Episode 18: A year of impact

Vicky became Director of Tutor Recruitment and Development in May 2024. In this role, Vicky oversees recruitment, onboarding, and initial training of our tutors, as well as managing our calendar of ongoing learning opportunities for tutors throughout the year. She helps to manage our online learning platform and ensure it is stocked full of top-notch tutoring materials and resources to ensure that tutors are thoroughly prepared for their tuition sessions. Vicky also participates in the quality assurance procedures within our organisation, in partnership with the Quality and Impact Team. 

Vicky says: "With more than 18 years of education experience, primarily within Greater Manchester, my journey has been inspired by a deep passion for transforming lives through learning. Starting in Key Stage 2, I honed my skills teaching Y6 in an inner-city Primary School, later taking on leadership roles in Diversity and Inclusion as well as SENCO training, where I championed support systems for vulnerable, SEND, and EAL learners. My diverse experience also includes leadership in Literacy, Art and Design, PE, Assessment, and mentoring students and Newly Qualified Teachers. During my own children's early years, I established an 'Outstanding' rated childcare business with a Forest School ethos, served as a Network Childminder, and organised sensory playgroups at a Stockport Surestart Centre. I further fuelled my passion for Early Years as an Early Years Leader in a Stockport Primary School until 2018 when my family and I embarked upon a two-year international adventure, during which I ventured into online tutoring.

"My enthusiasm for community-driven education equity led me to the Tutor Trust team as a Primary Quality Manager in January 2021. What I truly cherish about my role is the opportunity to empower tutors, leveraging my experience and knowledge to elevate their practice. It's a privilege to facilitate high-quality tuition that genuinely transforms lives and tackles educational inequalities head-on."

Matt joined Tutor Trust in the summer of 2016 after teaching in primary schools in Sheffield, Hackney, Tower Hamlets, and Moss Side, Manchester. Teaching was all he ever really wanted to do but after 14 years of various roles (including supporting children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, English, KS2, and Inclusion), plus five years of senior leadership experience, Matt wanted a change. After seeing the impact of Tutor Trust tutors on the children in his own Year 6 class in his last school, he was thrilled to join Tutor Trust as the first Quality Manager and first former teacher more than seven years ago. 

Matt says: "I am now the Director of Training and Quality Assurance, overseeing all tutor training, tutors’ Continued Professional Development, and monitoring the quality of tuition. Alongside this, my passion remains supporting children and their families and ensuring all children have access to high-quality teaching and learning. That’s why I also teach children with dyslexia or dyslexia-type learning difficulties and am now the Chair of a local governing committee at a north Manchester primary school and a Trustee for a growing Multi Academy Trust."

Keira joined Tutor Trust at the start of 2022 after studying and working in the cultural sector. She graduated with a BA (Hons) in Theatre from the University of York in 2019, and from then began work creating free and fair arts opportunities with JustOut Theatre in the North of England. Aware of the inequity within the cultural sector and wanting to continue work to improve access, she studied for an MA in Audiences, Engagement, and Participation at the University of Leeds. This research further heightened her passion for tackling inequality and led her to look for career opportunities where she could make a difference.

Alongside being a member of the Impact team, Keira is a member of the Poverty & Place research group in partnership with the University of Manchester and a member of the Digital Working Group. She is very excited by the new digital project and keen to contribute to the working group. She is passionate about increasing productivity and reducing unnecessary admin where feasible, allowing us to create additional time for reflection and innovation.

She says: "It's such a privilege to work at Tutor Trust alongside colleagues who are passionate and ambitious about our mission to transform lives through tutoring. It’s such a supportive environment that really values development and making progress to provide the best possible tuition for all our tutees. Being able to see the impact we’re having on the lives of the young people we support is phenomenal!

"My role allows me to explore our data and see evidence of our successes, whilst also finding areas for further development. I think it’s incredible that we’re always developing our work based on our findings, meaning everything feels grounded in research. Everyone is so driven to make sure we support our young people to the best of our ability in everything we do, it’s a real honour to contribute to this mission each day."