GCSE results day: As it happened

It’s GCSE results day. With pupils across England receiving their grades, we’re looking forward to keeping you up to date today (Thursday 22nd August) with how pupils on our tutoring sessions have got on in this live blog. So keep refreshing the page and check back for updates! 

Celebrating pupils’ success

Results day is such an important date in the Action Tutoring calendar, and for all the pupils we support. It’s a day of celebration, recognising our pupils’ remarkable achievements, and a reminder of the work that’s still to be done. 

But for now, let’s take a moment to recognise all the hard work our pupils have put in to get to GCSE results day. And thank you to you, our community, for helping to make such a difference to every one of our pupils facing disadvantage. 

Live updates

9:08am: We’re getting the first quotes in from pupils across the regions where we provide tutoring sessions. This includes, Holy Family Catholic High School, Liverpool.

Luke is a Year 11 pupil at the school. He says:

“Action Tutoring helped me get a 6 in my Maths GCSE so I’m really happy.
Without Action Tutoring I don’t think I would have got this result. I’m really happy. Gillian (my tutor) was really nice and I’d like to say thanks to her. I’m going onto do A Levels and go on to do business at university.” – Luke, Year 11, Holy Family Catholic High School, Liverpool

Alfie, another Year 11 pupil at the school, says:

“Action Tutoring helped with little things I was stuck on, which I thought was really useful. It made a difference in my end result and I want to say thanks to my tutor for supporting me.”  – Alfie, Year 11, Holy Family Catholic High School, Liverpool

9:40am: We’re now getting results in from one of our Nottingham schools, Park Vale Academy.

One of the pupils we’ve spoken to is Alistair in Year 11. His results include a seven in English language, six in maths and five in English literature.

Alistair says:

“The tutors were very helpful, they’re nice people and they want you to achieve. If you want to achieve your desired grade, take up tutoring. So thank you very much.” – Alistair, Year 11, Park Vale Academy, Nottingham

Find out more about Alistair in the video below…

10:31am: We’re still getting more results through from pupils at Park Vale Academy.

Another of these pupils is Angelina in Year 11. She was tutored in maths by her tutor, Finn, who she says she’s really thankful for. Angelina, who would like to study educational psychology at university, says:

“I’m very happy with my grade 4 in maths. I’m really happy I achieved my target. I’m feeling very relieved with my results today. Tutoring helped me feel the least pressure I’ve ever felt. It’s also helped me feel unashamed of getting things wrong, which is very comforting. To those thinking of tutoring, just do it.” – Angelina, Year 11, Park Vale Academy, Nottingham

10:43am: Here’s a snapshot of just some of the pupils who’ve completed Action Tutoring sessions this academic year and who’ve received their results from Park Vale Academy. Congratulations to everyone!

10:54am: Back now to Holy Family Catholic High School, Liverpool. We caught up with Year 11 pupil, Megan, who says:

“I enjoyed tutoring. The sessions helped and made a difference in my grade. It boosted my confidence and allowed me to ask questions about things I didn’t understand.” – Megan, Year 11, Holy Family Catholic High School, Liverpool

11am: We’re really proud of what our pupils, tutors, partners and the wider Action Tutoring community have been able to achieve this year; all to enable our pupils to gain their results through tutoring. Take a look at some of the key statistics for those pupils who’ve sat their GCSEs this last academic year, below.

11:26am: Now to hear parents’ perspectives on GCSE results day. Parents of Year 11 Park Vale Academy pupil Holly, give their thoughts on how tutoring has helped their daughter achieve her grades this academic year. Watch the video below to find out more.

11:45am: Now to hear from pupils a little further north in the country – Sheffield.

Year 11 pupil Daniel, who attends Sheffield Park Academy, has received his desired grades today. Attending 12 Action Tutoring sessions, he’s achieved grade 4 in English Language, 5 in English Literature and 5 in maths.

Daniel, who would like to go on to study catering at college – and one day hopes to become a chef – says:

“I’m really happy with my results – it feels unreal, considering how long I’ve been studying for. This is great for my future. Tutoring helped with the English especially, as I got used to breaking down sources and I couldn’t do that before tutoring. Thank you to my tutor.” – Daniel, Year 11, Sheffield Park Academy

12:01pm: Back now to the Midlands and Nottingham, where we hear from Matty. Completing Action Tutoring sessions at Bramcote College, Matty has achieved his desired grades, including a 5 in maths and passing English Literature and Language. He says to any pupils who complete sessions with his tutor, Alan, that “whoever has Alan next, you’ll smash your exams.”

Watch the video from Matty below to find out more about how he got on.

12:15pm: We heard from Park Vale Academy pupil Holly’s parents earlier; now it’s Holly’s turn.

