Stuart Anderson MP has welcomed a £1.3 million boost for Wolverhampton schools to improve educational outcomes among disadvantaged pupils and narrow the attainment gap. It is part of the National Tutoring Programme, which equips schools with funding to provide targeted academic support delivered by trained and experienced tutors and mentors. Backed by over £1 billion across four years, the Programme was introduced in 2020 as part of the Government’s education recovery strategy. Over three million tutoring courses have been started, with close to 90% of schools taking part.
Stuart has endorsed the Government’s decision to increase the subsidy available to schools. It means that schools can now use their funding to cover up to 50% of the cost of the tutoring that they deliver - instead of the previously announced 25%. As a result, schools will need to use less of their own money to be able to provide high-quality tutoring. Whilst schools will continue to have the flexibility to decide which pupils to offer tutoring to, children from disadvantaged backgrounds will be prioritised as well as those who are below the expected standard or grade boundary in a particular subject. Stuart said that the reforms will ensure that the maximum possible amount of tutoring is delivered. This will also continue to provide schools with the flexibility to design a tutoring programme which meets the needs of their own pupils.
Strong evidence suggests that the model of targeted, academic support, through highly trained tutors working with small groups and individuals, can make a difference to academic progress that can be expressed in months - delivering on the Government’s priority to narrow the attainment gap. This includes the ambitious target for 90 per cent of pupils to meet the expected standard of reading, writing, and maths by the time that they leave primary school. The Education Policy Institute recently announced that average outcomes in reading have largely been recovered in primary schools. And despite the disruption caused by the pandemic, England has risen to fourth internationally for primary reading proficiency in the recent Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) results. To continue tutoring in future years, schools will be able to continue to use funding streams like the Pupil Premium, which will rise to almost £2.9 billion in in 2023-24 – its highest ever level. The additional funding is thanks to the further £2 billion pounds being invested into schools. As a result, school funding is set to rise faster than forecast inflation in both 2023/24 and 2024/25.
Stuart Anderson MP said: “I am delighted that Wolverhampton has been allocated a further £1.3 million as part of the National Tutoring Programme. Nationally, over three million courses have taken place so far, with school leaders reporting on the positive impact that the programme is having on pupils’ attainment and confidence. The Programme is a key part of our priority to improve educational outcomes for disadvantaged pupils and narrow the attainment gap, delivering on the Prime Minister’s commitment to grow the economy. This further investment will help empower schools across Wolverhampton to design and deliver high quality tutoring that suits the needs of their pupils.”
Schools Minister Nick Gibb said: “Since its inception in 2020, we have continuously evolved the National Tutoring Programme to ensure it works for pupils and schools. Over three million courses have been started as a result and we remain committed to supporting schools to embed tutoring long term because we know the positive impact it can have on pupils. That’s why I am pleased that next year, we will be able to match school’s funding contributions, whilst also supporting them more widely through a £2 billion boost in school funding.”
The funding is paid in termly instalments via local authorities and academy trusts. The Government has published guidance and a calculator tool to support schools to plan tutoring starting in September at www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-tutoring-programme-guidance….