News

What we have achieved: Our 2023-24 impact report

6 February 2025

Education has navigated numerous challenges in recent years, ranging from Covid’s effects, to ever tightening school budgets. Pupils who face disadvantage have been particularly affected. In spite of these hurdles, we are immensely proud of the impact we continue to have on the young people who need it the most. The release of our 2023-24 impact report – which we are now able to share with you – demonstrates how tutoring continues to empower.

Solid foundations

Committed to narrowing the attainment gap in English and maths, we have built up a robust evidence base, over 12 years in operation. Our latest impact report shows we have a foundation of evidence and a proven solution – tutoring with volunteers works.

In summary: our impact report

So, read on to discover the key headlines which highlight our consistent commitment to supporting pupils, partner schools, and volunteers, during this past academic year.

The headline figures

In 2023-24, our Year 6 and Year 11 pupils significantly outperformed the national benchmarks for pupils facing disadvantage.

Additionally:

  • Our programmes reached pupils located across 11 main cities and areas.
  • We also established programmes in new locations including Devon, Stockport and West Cumberland.
  • Year 6 pupils completing the tutoring programme in reading almost completed the gap nationally. These pupils are record-breakers! They achieved the best outcome Action Tutoring has ever reported for reading at key stage 2.

As well as this success:

  • Primary age pupils tutored in maths were 20% more likely to meet the expected standard than other children.
  • After completing our programme, secondary age pupils were more likely to pass the GCSE in their tutored subject, compared with other pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds nationally.

The above graphic is also crucial because:

  • Teachers choose children to take part in Action Tutoring programmes who they know are at a particular risk of not meeting this benchmark in their key stage 2 SATs. This makes their achievement all the more meaningful.

Fantastic feedback

If you want to see the impact we have on teachers and the tutors who volunteer on our programmes, then read this glowing endorsement for 2023-24, below:

  • 8.4/10 – teachers’ average score for our charity’s impact on their pupils.
  • 9.4/10 – tutors’ average score for whether they would recommend volunteering with us to a colleague or friend.
  • 9.4/10 – teachers’ average score for Action Tutoring when asked if our staff were well organised.

Read our 2023-24 Impact Report

Looking ahead

Now in its 13th year, Action Tutoring is entering a new chapter following the ending of the National Tutoring Programme in summer 2024. This brings new challenges and new opportunities for the 2024-25 academic year.

We are continuing to consolidate our work and ensure a strong platform for future growth. We remain committed to our strategy which focuses on four key areas: reach, growth, impact and advocacy. It enables us to keep a laser focus on our mission, ensuring we are having a meaningful impact on the young people we support, and are continuously striving to reach more.

The top lines for our our future – within our four key areas – include:

  • Advocacy: In 2024-25 we will continue to campaign and seek to engage politicians and key decision makers, advocating for extended government investment in state school tutoring.
  • Reach: In the year ahead we plan to expand the locations we are working in, especially to reach more rural and coastal areas to support pupils who are often facing hidden disadvantages.
  • Impact: We are continuing to refine our tutoring resources, pupil assessments and volunteer development to further improve pupil outcomes.
  • Growth: We remain committed to our ambition for growth, whilst ensuring that our targets can be reached sustainably and that we can overcome the external barriers we face.

Thank you

We hope you enjoy reading through the publication and reflecting on our work together. 

Get involved: Ways you can join our mission

There are many different ways you can help us to build a brighter future through tutoring. Read on to find out how you can become involved.

Sign up to volunteer

Ready to volunteer on one of our programmes?

By volunteering for just one hour a week, either school or online, you will:

  • Transform the lives of pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds.
  • Give pupils hope in their education.
  • Share that lightbulb moment, when a pupil exclaims, ‘I get it’.
  • Experience the joy of tutoring.

Thank you!

Spread the word

We would love you more broadly to spread the word on all that we do with those you know. Whether it’s your friends, family, colleagues, or someone you know who works in education or at a school, it all helps.

Here are some other ways you can support us this year.

Share our blog

One of the best ways to spread the word on what we do, is by reading and sharing our blog.

Whether case studies, policy and curriculum, or, fundraising, there’s always something worthwhile.  

Recommend us to a school

Do you know of a school, or a teacher who could benefit from our work? Why not recommend us to them! They can simply email: schoolenquiries@actiontutoring.org.uk, call 0300 102 0094, or send them the link to the form below.

Share our socials

Want to get social and keep up to date on all things impact at Action Tutoring? Simply click on the icons below to follow our channels and share our social posts today.

Fuelling futures, month by month: how Payroll Giving powers Action Tutoring

31 January 2025

Every February, charities, Payroll Giving agencies, professional funding organisations, and companies come together to raise awareness of Payroll Giving.

Payroll Giving (sometimes known as Give as You Earn) is an easy and tax-efficient way of making regular donations to your favourite charities straight from your gross pay. There are many benefits to this form of giving, and at Action Tutoring, we advocate it as an efficient and effortless way to support our mission and help us tackle the attainment gap head-on. Read on to learn about Payroll Giving and how you can set it up in three simple steps!

