TUTOR TRUST - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Merseyside Senior Programme Manager
Aaron joined Tutor Trust in March 2021 as a part-time Secondary and English Tutor in Greater Manchester. He obtained a First-Class degree in English Literature and Creative Writing in 2019, followed by a Distinction at Masters level in English Studies. From here, Aaron joined the office team as a Primary and Transition Coordinator in Manchester, running the Tutor Trust's bespoke Transition Project. He has now moved into the role of Merseyside Senior Programme Manager and is proud to be in a position where he can take a proactive role in tackling education inequality, ensuring every child receives a fair and fulfilling education.
Job Titles:
- Co - Founder
- Executive Director
Abigail has been involved with youth work and charities for many years. Her numerous roles in public affairs and media relations include extensive experience in the education sector, through spending time working at both the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (now the National Education Union) and the Pre-School Learning Alliance (now Early Years Alliance). Abigail's previous role as a freelance communications consultant has included work for GMPTE (now Transport for Greater Manchester) and Manchester City Council.
An alumna of The University of Leeds, Abigail is a graduate of the prestigious Politics and Parliamentary Studies course and has worked in Westminster and Washington DC. Abigail is also a lay member of the General Assembly of the University of Manchester and a Governor at King David Primary School. In February 2024 Abigail was awarded the prestigious University of Manchester's Medal of Honour, which recognises individuals who have made an outstanding and sustained contribution to the University, the city and the wider region.
Abigail says: "I co-founded this charity in 2011, because I believed then, and still do, that there are a proportion of young people in our schools who, through no fault of their own, are being left behind. It was this injustice that prompted myself and my colleague Nick Bent to create Tutor Trust to transform lives through tutoring. Since then, the team at Tutor Trust has focused on supporting young people at school in underserved communities, who might otherwise not realise their potential. I'm so proud of what we have achieved over the years, and the amazing community we have built amongst our staff and school partners. Long may it continue."
Job Titles:
- Greater Manchester Partnerships Manager
Alex joined Tutor Trust as a tutor in 2017. After graduating from The University of Manchester in 2019, he joined the team full-time as School Coordinator, and became Manchester Primary Schools Manager in February 2021, before becoming Greater Manchester Partnerships Manager. Alex also serves as a governor at a local primary school which provides resourced provision for children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Alex supports staff with wellbeing, literacy, and outreach within the community they serve.
Alex says: "During my time as a tutor, I worked with vulnerable learners who needed extra support to catch up on some lost learning. Being able to mentor them 1:1 was incredibly fulfilling and sparked my belief that Tutor Trust is an amazing agent for change within the city where I grew up. It's this commitment to tackling educational inequality head-on that led me to join the team full-time. I enjoy belonging to a vibrant, inclusive, and passionate team of people, all connected by Tutor Trust's mission.
Alice joined The Tutor Trust as a part-time tutor in late 2020 alongside working in the heritage sector. She took on the role of Full-time Tutor in September 2022, working in primary and secondary schools across Greater Manchester.
Alice says: "I love working for a team which focuses on making a difference to young people who need it most. I am really enjoying the challenge of tailoring tuition sessions to learners of different ages and needs, from Primary to post-16 students. The chance to incorporate students' ambitions and interests means that every day is different and challenging.
Anna co-founded, ran for 20 years, and then sold an executive search consultancy focused on roles in strategy and transformation, advising clients in the UK, continental Europe, and the US. Prior to setting up her own business, she took an MBA from INSEAD in France and then worked as a strategy consultant for Marakon Associates in London.
Anna first worked with the Tutor Trust on a project via Impetus and was impressed by the Tutor Trust's mission, the quality of the leadership team, and their ambition to deliver for pupils in the North. She truly believes in the importance of education as the daughter of parents who came to the UK with no qualifications and studied to improve their lives.
Cailum joined Tutor Trust in 2018 as a part-time Secondary Tutor for Science and Mathematics after completing the PGCE at the University of Manchester.
Charlie initially worked with us as a part-time tutor while studying English Literature at the University of Manchester. He joined our staff team in January 2022 as a full-time tutor working on the East Salford Transition Project. In January 2023, he joined the Impact team as an impact coordinator. In this role, Charlie works on pupil assessment, tutor monitoring, data analysis, and pupil focus groups.
Charlie says: "I had an interest in teaching from a young age, so when I first discovered Tutor Trust, I wanted to get involved as a tutor. Through my experience as a tutor, and especially while working on the Transition Project tutoring pupils when they were in Year 6 at Primary school and then in Year 7 at Secondary, I saw the unique and invaluable influence that tutoring can have on a pupil's school experience. This is what motivated me, when the project had concluded, to become more greatly involved in the organisation and apply to work in the Impact Team. My role allows me to help ensure that all the tuition we provide has the best possible impact on the young people we serve."
Job Titles:
- Strategic Partnerships Coordinator
Chrissie joined the Tutor Trust in October 2024. A graduate of the University of Exeter, she is also now finalising her PhD in sociology of religion at the University of Leeds, which was funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council. As well as being committed to accessible and socially impactful research, Chrissie has a keen interest in ensuring people are enabled to realise their potential regardless of socio-economic background; she previously worked in university outreach through a widening participation role, delivering sessions in a low-participation school.
Her other professional experiences include teaching undergraduates, supporting students with disabilities in their university exams, developing postgraduate researchers' careers provision, fundraising for hardship financial aid, and student wellbeing advocacy. She is keen to apply this background in higher education to make a positive impact within the education sector more broadly.
Cliona joined Tutor Trust in 2017 as a Primary tutor in Leeds, whilst completing a degree in Childhood Studies at the University of Leeds. Working as a tutor Cliona realised that she was highly interested in mitigating inequalities children face, and this interest resulted in her completing the Graduate Diploma in Law. She hopes this will allow her to effectively advocate for children's needs one day.
Cliona decided to continue her role as a tutor and joined the staff teams as a full-time secondary tutor in Manchester in September 2020. In January 2021 Cliona moved up once more, this time to the role of Secondary Schools Coordinator where she was able to enhance her expertise in partnership development and organisation set-up, actively advancing the Tutor Trust's objectives. In June 2022 she progressed to the role of Secondary Schools Manager and in February 2024 took on the new role of Fundraising Manager.
Cliona says: "I am enthusiastic about the prospect of continuing my journey with the charity. I am committed to using my expertise and passion to make a meaningful difference in the lives of students and contribute to the important mission set out by Tutor Trust."
Job Titles:
- Programme Coordinator - Merseyside
Damola joined Tutor Trust in November 2023 as a Merseyside Schools Coordinator. Damola is a Political Science (Governance and Public Policy) graduate from the University of Manchester, with professional experience in administrative roles in higher education, charities, and the local authority. Damola also volunteered for Reach Out, an afterschool mentoring project empowering children from disadvantaged backgrounds. Before joining Tutor Trust, Damola worked as a social care advisor at Wirral Council, and as a children's support worker at Saheli.
Damola says: "My commitment lies in empowering vulnerable individuals and marginalised communities through educational initiatives, community work, and advocacy. I am excited to utilise my academic and professional knowledge and skills to support pupils with educational challenges. It is an honour to be a part of Tutor Trust and assist in transforming lives through tutoring."
