What is a reasonable cost for A-Level tutors?

[PoloMum]

I have just been quoted £160/hour for an online tutor for A Level Economics. That seems horrendously high to me. I was expecting something in the region of £60-80 per hour.

What is a reasonable hourly rate for a qualified (ex-teacher) tutor in other MNers experience?

I take your point @BurnoutBee and I’m not a fan of tutoring, but in that particular subject the teacher was not covering the curriculum, they were getting no guidance on exam technique etc. So I reluctantly looked for a tutor.

£65-75 pph.

Some A level teachers are off on long term sick with schools providing very little subject specialist cover.

I don’t agree actually. Firstly, the tutoring might just be for a short while to clarify some concepts.

Also a student sometimes has a subject they are struggling with, while their others are spot on, but they need the B in the tricky subject for their uni offer. I have certainly worked with YP in both those categories.

@stripesandspotsanddots

Hope it works out.

@clary

There is also a group of parents who over rely on tutoring for A-Levels and the YP struggles during their degree. Depends on the long game I guess, some YP use the A-Levels for apprenticeship entry. It’s very expensive though. If some teachers are off on long term sick it’s a risk to kids who’s parents can’t afford it. Food for thought.

I agree there can be an issue with over reliance on tutoring.

And yes, if teaching at sixth form is not adequate then that’s obviously not OK.

I meant to say also I have worked with lots of HE YP for A level as well, which is another good reason to use a tutor.

I was an A level tutor earlier on in life, even for kids in private schools who you’d think were already getting the best.
A few I got were just plain lazy.
But most worked really hard and got something from the sessions. I never ever over-provided help but sometimes it helped them to go through their own thoughts, look at past papers and I’d often discuss current issues with them as it was Economics.
As I was teaching it all day, it could have got a bit boring but it was really a fantastic experience.
Having just that hour a week really helped and gave the student a chance to talk, and to
listen, and develop their skills.

My friends daughter has a tutor for Economics and pays £85 per hour. We paid £80 per hour for a Biology tutor a couple of years ago and currently pay £90 an hour for a Chemistry tutor. A level tutors who are teachers/examiners are expensive.

You may get a uni student for less. My son is doing a degree and has done A level Maths tutoring for £40 an hour and GCSE for £20 an hour.

I am stunned by some of these prices. £60 for an hour!

I am unusual as I charge £40 an hour for Maths - same rate independent of level. I am a full time teacher, I know the curriculum and do face-to-face. I could charge £60 easily. The problem is getting a qualified teacher who knows the spec - that is why it is so difficult & so lucrative. A university student is useless for A-level if you want improvement, you need someone who knows the detail of the exam & how it is marked. I haven’t charged more for two/three years as I’m cutting down. Also some tutors do it as their main income & have to charge more.

It’s not £60 for an hour though. It’s more like £60 for two hours - prepping the lesson, setting and marking HW and mocks, supplying useful resources…

I have an A level lesson of 30 mins to prep for and it will take me at least another 30 mins.

We tried a university student for GCSE and it just didn’t help so we switched to an experienced teacher and it helped tremendously. Like anything in life you get what you pay for and most excellent tutors will know their worth and charge accordingly. No way I’m saving money at the expense of my daughters A levels.

A teacher friend of mine has offered to tutor my son for free - bless his little altruistic socks!

All he wants in return is dinner.