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Female tutor and two young children
Portraits of Lionheart Tutors

Why Fit Comes First

Plenty of families come to us after a tutor who looked right on paper and never quite worked for their child. Qualifications are rarely the problem. Fit usually is.

So we start with the child: how they think, what holds their attention, how quickly they like to move and what they are working towards. Only then do we look at tutors, and we look past subject expertise to the things that decide whether lessons land, such as how someone explains an idea and how they handle a child who has stopped engaging.

A good match shows within a few sessions. The tutor understands how the student reasons, adjusts without being asked, and the student starts doing more of the work themselves.

It is why 98% of families stay with the first tutor we recommend.

 

“A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.”

Henry Adams
The Education of Henry Adams (1907)

How we select our tutors

Most agencies recruit on CVs and tutoring hours. Both matter, but neither tells you how someone behaves in a room with a student who would rather be anywhere else. We built our own selection process to find that out.

  • Initial vetting process

    Number 1

    Fewer than 10% of applicants are invited to interview.

    We look for Oxbridge graduates or candidates with equivalent academic distinction. Credentials alone will not get anyone through. We also want people children actually want to learn from, which usually means warmth and a real curiosity about their subject.

  • Three-stage interview

    Number 2

    Three interviews bring the candidate pool below 5%.

    Candidates teach mock lessons, so we see their method rather than hear it described. We watch how they adjust to a student who learns differently and how clearly they explain difficult material when the first explanation does not work. The strongest candidates leave a student wanting to keep going.

  • Enhanced background checks

    Number 3

    A safe learning environment is non-negotiable.

    Every tutor holds an enhanced DBS check. We verify qualifications, take detailed references from academic institutions and previous employers, and speak to referees directly. A reference form rarely tells you how reliable someone is or how students responded to them. A conversation usually does.

  • Continuous investment in our tutors

    Number 4

    We keep tutors for the long term, and we keep working with them.

    Hiring is where our relationship with a tutor starts. We run regular satisfaction surveys with families, stay in close contact throughout every placement and give tutors ongoing professional development. If something is not working, we tend to hear about it early and act on it.

Lionheart School Daily Life

Lionheart Tutors

"Our tutors are not only educators. They are writers, musicians, directors, scientists and professional athletes. We believe their lives beyond teaching make them richer mentors — people who model curiosity, discipline and ambition in a way students instinctively respond to."

Oliver Gilsenan Managing Director

The Lionheart standard

  • 98% of families stay with the first tutor we recommend.
  • 100+ Subjects and specialisms taught, from 7+ to undergraduate level and beyond.
  • 16 Countries where our tutors currently support families in person or online.
  • 12 The average number of years’ tutoring experience our tutors have.

Questions parents ask about our tutors

  • What happens if the tutor isn't the right fit?

    Tell us. We will talk it through with you and the tutor, and if a change is needed we will recommend someone else. Nobody should persevere with a match that isn’t working out of politeness.

  • Can we speak to a tutor before lessons begin?

    Yes. Once we have recommended a tutor, we can arrange an introductory conversation so you and your child can get a sense of them first. It’s a chance to ask questions and check the match feels right before anything is booked.

  • Do your tutors work in person or online?

    Both. Our tutors teach in person across London and online, and currently support families in 16 countries. Families can also combine the two, with online sessions covering the weeks when travel or term dates get in the way.

  • Do you have tutors with experience of SEND?

    Yes. Many of our tutors work with children with autism, ADHD and other additional needs, and we match on that experience specifically. You can read more about our support for special educational needs.

Black Cover Picture

The right tutor changes everything

Some children need stretching. Others need steadiness, or a reason to believe they can do this again. Tell us about your child and we will tell you honestly what kind of tutor would help, and whether one is needed at all.

How can we help?