Deborah joined the Tutor Trust team in January 2017 as a Finance Assistant with more than 20 years of experience in finance administration. In her previous role, as Credit Premium Unit Manager in the Manchester branch of an insurance company for 13 years, Deborah dealt with and developed all aspects of their Direct Debit collection and managed the team. Moving away from the corporate insurance field, Deborah still wanted a role which could utilise her expertise in financial administration and office management.
Deborah says: "During my time at Tutor Trust, I have had various roles and seen the growth of the organisation, with the introduction of the Finance and Human Resources teams especially. I feel that my administrative role is very much a part of the wider team providing great, and much needed, tuition for young people throughout Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire, and Merseyside."
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Education Committee
- Chief Executive Officer of the Chatsworth Multi Academy Trust
Dr Martin Hanbury is Chief Executive Officer of the Chatsworth Multi Academy Trust in Salford. Martin has been involved in the strategic leadership of special schools for more than 20 years, having served previously in a number of roles. Martin works as an educational consultant and has published a number of books in the field of special education and regularly lectures on the subject of SEND both nationally and internationally.
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive Officer
- Our CEO
Ed joined the Tutor Trust in 2023 after a decade working as a CEO in the education, charity, and youth sectors and most recently as an award-winning CEO of Middlesex University Students' Union.
Ed was Vice President of the National Union of Students and has also worked in parliament for Jon Cruddas MP. He has a background in community organising and founded the Barnet Refugee Welcome Board which supports refugees resettled in North London by providing support, education, and welfare provision.
He has led national research into the student experience within Higher Education, working for the Office for Students as well as a number of universities. He is a college governor and has also been a trustee of several social justice charities.
Ed is completing a doctorate in education which is focussed on diversity in education and the role of the third sector in the education system. He is a Trustee of the Darwin Multi Academy Trust and is a graduate of the University of Hull. He has an MBA from the Open University and is a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.
Ed says: "I absolutely love working for the Tutor Trust, it is a real privilege to lead an organisation that makes such an important contribution to both education and to wider society. Now more than ever we need to support our young people to reach their full potential and to be able to achieve whatever they have the talent and the ambition to do. To be a part of a team who tirelessly works to make the world a better place is a real joy."
Job Titles:
- Recruitment and Training Coordinator
Ed joined the Tutor Trust team in October 2023 as a Tutor Recruitment Coordinator, having recently graduated from the University of Manchester with a Master's degree in International Relations.
Ed says: "It is a real privilege to be a part of the Recruitment Team at Tutor Trust, working together to ensure we hire high-quality tutors who are providing essential support for the young people at the centre of our mission. As a result of my experiences in the charity and education sectors, I have realised the amazing impact that tutoring interventions can have on young people in both an academic and personal development sense. Naturally, I feel drawn to the mission, ethos, and values of Tutor Trust.
Job Titles:
- Tutor Engagement and Support Manager
Ellie became a tutor in 2018 while studying for a BA of Arts in Creative Writing and Film at Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU). She joined the staff team as Liverpool Schools and Systems Coordinator in September 2020 and, two years later, became our first Tutor Engagement & Support Manager. In this role, Ellie's focus is on streamlining recruitment processes and improving all support for our tutors.
Outside of Tutor Trust, Ellie volunteers as a Youth Leader with the Fair Education Alliance in their Youth Steering Group to tackle the issues of socioeconomic inequality. Ellie coordinated their Youth Bulletin group monthly, which had a large readership among school partnerships and education stakeholders in the FEA alliance, from 2021 to 2022.
As a Youth Leader, Ellie has spoken at the FEA's Annual Summit on the importance of youth engagement and leadership and joined the Department for Education's National Tutoring Programme team day in 2023 for discussions on the importance of tuition.
Ellie says: "What initially drew me to Tutor Trust in 2018, and led to me becoming a tutor, was the prospect of uplifting and supporting young people across the North West who were usually forgotten about in education. As somebody who is passionate about social mobility and equality, I found it fulfilling to help tutees through 1:1 and small group tuition, and create a support network that most of the students hadn't had before.
Job Titles:
- Hartlepool Programme Coordinator
Emily first joined Tutor Trust in 2017 as a Primary Tutor in West Yorkshire whilst completing her undergraduate and postgraduate studies at the University of Leeds. Emily then joined the Tutor Trust as a full-time member of staff in December 2019, where she worked for three years, primarily focussing on the recruitment and training of tutors.
After some time away from the organisation, where she gained both employment and voluntary experience with mental health charities, Emily returned to Tutor Trust in her new role as Hartlepool Programme Coordinator in January 2025.
Emily says: "My primary motive for working with the Tutor Trust remains the same as when I first applied to be a tutor in 2017: I feel passionately about working towards a more fair and equitable society where everybody can thrive. I know the incredible impact the Tutor Trust's programmes can have on young people, empowering and inspiring them, whilst providing tailored academic support.
Job Titles:
- Programme Coordinator - Merseyside
Eva graduated from Edge Hill University with a first-class honours degree in Physical Education and School Sport. She went on to complete an MSc in Sport, Physical Activity and Mental Health. Most of Eva's experience to date has been within educational settings, working in both primary and secondary schools, and delivering a range of different sporting activities to young people.
Eva says: "I am passionate about promoting positive wellbeing amongst children and young people and addressing inequalities within education to ensure everyone has fair access to a high standard of learning. My goal is that young people feel empowered both academically and personally, resulting in improvements in their knowledge and self-confidence."
Job Titles:
- Tutoring Plus Coordinator
Fiona first joined the Tutor Trust in December 2019 as a Leeds Secondary Maths Tutor, whilst studying for her degree in Music and masters in Music Psychology from the University of Leeds. After becoming an advanced tutor and supporting maths training for new recruits, she became an Axiom Maths tutor for the charity to support students aiming to pursue maths in higher education. Fiona is also an advocate for mental health and wellbeing support, which she aims to demonstrate within her new role as Tutoring Plus Coordinator.
Fiona says: "I initially joined the Tutor Trust as a GCSE Maths and Axiom tutor during my first year at University; supporting students individually and in group sessions through remote and in-person learning. It was lovely to get to know my students more and to work together through personalised lessons to ensure they were appropriately challenged and encouraged based on their individual targets and aspirations.
Job Titles:
- Data and Systems Coordinator
Fran joined Tutor Trust as a Full-Time Tutor in March 2022, following five years working in Secondary Education across the Northwest. Since September 2023, she has been working within the Impact Team as a Data and Systems Coordinator, helping with all things Salesforce. Fran is a member of the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion staff group for 23/24, as well as working within the Poverty and Place research group: a social justice project in collaboration with the University of Manchester.
Fran says: "Providing equitable opportunities in education is something that has driven me since choosing my teacher training provider back in 2017; I feel very strongly about ensuring that all pupils are supported to thrive academically and socially through dismantling barriers to learning. I love working for Tutor Trust because of the positive work environment, the variety of different expertise areas across the staff body, and the fact that as an organisation it constantly seeks to evaluate and improve its impact on pupils, school staff, and tutors through research-led initiatives."
Job Titles:
- Quality and Impact Manager
Hannah joined us as a part-time Secondary English tutor in 2016 whilst studying Psychology at The University of Manchester. She is passionate about helping children to thrive and was awarded an ESRC-funded grant to assist with research in child language development at the LuCiD Child Study Centre at the university.
