Not cheap, but Figtree comprises a first-rate pool of looked-after tutors whose combo of mentoring and tutoring get children up to a standard that exceeds even their expectations. Our top three favourite things about them? That the agency itself is run professionally and stays involved throughout; that tutors really, really like working for this agency; and that parents say the tutors genuinely care, never missing an opportunity to go the extra mile. ‘If you were comparing Figtree to a hotel, it’s that extra five star service of going above and beyond that you get every single time,’ summed up one parent. Unusually, they cover IB and a wide range of university entrance exams too.
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The Good Schools Guide is the only place you can find independent reviews of tutor companies. No tutor company can pay to be included which means this review is critical, unbiased and written with parents’ best interests at heart.
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Overview
We have met with Expert Tuition’s staff. In addition, 36 clients and 26 tutors completed an online survey (sent to 161 clients and 51 tutors), with at least eight of these respondents also interviewed briefly by phone.
- Type of tutoring offered
- In-person
- Online
- Home schooling
- UK residentials
- Overseas residentials
- UK areas covered in person
- London
Who are they?
We’ve reviewed some responsive tutor agencies in our time, but we’d barely hit ‘send’ on our emails before we got replies from Figtree - and really useful ones at that. Clients and tutors agree, describing this agency’s ‘efficiency,’ ‘professional
What do they offer?
Well over half (63 per cent) of parents who completed our survey turned to Figtree for help with entrance exams – and this, agrees Ariana, is very much their bread and butter: 4+ (primarily play based apparently, so Figtree provides guidance on ho
- Revision courses
- 11 Plus
- Workshops and other courses
- Creative writing, BMAT
- Education levels
- Primary
- KS3
- 7 Plus
- 8 Plus
- 11 Plus
- 13 Plus
- Common Entrance
- GCSE
- A Level
- IB
- Uni Application
- Oxbridge
- Uni Tuition
- EAL
- Subjects available include
- English
- Maths
- Sciences
- Computing
- Humanities
- Languages
- Other subjects
- Persian
- Turkish
- History of Art
- Environmental Science
- SEN
- Support for students with special educational needs
The finer details
The vast majority of Figtree’s 250+ tutors work as bankers, engineers, lawyers, surgeons, doctors, actors, writers and academics – and tutor on the side. Only 10 per cent are teachers, for which Ariana makes no apology: ‘What we are offering is ad
- Tutor Association
- Member of The Tutors’ Association
- Charitable/pro bono work
- Support for pupil premium students in maths, mentoring to GCSE students, plus ad-hoc free sessions to low-income families
Costs and conditions
Registration fee (per tutor) is £96 – due once the client is happy to continue with the tutor after the first session. Families who use three or more tutors are also landed with a monthly admin fee of £96 for schedule management. Hourly rate for o
- Cost
- £88-198/hour
£96 registration fee
What the tutor company says
‘Figtree was founded on the belief that our tutors have the tools to shape futures. Our values are rooted in the belief that everyone should have the opportunity to reach their potential, in their own way.’
The last word
Not cheap, but Figtree comprises a first-rate pool of looked-after tutors whose combo of mentoring and tutoring get children up to a standard that exceeds even their expectations. Our top three favourite things about them? That the agency itself i