Impactful giving

Supporting Action Tutoring through payroll giving allows us to continue our vital work across the country, supporting over 5,700 pupils to achieve their dreams. We believe that pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds do not lack the drive or ambition, but the resources to help them succeed academically. A steady donation stream coming in monthly allows us to plan ahead with this vital work, and a seemingly small monthly contribution can add up to make a real difference in a child’s life.  

At a glance: Where your money goes

  • £5 a month could provide a high quality workbook to one of our pupils, each month.
  • £10 a month could provide a DBS check for a volunteer tutor, each month.

Convenience and ease

Donating to Action Tutoring by a Payroll Giving Scheme is super easy and convenient! Donations are taken straight from your gross salary (before your tax is deducted) which provides you with immediate tax relief on your donations. 

Depending on your individual tax situation, you could receive tax relief on each one of your donations. Take the example of a high tax rate such as 40% to begin: on a £20 pledge you could reclaim £8 from your tax bill, effectively reducing your net contribution to £12. With Payroll Giving, regardless of whether your tax situation is higher (45% allows £9 tax relief from £20) or lower (20% allows £4 tax relief from £20), your donation will go further at less of a cost to you.

Image of a smiling tutor and pupil in an Action Tutoring session

Set up Payroll Giving today!

You can set up payroll giving by following these three easy steps.

  1. Check your employer is signed up to a Payroll Giving Agency, like the Charities Aid Foundation.
  2. Ask your payroll team to set you up on payroll giving. It’s as simple as ticking a box on your payroll system!
  3. Choose Action Tutoring as your charity of choice and set the amount you want to give each payday. No matter how big or small, your donation will make a difference.

Please share this with others too, by resharing the blog on social media and engaging with our content about Payroll Giving this month on Action Tutoring’s social media platforms, using the hashtag #PayrollGivingMonth.

Image of a tutor and pupil at an Action Tutoring

What difference can your donation make?

“Payroll Giving is a great way to support Action Tutoring. These donations enable us to plan ahead with our vital work. It’s a really effortless way for employees to donate to us and helps us reach more pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds to achieve their dreams.”

Mollie Vessey, Corporate Partnerships Manager

Behind the scenes: how we create Action Tutoring’s annual impact report

22 January 2025

At Action Tutoring, our annual impact report is more than just a document – it’s a story of progress, achievement, and the power of collective effort. Published each January, it reflects on the previous academic year, sharing our social impact with a wide-ranging audience. But how does this report come together? Let’s take you behind the scenes to see how we create an impact report.

Creating an impact report: step-by-step

Step 1: Gathering the data

The journey begins in September, as the dust settles from the previous academic year. This is when we start collecting and analysing results:

  • GCSE and SATs outcomes from our pupils.
  • Data about our volunteers, such as the hours they’ve given, and the areas we’ve reached.
  • Insights into the percentage of pupils receiving Pupil Premium funding.

Our Impact and Evaluation team dives into the data, ensuring it’s meticulously analysed to tell the clearest story of what we’ve achieved.

Step 2: Learning from feedback

Even before we start drafting, we take stock of how last year’s report was received. Feedback is gathered from internal teams and external stakeholders, guiding improvements and identifying areas to highlight in the next edition. Alongside this, we maintain an ideas log of themes, stories, and messages to include.

Step 3: Shaping the story

In autumn, we hold a stakeholder meeting with various colleagues from across the organisation to define the report’s structure. Together, we agree on:

  • The key chapters and headings.
  • An outline of content flow across the pages.
  • The overarching themes and messages we want to convey.
  • The production approach and timeframes.

This process helps us map out the narrative, ensuring the report has a cohesive flow and delivers maximum impact.

Step 4: Crafting the content

Creating the content is a collaborative effort involving teams across the organisation. Each contributor is given:

  • Indications on the key topics to cover.
  • A word limit for their section.
  • Guidelines for sourcing relevant images.

Once the first draft is ready, it undergoes a review process, where contributors and stakeholders ensure it resonates with the audience and aligns with our mission. All the data, analysis and facts are cross-checked and external references verified. 

Step 5: Bringing it to life

We work with an external designer who knows our brand inside out. Their job is to transform the text into an accessible, visually engaging report that’s a joy to read, and aligns with Action Tutoring’s look and feel. From infographics to doodles, every page is designed to draw readers in, make the content come alive and ensure the content is easily understood.

Step 6: Final touches and launch

After multiple rounds of proofing, the final version is signed off. Then we prepare a launch communications plan, including:

  • Social media graphics and animations.
  • Email campaigns.
  • Blog posts (like this one!).
  • Mailing of hard copies.

Finally, we distribute the report and ensure our staff are fully briefed to discuss its findings confidently with our audience. We also audit our website and other presentations and materials to ensure the stats and facts are updated in line with the new report.

