Flagship Covid tutoring scheme not used by 40 per cent of schools

The flagship Covid tutoring scheme to help pupils catch up has not been used by two in five schools, it has emerged, prompting the Education Secretary to write to teachers.

The National Tutoring Programme (NTP) has been criticised as “dysfunctional”, with schools reporting problems with an online portal built by Randstad, a Dutch human resources firm which was awarded £25.4 million to run it in May 2021.

Many teachers are still not using the scheme, intended to be a central part of the Government’s catch-up plans to tackle the continued fallout of school closures during lockdowns, which caused lost learning and fears of surging illiteracy.

Some 40 per cent of schools are yet to offer any tutoring sessions through the NTP during this academic year, the Department for Education (DfE) has estimated.

Now Nadhim Zahawi is to write to schools directly to urge them to use the scheme, while the DfE said it will publish the data of each school’s involvement in the autumn and this will be shared with Ofsted, the schools inspectorate.

In a letter to schools, published on Monday, Mr Zahawi writes: “I appeal now, in particular to those schools that have not yet started to offer tutoring, to make sure that you do so as soon as possible this term – do not miss out on an opportunity to help pupils who could benefit now.

“Starting this week, my department will contact those schools yet to offer tutoring support to discuss their plans and offer further support to ensure they can offer tutoring to their pupils this term.”

‘Bizarre decision’

It sparked an immediate backlash from headteachers. Geoff Barton, of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: “Aside from the bizarre decision to send a letter to schools on a bank holiday Monday, this announcement smacks of political grandstanding designed to distract from the mess the Government has made of the NTP.”

Paul Whiteman, of school leaders’ union NAHT, added: “Ongoing delays, conflicting guidance, and a shortage of high-quality tutors in some areas has meant many schools have simply not been able to use the national tutoring programme.

“Rather than trying to pressurise schools into using it, the Government should focus on building a tutoring programme and an infrastructure that is actually fit for purpose.”

Overall, more than a million tuition courses have been started, but most of these were through the schools-led tuition route, where schools were awarded funding to spend on tuition directly.

A total of £349 million has been allocated for the NTP for 2022/23. In March, Randstad lost the contract for next year and schools will instead receive direct funds for tutoring instead to “simplify” the programme.