From what I have seen since starting this business, the need for tutors is greater than ever and for a variety of wide-ranging reasons.

Sometimes, tutors are a long-term resource used over a few years leading up to an important exam such as the 11+, SATs or the GCSEs. In this scenario, we will take a skills-based approach initially and then work up to mock papers and give regular feedback until the final exams.

One of the benefits to hiring a tutor is that tutors give weekly feedback, which is impossible in a school with classes of 30 plus students. We believe that regular feedback is vitally important to the student’s learning, providing motivation in the form of evident weekly improvement. It also keeps each assignment fresh in the student’s mind, making it easier for students to remember the work they do and the successes they achieve. After all, even the best student would forget an assignment set a fortnight ago.

Tutors can provide a rapid turn around of feedback, as each tutor is assigned to that student; we don’t have supply teachers, so as a small team we can offer continuity and consistency. We also allow for time to go back and revisit- a luxury a school does not have.

This year has been a difficult year in terms of consistency in education, with schools seeing frequent closures due to teacher strikes. In this absence, parents asked us to tutor on those days or set extra homework, so their child did not fall behind. We were happy to oblige and meet the requirements of those parents, and will continue to do so to ensure the best quality of education is afforded to each student, even in times of disturbance.

The primary benefit of tuition is the ability to work 1-1 with individual students or in small groups that avoid the low-level disruptions that are commonplace is some classrooms. Tutoring sessions are just the tutor and the student, so the pace is dictated by the student and their needs. If they want to work ahead and start looking at the next grade in maths- no problem. If we need to go back and work on some missed areas- no problem. It’s a completely personalised programme of study designed for the student in meeting their fullest potential.

As such, we encourage our students to take ownership of their learning as we think this is an important skill for young people to practice. Some students like tuition to follow the curriculum of their school; if they are currently covering Pythagoras in school, they’d also like extra in the tutoring lessons. Some also like to have extra questions set in preparation for an upcoming assessment. This flexibility and fluidity can only be offered in the form of tutoring.

Tuition is an invaluable bolt-on to a mainstream education, something the schools themselves recognise. I have contact with teachers and Heads of Departments that are happy to share their schemes of work for our tutors to follow. This is so positive and it ensures the best possible outcomes for our learners.

Our students come from all different types of schools: state schools, independent schools, and grammar schools, we truly could not have a more diverse range of students.

Regardless of ability, age or socio-economic backgrounds, tuition supports this diverse group – which suggests to me that our education system has significant gaps that our tutors are fixing when the school day ends.

We have such a vast array of students working towards different goals. We have students in the lower primary years working on their phonics, older primary children working towards their SATs or 11+/ common entrance exams, and students in the secondary years working towards their GCSEs.

In addition to all of these, most recently, we have helped a young person move from their Independent School to attaining a place at their local grammar school – which involved tuition for sitting a CAT 4 test (I’m pleased to say she passed and begins Y9 in September) – and only today, I have received the superb news that our English graduate who needed to sit an equivalency test in Maths to begin her PGCE… has passed! For us, our results speak louder than words: if you or your child has a goal, and they need a little support in getting there… tutoring with us will always be a worthwhile experience.

Tutors have the same status as teachers- we pride ourselves on our commitment to our students and our professionalism.

I find this online statement about tutoring as a profession deeply disconcerting: ‘no formal qualifications are needed to become a tutor’. Rest assured, this is not the case with us! We have two qualified English Lecturers on the team and the rest of our team are subject specialists, meaning that they all have achieved (in the subject they tutor) no less than a grade 8 at GCSE and an A at A-level as a minimum requirement.   

Not only do they have excellent subject knowledge, but they are also incredibly nice people – very patient, understanding, and encouraging. 

No question is a silly question!

Whatever the need, whatever the goal, our team of specialists are ready to help. 

Despite the tutors being everything I have mentioned above, they do not have magic wands. Tuition requires the same amount of commitment and dedication from the student and the fusion of both creates astounding results!

There have been so many examples of this combined effort by tutor and student, as we have a strong record of exemplary results. We have seen that it is possible to improve by 2, 3, 4 even 5 grades at GCSE! The tutors can get you there, but the student has to work for it too.