Group Tutoring Vs One-on-One: How It Compares For Cost & Effectiveness

Group tutoring and one-on-one tutoring are some of the best-evidenced interventions to support students’ attainment, with students making between 3 and 5 months’ progress. According to the Education Endowment Foundation, this is especially true for disadvantaged students.

As teachers and school leaders, we want our students to make rapid and sustained progress in their school journey. When considering implementing tutoring in schools, there are two fundamental intervention options to consider: group tutoring or one-on-one tutoring.

This article explores the advantages and disadvantages of group tutoring and one-on-one, looking at their effectiveness and impact on students, considering factors such as budget, time, flexibility and personalisation. It aims to support teachers and school leaders to choose the right approach for their school and students, while also encouraging independent learning.

What is group tutoring?

Group tutoring is when a professional tutor works with a certain number of students in a group setting to help close any learning gaps they share in common. Typically, it takes place in a tutoring centre or classroom, very similar to a classroom we associate ourselves with.

The number of students in group tutoring sessions can vary, ranging from small group sessions of 2 or 3 students or groups of up to 4 or 5 students.

While some consider groups of over 6 as group tutoring, this is somewhat debatable and more accurately reflects group teaching. When groups become too big for focused attention on students and personalised teaching, the effect of the tutoring decreases.

With group tutoring in schools, the tutor will focus on specific areas of the curriculum to deliver quality instruction focused on the students’ areas of development. Many schools focus on core curriculum areas, including English, maths and science. The small groups allow for group interaction and time for individual practice where students work at their own pace.

How effective is group tutoring in addressing learning gaps?

A recent study by the EEF found that small group tutoring has an average impact of four months’ additional progress over an academic year in primary schools. Group tutoring is less effective for secondary students who average two months’ additional progress. 

Carefully selecting and grouping students makes group tutoring most effective. For example, all working on the fundamentals of maths, so the tutor can target specific needs. This requires an accurate diagnostic assessment prior to tutoring commencing. If done well, this can be a powerful tool in closing the achievement gap for students from disadvantaged backgrounds and a strength in the Pupil Premium strategy. 

However, should group size increase, the impact on learner outcomes reduces as the tutoring will resemble a ‘normal’ classroom atmosphere and students will get less out of it.

Advantages of group tutoring

• More personalised than whole class teaching: While more difficult in a group setting than it is for one-on-one tutoring, personalised learning for students is possible within small group tutoring. It requires a detailed initial assessment so tutors can provide personalised teaching. This enables targeted provision for those who need small group classes to stretch them, as well as those who require support to address gaps in their learning. 
  
  As identified by the EEF, low-attaining students typically benefit more from small groups, particularly with consistent and frequent sessions. However, this can create timetabling complications, especially for those in high schools!

• Opportunities for peer collaboration: Small groups enable the tutor to deliver input using quality resources and equipment to engage the students in a purposeful environment. There is an opportunity for peer collaboration in tasks as well as personal, friendly competition – this is not possible in one-on-one tutoring. 
  
  At the high school standard, the collaborative mentality and exploration of subject matter with fellow learners can enhance confidence, self-esteem and understanding.

• Lower cost: For school leaders, cost implications favors small group sessions. In most cases, the cost of small group tutoring, whether in person or online, is often a cheaper alternative to one-on-one as schools can provide tutoring for more students with fewer tutors.
  
  By taking tutoring online, and using an AI math tutor, we’re able to provide one-on-one tutoring for schools and districts at a lower price than other providers charge for a small group.

• Removes stigma: The EEF found that group tutoring reduces the potential stigma associated with needing extra help outside of the classroom, as students work with their peers.

Disadvantages of small group tutoring

• Impact: Less impactful than one-on-one tutoring (5+ months progress) and less effective in secondary schools (+2 months’ progress) than primary schools (+4 months’ progress).

• Diagnostic assessment: Small group tutoring requires complex matching to ensure learners who need extra support are working on similar objectives and can work at a similar pace.

• Group size: The larger the group, the less impact it has. Evidence suggests groups should be no larger than 1 tutor to 3 students.

• Timetabling issues: Timetables can be a logistical nightmare. Even more so with small group tutoring. It’s difficult to ensure the tutoring programme is accessible for all students and promotes student attendance while including vital elements of their studies. You do not want to provide tutoring for one subject and create difficulties in another!

• Tutor training: Tutors typically require more training to effectively deliver small group tutoring as it is more challenging than delivering one-on-one.