Year 11 pupil Holly, who achieved grade 4 in maths, says her tutoring has helped her take a path towards health and social care, which she’ll be studying at college.

Holly, who also has a keen passion for one day studying psychology and mental health, says:

“I passed everything. I’m happy. Tutoring helped my confidence, as I got to talk to different people in the group sessions who were also a similar ability. I definitely felt more comfortable thanks to tutoring. I’d say to anything thinking of doing it, definitely do it, if you have the chance. Thanks so much to my tutors and I appreciate what they’ve helped me achieve.” – Holly, Year 11, Park Vale Academy, Nottingham

12:30pm: We are taking a break for a little while, though we’ll look to return with further updates later today.

2pm: Welcome back to our blog. We’ll be sharing some more updates on GCSE results day below.

2:09pm: Heading to the south of England now, we’ve had some quotes today from one of our schools in London.

At St Saviour’s and St Olave’s School, Action Tutoring session pupil Ruby was really happy to pass and achieve a maths grade 6.

Year 11 pupil Ruby, who would one day like to become a PE teacher, says:

“I feel really good. I genuinely didn’t think I was going to pass. But tutoring has made a big difference. The sessions helped me break things down a lot more easily, whereas before tutoring, I didn’t understand the lessons. Thank you to our tutor too who was really nice. – Ruby, Year 11, St Saviours and St Olaves School, London

2:23pm: We’ve received some more pictures of our pupils at St Saviour’s and St Olave’s with their results today. Congratulations guys!

2:40pm: Heading west, we meet Year 11 pupil Charlie from Fairfield High School, Bristol.

Charlie says he didn’t expect to get his grade 5 in maths. He says thanks to his tutor Tony and the Action Tutoring sessions, this helped him achieve “more than a pass”.

Watch Charlie’s video below to find out more about him and his GCSE results.

4:02pm: Back at Park Vale Academy in Nottingham, we hear from Year 11 pupil, Riarna.

Riarna, who’d like to become an architect one day, has achieved a grade 6 in both her English Literature and English Language exams. She says she’s “really happy with my results” and after tutoring she “feels a lot better, happy and content”. She also acknowledges “the tutors are the best part of the sessions”.

Watch Riarna’s video to see why she recommends signing up to complete Action Tutoring sessions.

4:10pm: Back to Nottingham’s Bramcote College and to meet Year 11 pupil Stevie.

Stevie, who hopes to pursue a career in midwifery, achieved a grade 5 in maths today as part of GCSE results day.

Stevie says:

“I was initially in foundation and failing (maths) at the start of Year 10. I worked so hard and I got grade 5. Maths is a tricky subject, though all you need to do is work hard to achieve what you need. I’d just like to thank my tutor for the effort he put in. Whenever I said I was struggling, he helped.” – Stevie, Year 11 pupil, Bramcote College, Nottingham

5:26pm: There are no words to describe Nio’s tutoring experience better than Nio himself!

So over to the Year 11 pupil – who got a grade 6 in English Literature and a grade 5 in English Language – at Nottingham’s Park Vale Academy, to share below why you should sign up to be a volunteer tutor:

5:50pm: So that’s it from us today (Thursday 22nd August). We’re really grateful to everyone involved this academic year for their amazing efforts in helping our pupils to achieve the grades they deserve, and, feel the joy of tutoring.

*Check back on this page soon as while we are unable to make any guarantees at this stage, we may be sharing some further updates on Friday 23rd August regarding GCSE results day.*

Top quality GCSE tutoring: bringing Action Tutoring to your school

Are you looking for effective GCSE tutoring? Discover how Action Tutoring can provide high-quality support in maths and English for pupils facing disadvantage in your school. By partnering with us, you can offer targeted, impactful tuition to help your young people succeed.

Why choose Action Tutoring?

1. Proven impact: Our GCSE tutoring programmes have proven impact. Pupils who participate in ten or more sessions with Action Tutoring are significantly more likely to achieve a level 4 compared to other pupils facing disadvantage across the country. For instance, in maths, our pupils are 13 percentage points more likely to pass their GCSEs.
2. Tailored tutoring programmes: We offer flexible, small-group sessions tailored to the needs of each school and pupil. Our sessions, which can be conducted in-person or online, run before, during, or shortly after the school day, ensuring high attendance and engagement.
3. Minimal workload for schools: We handle the logistics and administration, allowing teachers to focus on their existing responsibilities. Our Programme Coordinators oversee the delivery and quality assurance of our sessions.
4. Low cost solution: We understand the current pressures on school budgets, so we fundraise to heavily subsidise the cost of our programmes, meaning schools pay just 30% of all costs.