What’s inside?

Our impact report is a treasure trove of insights, including:

  • The outcomes of our tutoring programmes for pupils.
  • Stories and quotes from volunteers, schools, and stakeholders.
  • Highlights of our advocacy work.

Looking ahead

Once the report is published, we immediately begin gathering feedback for the next edition. Why? Because at Action Tutoring, we’re committed to constant improvement – not just for our impact report, but in everything we do.

Our report isn’t just a summary of the past year; it’s a celebration of the incredible community – volunteers, schools, funders, and stakeholders – that makes our work possible.

The latest edition of our impact report is coming soon! In the meantime, take a look at our impact from previous years.

Read more insights

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Fearless QBE Insurance fundraisers tackle challenge to support pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds

16 January 2025

Epic fundraising

Action Tutoring is proud to be the UK community partner of the QBE Foundation. We’re delighted that through this partnership, during an epic fundraising week, QBE Insurance fundraisers united to support our cause.

Two volunteer teams battled the Thames Bridges Trek and the Royal Parks Half Marathon, raising over £10,000 in total! Read on to find out more about these fundraising adventures. 


Following landmarks along the Thames Bridge Trek

A picture of the QBE Insurance fundraisers' route by the River Thames, as part of the Thames Bridge Trek for Action Tutoring. There is a group of people walking on a path with trees and a bridge behind it. Alongside them is someone rowing on the River Thames.
Image source: Ultrachallenge.com

Joining a collective 2,000 person walking group, our 26 Thames Bridges Trek QBE Insurance fundraisers followed a 10 or 25 kilometre route. Passing many iconic sights – heading east through the heart of the capital – the team finished at mighty Tower Bridge.


QBE Insurance fundraisers run the roads at the Royal Parks Half

A picture of QBE Insurance fundraisers smiling at the camera at the Royal Parks Half Marathon. One is displaying a medal, another is cheering and another one is waving while running near The Mall, in London.

16,000 keen runners gathered together to take on the flat and scenic Royal Parks Half Marathon. 

One of our 10 QBE Insurance fundraisers, Chris, who managed a personal best, loved the buzzing atmosphere at race day.

Jonathan, another QBE Insurance fundraiser, also had a memorable and rewarding experience.

Our Fundraising Manager, Kate, was there to cheer on our amazing team.


Fundraising success!

Our Thames Bridges team raised £3,408 and our Royal Parks team generated £7,084. This collectively amounts to an amazing £10,492! Thank you so much to the QBE Foundation for generously matching these donations!

This could provide high quality maths or English workbooks to 1,748 pupils, or vital noise-cancelling headphones for 327 online pupils!


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Packing an impact punch! The rationale for our approach to curriculum

14 January 2025

Creating a tutoring curriculum that makes a genuine difference in pupils’ lives requires much more than simply aligning sessions with national standards. At Action Tutoring, we have carefully developed a curriculum that is evidence-based, inclusive, and designed to address the unique barriers faced by pupils facing disadvantage. Here’s how our approach ensures maximum impact, one carefully crafted session at a time.

Grounded in research and evidence

Our curriculum is built on a foundation of up-to-date research into effective teaching and tutoring practices. This ensures that pupils benefit from the latest insights into how young people learn best. For example, our Year 6 English curriculum draws on guidance from the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) and incorporates evidence-based strategies like structured scaffolding and retrieval practice.

This commitment to research isn’t a one-time effort. Our Curriculum Leads (CLs), both of whom are experienced educators, conduct regular literature reviews to ensure our maths and English materials are informed by the latest studies and align with educational standards. By keeping our curriculum dynamic and reflective of current best practices, we give our pupils the best chance to succeed (and achieve the all-important passing grades in their SATs and GCSEs).

Tackling barriers to learning head-on

We recognise that all pupils face challenges, but those from disadvantaged backgrounds often encounter additional hurdles. Our curriculum is designed to mitigate these barriers, including:

1. Poor attendance

Attendance is a significant challenge for many pupils facing disadvantage. To address this, our team of Programme Coordinators (PCs) works closely with schools to maximise attendance. Additionally, our curriculum incorporates recap activities and opportunities to recall prior knowledge, to ensure that each session can ‘stand alone’ to promote pupil progress. 

2. The vocabulary gap

Research shows that pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds often face a significant gap in their vocabulary. Alex Quigley’s ‘Closing the Vocabulary Gap’ refers to this; he emphasises that many pupils lack exposure to rich language and diverse texts, leaving them less equipped to tackle challenging material. 

David Didau highlights this issue in his blog on closing the language gap, sharing an example from a foundation-tier exam on Of Mice and Men. The exam included a seemingly straightforward question about ‘dreams’, specifically addressing the ‘futility’ of dreams. Unfortunately, none of the pupils attempted to answer it – not because they didn’t grasp the concept, but because they didn’t know what ‘futility’ meant. Despite their understanding of the underlying idea, their limited vocabulary left them unable to engage with the question.

