How much does tutoring cost in the West Midlands? A 2026 guide

Tutoring costs in the West Midlands span an enormous range — from £20/hour for an undergraduate giving a few sessions a week to £100+/hour for highly specialised exam-board specialists or 11+ tutors with strong track records. The wide range can be confusing for parents, so here's an honest breakdown of what's typical, what's worth paying, and what's a red flag.

Primary tutoring (KS1–KS2)

Typical range: £25–£40/hour. Year 6 SATs and 11+ readiness work tends towards the higher end. We typically place primary tutoring with experienced primary teachers from £30/hour.

What you should get: short, age-appropriate sessions (30–45 minutes), physical materials at home or interactive online whiteboard, and parent-friendly weekly progress notes.

11+ exam preparation

Typical range: £35–£60/hour for individual tuition; £15–£25 per child for group classes. Specialists with strong grammar-school placement records sit at the top of the range.

What you should get: format-specific preparation (Birmingham consortium vs Walsall vs Sutton vs independents), regular timed mocks marked against actual band cut-offs, and honest progress reporting against likely outcomes.

GCSE tutoring

Typical range: £35–£55/hour. Shortage subjects (maths, sciences, MFL) sit at the upper end. Crash-course rates may be lower per hour because of session volume.

What you should get: exam-board-specific teaching, regular past-paper practice with mark-scheme feedback, and a clear plan with an end goal in mind.

A-Level tutoring

Typical range: £40–£70/hour. Sciences, maths and Oxbridge-level prep can reach £80–£100/hour for genuine specialists.

What you should get: subject specialism (degree-level minimum), mark-scheme literacy, regular timed past papers, and (where relevant) coordination with personal statement and admissions test prep.

SEND tutoring

Typical range: £45–£80/hour, depending on specialism. Profound or complex needs (PMLD, severe behaviour challenges) sit at the upper end. SEND tutoring is more expensive partly because it's more specialised and partly because it requires longer planning and report time.

What you should get: specialism-specific matching (autism specialists for autism, etc.), EHCP-aligned planning, and continuity of relationship.

What about online vs in-home?

Online tutoring is typically 5–15% cheaper than equivalent home tutoring — partly because there's no travel time and partly because of scheduling efficiency. Quality is comparable from Year 4 upwards. For Reception and KS1, in-home tuition is generally more effective.

Red flags

Avoid: very low rates (£15/hour) which usually mean unqualified or unvetted tutors; agencies that can't tell you their tutor's hourly take-home (suggests a hidden mark-up); long upfront-paid contracts; and anyone promising specific exam grades.