Spires

Spires is an online tutoring marketplace founded in 2016 and based in London, UK. It positions itself at the premium, expert end of the market, connecting students with highly qualified tutors for one-to-one online lessons across academic and professional subjects. Spires runs a vetted marketplace rather than an agency, but applies rigorous selection so learners choose from a curated pool.

Students describe the help they need and tutors send personalised bids; students compare profiles, rates, and reviews, then arrange lessons. Classes are one-to-one and fully online, with an interactive whiteboard (BitPaper), screen sharing, and automatic recording for replay. Vetting is strict — the company says only about 7% of applicants are accepted after interviews, background checks, and teaching assessments, and many tutors hold postgraduate qualifications including PhDs. Spires supports 400+ subjects from secondary level through university and professional qualifications.

Pricing is auction-style: tutors set their own rates and Spires adds a percentage on top, so families balance price, experience, and availability. Payments are handled via Stripe. The company reports over 100,000 classes in 2024 delivered by around 1,000 vetted tutors across many countries. It suits students seeking high-level, specialist tutoring, including university and postgraduate learners.