Action Tutoring and Education Endowment Foundation Partner on Research Trial to Close Attainment Gap

Sheffield schools are part of a pioneering new research project that aims to better understand the impact of tutoring on attainment and its potential to reduce regional inequality. The project, led by education charity Action Tutoring in partnership with the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF), seeks to tackle the significant challenges faced by disadvantaged pupils, exacerbated by the pandemic and cost-of-living crisis. Research has shown that despite its benefits, tutoring is often out of reach for families struggling with poverty.

Key Takeaways:

• The national attainment gap in England is wider now than at any time in the last 12 years, with government analysis highlighting stark local gaps in education outcomes, including in South Yorkshire.
• 38.2% of disadvantaged pupils achieved grade 4 or above in GCSE English and maths in the area in 2024, compared to 73.2% for non-disadvantaged pupils, a gap of 35%.
• The Child Poverty Action Group estimates that 9 children in an average class of 30 will be living in poverty.
• Over half of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds leave school without a standard pass in GCSE English and maths, according to education charity Get Further.
• Evidence suggests that one-to-one tuition can add as much as five months' progress to a young person's schooling, with analysis showing that disadvantaged pupils who attended 10 or more tutoring sessions as part of the Action Tutoring programme increased their chances of passing GCSE maths by 17%.
• Action Tutoring's maths programme has been shown to be effective in improving maths attainment and attitudes among Year 7, 10 and 11 pupils facing disadvantage.
• The charity aims to support every young person and give them the platform for a brighter educational future through its tutoring programme.
• The Education Endowment Foundation's mission is to break the link between family income and educational attainment through better use of evidence.

Statistics:

• 35% gap between disadvantaged and non-disadvantaged pupils in South Yorkshire in terms of GCSE English and maths pass rate.
• 38.2% of disadvantaged pupils achieved grade 4 or above in GCSE English and maths in the area in 2024.
• 73.2% of non-disadvantaged pupils achieved grade 4 or above in GCSE English and maths in the area in 2024.
• 9 children in an average class of 30 living in poverty, according to the Child Poverty Action Group.
• 50%+ of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds leave school without a standard pass in GCSE English and maths.

Sources:

• 1: Department for Education: Key Stage 4 performance statistics: 2024 dataset.
• 2: Child Poverty Action Group: Tackling child poverty: an urgent priority.
• 3: Get Further: Response to the Curriculum and Assessment Review Interim Report.
• 4: Education Endowment Foundation: Teaching and Learning Toolkit: One-to-one tuition.
• 5: Action Tutoring: Impact Report 2023-24.