Please note that if you’re a parent or pupil looking for a GCSE tutor, you will need to refer us to your school by emailing this guide, and ask them to get in touch.

How our GCSE tutoring programmes work

• Small group sessions: Our tutoring sessions are delivered in small groups, typically with a tutor-to-pupil ratio of no larger than 1:3. This allows for personalised attention and support, helping pupils to grasp complex concepts and build confidence.
• Comprehensive curriculum: Our curriculum is developed by specialist leads in maths and English, ensuring that the content is aligned with current educational research and best practices. In secondary schools, we focus on filling knowledge gaps and preparing pupils for their GCSEs, with resources that are continuously reviewed and updated.
• Flexible scheduling: We understand the importance of convenience and flexibility. Our sessions can be scheduled before, during, or shortly after the school day, based on what works best for your school and its pupils. We work closely with schools to ensure high attendance and engagement, with no sessions during school holidays.

The role of schools in our programme

1. Partnering with Action Tutoring means collaborating to identify young people who would benefit most from our support. We prioritise pupils eligible for Pupil Premium funding or Free School Meals, aiming to close the attainment gap. Our dedicated Programme Coordinators handle all logistics, from initial assessments to progress tracking, providing regular feedback to schools.

How schools interested in GCSE tutoring can partner with Action Tutoring

1. Contact us: Reach out to discuss your pupils’ needs and find out how our programmes can best support them. Please note that if you’re a parent or pupil looking for a GCSE tutor, you will need to refer us to your school and ask them to get in touch.
2. Select pupils: Identify the pupils who will participate, ensuring at least 65% are eligible for Pupil Premium funding.
3. Set up: We’ll arrange baseline assessments and work with you to schedule sessions. Our Programme Coordinator will be on-hand to support and manage the programme.

Why schools love Action Tutoring

“Action Tutoring gives pupils a real chance to engage in catch-up interventions which might otherwise not be available to Pupil Premium pupils. It’s a potential life-changer!”

— Steve Gittens, Executive Headteacher at Wallsend St. Peter’s, Newcastle

“Action Tutoring has helped raise the confidence and academic achievement of many of our Year 11 students. It is an extremely well organised organisation who we have had the pleasure of working with for several years!”

— James Kennedy, Key Stage 4 Leader, King Edward VII School, Sheffield

Ready to get started?

If you’re interested in bringing Action Tutoring to your school, any staff member from the school can get in touch with us today. We offer heavily subsidised rates, ensuring our high-quality programmes are accessible to schools facing budget constraints.

By partnering with Action Tutoring, your school can provide invaluable support to pupils who need it most, helping them to achieve their academic potential and succeed in their GCSEs. 

Hidden disadvantage, visible impact: Action Tutoring is tackling rural educational challenges

In the realm of educational support, the challenges faced by rural and coastal communities often fly under the radar. While urban areas frequently dominate discussions about educational disadvantage, we at Action Tutoring, also want to shed light on the unique hurdles faced by pupils in more remote locations.

Rural inequity in education is a complex issue, often invisible to traditional metrics like Pupil Premium percentages. It manifests in hidden disadvantage such as families relying on seasonal employment, more limited access to resources and a smaller choice, and therefore competition, of schools.

Recognising this gap, Action Tutoring has expanded its reach to more rural settings in areas such as Devon and Cumbria, and will continue to extend this reach in the coming academic year. This initiative marks a significant step in addressing the educational needs of pupils in rural and coastal areas, bringing targeted support to communities where it’s desperately needed but often overlooked.

A coastal example

Kingsbridge Community College in Devon has worked with Action Tutoring since April 2024. It is one of 5 colleges we now work with in the county. Tina Graham, Principal at Kingsbridge, shared her insights on the transformative impact of their first term with Action Tutoring. She tells of how this partnership is not just boosting academic performance, but also building confidence and engagement among pupils facing unique challenges.

Despite a relatively low Pupil Premium percentage, Kingsbridge faces unique challenges.

“We first started working with Action Tutoring because we liked the ethos of the organisation. The charity uses specifically trained volunteer tutors with a focus on pupils who are facing disadvantage.“

“Because we are located in a rural, coastal town, there is a significant amount of hidden disadvantage. We see lots of families rely on seasonal employment and often families are not eligible for state support but they spend many months of the year in financial hardship. We are continually looking for ways to support the pupils from those families.”

The principal’s enthusiasm for the program is evident. “Our experience of Action Tutoring has been absolutely fantastic. It is a professional and solution-focused organisation. Our programme coordinator, Lauren, has been absolutely phenomenal. She keeps the pupils at the heart of everything and has built fantastic relationships with other members of staff in the college.“

Visible impact on student engagement

The positive effects of tutoring have been remarkable. “We’ve seen a significant boost in student confidence,” Ms Graham notes. “Even initially reluctant pupils are now actively engaging in their work”. This improvement extends beyond tutoring sessions. “Our pupils have responded really well to the tutoring and we have seen a positive impact. Most were well engaged at the start but some really lacked confidence. The tutoring has built this confidence up and we can see that they are much happier and more able to converse with their tutors.