This challenge has only grown since 2015, as the English curriculum has advanced in complexity, particularly through its vocabulary demands. Simply encouraging ‘reading for pleasure’ is insufficient to close this gap. Pupils from lower socioeconomic backgrounds often don’t get the language exposure needed to access a lot of material.

That’s why our sessions are designed to model effective reading strategies and explicitly teach tier 2 vocabulary, such as “lunged” and “benevolent,” alongside tier 3 subject-specific terms like “metaphor” and “oxymoron.” By embedding this instruction into engaging, scaffolded activities, we help pupils build the language skills they need to access and excel in their learning.

3. Difficulties in accessing learning at home

A lack of access to technology or a suitable learning environment can hinder progress. That’s why our online tutoring sessions are fully equipped with the resources pupils need; such as headsets and printed anthologies of texts to annotate; delivered in the safe and structured setting of their school.

4. Closing learning gaps

Our curriculum is targeted at helping pupils catch up in areas where they may have fallen behind. For example, our Year 5 English grammar curriculum focuses on three essential areas: tenses, prefixes/suffixes, and fronted adverbials. These skills are foundational for success in Year 6 and beyond.

Aligned with the National Curriculum

Ensuring continuity with classroom learning is essential. Our curriculum aligns closely with the National Curriculum, enabling pupils to strengthen and build on their classroom knowledge. For instance, our maths resources integrate problem-solving questions and opportunities for “maths talk,” which mirrors the emphasis placed on reasoning and communication in schools.

Inclusive by design

We believe that a truly impactful curriculum must reflect the diversity of the pupils we serve. That’s why diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) principles are woven into every stage of curriculum design. We aspire towards:

  • Author diversity: A 50/50 gender balance in our primary resources, and 25% of authors from ethnic minorities.
  • Inclusive content: Names and scenarios in our curriculum reflect a variety of cultures and avoid stereotypes. For instance, traditional binary groupings like “boys and girls” have been replaced with creative alternatives, such as “guinea pigs and rabbits.”
  • A proactive approach: DEI isn’t a bolt-on gesture at the end – it’s embedded from the very beginning of the design process.

Looking to the future

At Action Tutoring, our curriculum is more than just a set of resources – it’s a carefully designed tool to empower pupils, tutors, and schools alike. By addressing the specific challenges faced by pupils facing disadvantage, prioritising inclusivity, and constantly striving for improvement, we aim to deliver a tutoring experience that truly packs an impact punch.

We work with primary and secondary state schools across England to deliver heavily subsidised, high-quality tutoring for pupils facing disadvantage in Years 5, 6, 7, 10 and 11, in English and maths. If you’re interested in finding out more, visits our schools page:

Read our curriculum guides:

Action Tutoring’s curriculum is designed to ensure comprehensive SATs and GCSE preparation for pupils. Our specialist Curriculum Leads for English and maths are fundamental to this, bringing a wealth of knowledge from their experiences as Lead Practitioners in schools.

You can view our current Curriculum Guides for schools below:

Why you can’t just stick a worksheet online and call it e-learning – what we’ve learned from developing an impactful online tutoring curriculum

3 January 2025

In an era where online learning has become a staple of education, it’s tempting to believe that transitioning from in-person teaching to digital delivery is as simple as uploading worksheets or repurposing classroom resources. 

At Action Tutoring we believe that truly impactful e-learning requires much more. We’ve been supporting pupils facing disadvantage with face-to-face tutoring for over 12 years. In 2021 we gained a huge amount of experience in managing sessions remotely when the pandemic forced pupils into home-based learning. This experience has been invaluable in enabling us to shift to an effective remote model, allowing us to reach and to support even more pupils facing disadvantage, including those outside of urban centres.

Here’s why we’ve found an effective online curriculum delivery must be carefully designed and expertly executed, based on our experience developing an impactful online tutoring programme.

Year 6 pupil in her online tutoring session

Why effective online curriculum delivery requires thoughtful design and expert execution

1. Curriculum design: more than resources

Effective online learning begins with a well-structured curriculum. Success isn’t just about the materials you provide; it’s about crafting a journey for learners. Our online curriculum includes:

Recapping and recalling: Resources are designed with built-in opportunities for pupils to review previous learning and reinforce key concepts.

Expert craftsmanship: We’ve appointed in-house Curriculum Leads (CLs) to ensure that every session is tailored, focused, and impactful for our specific audience.

Inclusion as standard: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) is at the heart of our content. We aspire towards DEI targets, such as a 50/50 gender split between authors of texts, names from a variety of cultures and languages, and that 25% of text authors come from ethnic minorities. By avoiding stereotypes and incorporating school feedback, we create lessons that resonate with pupils from all backgrounds.

2. Delivery drives results

While resources are critical, the way they’re delivered makes all the difference. Our volunteer tutors receive tailored training to use Action Tutoring’s online resources effectively. This training empowers them to:

Model and question: Tutors learn how to break down concepts, ask probing questions, and set clear objectives.