After graduating in 2018, Hannah joined the Teach First programme due to her passion for tackling educational inequality. She worked as a Secondary Geography Teacher in the North West where she gained QTS and a PGDE. In 2020, Hannah joined the Tutor Trust team as a Quality Manager and has since moved over to the Impact Team as Quality and Impact Manager. Her key responsibilities are measuring impact at key intervals throughout the academic year, improving our internal processes, developing and delivering the quality strategy, leading on our Advanced Tutor Pathway and carrying out tutor quality checks. She is also a member of the Poverty & Place research group in partnership with the University of Manchester. She is currently working towards her PRINCE2 Agile Practitioner qualification in Project Management.
Hannah says: "I have always loved working for Tutor Trust, as its mission strongly resonates with my core values. The opportunity to make a positive impact on the lives of young people, even outside the classroom, is something I find truly rewarding. Tutor Trust's unwavering ambition is genuinely inspirational. The constant pursuit of excellence and growth is a testament to our commitment to the cause. We are a data-driven organisation, placing the well-being and development of the young people we serve at the forefront of all our decisions.
Job Titles:
- Programme Coordinator - Greater Manchester
Hannah joined Tutor Trust in May 2023 as a Manchester Primary Schools Coordinator. With a degree in Applied Performance (Community and Education) from the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, Hannah is passionate about equity and accessibility. Hannah has experience coordinating a team for a large charity and before working for Tutor Trust, worked in theatres and schools exploring creative arts with vulnerable adults and young people.
Hannah says: "I enjoy bringing my knowledge, experience, and friendly Yorkshire accent into my role as Programme Coordinator. Outside of work, I love having little adventures every day, that usually involve good food and nature!"
Job Titles:
- Programme Coordinator - Greater Manchester
Hayden joined The Tutor Trust in February 2025. Previously, he founded The Norwich Tanzania Association in 2013, leading projects in Iringa and Dar-es-Salaam that included refurbishing classrooms, building a library, delivering sports equipment, books, and solar-powered laptops, restoring water pumps, and providing monthly support to orphanages. Passionate about improving access to education, Hayden is dedicated to creating stable foundations for disadvantaged children to reach their full potential. In his spare time, he is a keen reader and enjoys writing scripts and poetry.
Hayden says: "I am very excited to join the Tutor Trust and apply my experience to the charity, tackle educational inequalities and to empowering vulnerable communities. The team is like-minded and passionate, and I am proud to be a part of it."
Job Titles:
- Quality Manager - Secondary and Part - Time Tutor
Helen joined Tutor Trust in 2023 after a successful career in secondary English where she taught across a variety of schools in Yorkshire, ranging from Year 6 up to Further and Higher Education. She has been a whole school Literacy Coordinator, transition manager and KS3 English lead where she explored curriculum design and implementation, developing engaging schemes of learning to be disseminated across the region and beyond and positive progression. Helen has written articles and been interviewed on podcasts for the English Association, exploring abilities in literacy and the importance of literacy as a life-long skill. She has partnered with an international charity, creating and implementing schemes of learning to develop literacy and the English language both in Britain and abroad, paying particular interest to the development of emotional and cultural literacy and the accessibility of education overall.
More recently, Helen has undertaken roles in Teacher Training and continues to lecture for Huddersfield University on their PGCE course, coaching, mentoring, and supporting new and prospective teachers across a range of subjects.
Helen says: "Motivated by a desire to make a positive impact on young people and their educational journey, I joined Tutor Trust, seeing a charity whose values align securely with my own in their drive to place young people and an equitable education system at the core of their mission. Young people can be empowered to affect change for themselves and society as a whole and I believe that education plays a pivotal role in shaping this future."
Job Titles:
- Trustee
- Co - Chief Executive Officer at Abbey Multi Academy Trust
Helen Pratten is Co-Chief Executive Officer at Abbey Multi Academy Trust, Leeds and has held a number of leadership roles in schools, including as Headteacher. In her role as Co-CEO, Helen is responsible for leading the regulatory and operational arm of the organisation through her strategic leadership of the corporate services team. Helen is also Executive Principal at the Trust, and works across the five primary academies in the Trust to ensure progress has been made on Trust-wide priorities, to drive improvements to secure improved outcomes and to support leaders in building professional cultures within their academies.
J manages the team that supports our Salesforce CRM and all it's integrations.
Job Titles:
- Programme Administrator - West Yorkshire
Janet joined us in August 2023. Her background is in the education sector, where she worked for over 20 years as a teacher and teaching assistant. She has also worked in the charitable sector in various voluntary roles including wellbeing and admin.
Janet says: "I am excited to be able to support and enable the West Yorkshire team in delivering programmes which transcend socio-economic barriers and realise young people's true potential. Tutor Trust is a warm and welcoming place to be, where we hold in common a desire to transform the futures of young people."
Job Titles:
- Chief Operating Officer and Designated Safeguarding Lead
Jason joined Tutor Trust in 2014 after spending 15 years leading early years provisions within the Stockport area. Jason is a member of the Senior Management Team, and his main responsibilities now include leading People and Culture, Safeguarding, and Business Operations teams.
Jason began his working life as a professional footballer, most notably with Derby County FC
Jason says: "Alongside working with like-minded people who are passionate, hardworking, and talented, I enjoy the fact that no two days are alike in carrying out my role - I have a very varied in-tray! Ultimately, playing a role in transforming lives through tutoring of so many young people provides me with the greatest satisfaction of all. Long may Tutor Trust continue to champion support to those who need it most!"
Job Titles:
- Digital Communications Coordinator
Jason first started working with us as a tutor in 2018 before working as a Tutoring Plus Full-Time Tutor, then as a Manchester Secondary Coordinator and most recently as Digital Communications Coordinator. He is also the editor of our very own podcast, Tutorcast.
Jason says: "Growing up in Greater Manchester, I was aware of the inequalities around me at school and was able to help counteract this when I took on a tuition assignment at my old primary school. Although I decided I didn't want to teach in a classroom environment, I still enjoy working with young people and am glad to be able to help people from working-class backgrounds achieve their full potential.
Job Titles:
- Training and Coaching Quality Manager
Jennifer joined the Tutor Trust as a Coaching Quality Manager in 2023 after almost 10 years working as a primary school teacher. She has taught in various year groups across KS1 and KS2 and worked with Year 7 teachers for the transition to KS3. Alongside this, she has been a Literacy Coordinator with responsibility for Phonics, Reading and Writing, and has been both a Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 phase leader.
Jennifer's experience at primary has also included leading the curriculum development and delivery of Art and Design, Design Technology, Geography, History, PE and Modern Foreign Languages (MFL). Over the last decade, she has coached and mentored many qualified teachers, Newly Qualified Teachers (NQTs) and School-Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT) trainees in various capacities. Having gained a Master's in Educational Leadership and Management, she is excited to work with Tutor Trust to support tutors to deliver the best possible tuition and help them realise their true potential.
Jennifer says: "Joining Tutor Trust has re-ignited my passion for education after ten years in the primary classroom. It feels amazing to help our tutors develop and grow as individuals during training, and then see them in action transforming the lives of young people across the North West.
Job Titles:
- Project and Programme Manager - Greater Manchester
Jessie joined The Tutor Trust as the Axiom Maths* lead and Programme Coordinator in December 2023, after working in education for five-plus years. Jessie studied Social Anthropology at the University of Manchester, learning about the socially embedded challenges people face globally. Following university she worked as a private tutor for primary students, a SEND support teacher and more recently spent three years at a Further Education Post-16 College as both a Safeguarding Practitioner and a School Liaison Coordinator.