• Student confidence: Group tutoring is not suitable for all learners. Some remain shy in small groups or may not react well to the enhanced attention of a small group, and do not like to give answers in front of their peers. 
  
  In circumstances such as this, one-on-one tutoring would be a better consideration. Focused attention with a well-matched tutor the student knows and trusts helps them feel safe and confident in discussing correct strategies, answers and misconceptions.

The one-on-one intervention supports individuals. I also like that students who might not be confident to speak up in class feel it is a safe space to say they are unsure of the learning that might be taking place.

School leader and Third Space Learning customer

How to make group tutoring a success

Group tutoring can be successful if you put in the initial legwork. However, it requires planning, and you must carefully consider:

• Size;

• Space;

• Subject matter;

• Chosen students. 

This means ensuring targeted teaching specifically for those who need it. If teachers identify the correct students through diagnostic assessment, the number of students in a group is reduced. This keeps it an effective small group intervention.

Do not invite all struggling learners as their subject knowledge, misconceptions and knowledge gaps in maths will vary greatly from one another. 

Carefully consider the content that the tutoring will be covering and ensure the provider has the correct resources (that align with classroom teaching), the correct working space and the correct strategy to make the most out of every session.

What is one-on-one tutoring?

One-on-one tutoring is when one qualified teacher, teaching assistant or professional tutor provides intensive, personalised learning to one pupil.

As educators, we would love to regularly provide one-on-one attention for each learner, but in a class of 30, it’s physically impossible to give each pupil this kind of individual attention.

No matter how much of a good teacher you are, you can never get to 30 children and do 30 different pieces of work and that is what is needed. Because it is one-on-one and to their level, it is the best type of intervention you can have.

Angela Kershaw, Math Leader and Third Space Learning customer, St. Augustine’s Academy

One-on-one tutoring providers should:

• Hold valid background checks for all tutors;

• Support learners with tutoring sessions to bridge knowledge gaps;

• Address misconceptions;

• Consolidate learning and/or stretch learning even further. 

One-on-one tutoring research

One-on-one tutoring provides personalised learning, focusing sessions to build on individual strengths and development areas, whether in person or via online tutoring. 

The EEF found one-on-one tutoring is an effective intervention. If sessions are short, sharp and regular, the impact can be vast.

Learners can make over 5 months’ progress across a year, on average. 6 months’ progress in the elementary school setting and 4 months’ progress in secondary.

Online one-on-one tutoring has similar effects to in-person one-on-one sessions.

One-on-one tutoring allows for fully personalised learning adapted to students’ needs. The interactive nature of the Third Space Learning platform engages students in their online one-on-one tutoring.

Advantages of one-on-one tutoring

• Impact: With one-on-one tutoring, learners can make, on average, over 5 months’ progress in one year, compared to an average of 4 months through group tutoring.

• Personalised: Individual, personalised and focused attention for the students is a huge advantage of one-on-one tutoring. As teachers and school leaders, we want to ensure all our children achieve this in class, but the reality is that it is not always possible. 
  
  One-on-one tutoring provides the opportunity for students to work through a bespoke curriculum based on their individual learning gaps and misconceptions. It also works at the pace of the learner and gives ample opportunity for learning, application and personalised feedback, with few distractions.

• Rapport: It is easier for tutors to develop a rapport with students and create a positive learning environment. This increases students’ enjoyment of the sessions.

• Student confidence: Once a positive learning environment is established, students can benefit from the individualised support of their tutor in a low stakes environment. Students can make mistakes and learn from them, without worrying about other classmates.

The children have loved the personalised learning and having a one-on-one lesson with their tutor. It has been lovely to hear them explain their thinking.

Karan Johnson, Teacher and Third Space Learning customer, Moss Hall Junior School, Barnet

Disadvantages of one-on-one tutoring

• Cost: On the face of it, one-on-one tutoring costs more than group tutoring, whether online or in person. However, one to one tutoring can actually be more cost effective. There are also ways of reducing the cost of one-on-one tutoring, such as opting for online tutoring using the best online tutoring websites.
  
  While the decision for schools may depend on their initial budget at the start of a new school year, the cost of one-on-one tutoring can be moderate and more effective in the long term, provided that schools are using experienced and effective providers and that impact is monitored regularly and accurately.

Third Space Learning is just as effective as bringing in a one-to-one tutor but it’s so much cheaper, so you can afford to have more children doing it. Plus, the children love it and they’re so enthusiastic about it! What’s not to like? It’s cheaper, the children do just as well and they really like it!

