What happened to First Tutors?
First Tutors closed in May 2026 after more than twenty years of operation. The platform is no longer available for tutors or students to use.
Looking for a First Tutors Alternative?
First Tutors shut down in May 2026 after more than twenty years. If you're a tutor or a student who relied on First Tutors, you're in the right place. Vital Educators is a free, verified UK tutoring marketplace that's actively welcoming everyone displaced by the closure.
Tutors — reclaim your reviews and start fresh
Your First Tutors reviews don't have to disappear. Vital Educators built a free migration tool specifically for this. If you have screenshots, email confirmations, or web archive links from your old First Tutors profile, our team will verify each review and publish it to your new Vital Educators profile.
How the migration works
- Create a free Vital Educators tutor profile.
- Visit the migration portal and submit each review with evidence.
- Our compliance team verifies every submission — no unverified reviews go live.
- Your verified reviews appear on your profile, visible to all searching students.
Joining Vital Educators is completely free. We charge tutors zero commission — every pound you earn from lessons stays with you.
Migrate your First Tutors reviews → Create a free tutor profile →
Students — find your new tutor today
If you were mid-search on First Tutors when it closed, the process starts fresh — but it doesn't take long. Vital Educators lists verified GCSE, A-Level, and primary tutors across the UK, both online and in person. Browse and message tutors completely free. When you've agreed to work together, pay a one-time finder's fee of £18.99 to unlock your tutor's direct contact details. No ongoing platform charges. No commission added to lesson fees.
How Vital Educators compares to First Tutors
| Feature | First Tutors (before closure) | Vital Educators |
|---|---|---|
| Tutor joining fee | Free | Free |
| Commission on lessons | None | None |
| Student fee | Finder's fee | One-time finder's fee (£18.99) |
| Tutor verification | References checked | References + ID + address checked by compliance manager |
| Review migration | Not applicable | Free migration tool — submit evidence, team verifies |
| Free student resources | None | Free GCSE and A-Level revision materials |
| Platform status | Closed May 2026 | Active and growing |
What makes Vital Educators different
Zero commission for tutors
Vital Educators charges tutors nothing beyond the initial registration. You set your rate, you keep everything you earn.
One fee for students
Pay £18.99 once to connect with a tutor. After that, you arrange lessons and payment directly — no ongoing platform involvement and no markup on lesson fees.
Manually verified tutors
Every tutor on Vital Educators goes through identity checks, address verification, and reference checks reviewed by our compliance manager before their profile goes live.
Free revision resources
GCSE and A-Level revision materials, past paper guides, and study resources are free for all students, with no account needed.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get my First Tutors reviews back?
Yes — partially. Vital Educators runs a free migration portal where tutors can manually submit their old First Tutors reviews with evidence (screenshots, email notifications, or web archive links). Our compliance team verifies each one before publishing it to your new profile.
Is Vital Educators free to join as a tutor?
Yes. Creating a tutor profile on Vital Educators is completely free. We charge zero commission on lesson earnings — everything you earn from students stays with you.
How much does Vital Educators charge students?
Students pay a one-time finder’s fee of £18.99 to unlock a tutor’s direct contact details. There are no ongoing platform charges, no lesson booking fees, and no commission taken from either party.
What subjects and levels does Vital Educators cover?
Vital Educators lists tutors for GCSE, A-Level, and primary education across a wide range of subjects — including Maths, English, Sciences, Languages, Humanities, and more. Search by subject, level, and location to find tutors near you or available online.
How are tutors verified on Vital Educators?
Every tutor must provide at least two references, proof of photo identity, and proof of address. All background checks are individually reviewed by our compliance manager before a profile goes live. Tutors who hold DBS certificates may have this noted on their profile.
Can I use Vital Educators for online tutoring?
Yes. All tutors can offer online lessons, and many are available nationwide as a result. Search and filter by online-only if you need a tutor regardless of location.
Ready to get started?
For tutors: Join free, migrate your First Tutors reviews, and start receiving enquiries.
Create a tutor profile Migrate reviews
For students: Search verified tutors across the UK — free to browse, with one finder's fee when you're ready.