Jessie's focus throughout her career in education has been centred on removing the complex barriers to education young people may face, and providing a nurturing and patient environment to help young people thrive. She has a vested interest in supporting young people who are neurodiverse, as she has personally experienced the impact neurodiversity can have on one's educational journey.
In her personal time, Jessie teaches Yoga, and loves outdoor activities like surfing, hiking and travelling.
She says: "I am excited to work with schools across Manchester to facilitate a person-centred, individualised approach to tutoring education and support vulnerable young people to thrive."
Job Titles:
- Director of Tutoring Plus and Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead
After graduating from Bangor University Jo began her career as a teacher of Chemistry. Jo has over 20 years' experience in senior leadership across Greater Manchester and Lancashire including Headship, with wide-ranging involvement in both mainstream and Alternative Provision settings.
Having worked in senior positions in both mainstream and Alternative Provision settings across Greater Manchester, Jo is well placed to lead and drive the quality of our tutoring programmes within our Tutoring Plus offer.
Jo is the Director of Tutoring Plus, which provides a bespoke service of one-to-one tutoring and other supportive interventions for children and young people with even greater barriers to overcome than their peers. This may include cared-for children, those at risk of exclusion, those excluded, and children and young people not attending school regularly.
Jo is also the Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead.
Jo says: "The Mission and Values of Tutor Trust align perfectly with my own and this is what drew me to working with Tutor Trust initially. However, this has strengthened and developed as we have grown. It is so rewarding to know that you are part of a team of like-minded colleagues all working together to make a difference to the lives of children and young people who need it most."
Jo started tutoring with Tutor Trust in 2021, during her first year at the University of Manchester where she studied Linguistics and Social Anthropology. While tutoring in both Primary and Secondary schools across Greater Manchester, Jo's love for tutoring and passion for educational equity continued to grow. In October 2023, Jo joined the West Yorkshire team as a Full-Time Tutor and is excited to be a part of the enrichment of young people's lives through education.
Jo says: "I first started working for Tutor Trust as its mission is so close to my heart. Being able to give back to families and young people now is a huge full-circle moment for me. It's rare that you get to work with so many like-minded people towards a mission that you truly believe in. I feel lucky and grateful to be a part of this journey with Tutor Trust."
Job Titles:
- Chartered Accountant
- Trustee
Jonathan is a qualified chartered accountant specialising in mergers and acquisitions and is currently Director at EY, Strategy and Transactions in Manchester. He has more than 10 years' experience of advising clients including corporates, public sector organisations, investors and lenders on financial due diligence, corporate restructuring and development of strategic plans.
Jonathan has been working alongside the Tutor Trust since its inception, providing pro bono financial advice and mentoring. Right at the start he collaborated with Nick Bent and Abigail Shapiro developing the initial 3 year business plan, which helped the charity successfully obtain its first round of charitable funding. He is very excited to become a Trustee of Tutor Trust, and to work alongside the rest of the team, driving forward the strategy of narrowing the education attainment gap that exists in both primary and secondary for pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Jonathan originally studied Law at Manchester University, and though he has worked both across the UK and Internationally, is proud to be back in the North.
Job Titles:
- Deputy Head, Allerton Bywater Primary School
Job Titles:
- Communications Manager
- Internal Communications Manager
Jude started her career as a journalist, before moving into Internal Communications. She worked across a range of sectors including housing, health, insurance and local government.
Jude joined Tutor Trust as Communications Manager, and, as the staff team has expanded, has focused on developing internal communications within the charity, supporting colleagues to ensure tuition has the greatest impact. Jude is also part of the Poverty and Place Language Group, looking at how we commuicate and connect with our audiences.
Jude says: "I joined Tutor Trust in 2021 because it absolutely fits with my personal need to work for an organisation that is making a difference in the world and is focused on beneficiaries, not shareholders. We have a supportive and caring staff team who share the mission to transform lives through tutoring, and who do all they can to make that happen. The job satisfaction is wonderful."
Katy studied Philosophy and Religion at the University of Sheffield and graduated in 2019.
Katy has enjoyed working with children and young people from an early age, and, since the age of 16, has been involved in various projects and schemes working with young people. During her time in sixth form, she went to Malawi to work in local schools and youth centres. Whilst at university she was a mentor to secondary school pupils in a widening participation scheme. After university, she worked in schools as a Teaching Assistant, helping to teach children with SEND. In 2021, Katy moved to Manchester and completed a PGCE in Primary Education. She worked as a Primary School Teacher in KS2 until 2023 and has a particular passion for working with children with additional needs.
Katy says: "The ethos of Tutor Trust is something close to my heart. Coming from a disrupted home background myself, I know that prioritising education in a young person's life can have a huge impact on them and can really make a difference. In the short time I have worked at Tutor Trust, I have seen how important the work is to everyone involved. I love that the support and help we can give is directly focused on impacting the pupils. I am proud to work for an organisation that aims to change the lives of children for the better."
Job Titles:
- Impact Manager
- Member of the Poverty & Place Research Group
Keira joined Tutor Trust at the start of 2022 after studying and working in the cultural sector. She graduated with a BA (Hons) in Theatre from the University of York in 2019, and from then began work creating free and fair arts opportunities with JustOut Theatre in the North of England. Aware of the inequity within the cultural sector and wanting to continue work to improve access, she studied for an MA in Audiences, Engagement, and Participation at the University of Leeds. This research further heightened her passion for tackling inequality and led her to look for career opportunities where she could make a difference.
Alongside being a member of the Impact team, Keira is a member of the Poverty & Place research group in partnership with the University of Manchester and a member of the Digital Working Group. She is very excited by the new digital project and keen to contribute to the working group. She is passionate about increasing productivity and reducing unnecessary admin where feasible, allowing us to create additional time for reflection and innovation.
Keira says: "It's such a privilege to work at Tutor Trust alongside colleagues who are passionate and ambitious about our mission to transform lives through tutoring. It's such a supportive environment that really values development and making progress to provide the best possible tuition for all our tutees. Being able to see the impact we're having on the lives of the young people we support is phenomenal!
Job Titles:
- Fundraising Development Officer
Kerys joined Tutor Trust in 2021 as a full-time secondary school tutor after graduating with a degree in English Language and English Literature from the University of Manchester. As a tutor, she was dedicated to helping and inspiring young people who had lost out on vital in-person teaching throughout the pandemic.
She joined the Manchester Secondary Schools Team in 2022 before moving over to the Fundraising Team in her role as Fundraising Development Officer.
Kerys says: "I began working as a Secondary English Tutor in 2021 and I know what a difference tuition makes to young people, I saw first hand how much their confidence grows in a small group setting so I was really excited to join the staff team and continue making a difference to young lives.
Job Titles:
- Risk Manager and Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead
Lewis joined Tutor Trust in March 2014 as a Schools Coordinator and worked across both the Manchester and Leeds schools teams, including leading the original Leeds tuition pilot. In Spring 2022 Lewis moved across to the newly created role of Risk Manager covering various operational areas including Safeguarding, Health & Safety, and Data Protection. Lewis is also one of Tutor Trust's Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads.
