Private tutoring is a significant household expense for many UK families, with one-to-one tuition typically costing £30-£80 per hour and group sessions £15-£40. Tutoring contracts vary enormously — some are informal arrangements with a single tutor, others are structured agreements with established tutoring agencies offering longer-term packages, online platforms, or exam preparation programs. The fee and payment terms are the most common source of dispute. Parents commit to packages with upfront payments, only to find that the tutor cannot deliver the scheduled sessions, that cancellation policies are very restrictive, or that refund terms are difficult to enforce. UK consumer law provides meaningful protections, but only if the contract is structured clearly.
What is a Fees and Payment?
A UK private tutor contract is a consumer contract for the supply of educational services, governed by the Consumer Rights Act 2015 (CRA), the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013 (CCRs), and the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 for online/distance contracts. The tutor or agency must provide pre-contract information about price, payment terms, duration, and cancellation rights. For online and at-home tuition, the consumer has a 14-day cooling-off right under the CCRs unless they waive it to begin services. The CRA requires services to be provided with reasonable care and skill and within a reasonable time. Unfair terms (CRA Part 2) are unenforceable.
Red flags to watch for
Many tutoring agencies require upfront payment for 10, 20, or 50 hours. If the contract does not provide for proportionate refund of unused hours on cancellation, it likely contains an unfair term under the Consumer Rights Act 2015. Unused services that have been paid for must be refundable on cancellation, less reasonable administrative costs.
Cancellation fees should be proportionate to the tutor's actual loss. A full-fee charge for a lesson cancelled days in advance is likely unfair under the CRA. Typical fair terms charge full fee only for very short notice (e.g., under 24 hours) and partial or no fee for earlier cancellation.
The CCRs 2013 require all charges to be disclosed before the consumer commits to the contract. Charges added later — for assessment, materials, registration — that were not in the initial price are likely unenforceable.
Auto-renewing tutoring packages are now subject to the DMCC Act 2024's subscription rules. The consumer must receive reminder notices before renewal, must have an easy cancellation mechanism, and may have a cooling-off right at renewal for long-term contracts.
Parents typically engage a tutor based on specific qualifications and experience. A clause allowing the agency to substitute another tutor without consent is generally unfair under the CRA, particularly if the substitute does not have equivalent qualifications.
If the contract makes specific promises about outcomes — exam grade improvements, university admission — those are contractual obligations under the CRA. A 'no refund' clause that overrides these specific promises is likely an unfair term.
Tutors and tutoring agencies owe duties of care to children. A liability waiver attempting to exclude liability for negligence causing injury cannot be enforced under the Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977. Safeguarding obligations also derive from regulatory frameworks where the tutor works with vulnerable groups.
Your legal rights
UK private tutor contracts are governed by: the Consumer Rights Act 2015 (CRA) — services must be provided with reasonable care and skill, fees must be reasonable, unfair terms unenforceable; the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013 (CCRs) — pre-contract information, 14-day cancellation for distance/online contracts; the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 — auto-renewal and subscription rules; the Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977 — exclusions of liability for negligence are unenforceable; safeguarding requirements where the tutor works with children (DBS checks for regulated activity); the General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and Data Protection Act 2018 for handling of student data. The CMA, Trading Standards, and individual consumer rights of action are available remedies.
Questions to ask before you sign
- 1What is the full cost including any registration, materials, or assessment fees?
- 2What are the cancellation terms, and what is the refund for unused hours if you cancel a multi-hour package?
- 3What is the per-lesson cancellation policy, and how does it compare to typical industry norms?
- 4Does the contract auto-renew, and if so, what notice and cooling-off rights apply?
- 5Can the tutor substitute another tutor, and if so, with what notice and consent requirement?
- 6Is the tutor DBS-checked (if working with children in person), and is that confirmed in the contract?
- 7Are there any guarantees about outcomes, and what happens if those guarantees are not met?
Disclaimer: This guide is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Contract law varies by jurisdiction and individual circumstances. Always consult a qualified legal professional before making decisions based on this information.