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