You can read our latest impact report here: Action Tutoring 2017-18 Impact Report
The report was launched in March 2019, at an event held in Westminster and attended by Rt Hon Nick Gibb MP, where he shared his support for the charity, “this Impact Report shows that it is possible to close the attainment gap and Action Tutoring has had huge success raising attainment. The pupils are proof that regardless of your circumstances it is possible to get crucial English and maths qualifications. Action Tutoring offers a practical, structured solution. Action Tutoring’s vision is one that I fully endorse.” He also remarked on the “huge potential for more volunteers to use their knowledge and experience in this way to support young people”.
You can read the full press release from the event here and view our video of the event highlights below. If you’re watching this video on your phone, please use headphones.
Sadly, the academic attainment gap is still a stark reality across the country but we are passionate that with targeted interventions like ours we can make an impact on reducing it, and ensuring that no pupil’s life chances are limited by their background or circumstances.
Key headlines from this latest report demonstrate this impact:
- In 2017-18 disadvantaged secondary school pupils, supported by Action Tutoring, were able to match the national pass rate, after the equivalent of two terms of weekly tutoring, at GCSE level despite the extra hurdles they faced. This is despite the pass-rate for disadvantaged pupils tending to fall 15-20% behind the overall national figures, in English Language and maths GCSEs respectively.
- Equally 72% of primary pupils supported by Action Tutoring achieved national standards in their SATs, where just 10% were working at this level at the start of their programme.
- In 2017-18 Action Tutoring supported nearly 2,500 pupils with its intervention, enabled by 1,100 inspiring volunteer tutors and working in partnership with 80 schools across the country.
Action Tutoring has worked with partner schools and volunteers since 2011. It has supported thousands of pupils across the country to succeed, despite the barriers they face in life. We are committed to making a measurable impact and continually seek to learn and improve the work we do.
For the academic year 2014-15 an external evaluator, NIESR, carried out a control group evaluation of our results, comparing the performance of just over 700 pupils tutored with Action Tutoring against a matched control group of pupils with very similar characteristics, using data from the National Pupil Database. This work was funded by NESTA as part of the Social Action Innovation Fund. During this academic year pupils on the programme had on average 6-8 tutoring sessions. A full copy of the report, including detail about the methodology, can be viewed here.
The headline results suggest that:
- The programme has a positive impact on GCSE point scores equivalent to 1/3 of a grade.
- For those pupils who attend at least seven sessions an additional 1/2 a grade progress was found.
We are delighted that in September 2016 we were validated as having achieved level 3 on Nesta’s Standards of Evidence. They state, “This means there is strong evidence of Action Tutoring’s impact. Rigorous evaluation techniques have been used to show a positive change in one or more key outcomes among the programme’s beneficiaries, and to show that this change was caused by the programme itself rather than other factors.”
View our certificate here: Action Tutoring Standards of Evidence Certificate
Action Tutoring is currently aiming to offer pupils around 12-16 sessions per academic year, to ensure we stand the best possible chance of enabling pupils to reach a grade 4 in their tutored subject at GCSE level and meeting expected standards in their Year 6 SATs.
Key stats and facts
- Since 2012, the charity has continued to grow and now operates in eight cities and areas across England: Birmingham, Bristol, Liverpool, London, Newcastle, Nottingham, Sheffield and Sussex.
- In 2017-18 nearly 2,500 pupils were supported by over 1,100 volunteer tutors in 80 schools across the country.
- Last year, Action Tutoring pupils were able to match the national pass rate, after the equivalent of two terms of weekly tutoring, at GCSE level despite the extra hurdles they faced. Nationally only 44% of disadvantaged pupils are able to meet this benchmark.
- In 2017-18 72% of primary pupils supported by Action Tutoring achieved national standards in their SATs.
- Research carried out by the Education Endowment Foundation showed that pupils make up to five months additional progress, during an intensive tutoring programme.
- The average cost of a private tutor in the UK is £30 per hour. Action Tutoring is able to deliver this to a disadvantaged pupil completely free of charge through the use of volunteer tutors. Donations, grants and school partnership contributions fund the cost of delivery and the Action Tutoring staff team.
- There are almost 800,000 young people leaving school each year without the qualifications to go on to education, employment or training.
- Individuals not in education, employment or training cost an average £56,000 to the UK economy each year.
Read our current annual report here: Action Tutoring Annual Report 2017-18
Every year Action Tutoring helps hundreds of young people across the country to improve their life chances with tailored tutoring support. Hear from one of these pupils, Malyoon, below about how she has benefited and from some of the other young people our generous funder Impetus has helped.
