top of page
Private Tutors
Frequently asked questions
What parents usually ask
General
Lessons
Tutors
11 Plus Entrance Exam
- 01Yes, every student receives structured support and homework outside lessons. We set weekly personalised homework based on your child’s strengths and areas for improvement, and we review it in the following session so progress is always clear. We also run monthly mini-assessments that mirror the style of your child's exams. These help us track development over time and show exactly where your child is improving, and what we’ll focus on next.
- 02It depends on your child’s age, focus level, and goals. Here’s the simple guide we use: 30 minutes: Best for younger students or those who benefit from shorter, high-focus lessons. Great for building confidence and covering core skills without overwhelming them. 45 minutes: Gives enough time for teaching, guided practice, and checking understanding. Ideal for steady weekly progress. 60 minutes: Our most popular option and what we reccomend for most students. Best for older students or children preparing for the 11+. Longer sessions mean deeper explanations, exam-style questions, and time for structured homework review. If you’re unsure, we always start with a free consultation and recommend the best session length for your child’s needs and timeline.
- 03Once you send us an email, we’ll ask for a few key details: what your child is preparing for, their current working level, and any goals they have for the future. We’ll then arrange a free 10-minute consultation to understand your child’s needs and answer any questions you may have. After that, I (Richard) personally match your child with the most suitable tutor from our team. We book an initial trial lesson, and if you’re happy with the tutor, we set up a regular weekly slot. Lessons are then invoiced monthly, and your tutor will create and follow your child’s personalised learning plan.
- 04We can usually begin within 3-7 days. Once you contact us, we arrange a short consultation, match your child with the right tutor, and book an initial lesson as soon as a suitable weekly slot opens. During busy periods (especially before exam seasons), we’ll let you know the earliest availability and can place you on a priority list if needed.
- 05Because our tutors are top-performing university and A-Level students, not full-time adult tutors. This means you get high-level expertise without the usual £70–£120/hour price tag. Despite the lower cost, the quality is extremely high: - Our tutors have recent, first-hand experience with the exact exams your child will sit. - They follow shared teaching resources, structured lesson plans, and internal training. - We operate with lower overheads, so parents don’t pay for offices, agencies, or unnecessary admin. You’re essentially getting premium, high-quality tutoring at a more accessible price, without compromising on results.
- 06Yes, and in many cases, they are more effective than adult tutors. All our tutors are high-achieving students from top sixth forms and universities, such as The Perse School and the University of Cambridge, and they have recently completed the same exams your child is preparing for. That means they understand the exact question styles, mark schemes, and techniques that work right now, not what worked 10 years ago. Our tutors follow structured lesson plans, share best practices across the team, and are trained to break down concepts in a clear, student-friendly way. Because they’re closer in age, students often feel more comfortable asking questions and stay more engaged. The result: fast progress, targeted support, and a tutor who genuinely understands what your child needs to succeed in their exams.
- 07Most students take one lesson per week, which provides steady progress. During exam preparation or if a child is slightly behind, we may recommend two sessions instead - this improves exam confidence and makes sure all the content is covered. You can always book additional lessons at any point.
- 08Although we don't offer a free trial lesson, we do offer parents an initial lesson before they have to commit for the full month - to see whether the tutor is suitable for your child. If not, we can always rematch your child to another tutor quickly.
- 09Of course. If you feel the teaching style isn’t the perfect fit, we can rematch your child to another tutor quickly, no extra cost and no awkward conversations.
- 10We currently teach ages 8–18, with a strong focus on: 11+ (Grammar, GL, Independent Schools) Key Stage 2 & early KS3 foundations GCSE A-level Scholarship preparation
- 11All tutors are either top Y12 or Y13 students at The Perse School, Cambridge or at a leading university in the UK, consistently achieving the highest grades and having succeeded the same tests. All our tutors have achieved A* at the subjects they teach or have passed the entrance test your child will sit. Our tutors have over 1000+ hours of combined tutoring experience. I (Richard) personally match tutors based on experience and requirements of your child's needs, so you can be confident in the match you receive. They also receive internal training and share resources so teaching quality stays consistent across the board.
- 12Yes, our lessons cover both and have a strong emphasis on good exam technique. We specialise in timing, structure, working under pressure, and using marking criteria to maximise scores on real papers. Our tutors have just done the exams your child will sit, so they know the most up-to-date techniques and what actually works for students nowadays, not what worked 10 years ago.
- 13Currently we offer both in-person private tutoring in Cambridge, UK and online lessons, which improves focus for younger students and effective communication. All lessons are 1-to-1 and private with your tutor, we do not offer any form of group tuition.
- 14For in-person lessons, our tutor has access to a touchscreen device with a digital stylus, enabling us to have access to a large database of resources and store your child's work all in one place. Students will mostly write digitally onto OneNote, but they can also write on paper for English/essay subjects. For online lessons we use either: Zoom Google Meet Microsoft Whiteboard or OneNote for shared working Depending on the child’s needs.
- 15We provide everything: worksheets, past papers, mock tests, and homework. Parents can purchase extra books if they want to or are suggested by the tutor, but it’s not required.
- 16You’re billed once a month at the start of the month for the number of lessons booked for the coming month. We keep it simple and handle all the scheduling for you, no confusing credit systems or long-term contracts.
- 17If you give 24 hours’ notice, we can reschedule or reimburse the lesson to the following month for no additional cost. Within 24 hours, tutors have already prepared, so the lesson is charged. If you would like more details, please check out our cancellation policy.
- 18We do not offer any form of group lessons, as we specialise in 1:1 tailored support and provides more effective results, which delivers faster progress for exams.
- 19Yes, but we recommend shorter sessions (30-45 minutes) focusing on confidence and core skills rather than exam pressure.
- 20Our tutors have recent, first-hand experience with the exact exams, understand the current marking style, and teach using the techniques that worked for them, making progress faster and more relatable. You can read more about us here.
- 21Most students for all levels show noticeable improvement within 4-6 weeks. For 11+ or 13+, we usually recommend a 3-9 month plan depending on their starting point.
bottom of page