Before to joining the charity, Lewis had spent the previous two-and-a-half years working in South Africa's Kalahari Desert. Lewis was the Field Project Manager at the Kalahari Meerkat Project for 18 months, a behavioural research project run by the University of Cambridge looking at the evolution of cooperative breeding in meerkats. He was responsible for managing both the day-to-day research of the project and the team of international volunteers who collected the data. Prior to this, Lewis was one of the research volunteers for 12 months.
Lewis graduated from Nottingham Trent University in 2010, having studied Wildlife Conservation.
Lewis says: "I have always enjoyed working at Tutor Trust. The mission is vital and necessary; we're making a difference and we're very good at what we do to boot! Just as importantly, I'm surrounded by people who care and help to create a wonderful working environment."
Job Titles:
- Interim Head of Communications
Lizzie has spent 15+ years leading communications in-house and freelance for large and small charities, membership bodies, social enterprises, local community groups, start-ups, scale-ups, and funders. She first got to know Tutor Trust while leading the Communications Team at Impetus, one of our long-standing funders.
She has joined the Communications Team on an interim basis to help us set up a strong strategy and solid systems for the team so we can achieve what we want to in the years ahead.
Lizzie says: "I love the work Tutor Trust are doing and the team are wonderful. It's a real privilege to join the team and support them to communicate their work so they can keep doing it!"
Logu first joined the Tutor Trust in 2021 as a Primary school tutor whilst studying her undergraduate degree in Psychology at the University of Liverpool. Logu then began work as a Brand Ambassador to further support the Tutor Trust in training and outreach, which she found to be a fantastic addition to her role. In March 2024, Logu joined the Greater Manchester team as a Programme Coordinator for both primary and secondary tuition, and then became Recruitment Manager in 2025. Logu is excited to continue to make a positive difference in supporting young people in their learning.
Job Titles:
- Full - Time Tutor - Greater Manchester
After completing her BA in English Literature and Creative Writing at the University of Manchester, Lola made the decision to move to South Korea to teach English. After two years working in local primary schools as the EAL teacher, Lola knew she wanted to further her career in education. She returned to the University of Manchester once again, to earn a PGCE in Primary Education.
Her PGCE coincided with the height of the pandemic, an experience that made Lola realise that she wanted to focus her teaching on the pupils who needed it most, which led her to Tutor Trust. After working for a year as a part-time Primary tutor, Lola successfully applied for the position of Full-Time Tutor. Since then, she has been working in a range of Primary and Secondary schools across Greater Manchester.
Lola says: "Working for Tutor Trust has been a wonderful and rewarding experience! I was very nervous when I earnt my PGCE, as I knew, having worked in different classroom environments, that I wasn't looking to become a teacher as such, but did want to continue to help young people to learn.
Alongside his political career, where he was a Cabinet Minister and Head of Policy in Number Ten, Lord Adonis has worked as an academic at Oxford University, and as a journalist at both the Financial Times and The Observer. He was made a life peer in 2005, and is currently chairman of the National Infrastructure Commission.
Lord Adonis has worked for several think tanks and is a board member of Policy Network, as well as trustee of our partner charity TeachFirst and visiting professor at King's College London. Lord Adonis has spoken fondly of us over many years, saying: "One of the most alarming statistics in education today is that pupils on free school meals are half as likely to get 5 good GCSEs as the national average. Tutor Trust is one of the most important and exciting developments in English education. It takes a brilliantly simple idea that pupils who are in danger of falling behind in English, Maths or Science should be able to get individual or small group tuition in exactly the same way as middle class parents have taken for granted for generations."
Lord Polak is a former youth worker and served as an officer of the Board of Deputies of British Jews in the 1980s. He joined the Conservative Friends of Israel in 1989 and served as its Director for twenty-six years, until August 2015 when he was made a life peer. Lord Polak recently spent time in The Tutor Trust office with members of staff and said: "I think The Tutor Trust as a concept is brilliant. It's a win-win for everyone - from schools and parents, to university students and pupils. I am so pleased to support a charity which has such a positive impact on children's educational progress. The Tutor Trust works to bolster and augment the work that schools already do, and that's fantastic."
Job Titles:
- Trustee
- Director of Educational Engagement at the University of Leeds
Louise Banahene is Director of Educational Engagement at the University of Leeds. She provides leadership on the University's access and student success strategy including outreach, contextual admissions and changes to structures and process to close gaps in continuation and degree awarding gaps. In 2017 she was awarded an MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours for services to higher education.
She is also the strategic lead for the Go Higher West Yorkshire partnership - a collaboration between thirteen higher education providers across the region working together to develop higher level skills provision, outreach to widen access/target under-represented groups (including Uni Connect) and new programme development. She has served as elected Chair of the Russell Group Widening Participation association.
Throughout her career, she has focused on a targeted and integrated approach to fair access and student success. With a degree in English and an MEd in Lifelong Learning, her career has largely been within higher education.
Louise is an alumna of Durham University, where she studied English Language and Linguistics. After graduating, she worked at Teesside University before embarking on her Key Stage 2/3 PGCE, specialising in English. On completion, Louise decided to work within the primary sector where she has taught in Key Stage 2, primarily Year Six, for over twenty years within areas of Teesside which face significant disadvantage. As well as a classroom teacher, she has been whole-school English and Art Lead, Transition Coordinator and Lexonik teacher. After a decision to work part-time, Louise worked as an intervention teacher for smaller groups of students to help prepare them for their SATs and subsequent move to secondary school. She also worked as a tutor as part of the National Tutoring Programme and has seen first-hand the positive impact tutoring can have on a child's confidence and ability to meet the challenges they face in today's face-paced world.
Alongside her teaching, Louise works for Capita during the Key Stage 2 National Tests cycle and is Vice-Chair of Governors at her local primary school. She has recently completed her MA Creative Writing at Teesside University where she wrote an anthology of poems exploring the issues facing the region, as well as celebrating the strength, humour and pride found in the people who live and work there.
Louise says: "Throughout my career, I have worked in schools which face considerable challenges and whose young people often face significant disadvantage. My focus has been to support, guide and educate students to the best of my ability and enable them to become successful, confident and independent learners who can reach their full potential. I am proud to join The Tutor Trust in their journey to be a part of an education system that provides excellence, equity and opportunity to every child and young person."
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Finance and Risk Committee
Lucy has been a Trustee since 2014 and is Chair of the Finance and Risk Committee. She also has oversight for the Board on safeguarding. She qualified as an accountant in 1994 and has spent over 20 years working in Higher Education management. She is a governor at Priestnall School in Stockport, where she has responsibility for governor development. She is a volunteer for Citizens Advice.
Lucy was elected Labour MP for Manchester Central in November 2012 and has held the seat at the past two elections, most recently winning in 2017 with a majority of over 31,000 votes. During her parliamentary career, Lucy has been Shadow Secretary of State for Education, Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office and Shadow Minister of Education, whilst also serving on the Transport and Education Select Committees.
Lucy was announced as one of our Patrons at our 2019 Summer Reception and said she was "absolutely thrilled to become a patron of Tutor Trust because we all know of the support that we can give to our own children how much that extra one-to-one support...really helps a child. The team took a gem of an idea and have made it into this remarkable project."
