Small-group classes vs 1-on-1 tutoring: which suits your child?

What a small group does well

Our groups are capped at four. That is small enough that nobody hides at the back, and every child is asked to speak, share their screen and explain their thinking. It is also large enough that a child hears three other ways of getting stuck, which is often exactly the way they were about to get stuck themselves.

Groups also bring a little healthy momentum. Children who would drift in a lesson alone tend to keep pace when others are building the same thing. For coding, robotics and design especially, showing a finished project to peers is a large part of the fun.

What 1-on-1 does well

A 1-on-1 class moves at exactly one child’s speed. The instructor can stay on one idea for twenty minutes, or skip a topic the child already knows. For a child who has fallen behind in maths, that is often the fastest way back, because the gaps are usually specific: fractions first, then the algebra that depends on them.

It also suits children who are anxious in groups, or who are working toward a fixed goal, such as SAT maths on a set date, where the timetable matters more than the company.

Which children do better in which

A small group tends to suit a child who is roughly level with their year, enjoys other children, and is motivated by seeing what others make. It also suits a child who is quiet at school. In a group of four, speaking up is expected but low-stakes, and many shy children find their voice there faster than in a class of thirty.

1-on-1 tends to suit a child who is two or more years behind or ahead of their age group, a child with attention difficulties who does better without distractions, or a teenager with a specific deadline. It is also the easier choice when your family’s available times are narrow, since there is no group timetable to match.

If you are unsure, start with a group. It is the cheaper experiment, and after a few classes the instructor can tell you honestly whether your child would move faster alone.

What it costs

A group class is $11 and a 1-on-1 class is $16. Both are 60 minutes and priced per class rather than as a subscription. The pricing page has the full breakdown, including course bundles.

Can you switch later?

Yes. Every course here runs in both formats, with the same syllabus. A common pattern is a few 1-on-1 classes to close a specific gap, then back to a group once the child is level with the material.

Online, not in person

Both formats are live video classes with a real instructor, never pre-made videos. That means no travel and a wider choice of times, and a parent can sit in. What it needs is a computer or laptop and a quiet place. A phone is not workable for coding, design or maths work.