This project was recruiting but is now full. 

What’s involved?

The programme will provide 15 hours of one-to-one tutoring in either GCSE English or maths to students resitting GCSEs, alongside mentoring support. Each setting will nominate a Partnership Lead, who will nominate students for the tutoring programme, and provide information on students’ needs, tutoring content and safeguarding. There will be an initial face-to-face meeting between the student and their tutor, as well as use of the Snap Survey tool, which was shown in a recent EEF trial to boost attendance at tutoring in secondary school. An initial light-touch baseline assessment will be used to identify misconceptions and priority topics.

Following the initial face-to-face meeting, the remaining tutoring sessions will be online. The sessions will combine academic support with confidence building, with tutors adopting a coaching approach to support students to identify barriers to progress, and to develop skills and strategies to feel empowered in tutoring and beyond.

All tutors, who include undergraduate and graduate students at partner universities in Greater Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool, and Bradford, as well as qualified teachers, undergo 10 – 15 hours of online tutor training which includes both live sessions and independent work. Training content includes Safeguarding, high-quality tutoring, cognitive load theory, the national curriculum, assessment, and professionalism. Tutors also learn about the barriers to learning faced by some young people and are taught coaching skills which they can use themselves and to benefit the students they tutor.

For more information, visit The Tutor Trust website here

How much does it cost?

There is no cost to settings taking part in this pilot. 

Who can take part?

Any setting that provides post-16 English and Maths tuition in the North of England. 

Previous evaluations of the Tutor Trust in secondary schools have found positive results, with an effectiveness trial showing an additional three months’ progress in Key Stage 2 maths scores. A second effectiveness trial using the Snap Survey tool showed a boost in attendance at tutoring in secondary schools. 

This specific approach, of tutoring combined with coaching for resit learners, has been implemented in a small number of settings. The pilot will help to establish feasibility, evidence of promise and readiness for trial.

This project will be evaluated by NFER through a pilot trial.

The evaluation report will be published in Summer 2026.