Group classes or private lessons: which does my child actually need?

It's one of the first questions parents ask us, and it's a fair one. We offer both, and the honest answer is that neither is better than the other. They just suit different situations, and often different stages of the same child's journey. Here's how we think about it.

Private lessons are about one thing: your child, and exactly what they need. The tutor works at their pace, on their gaps, in their order. If a student has a lot of catching up to do, with fundamentals missing going back a few years, private lessons are usually where we'd start. A group can't slow down far enough to rebuild all of that without leaving your child behind, whereas one-on-one we can go right back to where things first came unstuck and fill it in properly. It's also the better choice when a child has lost confidence and needs a bit more patience and reassurance, or when scheduling is tricky. The trade-off is cost, since you're paying for undivided attention, but that attention is exactly what makes it work.

Group classes are a different thing altogether, and for a lot of students they're the sweet spot. They're smaller and more affordable, and they suit far more children than people expect. They work beautifully for students who are already doing well and want to stay sharp. But plenty of students sitting on 40s do really well in a group too. It all depends on what's behind the mark. If the problem is exam nerves, a few things they missed along the way, or simply not enough exam-style practice, a group is often exactly right: steady, regular work, plenty of practice, and the quiet reassurance of seeing other kids wrestling with the same things. It's only when the foundations are badly missing across the board that a group can't do enough, and that's an important case where we'd point you towards private lessons instead.

A lot of it also comes down to the child themselves. Some students love one-on-one attention and thrive with a tutor focused entirely on them. Others feel a bit under the spotlight like that, and actually relax and concentrate better in a group, where the attention isn't on them every second. Both are completely normal. Neither is the right way to learn, and it's worth paying attention to which one suits your child.

It's also worth saying that it isn't always a permanent choice. Plenty of our students start with private lessons to close a gap or rebuild confidence, then move into a group once they're back on steady ground. Others do their regular work in a group through the year, with a private lesson or two a week on top, or save the private sessions for the run-up to exams when they want focused help on specific topics. Our holiday boot camps are a good middle option too, for an intensive push over a school break. Mixing and matching is normal, not a sign that anything has gone wrong.

If you're not sure which is right for your child, that's the most common situation we see, and it's exactly the kind of thing we're happy to help you work out. We'd far rather have a proper conversation about where your child is at than steer you towards whichever option costs more. If we suggest group classes or private lessons, it's because we think it'll actually help. Get in touch and we'll point you in the right direction.