ONLINE ONE-TO-ONE TUITION - Designing for effectiveness - 1. TERMS OF REFERENCE

Oct 20, 2026

A review of the available literature on the effectiveness of online one-to-one tuition for learners aged 7–14 (Key Stages 2 and 3) and on how the online environment may influence outcomes. The report outlines the Learner Support Business Unit’s MyTutor model, explains how UK education structures and assessment targets work, and defines common effectiveness measures such as educational achievement, classroom behaviour, and learner confidence. It also summarizes prior UK initiatives built around one-to-one intervention.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages10

Reading Time25 min

AccessFree to download

1. TERMS OF REFERENCE

2. THE LEARNER SUPPORT BUSINESS UNIT

Online one-to-one tuition purpose and context

3. THE STRUCTURE OF EDUCATION IN THE UK

Primary and secondary education transitions

Key Stage assessments and targets

4. ONE-TO-ONE TUITION

Effectiveness measures

UK initiatives based on one-to-one tuition

Centre for Education Research and Policy ONLINE ONE-TO-ONE TUITION Designing for effectiveness 1. TERMS OF REFERENCE The Learner Support Business Unit requested a review of the available literature 􀁸 on the effectiveness of one-to-one tuition for learners in Key Stages 2 and 3 (7-14 years old), and 􀁸 how the online environment may influence this effectiveness. In addition to fulfilling this request, this report offers a checklist of what represents good practice in one-to-one tuition in the offline and online environments for learners aged 7-14 years. 2. THE LEARNER SUPPORT BUSINESS UNIT AQA set up the Learner Support Business Unit (LSBU) in 2009 to provide online one-to-one tuition to learners in Key Stages 2 and 3 . It will launch with tuition in mathematics in June 2011, followed by English later the same year. Under the name MyTutor, the LSBU will provide a tutor-learner matching service and access to a learning platform, which will host online tuition sessions. The learning platform contains a shared whiteboard, audio and video facilities and the functionalities for viewing internet pages and sharing documents. It will be possible to conduct tutoring sessions in voice only mode (with visual aids) or with webcams so tutor and learner can see each other. BrightSpark Education offers a similar model of tuition using tutors based in India (Sellgren, 2010) . The company offers no evidence of efficacy beyond testimonials from satisfied customers. Online tuition makes one-to-one tutoring available to learners who are unable to access it due toa lack of tutors in their area, their remote location or because the cost of face-to-face tuition is prohibitive. Potentially, this model of tutoring may expand the market in tuition in the UK. 3. THE STRUCTURE OF EDUCATION IN THE UK In the UK, learners are in primary education between the ages of 5 and 11 and then progress to secondary school. Primary education consists of two years of study at Key Stage 1 and four years at Key Stage 2 . At the end of Key Stage 1 (6/7 years old), learners are assessed by their teachers and reports sent to their parents. Government-mandated national curriculum tests in English, mathematics and science are administered at the end of Key Stage 2 (10/11 years old) in addition to teacher assessments. The tests serve multiple purposes at these transition points in learners’educational careers. 􀁸 To show if a learner is working at, above or below the target level for their age. 􀁸 To help with decisions about streaming and provision of any additional learning support. 􀁸 As an indicator of the performance of primary schools. 􀁸 As a baseline for calculating the value added by secondary schools during Key Stages. Academic achievement in the Key Stage assessments and tests is measured in Levels. Most learners are expected to achieve Level 2 and Level 4 in the core subjects by the end of Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2, respectively. The implication is that moving through two levels in a Key Stage indicates satisfactory academic progress. The Department for Education sets targets for the percentages of learners achieving levels 2 and 4 each year. Responsibility for meeting these targets rests with schools and Local Education Authorities (LEAs) . Learners’progression may be monitored by the use of sub-levels within the Key Stage Levels. If used, there are three sub-levels (low, medium and high), which are assigned through teacher assessments only. From the age of 11 years, children attend secondary school. They start with three years in Key Stage 3 (11-14 years old) followed by two years in Key Stage 4 (14-16 years old) . During this part of their education, they further develop their cognitive and social skills through classes in specific subjects. Based on the government’s promotion of an English Baccalaureate, the core curriculum in Key Stage 4 is English, mathematics, the sciences, a foreign language and a humanity such as history o

FAQs

What does the review request focus on?

It focuses on the effectiveness of one-to-one tuition for learners in Key Stages 2 and 3 (7–14 years old) and on how the online environment may influence that effectiveness.

What is the MyTutor model described in the report?

The Learner Support Business Unit (LSBU) provides tutor–learner matching and access to an online learning platform with shared whiteboard, audio/video, and document sharing for tuition sessions.

How does the report define measures of one-to-one tuition effectiveness?

It commonly measures effectiveness through educational achievement, improved classroom behaviour (including attitudes and participation), and increased confidence, with confidence often reported anecdotally.

Oct 20, 2026

Uploaded by Alex Sinclair