Explore Learning

What Explore Learning is

Explore Learning is a UK tutoring company that teaches math and English to children aged 4 to 16, either in one of its tuition centers or online. It is a product for parents choosing tutoring for a child, not a platform for independent tutors to sell their own lessons: Explore employs and trains the tutors, sets the curriculum and runs the learning software. The homepage headline reads "Expert maths and English tuition for ages 4-16. Available online or in-centre." The company footer gives Explore Learning Ltd as the operator, with a head office in Whiteley (postcode PO15 7PD) and a UK company registration number. The careers page adds that tutors must be at least 16 because this "is a requirement of our registration with Ofsted", so the company is registered with Ofsted.

The scale is stated on the homepage: "In the last 25 years, more than 450,000 families have trusted Explore Learning tuition," and center sessions "take place in 95 locations across the UK," with London, Birmingham and Manchester named as examples. The homepage also shows a Trustpilot badge reading "Rated Excellent on Trustpilot."

What a child and a parent get

Tuition is organized into three programs on the homepage: Maths & English ("Truly individualised tuition for ages 4-16"), 11+ & Entrance Exams ("Trusted, effective exam preparation"), and GCSE & Nat 5 ("Secure the maths grade with expert support"). The FAQ describes coverage of "the primary curriculum and early secondary curriculum in English and maths in England," listed as Key Stage 1, Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 3 math and English. Exam work covers SATs, the 11+, entrance exams and GCSE math. For families in Scotland, the site says Explore "covers maths and English from P1 to S3 and provides focused support for National 5 maths." The careers page puts the same range in school years: tutors "Cover the UK maths and English school curriculum from Reception to Year 11."

The two delivery modes are set out plainly. In a center, the careers page describes tutors teaching the KS1 to KS3 curriculum "to groups of 6 children," so center sessions are small-group rather than one-to-one. Online, tutors teach the same KS1 to KS3 curriculum "from your own home using our smart learning tool and video stream." GCSE math is the exception: the careers page says tutors teach "our GCSE maths curriculum one to one, online from your own home." Parents weighing the two modes should read that difference closely, because it decides whether a child shares a tutor with five other children.

Underneath both modes sits Compass, which the site calls "Explore's award-winning learning technology" and "smart learning tool." The FAQ says Compass "adapts their learning to keep them moving forward at the right pace," and the homepage promises: "We understand exactly where your child is, then adapt learning to their strengths, gaps and pace." For tutors, the careers page frames the same tool as "We plan, you deliver": the software prepares the work so that the tutor can concentrate on the conversation with the child.

Progress reporting is part of the offer. The homepage says "Clear progress reports show exactly what your child has mastered, and what they're working towards next," and parents can "Stay connected to your child's progress with the Explore Learning app." The site also names a Members' Area with a member portal login and a refer-a-friend scheme for existing families.

Explore Learning puts weight on children who learn differently. The FAQ describes it as "one of the UK's leading tutoring providers supporting children who learn differently," providing "a nurturing environment for children with SEND and those in home education." It adds that "Expert tutors take the time to understand each child's needs and help them feel safe, seen and ready to learn." SEND Support and Home Education each have their own section of the site.

Results, pricing and the trial

The homepage publishes three outcome figures under the heading "Proven, visible progress": "21 months' progress in a year," "90% pass SATs vs 74% nationally," and "+1 grade higher than predicted in GCSE maths." The FAQ repeats the first in fuller form: "our members make an average of 21 months' progress in a single year," crediting "brilliant tutors, personalised learning through Compass" and "a consistent rhythm of support." These are the company's own figures about its members; the pages do not describe how they were measured.

On price, the FAQ answers directly that "The cost of tuition at Explore Learning depends on your location, the type of membership you choose, and whether your child learns in-centre or online." The site publishes no fixed price on these pages. The route in is a free trial: "It's a chance for your child to meet our team, try maths and English activities on Compass," and parents can "talk through your child's needs, ask questions, and understand the options available with no commitment." The site also lists a Financial Support page alongside its pricing section.

On timing, the FAQ says a child can start "whenever they are ready." Some families join in primary school for a specific need "such as phonics or times tables," others to "build confidence, prepare for the transition to secondary school, or give a curious learner more room to grow."

Who the tutors are

The homepage says "Every Explore tutor is carefully chosen, trained and trusted to guide your child's progress. They are maths and English specialists," and that "Explore tutors teach children how to learn. They model problem solving, build resilience and make difficult ideas suddenly feel possible."

The careers page shows how that works in practice. Applicants submit an application, then "Complete an assessment" made up of "a short series of maths and English based exercises," and finally meet recruiters by video call. In-person tutors must be at least 16 and online tutors 17 or over. Contracts guarantee "a minimum of 6 hours per week," and the page says "most of our tutors work 10-12 hours per week" on regular shifts. A typical center has "a leadership team of one Centre Director, one Assistant Director and a team of 15-30 part-time tutors, depending on the number of members that attend the centre." Two tutor testimonials appear, from Wahida ("Explore Learning Tutor for 2 years") and Nadia ("Explore Learning Tutor for 7 years"), who mentions completing a postgraduate degree in primary education alongside the job.

For parents, that profile matters: center tutors are mostly part-time staff working inside a structured system in which Compass plans the work. Explore's answer to that is Compass doing the planning and the center leadership doing the supervision.

The careers page also lists employer recognition: "Sunday Times 25 Best Big Companies to work for 2019," "Glassdoor 2018 Best Places to Work," and "Target Jobs UK 300 Top Employer 2022/23," noting that Target Jobs and The Cibyl Graduate Research UK survey named it one of the top 300 employers in the UK. These are employer awards, not measures of tutoring quality.

Who it suits and who it does not

Explore Learning suits UK parents of children between 4 and 16 who want regular, structured math and English support aligned with the national curriculum, with a progress report and an app to follow along. It fits families preparing for SATs, the 11+, entrance exams, GCSE math or National 5 math, and families of children with SEND or in home education who want a supportive setting. Families who live near one of the 95 centers can choose small-group sessions in person; others can take the online version.

It suits less well a parent who wants one-to-one teaching with a qualified teacher for every session, since center tuition runs in groups of six and the tutors are largely part-time staff. It covers math and English only (with GCSE limited to math), so a family looking for science, languages or GCSE English needs another provider. Families outside the UK will find the curriculum built around England and Scotland. And because prices depend on location and membership and are explained during the free trial, a parent comparing costs across several services will need to book that trial before seeing a figure.