Charity named as latest National Tutoring Programme provider
Neil Puffett
Monday, November 16, 2020
A charity that helps disadvantaged children to access top universities has been named as the latest organisation to provide tutoring to school pupils as part of the National Tutoring Programme.
The Access Project, which was established in 2008 and currently works in 31 schools, will be available to provide tutoring to more schools in the areas it works in as part of the £76m initiative to support children worst affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
Joining 32 other organisations already announced as tuition partners earlier this month, it will focus its tutoring on schools in London, Birmingham and the Black Country, the East Midlands and Bradford.
Under the tuition partners element of the National Tutoring Programme, schools are able to choose between different providers and a variety of models, including face-to-face and online tutoring. It is estimated that approximately 15,000 tutors will be available through the scheme.
The Access Project, which currently has around 1,000 volunteer tutors supporting 1,400 pupils, uses a combination of in-school mentoring and personalised tuition, to “help teenagers unlock their potential and transform their future prospects”.
Nathan Sansom, chief executive of The Access Project, said: “We’re thrilled to be part of a national effort to support disadvantaged students with high-quality tutoring after a really tough year in education. It’s vital that no student is left behind, the National Tutoring Programme aims to prevent that.
“The Access Project is pulling out all the stops to help, we know that our programme makes a huge difference, helping GCSE students make five months more progress in their studies. Our organisation underwent a rigorous criteria assessment to receive NTP approval and we’re ready to roll up our sleeves and work together with schools to make a difference to those who need it most.”
Robbie Coleman, director of the secretariat of the National Tutoring Programme, said: “The National Tutoring Programme has one simple aim - to support teachers and schools to support their pupils who have missed out the most as a result of the pandemic. We’re very pleased to welcome The Access Project as our 33rd partner.
“The National Tutoring Programme is a tool for teachers. We hope that by providing high-quality, cost effective tutoring to disadvantaged pupils the NTP will make a difference to those who need it most across the country.”
