

Who are the tutors?

Maths specialists who hold or are working towards a university degree in STEM or related subject and who complete and pass an intensive initial tutor training programme.

Cost per lesson per pupil

1 to 1 £19.17

Best for…

• Online maths tutors for primary and secondary aged pupils.
• One to one online maths tutoring.
• If you need flexibility for time slots, rescheduling and swapping in and out pupils.

2. MyTutor

Introduction

MyTutor is an online tutoring service offering both private home tutoring and online lessons for schools for a range of subjects.

Summary

What teachers say

“The majority of students on the programme have really enjoyed it and have shown quite good commitment. School finishes at 3, so they would have their MyTutor sessions from 3-4 [pm], taking place in a computer room.”

What pupils say

“A number of students said they ‘miss their tutors already’, and others proactively asked for the same tutor to teach them again.”

What parents say

“[My son] feels confident and clever–like he can achieve anything.”

Parent of student receiving private tutoring

What are the lessons like?

• Lessons are either one to one or 3 pupils to one tutor. 
• Lessons are fun and interactive, linked to the national curriculum and matched to the learning style of the individual pupils. 

Who are the tutors?

Current students or recent graduates from top UK universities.

Cost per lesson per pupil

1 to 1 £25
1 to 3 £17

Best for…

• Tutoring in a range of different subject areas.
• If your pupils will benefit from ‘near peer’ tutoring with young tutors who can act as a mentor.
• Pupils who need to find the right tutor to be able to engage.

3. Fleet Tutors

Introduction

Fleet Tutors supports pupils in London, across the UK and internationally. They provide private tuition, homeschooling and support for schools and local authorities.

Summary

What teachers say

“We’ve seen a real boost in the children’s confidence and abilities, so thank you for making a huge impact…The pupils all loved having their weekly sessions…”

What pupils say

No pupil testimonials on the website.

What parents say

“The tutors were extremely patient, supportive, and friendly and got my daughter to engage where her school had not been able to. The one to one format enabled my daughter to learn at a speed that she could not do in a big class and gave her the comfort of asking questions which she would not have done in a group environment.”

What are the lessons like?

• Lessons are tailored to meet the needs of each pupil and their individual education plan. 
• Fleet Tutors provides both one to one tuition and small group tutoring classes.

Who are the tutors?

Experienced tutors and teachers, many of whom hold QTS.

Cost per lesson per pupil

1 to 1 £45

1 to 3 £15 

Best for…

• Engaging children who have not been in school, have additional needs or who are finding learning in the classroom challenging.

4. Action Tutoring

Introduction

A national education charity supporting pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds. Tutors are volunteers.

Summary

What teachers say

“The pupils have felt that the sessions had purpose and were really grateful that tutors remembered them from week to week and remembered what they’d worked on previously. They like having one dedicated person to work with, which they don’t get in the classroom. We’re not having to chase them to attend – they’re chasing us! They have definitely bought-in to the process.”

What pupils say

“Maths is important, this has helped me a lot so I’m very grateful and it’s been really really good. All I can really say is it’s really really good and it helps a lot, because I was not confident with maths at all and now I’m quite confident and I can do a lot better than I did before, that’s the only thing I can really say to encourage [other children].”

What parents say

No testimonials on the website.

What are the lessons like?

• Delivered by volunteer tutors, the lessons are engaging and usually in-person, however online tutoring is offered too. 
• Tutors follow workbooks, or adapted online ‘session templates’, designed by Action Tutoring’s curriculum specialists that align with SATs tutoring and GCSE content.

Who are the tutors?

Volunteers from a range of backgrounds, including students, corporate volunteers and retirees. They are all graduates with a secure academic background.

Cost per lesson per pupil

1 to 2 £16.77

Best for…

• Schools who may want the option to move to face to face or blend with face to face.
• Schools who are only looking for tutoring for pupils eligible for pupil premium.
• Those looking for both maths and English tutoring.

5. White Rose Maths

Introduction

White Rose Maths is well known among primary school teachers as a popular scheme of work. They also provide maths resources, CPD and tutoring with the National Tutoring Programme.

Summary

What teachers say

“I cannot recommend this service enough for primary schools looking to bridge the learning gap. The quality of the tutor is exceptional, with Danielle bonding extremely well with every student and getting the most out of each session. She was completely flexible to our needs, professional and engaging. I would also like to commend the team in the back office as the communications between them and us is to an exceptionally high standard.”

What pupils say

No testimonials on the website.

What parents say

No testimonials on the website.

What are the lessons like?

• Lessons are aligned with the White Rose Maths scheme and tutors use a variety of teaching for mastery methods. 
• Online tutoring is available only for Years 4-11 and takes place in groups of 3 students per tutor.

Who are the tutors?

Experienced tutors who take part in intensive initial tutor training and ongoing CPD.

Cost per lesson per pupil

1 to 3 (online) £24.50

1 to 4 (online) £23.50

Best for…

• Schools who already use the White Rose Maths planning and resources for their lessons as this primary school tutoring option will mirror classroom practice.

Conclusion

With the range of options available, it can be daunting to choose the right tutoring approach and provider for your school and your students’ needs. 

In this guide, we’ve provided an overview of the most popular and best online tutoring websites for UK schools to guide your decision, but remember to speak to each provider’s representatives and customer support teams to learn more, use your knowledge of your context, students and the barriers they face to ensure your tutoring budget is used on an approach that will make real impact on student outcomes.

And, if like the majority of schools in the UK, it’s maths tutoring you’re after then Third Space Learning’s friendly school team is always available to discuss your needs.