How the UK’s Private School VAT Rise Is Turning More Families To Full-Time Tutors

Following Witherow Brooke’s recent interview in the Financial Times on the VAT rise affecting UK private schools, we bring a more detailed analysis of its implications for the tutoring industry and families in the UK.

The introduction of 20% VAT on private-school fees in the UK has changed how UK families think about education and the academic pathways open to them. The VAT increase has accelerated a move away from traditional schools and towards personalised, flexible, one-to-one tuition.

A Surge in Demand for Full-Time Tutors

From 2024 to 2025 we saw year-on-year monthly increase in enquiries from UK families seeking full-time tutors, and notably from August 2025 a sustained 3x multiple on UK full and part-time tuition enquiries.

Many families have cited sharply rising private-school fees as a key factor in their decision-making, including some who specifically mentioned VAT.

Homeschooling: Now Surprisingly More Economical for Large Families

An elite full-time, live-in tutor typically commands a salary of £120,000+ per year, historically a significantly more expensive option than private schooling. However, with many UK private schools now charging £40,000–£50,000 per child per year, plus the additional 20% VAT, the costs quickly add up for families with two or three children. For these families, bespoke homeschooling can actually be a more economical choice than private school, while also providing a tailored, academically accelerated education which can better fit into their lives.

The Rise of the “Hybrid Education Strategy”

One educational model which families are increasingly considering is to combine state school attendance, with the support of a dedicated full-time tutor, who can provide oversight of the child's school education and curriculum and make up for any shortcomings in the state system.

We are also seeing families use tutors for temporary homeschooling, removing a child from school for a focused period before reintegrating them once they are academically stronger and more confident.

One-to-One Tuition Has Become the Academic Norm

Over the past decade, one-to-one tuition has become mainstream. For competitive entrance exams: especially 11+, GCSEs, A-levels, and university admissions, a majority of students striving for top grades will be receiving some form of private tuition.

Parents are increasingly aware that students learn academic content far more quickly with one-to-one teaching where instruction can be tailored to each child’s learning style and at the correct pace for the student.

This awareness has made the idea of full-time, personalised education feel not only viable, but optimal.

A New University Admissions Reality

There is a growing belief among parents that attending a private school may in fact harm a student’s chances of admission to top universities. Whether or not this perception reflects reality, it is undeniably influencing educational decisions. When private schooling is seen as both expensive and potentially disadvantageous for elite university entry, many families understandably question its value.

This has helped fuel the surge in enquiries for alternatives such as homeschooling, hybrid models, and full-time personal tutors.

The UK’s private-school VAT rise has accelerated a broader shift in how families approach education. Increasingly, parents are prioritising flexibility, personalisation, and measurable outcomes over established models and formerly significant legacy considerations. Whether through full-time tutoring, hybrid approaches, or homeschooling, families are taking a more proactive role in shaping their children’s learning, and the landscape of UK education is evolving as a result.