Job Titles:
- Programme Coordinator - West Yorkshire
After graduating university with a degree in Primary Education, Luke knew he wanted to continue working in educational settings to improve access and equity in education. He worked for a Uniconnect in South-West London, supporting students underrepresented in higher education through workshops, presentations and organising visits to universities and residentials. Then, Luke moved back up north where he worked in the admissions department at a college in West Yorkshire, working with students to help the understand their next steps in post-16 education.
Luke says: "My motivation in this role stems from caring about tackling inequalities in education and widening participation for young people. In my role, I am looking forward to working together with a diverse range of educational settings and tutors to have a positive impact on young people's aspirations and outcomes! Being from the North myself, I understand some of the challenges faced in our partner schools and can see the positive impact the Tutor Trust has within them."
Mark is an alumnus of the University of Manchester, where he also completed his Secondary PGCE. After working in the music industry, he began his teaching career as a teacher of Modern Foreign Languages. He has over 20 years of experience in teaching and senior leadership across Merseyside and Greater Manchester. Mark also provides education consultancy services to senior leadership teams across the North West.
Mark joined Tutor Trust in 2019, and is now our Programme Director. In his role, Mark is responsible for driving and overseeing school relationships and tutoring delivery across the three regions of Greater Manchester, Merseyside, and West Yorkshire. Mark is a member of Tutor Trust's Senior Management Team and enjoys his part in helping to set the strategic direction of the charity to support the life chances of young people in the North West.
He says: "I worked in schools facing significant challenges for the whole of my teaching career, most significantly striving to provide outcomes and opportunities for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. As a result, Tutor Trust fits perfectly with my own values and commitment to securing the best life chances for those young people who might traditionally face barriers of circumstance and background."
Job Titles:
- Tutoring Plus Coordinator
Joining Tutor Trust while at Manchester Metropolitan University, Matt wanted to support his Education Studies degree with relevant and exciting work. After almost three years working as a Primary school tutor across Manchester and graduating from university, Matt loved the culture and ethos of Tutor Trust as well as the satisfaction of the positive impact of his work.
Matt joined us as a Full-Time Tutor on the Tutoring Plus Team, before moving into the role of coordinator for the team. He has also been involved in the AI tuition pilot.
Matt says: "Having joined the Tutor Trust in Autumn 2023, I have been so impressed at the atmosphere within the charity. Everyone is so kind and supportive and carries the charity's ethos with them in everything they do. Whether working remotely or in the office, there is always a friendly face to help with anything you need, and this is something I remember from my time as a tutor too.
Job Titles:
- Director of Quality and Impact
Matt joined Tutor Trust in the summer of 2016 after teaching in primary schools in Sheffield, Hackney, Tower Hamlets, and Moss Side, Manchester. Teaching was all he ever really wanted to do but after 14 years of various roles (including supporting children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, English, KS2, and Inclusion), plus five years of senior leadership experience, Matt wanted a change. After seeing the impact of Tutor Trust tutors on the children in his own Year 6 class in his last school, he was thrilled to join Tutor Trust as the first Quality Manager and first former teacher more than seven years ago.
Matt says: "I am now the Director of Training and Quality Assurance, overseeing all tutor training, tutors' Continued Professional Development, and monitoring the quality of tuition. Alongside this, my passion remains supporting children and their families and ensuring all children have access to high-quality teaching and learning. That's why I also teach children with dyslexia or dyslexia-type learning difficulties and am now the Chair of a local governing committee at a north Manchester primary school and a Trustee for a growing Multi Academy Trust."
Job Titles:
- Policy and Communications Coordinator
Michael joined Tutor Trust in 2024 as Policy and Communications Coordinator. Prior to this, Michael worked as part of a global impact research team, supporting colleagues to evaluate the impact of educational products and services. Michael holds an MA in International Education and Development from University of Sussex, and a BA (Hons) in Sociology from Liverpool John Moore's University.
Michael says: "Throughout my time at university, I volunteered with a number of education charities who all operated within underserved communities in the UK and beyond. I saw first-hand the important role of the charity sector in addressing educational inequalities. I strongly believe that all young people should be provided with the same quality education regardless of personal circumstances.
Job Titles:
- Hartlepool Programme Coordinator
Nadia joined the Tutor Trust team as Hartlepool Programme Coordinator in January 2025. She holds a degree in Spanish, Portuguese and Latin American Studies as well as a Postgraduate Certificate in Education from Newcastle University.
Her journey in education began as a teacher working in schools in economically disadvantaged areas of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. From this role, she gained invaluable insight into the barriers pupils may face in accessing quality education. This experience fuelled her passion for tutoring and underscored the importance of tailored educational approaches for those that need it most. She has designed effective lesson plans and implemented differentiated instruction, creating inclusive learning environments that empower every student to thrive.
Nadia first joined the Tutor Trust in 2024 working as a QTS Primary Tutor in West Yorkshire, where she led targeted tutoring sessions for Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and Year 6 pupils. Through personalised learning experiences, she witnessed significant improvements in SATs performance and phonics assessment pass rates. These successes reaffirmed her belief in the transformative power of high-quality tuition, especially for undeserved communities.
Nadia says: "In my current role, I am dedicated to advancing Tutor Trust's mission to combat educational inequality. I aim to build strong partnerships with schools, families, and the community to foster collaborative support for our students. With a genuine care for the impact I make, I am also committed to mentoring tutors to ensure they provide the highest standard of tuition.
Job Titles:
- Trustee
- Group Head of Legal and Company Secretary for the Crown Estate
Neetu Ogle is currently the Group Head of Legal and Company Secretary for The Crown Estate and was previously the Group General Counsel and Company Secretary of LGC, a £600m revenue private equity owned global life sciences business.
Neetu brings a wealth of knowledge and experience having operated in fast growing and evolving companies, including Inmarsat plc and QinetiQ Group plc. She also has experience of leading a Talent and Development function. Neetu brings strong commercial, legal, growth, risk and governance expertise to the Board.
Job Titles:
- Director of the Queen 's Trust
- Patron
Nicola Brentnall is Director of The Queen's Trust, which funds registered charities that ‘help young people to help others'. The Queen's Trust was established in 1977 in honour of HM The Queen's Silver Jubilee. Prior to joining The Queen's Trust, she worked as a strategy and governance consultant to The Prince of Wales Charitable Foundation and for the Prince's Trust, as Company Secretary.
When we asked Nicola why she was supporting Tutor Trust she said: "A good education plays a vital role in determining life-chances. Thousands of children can achieve so much more if they have the same support with learning that others take for granted. The Tutor Trust is stepping up to fill the gap and is already making such a difference. This is important and is the reason why, when Nick and Abigail asked me to help, my reply was "deal me in". And more and more people are saying the same - with more tutors coming on board providing more help for children who need it. An equal chance for all children is our joint ambition - nothing is more important than this."
Job Titles:
- Tutoring Plus Partnerships and Fundraising Manager
Penny joined Tutor Trust in September 2019 as a Schools Coordinator. Shortly afterwards she joined the Tutoring Plus team as a coordinator and became Tutoring Plus Manager in 2020. In this role Penny oversees all of the programmes aimed towards supporting pupils holistically, such as The Right Angle and Time for Me. In February 2024, Penny added to her role and became part of the fundraising team as Tutoring Plus Partnerships and Fundraising Manager.
She says: "I joined Tutor Trust as a Primary and Secondary English tutor in 2016 during my second year at the University of Manchester. Whilst tutoring I enjoyed working across a range of ages, as well as advocating for Tutor Trust at University.
