The gold standard. Ethical, professional and meticulous in every detail of its work from recruitment to matching and following up. Run by a lovely, dedicated bunch of people who, as one tutor put it, ‘care about every single child’. That so many schools and local authorities use them for their tutoring services speaks volumes – particularly when it comes to their expertise in tutoring children with additional challenges, eg SEN and mental health.
Why read this tutor review?
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.
Unlock to access
Overview
We have met with Harrison Allen staff. In addition, 7 clients and 26 tutors completed an online survey (sent to 30 clients and 80 tutors), with at least eight of these respondents also interviewed briefly by phone.
- Type of tutoring offered
- In-person
- Online
- Home schooling
- Learning centre
- UK areas covered in person
- London
- Home Counties
Who are they?
Sheila Allen and Julie Harrison began the company way back in 1989. Both have since stepped back and the key members of the team are now Karen Abbott (client services), Rosa Coakley (client services, part-time) and Pippa Harris (tutor manager). They
What do they offer?
Almost all subjects at all levels from primary through GCSE, A level, IB and Pre-U right up to university. Tutoring is also offered for 7-plus, 11-plus and 13-plus, as well as specific secondary school entrance exams and university/Oxbridge
- Revision courses
- 11 Plus
- GCSE
- A Level
- 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
- SEN
- Expert support for students with special educational needs
The finer details
Without doubt, the most thorough approach to recruitment, vetting and safeguarding that we’ve seen in any tutor company. Necessary because they work with local authorities and schools, and it provides extra reassurance for private clients. Not only
- Tutor Association
- Member of The Tutors’ Association
- Charitable/pro bono work
- One-off donations
Costs and conditions
No introductory or registration fee. Charges (if paid by direct debit) are £76.80 per hour for tutoring for primary to GCSE (of which the tutor gets £37 plus £8 travel); £85.20 for A level and Pre-U (of which the tutor gets £46 plus £8 travel);
- Cost
- £76-112/hour
£0 registration fee
What the tutor company says
‘We believe we provide a genuinely bespoke service to all our clients and have high professional standards in all that we do. We are a small team of enthusiastic people, ourselves parents, all with children or young adults of our own, and we pride
The last word
The gold standard. Ethical, professional and meticulous in every detail of its work from recruitment to matching and following up. Run by a lovely, dedicated bunch of people who, as one tutor put it, ‘care about every single child’. That so many