Engage and assess: They’re trained to monitor progress, engage learners, and adapt their approach during sessions.

Leverage technology: Training covers our online platform, Vedamo, equipping tutors to use interactive features such as shared whiteboards, chat functions, and session slides effectively.

Tailor-made training is offered throughout the tutor journey, with online modules, live webinars, drop ins with Curriculum Leads and demonstration videos all regularly available. These offerings are crucial in ensuring tutors feel supported and empowered to deliver effective sessions. 

Year 11 pupil in online tutoring session. You can see the maths resources

3. Overcoming online learning challenges

Online learning is not without its pitfalls. That’s why our curriculum and delivery model are designed to address common barriers:

Building rapport and reducing isolation: Structured activities like check-ins and group games foster interaction and connection. Pupils collaborate on shared tasks, such as peer-assessing answers on the same board.

Managing distractions: Noise-cancelling headphones help pupils stay focused, and visually engaging session designs maintain their attention.

Improving familiarity: Each session includes practice time to build confidence in navigating the online classroom environment.

4. Technology and curriculum alignment

One of the hallmarks of our approach is the seamless integration of technology with curriculum content:

Purpose-built platforms: Unlike generic video conferencing tools, Vedamo is specifically designed for learning. It features interactive tools like text boxes, highlighting, and slide navigation, enabling pupils to actively engage with their tutoring sessions. Pupils can write on the screen so tutors can assess their work in real time; and they can see their peers’ ideas to enable group discussions

Real-time support: Our dedicated online support system staff provide live technical assistance, ensuring that disruptions don’t derail learning.

Year 5 pupil in her online session

5. Pupils at the centre of design

An impactful curriculum also supports the social and emotional development of pupils. We’ve learned that:

Safety and value are key: Pupils thrive when they feel supported. Our tutors prioritise building strong relationships, which is frequently mentioned in the pupil feedback we collect each year.

Targeted content leads to impact: Because our curriculum is so sharply focused on the needs of disadvantaged pupils, it delivers measurable results. For instance, pupils who attend 10 or more sessions see substantial improvements in their SATs and GCSE outcomes. 

In 2023–24 we carried out an in-depth study, quality assured by a leading research organisation. It found that online and face-to-face tutoring led to similar levels of impact in the results pupils achieved. In fact, Year 11 maths pupils seemed to benefit slightly from the online format.

6. Continuous improvement

Finally, an effective online curriculum is never static. We constantly refine our programme based on:

Research and evidence: Regular reviews of tutoring research and updates to the National Curriculum inform our resources.

Feedback from schools: Partner schools help us understand what works best, shaping future iterations of our materials.

Platform enhancements: Recent updates to Vedamo, such as streamlined slide navigation, make our online learning experience even more user-friendly.

The bottom line

True e-learning goes far beyond uploading worksheets or digitising existing resources. It’s a collaborative effort that combines expertly designed materials, inclusive practices, skilled delivery, and robust technology.

At Action Tutoring, we’re proud to offer a model of online tutoring that mitigates the challenges of e-learning and maximises its potential. If your school is looking for ways to support pupils effectively in an online environment, we’d love to help. Together, we can close the gap for disadvantaged pupils and help them achieve their full potential.

My final reflections

16 December 2024

It’s time for my final reflections! As my tenures as CEO draws to a close, I’ve attempted to synthesise some final reflections, shaped around 12 key learnings from these past 12 years. I could have added plenty more, but perhaps that’s for a book further down the line!

The journey

When the idea for Action Tutoring first bubbled back in 2010, I never imagined it might become a reality, let alone the organisation it is today.

The journey has been wonderful and filled with learning. It’s been a joy to work alongside so many talented, mission-driven and values-filled people. To them, I owe a huge thanks for all their support and commitment. They’ve helped turn my dream into a reality; a reality that hopefully will far outlive my tenure as CEO! 

So here goes… 12 reflections and learnings from the last 12 years. I hope they might be useful to you, the reader, as you think about your own journey.

My final 12 reflections on 12 years

1. A clear mission has been our north star

Speaking at our charity’s 12th anniversary event

It might sound obvious but you just can’t be all things to all people or address every need out there. A clear mission and purpose has been at the heart of Action Tutoring from the very beginning. This is essential for focusing on the area we wanted to tackle and for where we could best add value.

This doesn’t mean you can’t seize opportunities. For example, we did during the Covid pandemic and the subsequent National Tutoring Programme (NTP). But, they need to align to that north star of your mission and purpose. Essentially, we’re here for our pupils and keeping them at the heart of decision making has been critical. 

2. Values, values, values

3. It’s all about people

With members of our senior leadership team

Getting recruitment, structures and a strong culture right has been critical to growth and driving impact. If in doubt, it’s always better not to hire and to re-advertise. Structures have needed to evolve as Action Tutoring has grown. The trick has been endeavouring to anticipate this and to plan ahead, given recruitment takes time.