“We have had some pupils who were reluctant to do any work, and reluctant to pick up their pens in their normal lessons but who are now much more able to engage with their work after the tutoring. We also felt that the tutoring gave the Year 10 pupils much more confidence when they came to sit their end of year exams.“

The principle was not the only staff member whom the effects of tutoring had made an impact on. She noted that the English department heads had been monitoring the tutoring closely and were really impressed. “They have both noticed the shift in engagement levels of the pupils who are receiving the support.“

Building lasting relationships

Ms Graham concludes with heartfelt gratitude: “We wholeheartedly recommend Action Tutoring to other colleges. The volunteer tutors have built remarkably strong relationships with our pupils, evident in the pupils’ eagerness to return each week.

“Because of our experience we would absolutely recommend Action Tutoring to other colleges. I’d like to say a huge thank you to the volunteer tutors who have supported our pupils. They have built such strong, remarkable relationships and that is evident in the fact that the pupils want to come back each week.”
Action Tutoring’s success at Kingsbridge Community College demonstrates the power of targeted support in addressing educational disparities, particularly in rural and coastal areas facing hidden disadvantages.

Continuing to reach rural communities

As Action Tutoring expands its partnerships in Devon and other rural areas, we have the potential to make a significant impact on closing the attainment gap in these often-underserved communities. We recognise that equity in education isn’t just about targeting obvious areas of deprivation. It is also about reaching into communities where challenges may be less visible but equally impactful. We are hopeful that this initiative could serve as a model for addressing rural educational inequity on a broader scale.

Fundraisers tackle Hackney Half to end education inequality

The atmosphere for the Hackney Half marathon was electrifying. A field of over 20,000 runners were ready to push their minds and bodies to the finish line. Among them, our dedicated Action Tutoring team – a powerful force of 10 volunteers, staff members, QBE corporate partner employees, and supporters.

Buzzing atmosphere

The energy of thousands of cheering fans at the Hackney Half marathon was contagious. Joining the high spirits to support our fundraisers was our Corporate Partnerships Coordinator, Anisa. 

“There was an incredible buzz not just at the event, but across the whole neighbourhood! It was so inspiring to see the sea of coloured t-shirts for the many charities people were supporting.”
Anisa

Our very own London Senior Programme Coordinator, Amber, echoes the positive vibes of race day.

“This was my first half marathon, and it was an amazing experience from start to finish! The atmosphere on the day was fantastic, with live music, cheering crowds, and plenty of water and sweets to keep me going.”
Amber

Challenging conditions

The relentless sun beat down on the runners throughout the race. However, our QBE fundraiser, Michael, bravely didn’t let the heat stop him from getting his personal best (PB)!

“The weather on race day was a scorcher, which was great for the spectators, but made the running conditions a bit more challenging! I am very happy to have completed the race without stopping in 2:12. Not bad for a first attempt!”
Michael

Highly recommended!

For those seeking personal growth and a rewarding feeling, Michael suggests taking on a similar challenge.

“The event was great fun and very well organised with amazing support throughout the race and music/food/drink all going on at the finish line. I would highly recommend signing up to any future events.

I would also like to thank Action Tutoring for making this happen. I hope the money raised will go some way in helping support your pupils and volunteers!”
Michael

Amber, who has first-hand experience with the transformative power of tutoring, also reflects on this impactful experience.

“It was wonderful to run for a purpose and fundraise for a cause I truly care about. As someone who has tutored in various schools, I’ve seen the positive impact these sessions have on pupils.”
Amber

Fundraising champions

The Hackney Half team raised an incredible £3,197, rising to £3,757 with Gift Aid. This incredible amount could provide 648 high quality workbooks for our volunteer tutors, or could provide a full year of tutoring for 7 pupils.

A special thank you to QBE, of which Action Tutoring is the UK community partner of their Foundation, for matching their employee, Michael’s, donations!

“A huge congratulations to our team who ran in the Hackney Half marathon for our vital cause. We admire your outstanding training and fundraising efforts. We couldn’t achieve a world in which no child’s life chances are limited by their socio-economic background without you. Thank you!”
Hannah O’Neill, Head of Philanthropy

Get involved

Are you inspired to take on a sponsored challenge for Action Tutoring? 

You can support young people who need it most by fundraising for a challenge such as a hike, cycle, walk, or run. Find out more and become a fundraiser below.