Is online tutoring cheaper than in-person tutoring?

With many private tutors, yes, because there is no travel. At LCB the price is the same whether your child joins in person in Barking or live online.

Do I have to sign a contract with LCB?

No. Plans are paid monthly with no contract and no hidden fees, and you can cancel any time.

Can my child study two subjects on one plan?

Yes. The Progress plan covers up to two subjects across two lessons a week, and Exam Ready covers up to three subjects across three lessons a week.

When can my child start?

New groups start each month. If you book by the end of the month, your child can usually start the following month, after the free assessment.

Parents guide

How much does a tutor cost in East London in 2026?

LCB TutorsUpdated 1 October 20265 min read

Quick answer

In 2026, a private one-to-one tutor in London usually costs about £30–£60 an hour for GCSE and more for A-Level. National tuition centres in Barking charge roughly £124–£190 a month. Small-group monthly plans can cost less: LCB charges £11–£13 a lesson for 11+ and GCSE, and £16–£18 for A-Level.

Tutoring prices in East London vary a lot. The same hour of GCSE Maths can cost £15 or £60 depending on who teaches it and how. This guide sets out the main options side by side, with prices we could check, so you can compare like with like.

What does a private one-to-one tutor cost in London?

Most private one-to-one tutors in London charge between about £30 and £60 an hour, and A-Level tutors often charge more.

Published guides give slightly different ranges, because they use different data:

One London tutoring agency's 2026/27 guide puts London rates at £35–£55 an hour for 11+, £30–£50 for GCSE and £35–£55 for A-Level.
A price-comparison guide for London estimates £30–£60 an hour for GCSE (average £45) and £35–£75 for A-Level (average £55).
TutorCruncher's 2026 guide says most UK tutors charge £30–£50 an hour, with London at around £50–£65.

These are estimates, not fixed prices. A tutor with lots of experience, or one who travels to your home, will usually sit at the top of the range.

Do tutoring agencies cost more?

Agencies often cost more per hour than an independent tutor, because the agency takes a share of each lesson.

TutorCruncher explains that independent tutors keep all of their fee, while agency tutors pass part of it to the agency. In return, an agency usually finds the tutor for you, handles payments and may replace a tutor if it is not working out. Ask any agency for its full hourly price, including any booking or platform fees, before you commit.

What do tuition centres in Barking charge?

National tuition centres near Barking charge by the month, and prices we checked ranged from about £70 to £190 a month for one subject.

For example, Explore Learning's Barking centre lists group membership from £124 a month for one session a week in Maths and English, and £190 a month for 11 Plus with two sessions a week. Its groups are up to 6 children, and sessions are 60 minutes. One-to-one sessions there start at £159 a month.

Kumon's Ilford (Seven Kings) centre lists £70 a month per subject plus a one-off £45 registration fee. Kumon works differently from tutoring: children follow a worksheet programme, and the centre gives an average study time of about 30 minutes per subject per visit.

How do the options compare side by side?

The table below uses prices published on each provider's own website, or in the guides linked above, as of October 2026.

Option	Typical price	Price per session	Who is in the room
Private 1-to-1 tutor (London)	£30–£60 an hour for GCSE	£30–£60	Your child only
Private 1-to-1 tutor, A-Level	£35–£75 an hour	£35–£75	Your child only
National centre, group (Barking)	£124–£190 a month	£18–£31	Up to 6 children
National centre, 1-to-1 (Barking)	£159–£280 a month	£30–£42	Your child only
Worksheet programme (Ilford)	£70 a month per subject + £45 registration	Depends on visits	Children work through set worksheets
LCB small group, 11+ and GCSE	£52–£132 a month	£11–£13	3–5 students
LCB small group, A-Level	£72–£192 a month	£16–£18	3–5 students

Prices change, so always check the provider's own page before you decide.

What does LCB charge, exactly?

LCB uses simple monthly plans with no pay-per-session option, no contract and no hidden fees.

Each weekly slot gives you 4 lessons a month in a small group of 3–5 students, in person at our Barking centre or live online.

Plan	Lessons	11+, KS3 and GCSE	A-Level
Essential	1 a week	£52 a month (£13 a lesson)	£72 a month (£18 a lesson)
Progress	2 a week, up to 2 subjects	£96 a month (£12 a lesson)	£136 a month (£17 a lesson)
Exam Ready	3 a week, up to 3 subjects	£132 a month (£11 a lesson)	£192 a month (£16 a lesson)

You can cancel any time. The full details are on our pricing page.

Why are small-group lessons cheaper?

Small-group lessons cost less because the tutor's time is shared between a few students.

That does not have to mean a weaker lesson. The Education Endowment Foundation rates small group tuition (two to five pupils) as "moderate impact for low cost", and notes that effectiveness drops once groups grow above six or seven. We compare the two approaches in more detail in group tutoring vs one-to-one.

What else should I check besides the price?

The cheapest option is only good value if your child actually improves.

Before you pay, ask:

How big is the group? Two to five is very different from eight or ten.
Is the tutor teaching my child's exam board? AQA, Edexcel and OCR papers differ.
Will it be the same tutor every week? Children settle faster with one person.
What happens if we want to stop? Look for no long contract and no exit fee.
Are there extra fees? Registration, materials and booking fees add up.
Is the provider safe? Ask about DBS checks and a safeguarding policy. Our guide on how to choose a safe tutor has a checklist.

Can I get help paying for tutoring?

Some families can get help, but it depends on your circumstances and the provider.

If you claim Universal Credit and work, you may be able to claim back part of the cost of registered childcare for younger children. The rules are strict, so read our guide on using Universal Credit to pay for tutoring before you count on it.

How can LCB help?

We offer small-group tutoring for 11+, GCSE and A-Level in Maths, Science and English, at our centre in Barking or online.

Every child starts with a free 30-minute assessment. We look for gaps, agree a target grade and recommend a plan, so you only pay for what your child needs. One parent in Barking, Nasreen B., told us: "Affordable, reliable, and my daughter's grades speak for themselves."

If you would like to try it, book a free assessment or see the full pricing.

Questions parents ask

Is online tutoring cheaper than in-person tutoring?: With many private tutors, yes, because there is no travel. At LCB the price is the same whether your child joins in person in Barking or live online.
Do I have to sign a contract with LCB?: No. Plans are paid monthly with no contract and no hidden fees, and you can cancel any time.
Can my child study two subjects on one plan?: Yes. The Progress plan covers up to two subjects across two lessons a week, and Exam Ready covers up to three subjects across three lessons a week.
When can my child start?: New groups start each month. If you book by the end of the month, your child can usually start the following month, after the free assessment.