Our commitment to sustainability

At Action Tutoring, we believe that no child’s life chances should be limited by their background. Pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds are at risk of failing their maths and English SATs and GCSE exams, and are 66% more likely to become NEET (not in education, employment or training)

Our mission — to close the educational attainment gap — also underpins our understanding of sustainability and environmental impact. By its nature, a sustainable, more equitable and resilient society is one where all young people have equitable opportunities, can reach their full potential, and where it is possible to secure a better quality of life for all.

Sustainable Development Goals

Our strategy on sustainability and environmental strategy is underpinned by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and particularly five key pillars:

  • SDG 4: Quality Education
  • SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
  • SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
  • SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
  • SDG 13: Climate Action

Four of these goals define and support our social purpose, while the fifth places Action Tutoring within the broader context of its environmental impact.

The framework is designed to translate our existing strengths and weaknesses into clear, measurable ambitions.

Providing high quality tutoring to those who cannot access it

We help pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds get better grades through high-quality, small-group tutoring. We’re constantly evaluating our impact to make sure every pupil builds the knowledge and confidence they need to succeed. To keep standards high, we use lesson resources that match the national curriculum, provide top-tier training for our volunteers, and use a regular “check-in” system to ensure every session is the best it can be.

Helping at-risk pupils get the grades to build a career

We’re on a mission to break the cycle of poverty by helping pupils get the grades and skills they need for a stable future. By focusing on GCSE maths and English—the “must-have” qualifications for further education, employment and training—we stop young people from falling out of the system and becoming classified as NEET. It’s also a smart investment for the country, with findings from Public First estimating that for every £1 spent on tutoring  there’s a benefit to the economy of £6.58.

Working to reduce inequality

We’re tackling the attainment gap head-on by helping the children and young people who need it most. By supporting pupils who are eligible for free school meals or the pupil premium (funding given to state schools in England for pupils facing socio-economic disadvantage), we ensure our support reaches pupils who are often overlooked by the system. 

Internally, we’re just as focused on being a fair and inclusive place to work. We have a dedicated team leading the charge on initiatives such as becoming a Disability Confident employer. We also regularly refresh our lessons to ensure they’re truly diverse and represent the real world, from the authors we pick to the stories we tell.

Caring for our communities

We build stronger, more connected communities by bringing people together through volunteering. Our volunteers come from all walks of life—different ages, jobs, and backgrounds—which makes our tutoring sessions richer and helps break down social barriers. We make sure our team understands the value of diversity, and we create plenty of chances for them to bond, whether that’s through socials with other volunteers or meaningful time spent with their pupils. For us, volunteering isn’t just about helping; it’s about making our neighbourhoods feel more united and supportive.

Protecting our planet

We’re committed to going green by tracking and cutting our carbon footprint wherever we can. This means partnering with eco-friendly suppliers and making sure our own team stays “climate-smart” and ready to champion sustainability. We undertook a baseline of our carbon footprint in 2025, and we will continue to improve our measurement and reporting against it.

Sharing our impact

We will continue to monitor and share the outcomes of our sustainability strategy on our blogs.

Sustainability goals: Our commitment
12 December 2025
Ensuring every child can leave school and progress in life: Action Tutoring’s response to the Schools White Paper
23 February 2026
Our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) journey: A story of commitment, obstacles and change
2 April 2025
Collective Sustainability – Quality education
3 October 2019

If you have questions or suggestions relating to our sustainability and environment work, please contact hello@actiontutoring.org.uk

*Last updated June 2026