The use of private tuition has grown over the past two decades. The Sutton Trust's annual polling of 11 to 16 year olds in state schools in England and Wales found that 30% had received private tutoring at some point by 2022, up from 18% in 2005 (Sutton Trust, 2023). Families in independent and international schools also supplement classroom teaching with additional support, often to address gaps, to stretch high-achieving students, or to prepare for examinations and transitions.
Understanding one-to-one tuition
One-to-one tuition is different from classroom teaching and small-group support because of its individualised nature. In a 1:1 setting, every minute of teaching time is directed towards a single learner's needs. The pace can be adjusted, slowed down for complex concepts, or accelerated when a student demonstrates mastery. Tutors provide immediate feedback and correct misconceptions on the spot. This is often more difficult in a classroom of 20 or 30 students. Online delivery adds an extra dimension of flexibility. Learners can connect with subject-specialist tutors globally without geographic restrictions.
Evidence on impact
The Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) has synthesised a large body of research on one-to-one tuition. Its Teaching and Learning Toolkit, drawing on 123 studies, finds that one-to-one tuition provides approximately five additional months' progress on average (EEF, 2021). This figure should be treated cautiously. It is an average, and the EEF reports that outcomes vary with the subject, the age group, and who delivers the tuition. Nevertheless, the finding highlights the potential value of personalised tuition as a supplement to mainstream schooling.
Similarly, the Sutton Trust describes one-to-one and small-group tuition as some of the most effective strategies for raising attainment, and notes that tutoring has been an important part of plans to help students catch up after the pandemic. Its 2023 "Tutoring: The New Landscape" report advises schools that a tutoring course should ideally be made up of frequent sessions of up to an hour, over six to twelve weeks, with content linked to the wider curriculum and targeted to each student's needs (Sutton Trust, 2023).
How 1:1 tuition works in practice
Effective one-to-one tuition is not just about allocating tutor time. Programmes that have demonstrated success tend to share several characteristics:
- Regular, short sessions: For example, two to three 45 to 60 minute sessions per week over a 10-week block.
- Diagnostic baseline assessment: Tutors begin with a review of prior attainment, often using past paper questions or topic-specific quizzes.
- Goal setting: Learning goals are aligned to syllabus outcomes, such as Cambridge International's assessment objectives or IB command terms.
- Teaching cycles: Each session follows a pattern of teaching, guided practice, retrieval, and review.
- Feedback loops: Learners receive timely, specific feedback and revisit errors in subsequent sessions.
- Progress monitoring: Mid-point assessments (week 5 or 6) and cumulative reviews (week 10) ensure progress is tracked and reported.
Comparisons with small-group tuition
EEF studies also note that small-group tuition (groups of 2 to 5) can deliver around four months' additional progress on average. This makes it a cost-effective alternative in some settings (EEF, 2021). However, where learners have highly individualised needs, such as gaps in prerequisite knowledge or the need for intensive exam preparation, 1:1 tuition is often more appropriate. The flexibility of 1:1 also allows students to ask questions they may not have raised in class, which can build confidence and independence.
Parental and student perspectives
Parents in international schools often see tuition as an investment in both academic outcomes and student confidence. What they tend to value is individual attention, particularly when a tutor's feedback connects classroom learning with assessment expectations. For students, the benefit is more opportunity to clarify doubts and practise under supportive guidance before exams.
Integration with school provision
For tuition to be most effective, it should align with classroom teaching. Tutors working with Cambridge International or IB students, for example, need to use the same language as examiners (for example, command terms such as "evaluate", "analyse", "justify"). This helps students apply their learning in ways that are directly relevant to assessments. Tuition works best when it is not a "bolt-on" but an integrated part of a learner's academic journey.
Well-being considerations
The Council of International Schools (CIS) and the Council of British International Schools (COBIS) both treat student well-being as a priority: CIS accreditation covers student safeguarding and well-being, and COBIS member schools name well-being and mental health as a key priority in the association's annual survey. One-to-one tuition provides a setting where tutors can check in with learners on their confidence and stress levels. They can adapt pacing and celebrate small successes. This mentoring aspect means tuition is not only about academic results but also about fostering resilience and motivation. See our companion article on well-being in tuition.
Challenges and limitations
It is important to recognise limitations. The effectiveness of one-to-one tuition is contingent on the quality of the tutor, the alignment of sessions with curriculum goals, and the student's engagement. There are also equity considerations. While many independent and international school families can access tuition, affordability remains a barrier in some contexts. As the Sutton Trust has noted, ensuring wider access to effective tutoring is key to addressing educational disadvantage.
Conclusion
One-to-one online tuition, when well designed and delivered, offers a valuable complement to classroom teaching. Evidence from the EEF suggests that it can improve progress by several months, though results vary. What this points towards is that a focused, targeted learning plan, supported by regular feedback and aligned to syllabus outcomes, can help students build both knowledge and confidence. For families in independent and international schools following Cambridge International and IB pathways, 1:1 tuition provides a flexible, effective way to consolidate learning, prepare for exams, and support student well-being.
References
- Education Endowment Foundation (2021). Teaching and Learning Toolkit: One to One Tuition.
- Education Endowment Foundation (2021). Teaching and Learning Toolkit: Small Group Tuition.
- Sutton Trust (2023). Tutoring: The New Landscape.
- COBIS (2024). Annual Research Survey.
- Council of International Schools. International Accreditation.