Pete runs a FinTech software company (Planixs) following a 20 year career in blue-chip consulting firms. Prior to Planixs he worked for Accenture, Deloitte and most recently spent five years as a Partner in PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
Pete's experiences span a range of industries and activities, in particular he has extensive knowledge of both the public sector and the banking industry.
Pete is a graduate of Cambridge University where he studied Engineering and Management Studies.
Job Titles:
- Trustee
- Executive Principal at North Liverpool Academy
- Founding Fellow of the Chartered College of Teaching
Phil is Executive Principal at North Liverpool Academy, part of the Northern Schools Trust. He has been Headteacher in schools in Birmingham and Liverpool. His work includes inspection, support for schools facing challenging circumstances and mentoring leadership trainees.
He is passionate about the role of education in supporting social mobility. He believes in seeking world class education opportunities for students, regardless of background or personal circumstances.
Phil is a Founding Fellow of the Chartered College of Teaching, supporting the use of research evidence in the development of professional practice for teachers.
Rachel started at Tutor Trust in December 2019.
Rachel knew she wanted a career in Finance after spending a couple of years working in a Foreign Exchange Bureau. This led to her getting a job as a trainee Finance Assistant in the private care sector whilst studying and completing her AAT; after years of hard work, she progressed to the role of Senior Finance Assistant in the company.
Rachel says: "I am very proud to work for Tutor Trust. After seeing the job advert back in 2019 and going on to read about the charity, I knew this was an organisation I wanted to work for.
Job Titles:
- Project Manager
- Digital Product Manager
Robbie is a comprehensive project manager who has worked across a number of diverse projects and disciplines in his extensive 25-year career, including fundraising and marketing as well as more recently around digital and technology. In his time, amongst other things, he has delivered an innovative gaming website for Marie Curie, and worked in partnership with the NHS and their unique data challenges - not once but twice! He has also built websites for clients such as YoungMinds and Girlguiding. His work has spanned not-for-profit and commercial organisations in a unique way and he is used to traversing the different challenges that each sector brings. Thanks to a grounding in marketing, he is a passionate advocate of data-driven approaches and has facilitated persona workshops and data deep dives with satisfying outcomes.
As the Digital Product Manager, Robbie is responsible for the technical delivery of the Tutor Trust's new digital landscape as well as the cultural shift that it will support for schools, tutors and colleagues, but predominantly for our beneficiaries the pupils. Away from work, Robbie is a keen advocate for neurodiverse people and runs a volunteer support group for people living with or identifying with the symptoms of ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). Robbie is also a Trustee of the Fair Credit Charity for whom he chairs the Fundraising and Communications Sub-Committee.
Robbie says: "There is so much potential in the use of technology in the world in which we live, and education is no exception. The art of the possible is to ensure that it is delivered appropriately and sympathetically alongside other systems. Keeping the needs of pupils and other consumers of our digital tools and infrastructure is vital as well - so this is a very exciting time to be leading on a project with this much impact!"
Sam joined the Tutor Trust Team as People Assistant in May 2023. She studied Psychology at the University of Manchester and has tutored previously.
Sam says: "Outside of Tutor Trust, I volunteer as a mentor with Brightside, a scheme supporting young people from lower socio-economic backgrounds in making decisions about further education and their careers. It is this experience that drew me to Tutor Trust; our mission is closely aligned with my own values.
Job Titles:
- Project and Programme Manager - Greater Manchester
Sammy joined Tutor Trust in the summer of 2021 as a Secondary English tutor whilst studying for her Master's degree in Philosophy at the University of Manchester. A couple of weeks after she completed her degree, Sammy began working on a full-time tuition assignment at St Damian's RC Science College, which was an incredibly fun and rewarding experience. She became a Primary Schools Coordinator in the Greater Manchester team. In February 2024, Sammy moved into the role of Project Lead within the Manchester Schools team, overseeing projects including Transition and Post-16. She is looking forward to playing an active role in diversifying our offer to reach even more children and young people in need of extra support.
Sammy says: "I have always been passionate about playing a role in minimising educational inequalities. One of my favourite things about my role is the fact I am making a difference to the lives of many young people in my local community who otherwise wouldn't have access to the extra support Tutor Trust provides. This makes the job extremely fulfilling, and I am proud to be a part of this amazing organisation. I also enjoy working alongside our tutors to help them settle into their roles and boost their engagement, through organising social events and facilitating drop-ins.
Job Titles:
- Company Secretary
- Finance Director
Sarah joined Tutor Trust as Finance Director in November 2020, having spent most of her career with the Co-op working in senior finance, tax, and governance roles, initially in her hometown of Stoke-on-Trent then later in Rochdale and Manchester. She is both a chartered accountant and chartered tax adviser, and trained with Price Waterhouse (now PwC) in Manchester. Sarah is also now the Company Secretary, working closely with the trustees.
Sarah says: "I've been involved in the charity sector for many years, initially undertaking audits for charities and helping them prepare their accounts. I later became a charity trustee and I'm currently a trustee of AidCamps International, a small charity that delivers international volunteering projects.
Sarah joined the Tutor Trust in 2023 as People Manager, after seven years in the coffee industry in various roles, most recently as HR Manager at an independent coffee company in Manchester. Prior to working in the coffee industry, Sarah worked across different sectors from financial institutions to publishing and events management. Sarah is a graduate of Oxford Brookes University with a degree in Law and has recently achieved her CIPD Level 5 in Human Resource Management.
Sarah also volunteers as Chair of The Kore Directive, a community group set up to promote inclusivity and accessibility across the speciality coffee industry in the UK. Sarah has appeared as a keynote speaker on Employee Rights, Employer Responsibilities and participated in panel discussions around inclusion and accessibility. She has also participated as part of the advisory panel for Cup North.
Sarah says: "I have always worked in values-driven organisations, and when the chance arose to work on the Tutor Trust team, it was an easy decision to make. Not only do I get to work with a team of motivated individuals who are driven to support young people to achieve their potential, but I get to help shape what we offer to new team members, and to help make this an even more attractive organisation to work in.
Sasha began working as a Part-Time Tutor for Tutor Trust in November 2021 and joined the team as a Full-Time Tutor in February 2022. Sasha has nearly 10 years of previous work experience as a tutor and decided that she wanted to work in a position where she could better help the students who need our support the most. She has seen the effect educational inequality has on students and hopes to diminish this in her work with Tutor Trust. Sasha says: "Working with The Tutor Trust, it has become clear to me how there are thousands of children across the UK that need our support now more than ever. With the attainment gap only growing, and funding in schools becoming more and more limited, it is important for charities like us to continue to expand and target as many of these children as we can. "Working for a charity that focuses on these challenges, as well as being a welcoming, close-knit team, really drives me to fulfill the mission as I enter a school to work with young people. The determination and perseverance our whole team shows in bettering the lives of young people through tutoring is the main reason I am proud to work here and strive to have a lasting impact on everyone I come into contact with."
Job Titles:
- Strategic Partnerships Manager
Sharon has more than two decades of experience in the education sector. A graduate of the Institute of Education at the University of London, she began her career by successfully coordinating the Effective Provision of Pre-school Education (EPPE) project in Inner London. This endeavour marked a significant milestone as the first major European longitudinal study of young children's development.
Early in her teaching journey, Sharon achieved the status of an Advanced Skills Teacher, opening doors to a role as a pedagogical mentor across schools in Bradford, Birmingham, and Manchester.