Once you’ve got the right people on the bus, hang on to them! It’s an absolute joy to see brilliant people progress internally. Driven by our values, mission and culture, they’ve all risen to meet new challenges as the organisation has grown.

4. Financial stability (as much as possible in a charity) is critical if you don’t want to just be putting out fires

Build reserves as soon as you can and preserve them. Do this while keeping a constant eye on the longer-term funding pipeline. 

Hiring great fundraising people isn’t easy. For us, raising up great internal talent has been a route to building our philanthropy function alongside external hires. I don’t think many CEOs can fully let go of fundraising. It’s always part of your role.

The little mantra, ‘If you don’t ask, you don’t get’, has served me quite well in this space. It’s always worth a try!

5. A strong, competent board isn’t just a nice to have: they are the bedrock of the organisation

The board has been a critical partner in managing risk and knowing when to seize opportunities too. They enable the decision-making burden to be shared on big questions. 

I believe good governance is a big key to success. For me, the chair/CEO relationship is critical. High trust, high challenge, high support. Regular rhythms with the board have helped establish strong SMT/board relationships. This includes an annual strategy day and annual summer social, alongside monthly CEO/chair meetings. 

6. Build your support and look after your own wellbeing

Speaking with attendees at our 12th anniversary event

Being a CEO can be lonely. But the CEO peer network in this sector is wonderful! Breakfasts and post-work drinks at the right moments, or a little WhatsApp exchange, have often been critical to my sanity.

I’ve found various opportunities to tap into some amazing mentors and coaches. This has met different needs both for myself and the organisation. Time spent with these people has never been wasted.

Highlights gathered from staff at
our annual in-person team day

I certainly found the wellbeing question harder once I was balancing Action Tutoring with small children. But, I know the team has appreciated it when I have, for example, modelled working a 0.9/4 day week.

It has enabled others in the team to feel you can combine a career and family (thank you Leaders Plus for all the support on that journey too!). Plus, I had the privilege of taking a month’s sabbatical in the spring. Again, I know that’s helped others to feel they can take up this offer too. 

7. Systems and processes are really important (even if you put them in the boring camp!)

8. Getting out and about isn’t time wasted

One of our programme coordinators, Sam, and I,
visiting one of our tutoring programmes

When you’re forming an organisation, it takes a long time to build awareness and publicise your name.

Balancing how much time you spend on the internal versus external isn’t always easy. But, there are various ways to maximise time, including:

  • Attending sector events.
  • Asking someone for a coffee to seek their advice.
  • Going to conferences.
  • Getting out to our work across the country in person.
  • Going on school visits.

Be ruthless about following up with people you’ve met too to make the most of all that networking!

There have been some wonderful moments of introductions or connections. I’ve often been able to look back, sometimes months later, and see the fruits of those interactions. Whether it’s on new funding, new schools, or meeting a key advocacy ally; it’s all powerful. Talking to different people also helps you stay alert to the external environment, whether this presents challenges or opportunities.

9. Branding does matter

It’s your organisation’s face to the world! It wasn’t intentional but it turned out starting with an ‘A’ has also been really helpful. I feel this is certainly true as you’re often listed first in briefings or brochures.

Spoiler alert, as the founder, one of your privileges is picking branding colours you really like! I’ve lost track of how many times people have commented that I’m often wearing the Action Tutoring colours.

Otherwise, noting when you need a refresh is worth it. I admit I was sceptical when a refresh was suggested a few years ago but the end result spoke much more powerfully to the size of organisation we were by that point. 

The Action Tutoring brand on display

10. Building evidence takes time (a really long time)…

…If it’s going to be more than a few quotes or one-off survey results and it needs investment.

It’s depressing that more funders don’t want to invest in impact roles. But, they’re keen to require – and love you to share – data. Certainly, banging the drum to them about why this matters, does pay off. Ultimately it will set you apart. Essentially, if we’re not having an impact, we might as well pack up and do something else. So it’s vital we can demonstrate that we are.

11. Should charities get involved in politics?

Sarah Waite (Get Further), Abigail Shapiro (Tutor Trust)
and myself deliver a petition on continuing
tutoring funding to 10 Downing Street

I’m increasingly convinced that while charities do great work tackling immediate societal issues, we need to champion the system change required alongside our delivery. It’s possible to do both well. Be the change you want to see now for your beneficiaries and use your experience and evidence to influence the system. MPs are more open to visiting programmes or having a short meeting than you might think.

An easy place for us to start was writing to MPs where we had a partner school in their constituency, inviting them to visit. Plus you never know where they’ll end up. In 2018 Sir Keir Starmer visited a programme. We’ve also been able to engage the now Chair of the Education Select Committee over a long period following her visit to a partner school in 2017. 

12. Learn to reflect and keep learning

In summary

Our Action Tutoring community and myself
at the 12th anniversary event

These 12 years have been the most enormous privilege. They’ve enabled me to:

  • See the organisation grow to national reach and demonstrate evidence of impact.
  • Work with the most amazing team, with relationships and friendships I’ll treasure for life.
  • Seize the opportunities, as well as challenges, learn together and rise together.

