Our Reach: Bristol
Action Tutoring launched in Bristol in autumn 2014 and since then, we have worked with volunteers to deliver tutoring programmes in a number of schools across the city.
This page covers why and where we work in Bristol, our impact in the city and how you can get involved.
Badocks Wood E-Act Academy
primary SchoolBedminster Down School
secondary SchoolParson Street Primary School
primary SchoolE-ACT Merchants' Academy
secondary SchoolBridge Learning Campus
secondary SchoolWhy volunteer as a tutor in Bristol?
Our decision to work in Bristol stems from our commitment to addressing educational inequality where the need is greatest. Many pupils face significant challenges that impact their learning.
Recent figures highlight the pressing need for additional support across the region:
- As of January 2024, 18,350 pupils in Bristol were eligible for free school meals. Free school meal eligibility serves as a key indicator of low-income households, with access typically granted to children whose parents receive certain benefits or have an income below a specific threshold.
- Areas of significant affluence exist alongside some of the most deprived in England. Recent data indicates that over a third of children in Bristol are living in poverty, meaning that in a typical class of 30, around ten children are likely experiencing poverty.
These statistics underscore the significant challenges faced by many young people in Bristol. Growing up in poverty can result in challenges that lead to lower academic attainment and, once they finish school, reduced opportunities for further education, training or employment.
By providing targeted, high-quality tutoring, Action Tutoring aims to mitigate these effects, helping to build academic confidence and unlock pupils’ potential.
‘My tutor is helpful. She asks me what I want to go over, then if I’m not sure, she’ll go through it. When you get to the exam you’re like ‘oh okay, this is what we did the other day’. [The sessions] have helped me realise I know more than I thought. It was more helpful than I thought it was going to be!’
Hannah, Year 11 pupil from Bedminster down
Action Tutoring’s impact in Bristol
Action Tutoring launched in Bristol in 2014 and has since expanded its reach, working with multiple schools across the city to provide high-quality tutoring in maths and English. Our volunteers play a crucial role in closing the attainment gap and boosting the confidence of disadvantaged pupils.
Our national impact, reflecting the work done across all our regions including Birmingham, demonstrates the effectiveness of our programmes:
- In 2023-24, our Year 6 and Year 11 pupils significantly outperformed national benchmarks for disadvantaged pupils.
- Primary age pupils tutored in maths were 20% more likely to meet the expected standard compared to other disadvantaged children nationally.
‘The flexibility and desire to accommodate and work with our staff and pupils prior to and throughout the pandemic has been first rate. Communication and clarity of intent have always been clear and acted on swiftly, ensuring staff and pupils have been brilliantly supported. The commitment and desire to develop and advance our pupils has been superb.’
Patrick Callaghan, Pupil Premium Lead, Bristol Cathedral Choir School
Some of our current volunteering opportunities in Bristol take place with pupils from the following partner schools:
Primary
- Badocks Wood E-Act Academy
- Parson Street Primary School
Secondary
- Bedminster Down School
- E-ACT Merchants' Academy
- Bridge Learning Campus
Find out more information about becoming a volunteer or partnering as a school in Bristol.
Bristol Programme Team
- Sav Karia (Programme Manager)
- Chloe Baber (Senior Bristol Programme Coordinator)
- Chris Hames (Bristol Programme Coordinator)