Clare Sealy, Headteacher, St. Matthias Primary School

• Scale: One-on-one tutoring can be difficult to scale for multiple students without hundreds of tutors, making it challenging to deliver in person. Online tutoring can help to combat this as it eliminates the geographical barrier of the tutor and learner.

• Student needs: One-on-one tutoring is not for everyone. Some students feel pressured in a one-on-one environment and may prefer the environment provided by small group tutoring. However, this highlights the need to find the correct provider with high quality, trained tutors to maximise progress.

Since 2013, Third Space Learning has helped school budgets stretch further through scalable, cost-effective one-on-one maths tutoring. We are proud to be up to 90% cheaper than the average cost of one-on-one tutoring.

How to make one-on-one tutoring a success

Once you have selected the best provider and tutor for your school’s needs, ensure tutors take time to build rapport with students and establish a supportive learning environment. With the right match, you’ll see:

• An increase in pupil confidence and self-esteem;

• More knowledge acquired;

• Reduced misconceptions;

• The achievement gap close.

Initial and ongoing assessment alongside regular feedback from AI math tutor Skye will ensure an accurate learning journey, focused on plugging learning gaps.

Reporting on tutoring

Research suggests that effective tutoring is a valuable tool for supporting students to catch up. However, this is provided that it is:

• Personalised to meet the needs of the individual;
• Delivered by quality, skilled and knowledgeable tutors;
• The content aligns with students’ lessons in the classroom.

In short, the research concluded that:

• School-led tutoring is the preferred choice among schools as leaders have more control over the hiring of tutors, delivery of the sessions and the content covered. However, this results in extra workload for the school.

• Tutoring during the school day was more effective, particularly in secondary schools, and so efforts should be made for it to take place during school hours.

• Where tutoring is delivered by high quality tutors, Ofsted saw that in over half the schools, it was delivered well and impactful.

• Tutoring was of higher quality when qualified teachers were involved. Weaker sessions were delivered by tutors who lacked sufficient training, resulting in poorly planned sessions with content poorly matched to student level.

• Students were overwhelmingly positive about tutoring.

• Many schools had not yet developed effective ways to assess student progress.

• If planned accurately and in line with the school curriculum, tutoring can be a powerful intervention.

What does this mean for your school?

• Consider the resources available to you, including staff availability

• Try to schedule interventions during the school day

• Ensure all tutors have received training 

• Consider how you will monitor and assess student progress

• Ensure tutoring content and curriculum align with your school

Here at Third Space Learning, we’ve worked with more than 4,000 schools over the last 10+ years and have designed a program with schools in mind that overcomes many of the challenges associated with using external tutoring.

Our academic team of experienced teachers and math specialists carefully designs and reviews each lesson and prompt for Skye, the AI tutor. This ensures that the content and teaching approach align with what students learn in the classroom.

All students sit a diagnostic skill check in question before they begin tutoring. This informs their individualised learning journey, helps address misconceptions and closes learning gaps. Students also complete skill check out questions to track their progress and ensure future sessions align with their individual needs. We provide on-demand reports for schools and teachers so you can make sure the tutoring is making an impact on your students’ outcomes.

Blending both group tutoring and one-on-one tutoring

Group tutoring may be the right choice for some of your students. But, for most, one-on-one tutoring makes a larger impact on learning outcomes and is more cost effective. Time and money are both priorities within school, so it is important to make decisions that will have maximum impact. 

With maths in mind, students should have space to delve into mathematical concepts. Tutors should teach lessons in a way that aligns with their classroom. They should address misconceptions in real-time. These are best achieved through one-on-one tutoring.

Online one-on-one tutoring offers a more affordable route to the benefits of one-on-one tutoring. And, it may be the right choice for your school.

Group tutoring FAQs

What are the benefits of group tutoring?

The benefits of group tutoring: students are exposed to small group collaboration and socialising through work, thus building communication, discussion and listening skills around the tasks at hand. It can be more cost effective for schools in the short term and as identified by the EEF close the disadvantage gap.

What are the different types of tutoring?

There are two different types of tutoring: one-on-one tutoring or group tutoring. They can both be delivered either in person or online.

What are the alternatives to group tutoring?

The alternative to group tutoring is one-on-one tutoring, either online or in person. This typically provides the pupil with the most impact and gives a more personalised, focused tutoring experience.

What are the disadvantages of group tutoring?

Generally, the larger the group, the less impactful group tutoring becomes. This is because it is more challenging to deliver highly-personalised instruction and give detailed feedback to larger groups of students. There are also issues around timetabling, tutoring training and student confidence.