Kip McGrath Alternatives for UK and Australian Families (2026)

Kip McGrath has been tutoring children since 1976, when it started in Australia, and it now has more than 500 centres worldwide, including centres across the UK. The formula has stayed consistent: a free assessment by a qualified teacher, an individual programme in English or maths, and a weekly session in a centre or online.

That formula suits a lot of children. It also costs more per hour of teaching than some newer options. This guide sets out how Kip works, what it costs in pounds and Australian dollars as of October 2026, who it suits, and the alternatives worth comparing in each country.

How does Kip McGrath tutoring work?

Every child starts with a free, no-obligation assessment run by a qualified teacher. It is designed to identify where your child needs help, and the results are used to build an individual learning programme aimed at the gaps it finds.

After that, most children attend one session a week, focusing on one subject per session. Sessions mix computer-based activities with written work, homework is part of the programme, and parents get regular reports and updates. Kip's Australian site describes its online sessions as 60-minute weekly sessions with a qualified teacher, using an interactive whiteboard and the same materials used in centres.

Kip does not publish a tutor-to-child ratio on its pricing pages, and prices vary by location. Treat the figures below as recommended retail prices rather than what every centre charges, and ask your local centre how many children share a session.

How much does Kip McGrath cost?

Kip McGrath publishes a recommended retail price (RRP) in each country rather than a fixed price list.

The monthly figures are our arithmetic (RRP x 52 weeks / 12 months) and assume a session every week of the year. Centres may charge above or below the RRP, so ask for the local price in writing. A few other cost points from Kip's UK pricing page:

• Missed sessions are charged. If your child misses a session you still pay for it. Make-up options can be discussed with the centre director.
• The assessment is free and there is no obligation to enrol after it.
• Each session covers one subject. A child who needs both English and maths needs two sessions a week, which doubles the cost.

Who is Kip McGrath best for?

• Children with an unclear problem. Kip's assessment, run by a qualified teacher, is a genuinely useful free diagnostic. If you suspect a gap but cannot name it, that alone is worth the appointment.
• Children who respond to a teacher. Kip's assessments and online sessions are run by qualified teachers, according to its UK and Australian pages. For a child who has struggled with worksheets or apps, that experience shows.
• Families who want a centre nearby with an online fallback. Kip offers both, with the same materials, so a child can move online for a term without changing programme.
• Primary and lower secondary catch-up in English and maths. The programme covers these two subjects only, and it is built around closing gaps in them.

It is a weaker fit when you want help beyond English and maths, when a child needs undivided attention for the whole session, or when about £164 or A$338 a month for one weekly session in one subject is more than you want to spend.

What are the best Kip McGrath alternatives in the UK?

One-to-one online tutoring

At TaleemSquare the first step is also a free assessment: a 45-minute one-to-one session, with no card needed to book. Lessons are live, one-to-one and 45 minutes long, following the National Curriculum and GCSE. The Starter plan is £69 a month for two lessons a week, so a child gets 90 minutes of one-to-one teaching each week, compared with one 60-minute Kip session for about £164 a month at RRP. There is no registration fee and no contract, and you can cancel any time. See our page for UK families.

Explore Learning

Explore Learning runs tuition centres across the UK and sells monthly memberships. Group Maths and English membership is £124 a month for one session a week or £159 for two, with up to six children per tutor, and one-to-one membership starts at £159. There is no joining fee. It suits families who want a routine, a nearby centre and a clear national price list. Our Explore Learning alternatives guide covers it in detail, including cancellation terms.

Kumon

Kumon takes the opposite approach to Kip: short daily worksheets at home, with a weekly centre visit, rather than taught sessions. One Surrey centre lists £76 a month per subject plus a one-off £40 registration fee. It builds speed and fluency well, and it costs less than Kip for a child who will do the daily work. It does not diagnose and teach the way a Kip session does. See our Kumon alternatives guide, linked below.

A local tutor or a marketplace

For GCSE subjects beyond English and maths, or a specific exam board, a local tutor or a marketplace such as MyTutor gives you the most choice. Rates vary by region and level; our guide to maths tutor costs in the UK, linked below, explains the going rates.

What are the best Kip McGrath alternatives in Australia?

One-to-one online tutoring

In Australia, TaleemSquare's plans are A$130 a month for two 45-minute lessons a week, A$179 for three and A$229 for four, with lessons following the Australian Curriculum, the same free assessment first, no enrolment fee and cancel-any-time terms. Two lessons a week on the Starter plan cost less than half of a month of weekly Kip sessions at the A$78 RRP. See our page for Australian families.

Cluey Learning

Cluey is a well-known Australian online tutoring company. Its one-to-one sessions are one hour long and cost A$99 on the Standard plan (two sessions paid in advance) or A$86 on the Value Max plan (four in advance). You must give two or four sessions' notice to cancel, depending on plan, and prepaid sessions are used up during the notice period rather than refunded. It covers Years 2 to 12 and adds Chemistry, Biology and Physics for senior students. Our Cluey Learning alternatives guide has the full picture.

Kumon Australia

Kumon Australia lists its tuition fee as A$160 a month per subject, plus a A$100 enrolment fee; the diagnostic test is free. Fees are payable in advance and are not refundable. It is the lowest monthly figure here for a single subject, but it is worksheet practice rather than taught lessons.

A local tutor

For Years 11 and 12, a specialist in your child's exact course is often the right call. Our guide to maths tutor costs in Australia, linked below, covers typical hourly rates and how to check a tutor's credentials.

Kip McGrath or one-to-one online tutoring: how do the hours compare?

The simplest way to compare is teaching time per month at published prices.

The table is not the whole story. A Kip session mixes computer activities, written work and time with the tutor, in a centre with other children or online; a one-to-one online lesson is one tutor with one child for the full 45 minutes. Kip's assessment is run by a qualified teacher, which some parents value highly. But if your question is simply how much teaching you get for the money, one-to-one online comes out ahead.

What should you ask before you leave or join a centre?

• What is this centre's actual session price, and when did it last change?
• How many children share a session, and how much of the hour is spent with the tutor?
• What happens when we miss a session, and how many make-ups are allowed each term?
• How often will I get a progress report, and can I see the assessment results?
• How do I pause over the summer holidays, and what notice do I give to stop?

What to do next

1. 1Take the free Kip assessment if you have a centre nearby; the diagnosis is useful whatever you decide.
2. 2Ask the centre for its local session price, missed-session policy and notice period in writing.
3. 3Book a free 45-minute assessment with us and compare the two on teaching time per month. Full pricing for the UK and Australia is on one page.