Our Reach: London
Action Tutoring was born in London in 2011 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 London, our impact in the city and how you can get involved.
Yerbury Primary School
primary SchoolThornhill Primary School
primary SchoolCity Heights Academy
secondary SchoolSt Saviour's and St Olave's Church of England School
secondary SchoolPrior Weston Primary School and Children's Centre
primary SchoolPakeman Primary School
primary SchoolNetley Primary School & Centre for Autism
primary SchoolHugh Myddelton Primary School
primary SchoolHeartlands High School
secondary SchoolHanover Primary School
primary SchoolGranard Primary School
primary SchoolDalmain Primary School
primary SchoolConnaught School for Girls
secondary SchoolChelsea Academy
secondary SchoolCanonbury Primary School
primary SchoolAshmount Primary School
primary SchoolWinton Primary School
primary SchoolArgyle Primary School
primary SchoolHollydale Primary School
primary SchoolMossbourne Community Academy
secondary SchoolTufnell Park Primary School
primary SchoolThe New North Academy
primary SchoolRotherfield Primary School
primary SchoolNewington Green Primary
primary SchoolPrimrose Hill Primary
primary SchoolMillbank Primary Academy
primary SchoolLaycock Primary School
primary SchoolPimlico Primary School
primary SchoolPimlico Academy
secondary SchoolMill Hill County High School
secondary SchoolStoke Newington School
secondary SchoolHatch End High School
secondary SchoolThomas Thallis School
secondary SchoolSt Ursula's Convent School Greenwich
secondary SchoolMulberry Academy Woodside
secondary SchoolHarris Academy Chobham
secondary SchoolWalthamstow Academy
secondary SchoolMaria Fidelis Catholic School FCJ
secondary SchoolThe Charter School Bermondsey
secondary SchoolAll Saints Catholic School
secondary SchoolClara Grant Primary School
primary SchoolSt Paul's Way Secondary School
secondary SchoolNorthview Junior and Infant School
primary SchoolSt John Evangelist Catholic Primary School
primary SchoolOur roots are in London – and so is much of our impact.
Action Tutoring began in 2011 with two pilot programmes in Hackney and Peckham, supported by the Shaftesbury Partnership. After early success, the SHINE Trust funded our expansion – and by the 2011–12 academic year, we were delivering tutoring in 15 schools across London.
Today, we continue to work in partnership with schools across the capital and nearby commuter towns to support pupils facing disadvantage. Recent figures highlight the pressing need for additional support across the region:
- After housing costs, 34% of children in London were living in poverty in 2021–22 – the highest rate of any English region (Trust for London, 2023).
- Some boroughs face even higher rates. For example, Tower Hamlets remains among the most affected, with over half of children growing up in poverty.
These statistics underscore the significant challenges faced by many young people in London. 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.
‘I was kind of held back from Covid-19 and it’s a good opportunity for me to catch up with the other students in my class and learn about maths. I’m very confident and happy because I’m learning more about multiplication, fractions and addition.’
Djibril, Year 6 pupil, Comber Grove Primary School in Peckham
Action Tutoring’s impact in London
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 London, 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.
‘Coming from a working-class background, good quality comprehensive state education and access to amazing teachers enabled me to progress and get on in life. I was one of the lucky ones, as I know many working-class kids don’t get the opportunities and luck I had. Tutoring is one of the few things I do that gives me real satisfaction, enjoyment, and self-fulfilment. It’s very rewarding to be able to give something back to your community.’
Youcef, volunteer tutor in London
Take part in our fundraising events in London
- London Landmarks (12th April) – donation amount: £45 (goes towards race fee and running t-shirt), fundraising target: £425 minimum
- Hackney Half (17th May) – donation amount: £40 (goes towards race fee and running t-shirt), fundraising target: £400 minimum
- Saucony London 10k (12th July) – donation amount: £25 (goes towards race fee and running t-shirt), fundraising target: £250 minimum
- Royal Parks Half Marathon (11th October) – donation amount: £45 (goes towards race fee and running t-shirt), fundraising target: £425 minimum
Some of our current volunteering opportunities in London take place with pupils from the following partner schools:
Primary
- Yerbury Primary School
- Thornhill Primary School
- Prior Weston Primary School and Children's Centre
- Pakeman Primary School
- Netley Primary School & Centre for Autism
- Hugh Myddelton Primary School
- Hanover Primary School
- Granard Primary School
- Dalmain Primary School
- Canonbury Primary School
- Ashmount Primary School
- Winton Primary School
- Argyle Primary School
- Hollydale Primary School
- Tufnell Park Primary School
- The New North Academy
- Rotherfield Primary School
- Newington Green Primary
- Primrose Hill Primary
- Millbank Primary Academy
- Laycock Primary School
- Pimlico Primary School
- Clara Grant Primary School
- Northview Junior and Infant School
- St John Evangelist Catholic Primary School
Secondary
- City Heights Academy
- St Saviour's and St Olave's Church of England School
- Heartlands High School
- Connaught School for Girls
- Chelsea Academy
- Mossbourne Community Academy
- Pimlico Academy
- Mill Hill County High School
- Stoke Newington School
- Hatch End High School
- Thomas Thallis School
- St Ursula's Convent School Greenwich
- Mulberry Academy Woodside
- Harris Academy Chobham
- Walthamstow Academy
- Maria Fidelis Catholic School FCJ
- The Charter School Bermondsey
- All Saints Catholic School
- St Paul's Way Secondary School
Find out more information about becoming a volunteer or partnering as a school in London.
London Programme Team
- Hannah Ground (Programme Manager)
- Sav Karia (Programme Manager)
- Sam Winn (Senior London Programme Coordinator)
- Eva Leung (London Programme Coordinator)
- Dan Carrie (London Programme Coordinator)
- Sophia Lind (London Programme Coordinator)
- Suzie Minnigin (Senior London Programme Coordinator)
- Connie Gossage (London Programme Coordinator)
- Sam Potts (London Programme Coordinator)
- Natalie Soester (London Programme Coordinator)
- Nadeem Unwin (London Programme Coordinator)
- Anna Thomas (London Programme Coordinator)
- Aimee Goldsmith (London Programme Coordinator)
