We started working in primary schools across Hartlepool getting high-quality tuition to more pupils who would otherwise be unable to afford it.
Students in Hartlepool generally perform below both the national and North East averages, particularly in GCSE results. English and maths outcomes are lower, and there is a notable attainment gap; disadvantaged pupils are 19.5 months behind their peers.
Our expansion means we will broaden our reach, aiming to support over 300 pupils in 15 schools at the end of this academic year. In the long term, we hope to address the educational challenges many children face, especially in the wake of disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing cost-of-living crisis.
Which local authorities do you serve?
Please contact the Tees Valley team if your school or college is located in Hartlepool local authority
The team in Tees Valley
Emily Parkes
Emily Parkes
Hartlepool Programme Coordinator
Emily first joined Tutor Trust in 2017 as a Primary Tutor in West Yorkshire whilst completing her undergraduate and postgraduate studies at the University of Leeds. Emily then joined the Tutor Trust as a full-time member of staff in December 2019, where she worked for three years, primarily focussing on the recruitment and training of tutors.
After some time away from the organisation, where she gained both employment and voluntary experience with mental health charities, Emily returned to Tutor Trust in her new role as Hartlepool Programme Coordinator in January 2025.
Emily says: “My primary motive for working with the Tutor Trust remains the same as when I first applied to be a tutor in 2017: I feel passionately about working towards a more fair and equitable society where everybody can thrive. I know the incredible impact the Tutor Trust’s programmes can have on young people, empowering and inspiring them, whilst providing tailored academic support.
As I am from County Durham myself, I am very excited to be a part of the charity’s expansion to the North East, and to make a real difference to the young people of Hartlepool.”
Nadia Hanafy
Nadia Hanafy
Hartlepool Programme Coordinator
Nadia joined the Tutor Trust team as Hartlepool Programme Coordinator in January 2025. She holds a degree in Spanish, Portuguese and Latin American Studies as well as a Postgraduate Certificate in Education from Newcastle University.
Her journey in education began as a teacher working in schools in economically disadvantaged areas of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. From this role, she gained invaluable insight into the barriers pupils may face in accessing quality education. This experience fuelled her passion for tutoring and underscored the importance of tailored educational approaches for those that need it most. She has designed effective lesson plans and implemented differentiated instruction, creating inclusive learning environments that empower every student to thrive.
Nadia first joined the Tutor Trust in 2024 working as a QTS Primary Tutor in West Yorkshire, where she led targeted tutoring sessions for Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and Year 6 pupils. Through personalised learning experiences, she witnessed significant improvements in SATs performance and phonics assessment pass rates. These successes reaffirmed her belief in the transformative power of high-quality tuition, especially for undeserved communities.
Nadia says: "In my current role, I am dedicated to advancing Tutor Trust's mission to combat educational inequality. I aim to build strong partnerships with schools, families, and the community to foster collaborative support for our students. With a genuine care for the impact I make, I am also committed to mentoring tutors to ensure they provide the highest standard of tuition.
As a polyglot, I am able to connect with a diverse range of learners, further enriching our inclusive approach. I am excited to harness my qualifications, teaching experience, and passion for education to establish a robust tutoring program in Hartlepool. By empowering students and equipping them with the necessary tools, I strive to help every young person navigate academic challenges and unlock their full potential."
Janet Masters
Janet Masters
Programme Administrator - West Yorkshire
Janet joined us in August 2023. Her background is in the education sector, where she worked for over 20 years as a teacher and teaching assistant. She has also worked in the charitable sector in various voluntary roles including wellbeing and admin.
Janet says: “I am excited to be able to support and enable the West Yorkshire team in delivering programmes which transcend socio-economic barriers and realise young people’s true potential. Tutor Trust is a warm and welcoming place to be, where we hold in common a desire to transform the futures of young people.”
Supporting the expansion
Sharon Sadler
Sharon Sadler
Strategic Partnerships Manager
Sharon has more than two decades of experience in the education sector. A graduate of the Institute of Education at the University of London, she began her career by successfully coordinating the Effective Provision of Pre-school Education (EPPE) project in Inner London. This endeavour marked a significant milestone as the first major European longitudinal study of young children's development.
Early in her teaching journey, Sharon achieved the status of an Advanced Skills Teacher, opening doors to a role as a pedagogical mentor across schools in Bradford, Birmingham, and Manchester.
Sharon's leadership skillset led her to senior positions within Multi-Academy Trusts (MATs) across the North of England. Here, she developed the effective use of the peer coaching model, with senior management teams across various educational settings.
During her tenure as a Link Tutor at Bradford College, Sharon nurtured and developed vital Initial Teacher Training school partnerships. Beyond this, she delivered presentations and training sessions on leadership to local education authorities. She joined us in July 2020 as the West Yorkshire Schools Partnership Manager and is now Strategic Partnerships Manager.
Sharon says: "I am proud to be part of an organisation that cares deeply about improving life chances for children and young people in our communities. Having the opportunity to build and nurture partnerships with local schools and educational institutions aimed at identifying and supporting students who might otherwise be left behind due to various barriers is incredibly rewarding.
"My journey as a Schools Partnership Manager has solidified my belief in the power of education to transform lives and has given me a platform to contribute to a more equitable educational landscape."
Chrissie Thwaites
Chrissie Thwaites
Partnerships Coordinator
Chrissie joined the Tutor Trust in October 2024 as Partnerships Coordinator. A graduate of the University of Exeter, she is also now finalising her sociology PhD at the University of Leeds, which was funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council. As well as being committed to accessible and socially impactful research, Chrissie previously worked in a university widening participation role at a low-participation secondary school.
This experience of higher education outreach instilled a sense of the importance of educational equity. Education can give young people a great start in life and help them recognise their own strengths and capabilities – but without the right support, existing inequalities may compound and deepen the attainment gap and pose barriers to further education. Chrissie is therefore passionate about ensuring people are enabled to reach their full potential regardless of socio-economic background.
She has also previously worked in a variety of further roles in universities. This includes teaching undergraduates, supporting students with disabilities, researcher career development, and student wellbeing advocacy. Chrissie is keen to apply these experiences in the higher education sector to make a positive impact within the education sector more broadly.
Chrissie says: “I’m really proud to be working for The Tutor Trust, and to contribute to tackling educational inequality. As Partnerships Coordinator, I’m keen to establish, nurture, and develop our partnerships across the north of England, and to get creative about who we partner with and how we might work together. That way, we can expand our reach to support as many children and young people as possible. If you have an idea of how we might be able to collaborate, I’d love to hear from you!”