Sharon's leadership skillset led her to senior positions within Multi-Academy Trusts (MATs) across the North of England. Here, she developed the effective use of the peer coaching model, with senior management teams across various educational settings.
During her tenure as a Link Tutor at Bradford College, Sharon nurtured and developed vital Initial Teacher Training school partnerships. Beyond this, she delivered presentations and training sessions on leadership to local education authorities. She joined us in July 2020 as the West Yorkshire Schools Partnership Manager and is now Strategic Partnerships Manager.
Sharon says: "I am proud to be part of an organisation that cares deeply about improving life chances for children and young people in our communities. Having the opportunity to build and nurture partnerships with local schools and educational institutions aimed at identifying and supporting students who might otherwise be left behind due to various barriers is incredibly rewarding.
Job Titles:
- West Yorkshire Senior Programme Manager
Simon is an experienced Primary teacher and senior leader, joining Tutor Trust in August 2022 to continue his passion for enhancing the educational opportunities of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.
After completing his teacher training, Simon took a teaching role in a Leeds school facing some of the biggest barriers to learning in the country. He stayed in this position for eight years, developed as Head of Maths, and went on to join the school's senior leadership team. This gave him valuable experience helping pupils and schools within the Trust to close the attainment gap and improve progress for the most disadvantaged pupils.
He further developed as an educational leader by completing the Teaching Leaders fellow programme (at what is now the Ambition Institute) for talented educational leaders. Simon is excited to be a part of the Tutor Trust team and is determined to use his skills to help young people overcome barriers to learning and reach their maximum potential.
Sonya joined Tutor Trust in September 2024. She wasn't always a maths nerd! In fact, she got entirely bored with the subject in secondary school, and only took it to A-Level to please her father. She went on to do a B.A. degree in English Literature and Theatre at University of Leeds, and to study Theology to PhD and post-doc level at the University of Manchester and the University of Oxford. With this background, she often gets asked: why Maths?! Answer: she rediscovered her passion for the subject through helping her own children during Lockdown.
She is grateful to now have the opportunity through her work with the Tutor Trust to help other children and young adults, and loves finding new ways to understand and explain mathematical concepts so as to help her tutees gain the skills and qualifications that will help them achieve success in whatever they choose to do.
Job Titles:
- Merseyside and West Yorkshire Strategic Operations Manager & Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead
Steff joined Tutor Trust in 2018 as the first full-time member of staff for Merseyside. She had graduated from the University of Leeds the previous year with an MA in Race and Resistance and a BA in International History and Politics. During her studies, Steff was a part-time Secondary English and Primary tutor in Leeds. Seeing the impact small group intervention had on the pupils is why she joined Tutor Trust full-time.
Steff has worked in a variety of roles with us, including Liverpool Schools Coordinator, Merseyside Schools Manager, Merseyside Schools Partnership Manager and now Merseyside and West Yorkshire Strategic Operations Manager, where she is responsible for operations across Merseyside and West Yorkshire. Steff is a member of Tutor Trust's digital working group as she is keen to be involved in driving the organisation forward into a digital future. Steff also sits on Tutor Trust's Equity, Diversity & Inclusion committee and participates in the Wellbeing group (alongside being a Mental Health First Responder trained to help with staff wellbeing). She is also a & Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead. Outside of Tutor Trust, Steff is on the governing board of a large Multi-Academy Trust (MAT) school in Knowsley, the borough where she attended school.
Steff says: "I grew up in a community similar to those we work in, and my experience of school when I was growing up in Merseyside is a key reason why I became committed to working in the education sector and improving educational equality in the North West. Tutor Trust allows me to do that, and I am privileged to work with such a committed team and amazing school partners, who share a common purpose in making education fairer."
Our work started in Tees Valley with a pilot in Hartlepool in late 2024. Our expansion means we will broaden our reach. In the long term, we hope to address the educational challenges many children face in this region, especially in the wake of disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing cost-of-living crisis.
Job Titles:
- Recruitment and Outreach Coordinator
Theo first joined Tutor Trust as a Secondary Science Tutor in 2020, whilst studying for his MA in Art in Science at Liverpool John Moore's. His research involved using illustration as an accessibility tool in science education. This in turn influenced his tuition, where he enjoyed making his own resources.
In 2021 Theo joined the Tutor Trust Outreach Team, and after graduating in 2022, he joined the Tutor Trust staff team as our Recruitment Coordinator and then Recruitment and Outreach Coordinator.
Theo says: "Moving from a tutor and outreach team member to the recruitment team after graduating felt like a really natural progression to me. I started doing outreach work whilst tutoring because I wholeheartedly believe in the work Tutor Trust does, and it's a large part of my current role in University Recruitment. Being able to share my experiences as a tutor with other students who are considering tutoring is really rewarding. To me, our aim of transforming lives applies to our tutors as well as our tutees - Tutor Trust certainly transformed mine!"
Job Titles:
- Quality Manager - Secondary
Trixie joined us in January 2021 and brings with her over 10 years of experience as a Secondary Maths Teacher. Whilst studying Economics at the University of Cambridge, and on placement with WaterAid India, Trixie conducted extended research into the links between education and economic inequality. This experience deepened her passion for tackling educational inequality and led her to pursue a career in teaching.
Trixie has worked as an Associate Lecturer and Course Tutor for the Open University and, as a Maths Teacher in Secondary schools in Newcastle and currently in Liverpool, has successfully taken on leadership roles both within the Maths Department and pastoral teams. As Secondary Quality Manager and Lead Maths Trainer with Tutor Trust, Trixie is passionate about helping tutors develop their practice and deliver high-quality tuition that truly benefits those who need it.
Trixie says: "My decision to join Tutor Trust was motivated by my desire to make a positive impact on young people and their educational journeys. I cherish the opportunity to empower tutors and to support them in the development of their practice, and it is a privilege to be part of an organisation whose work transforms the lives of young people and tackles educational inequalities head-on."
Job Titles:
- Director of Tutor Recruitment and Development
Vicky became Director of Tutor Recruitment and Development in May 2024. In this role, Vicky oversees recruitment, onboarding, and initial training of our tutors, as well as managing our calendar of ongoing learning opportunities for tutors throughout the year. She helps to manage our online learning platform and ensure it is stocked full of top-notch tutoring materials and resources to ensure that tutors are thoroughly prepared for their tuition sessions. Vicky also participates in the quality assurance procedures within our organisation, in partnership with the Quality and Impact Team.
Vicky says: "With more than 18 years of education experience, primarily within Greater Manchester, my journey has been inspired by a deep passion for transforming lives through learning. Starting in Key Stage 2, I honed my skills teaching Y6 in an inner-city Primary School, later taking on leadership roles in Diversity and Inclusion as well as SENCO training, where I championed support systems for vulnerable, SEND, and EAL learners. My diverse experience also includes leadership in Literacy, Art and Design, PE, Assessment, and mentoring students and Newly Qualified Teachers. During my own children's early years, I established an 'Outstanding' rated childcare business with a Forest School ethos, served as a Network Childminder, and organised sensory playgroups at a Stockport Surestart Centre. I further fuelled my passion for Early Years as an Early Years Leader in a Stockport Primary School until 2018 when my family and I embarked upon a two-year international adventure, during which I ventured into online tutoring.