It’s not an easy time in the sector, or for schools nationally. It’s certainly not easy for so many of the pupils we exist to support and the need for our work has most certainly not gone away.

I leave with confidence that what we do absolutely works and that the organisation and team will continue to flourish, at the heart, doing what we’ve always set out to do, unlocking the potential of precious young lives.

Celebrating the difference we make: Support our Christmas Challenge today

3 December 2024

We’re thrilled to be taking part in this year’s Big Give Christmas Challenge. For our fifth time taking part, we aim to raise £12,000 to symbolise 12 years of our impactful programme delivery!

How it works

The Christmas Challenge is hosted by the Big Give and is the UK’s largest ‘match-funding’ campaign. Every donation made during campaign week, which takes place between Tuesday 3rd to 10th of December, is doubled by the ‘match-fund’ pot, added to by generous pledgers and our champion funders, The EQ Foundation. This means, during campaign week, one donation makes double the difference!

This festive season, can you support us to tackle educational inequality?

Opening doors to future opportunities

At Action Tutoring, we believe that every child deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential. We are working hard towards making this mission a reality by harnessing the power of volunteer tutors.

This year, we’re honouring our amazing volunteers with our #TheDifferenceWeMake theme. By giving just one hour a week, our tutors make a significant difference to the lives and futures of children and young people, helping them to overcome challenges, build confidence, and achieve their goals.

Watch our video

Click and play our video below to hear inspiring stories from our tutors about their most impactful moments.

Why we need your support

The attainment gap is the widest it has been in 12 years. Exacerbated by the pandemic, disadvantaged pupils are 19 months behind their more affluent peers by the end of secondary school.

A solution to combating the attainment gap? Tutoring. We know that high-quality and focussed tuition can make a huge impact on the lives of disadvantaged children and young people. Nationally in 2023, just 52% of disadvantaged pupils passed maths GCSE. This increases to 65% after at least 10 sessions of our tutoring support.

By coming together, we can work towards our vision of a world in which a child’s life chances are free from any limits of their socio-economic background.

Donate to our Christmas Challenge today

Each year, thousands of brilliant volunteer tutors help us make a difference by giving their time. To truly maximise our impact, we also rely on the power of donations. Your generous donation, however big or small, will directly fund vital programmes resources:

  • High-quality maths or English workbooks: Providing pupils with engaging and effective learning materials.
  • Noise-cancelling headphones: Vital for pupils to concentrate during online sessions.
  • Enhanced DBS checks for volunteer tutors: Ensuring the proper safeguarding of all pupils and staff.

If you’re unable to make a donation, you can support our cause by spreading the word. Share this blog with friends, family, and on your social media platforms, using our hashtag #TheDifferenceWeMake.

Thank you for your support and kindness this festive season. Together, we can make a difference and inspire change.

From abseils to scootathlons: Fundraisers take on unique autumn challenges

26 November 2024

Fundraisers across the country have been rallying around Action Tutoring this autumn organising extraordinary events. They have been able to raise significant funds and spread awareness about education inequality.

Keep reading to discover the incredible challenges they’ve taken on to support our pupils!

Scooting to success at an autumn fundraiser

Kicking off autumn’s fundraising, Susannah, Action Tutoring’s Founder and CEO’s son, Josh, took on a Scootathlon challenge. Consisting of a scoot, cycle, and run, at Impetus’ annual Triathlon event, Josh came in first, winning the whole race!

Josh raised an incredible £415 (£517.50 with Gift Aid!), which could provide online training for 166 of our volunteer tutors.

Reaching new heights

A picture of Action Tutoring's autumn fundraiser - Senior Data and Evaluation Officer, Sam, posing for a picture while on the abseil platform at Liverpool Anglican Cathedral. Sam is in a harness, wearing a white Action Tutoring t-shirt and orange helmet while smiling at the camera.
Abseiler and Senior Data and Evaluation Officer, Sam,
poses for a photo on the abseil platform.

A staff team of six faced a daring challenge in another autumn fundraiser – abseiling off the Liverpool Anglican Cathedral!

A picture of Action Tutoring's six staff autumn fundraisers. The team are wearing white Action Tutoring t-shirts and black/grey trousers and smiling at the camera.
The team of six pose in front of the cathedral’s west door.

It’s the largest cathedral in the UK, with the 100m free-fall abseil taking place above the west door.

The team collectively raised an incredible £1,659 rising to £1,956.76 with Gift Aid! This impressive total could provide high-quality maths or English workbooks to 121 tutor and pupil groups.

“Abseiling to honour my dad’s memory while raising funds for a cause like Action Tutoring, was an experience I will never forget. Getting to share the day and take on a new challenge with other colleagues made the day even more special.”

