Tutors at Tutor Trust welcome event

Ed Talks: Reflecting on a busy start to the year

Ed Marsh, CEO, reflects on a busy start to the academic year

Published:

  • Time to read: 3 mins

October half-term always provides a nice time for reflection. And with shops replacing Halloween displays with festive displays, this seems like a nice moment to reflect on the start of the 2024/25 academic year

Our impact so far

We have had a really exciting start to the year, and despite tutoring funding via the National Tutoring Programme coming to an end at the end of the previous academic year, the continued generosity of our funders has meant that we have been able to keep the school cost of our tuition the same for the second year in a row. 

This very fact, coupled with the hard work of our tutors and staff, has meant that we have been able to hit the ground running this academic year, and we are currently working with significantly more schools and pupils than at the same time last year, the numbers below are very impressive:

The year so far in numbers

  • 64

    Partner schools

  • 1338

    Young people

Welcome to all new and returning tutors

I want to take the opportunity to welcome all of our new and returning tutors. Our continued impact on the lives of young people is, in no small part, a testament to the commitment, enthusiasm and expertise of all our tutors.

A few weeks ago, we were delighted to host welcome events for our tutors across Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire and Merseyside. Across the three events, we welcomed 84 tutors who were able to meet some of their peers, learn more about how they can use AI (artificial intelligence) in their tutoring, and enjoy some pizza (all three activities holding an equal amount of importance, of course!)

Ellie Cross, our Tutor Engagement and Support Manager, was instrumental in coordinating the welcome events. She shared with me her thoughts on why she loves to work on them:

The tutor welcome events are designed as a way to kick off the academic year for new and returning tutors at Tutor Trust. They are a valuable way to meet the team, discuss assignments, learn some new skills and mingle with peers. It is so important that we support and uplift our tutors, from the very beginning of their tutor journey, as they are at the heart of what we do.”
Ellie Cross, Tutor Engagement and Support Manager

Advocating for change

Looking at the wider educational context, a lot has happened since the start of the term. Not least, Labour marked its first 100 days in power. While we have heard a lot about their ‘mission’, we perhaps know less about their plans for tackling the challenges facing our education system, including: 

Admittedly, these findings are more stark than they are surprising. However, they do provide us with an opportunity to offer targeted solutions to those who need them most. Tutoring is one clear solution which can help to support an education system that provides all young people with not only the tools to succeed, but the confidence to believe that success is possible.

With the Autumn budget upon us, we support the findings the Department for Education's (DfE) Evaluation and Reflections on the NTP in calling for government funding “to allow tutoring to be embedded more securely in schools.” Including utilising resources like these from the National Foundation for Educational Research:

Door of 10 Downing Street (Photo: Sergeant Tom Robinson RLC/MOD)

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Ready, set, tutor!

Tutor Trust is excited to provide an update on our busy (and exciting!) start to the new academic year. From our post-16 EEF project kicking off, to award ceremonies, party conferences and more!