Adriana – Senior Curriculum and Training Coordinator and abseiler

Embracing the mud

A picture of 5 Wolf Run autumn fundraiser runners standing and posing in front of the camera with a lot of mud on their clothes.
The daring team of five wolf runners smile despite the cold and mud!

Our Communications and Media Manager, Rebecca, and four friends, tackled a demanding 10K Wolf Run. The course featured freezing swims, muddy crawls, boggy scrambles, and 10ft obstacles!

The brave team raised £430, a total of £528.75 including Gift Aid. This could provide a year of face-to-face tutoring for an Action Tutoring pupil!

Communications and Media Manager and wolf runner, Rebecca.

Pedalling with a purpose

Tackling an incredible feat, cycling 55 miles from London-Brighton, our team of four completed a sunny, scenic, and strenuous ride.

For this autumn fundraiser, in total, the team raised an outstanding £1,204, rising to £1,481.87 including Gift Aid. This amount could provide enhanced DBS checks for 132 of our volunteer tutors!

Cyclist and London Programme Coordinator, Katy,
poses after the race.

“I look forward to participating in more fundraising challenges in the future!”

Katy – London Programme Coordinator and cyclist

Cyclists Merlin and Heather pose in front of the beautiful scenery.

Take on a challenge in summer

If you’re feeling inspired to take on a cycle, wolf run, abseil, or scootahlon, get in touch with Molly via molly.cottrill@actiontutoring.org.uk. She can help organise your event, and provide fundraising support throughout your journey.

Or, want to take a spot on one of our 2025 running events next summer? See a full list below, and contact us if you’re interested in joining our friendly fundraising team.

Insights from the 2023-24 teacher survey: what we’ve learned and how it could help your school

19 November 2024

At Action Tutoring, we value the feedback of every teacher we work with, as it helps us continuously improve our services and impact. Each year, we send out a survey to our school partners, asking teachers for their opinions on various aspects of our tutoring programme. This year’s teacher survey, which gathered 69 responses from 61 schools, provided valuable insights that can help us better support pupils and school communities.

Here’s a summary of the key takeaways from the survey, including how these findings could help your school make the most of tutoring support in the coming year.

Positive impact on pupil confidence 

One of the most important aspects we measure is the impact of our tutoring on pupils. Overall, many teachers noted the positive effects tutoring had on their pupils, particularly in terms of confidence. The programme scored highly in this area, with many teachers noting that it helped pupils feel more empowered and confident in their learning. This is a crucial outcome, especially for pupils who may have faced barriers to success in the past.

While most schools reported a positive impact, some noted challenges with pupil attendance, likely due to factors such as ongoing effects of the Covid pandemic or other school-related issues. We’re committed to supporting schools to overcome this in future sessions,.

Graph showing teacher responses out of 10

Strong programme and value for money

Teachers were confident in the quality and value for money of our tutoring programme, with an average score of 8.6 out of 10. One of the highest ratings was for our robust safeguarding policies, which were rated highly by nearly all respondents. This highlights the importance we place on providing a safe, secure environment for pupils, whether they are engaging in in-person or online tutoring.

Teacher survey response graphs

When asked about the overall programme quality, many teachers expressed satisfaction, with some praising the clear communication and support provided by our staff. Some schools did note that the input required from them could be higher than expected, particularly when it comes to coordinating logistics and ensuring attendance. This feedback is invaluable, and we will continue to work closely with schools to make tutoring as seamless as possible.

Teacher survey responses

General feedback: what teachers value most

A number of teachers highlighted the high quality of our staff and the positive impact of individual Programme Coordinators on their school experience. Many teachers pointed to specific members of our team for praise, underscoring how important our Programme Coordinators are in ensuring that tutoring runs smoothly and efficiently.

A few teachers wanted more explicit links between the tutoring curriculum and the specific topics pupils were covering in school. We’re committed to addressing these concerns by continually reviewing our approach and curriculum, ensuring it’s as aligned as possible with what pupils are learning in class.

Teacher perceptions of assessment

For the first time, we included questions about how teachers perceived Action Tutoring’s approach to assessment. Though only a minority of schools responded to these questions, the feedback we received was constructive and insightful. Teachers shared that they would appreciate more clarity around how assessments are used to measure progress and how this data could inform their work with pupils. We will consider expanding this section in future surveys to ensure we’re meeting the needs of schools and pupils alike.

Moving forward: Action Tutoring’s commitment to schools

Overall, the survey results demonstrate that, while there are areas to improve, our tutoring programme is making a positive impact in schools across the country (you can view our impact data here). We are committed to listening to feedback and continuously refining our approach to ensure that we support both pupils and teachers in the most effective way possible.

In the coming year, we’ll be working closely with schools to build on the successes highlighted in the survey while addressing the challenges that some teachers raised. We’ll continue to offer high-quality tutoring and support, always with the goal of helping disadvantaged pupils achieve their full potential.

If you’re a school leader or teacher who’s interested in working with Action Tutoring again, or you’re considering partnering with us for the first time, we’d love to hear from you. 

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