Posted by NTP Quality Assurance Team on May 23, 2023
The NTP guidance for schools for the 2023 to 2024 academic year
The government will match schools’ tutoring costs, raising the subsidy rate for the National Tutoring Programme to 50% in 2023-24, from the previous commitment to fund a quarter of the cost.
Gwen Casazza, Tribal NTP Quality Assurance Programme Director said: "We are confident that the funding arrangements for year 4 of the National Tutoring Programme means that Tuition Partners can continue to improve the outcomes for the most disadvantaged pupils. Tuition Partners are well placed to deliver flexible, bespoke, and affordable tutoring solutions for schools and to support schools to embed tutoring long-term. We will continue to work with Tuition Partner organisations to ensure that they deliver the very best quality and safe provision possible through our quality assurance work."
Over three million courses have taken place so far, with school leaders reporting on the positive impact the programme is having on pupils’ attainment and confidence.
The funding is backed by £1 billion across four years, £150 million earmarked for schools next year, in an effort to combat lost learning as a result of the pandemic. Up to one million courses are to be funded, on top of the 3.36 million already started since 2020.
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.
Nick Brook, CEO for the social mobility charity at Speakers for Schools and Chair of the DfE Strategic Tutoring Advisory Group, said: “I’m pleased that the Government has listened to school and sector leaders and has agreed to raise the NTP subsidy to 50% next year. This will be welcome news to many schools, who have seen positive results from the programme and will want to continue offering tutoring next year.”
“We know that tutoring can have a really positive effect on pupils’ attainment and confidence, and I welcome the renewed focus on supporting young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.”
The Department for Education shared that the the subsidy rate for the programme will be tapered each year to support schools to embed tutoring long-term, moving from 75% in 2021-22 to a planned 25% in 2023-24.
Following feedback from school leaders, the Government has now agreed a subsidy rate of 50% next year, to support schools to deliver the tutoring their pupils need.
To meet their costs when providing tutoring, 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.
To support schools to deliver tutoring next year, new guidance has also been published today and you can find this here.
This is alongside information on the amount of funding each school will receive and a calculator tool to support schools to plan tutoring for next year.
DfE Webinar for Tuition Partners
The DfE are continuing to develop the Find a Tuition Partner service to improve the experience for schools and Tuition Partners.
The DfE will be hosting a webinar for Tuition Partners on Wednesday 31 May at 10:30am where they will share more details about plans and provide the chance to ask any questions you may have about the arrangements for next year. The DfE will email you the meeting link in advance.
What this means for the future of the National Tutoring Programme
The National Tutoring Programme continues to be an important tool in the arsenal when it comes to post-pandemic learning catch up and bridging the attainment gap between advantaged and disadvantaged pupils.
The fact that the subsidies have not been as drastically reduced for the next academic year as initially thought bodes well for the continued success and uptake of the programme.
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.”
Chief Secretary to the Treasury, John Glen, said: “We want everyone in school to get a world-class education, enriching their own lives and strengthening the future workforce.
“Paying half of tutoring costs to support our young people through the National Tutoring Programme next year is clear evidence of that commitment and a down payment on long-term economic growth”.
For general media enquiries please contact the DfE’s media press office and for media enquiries for Tribal please email us at ntp@tribalgroup.com using ‘media enquiry’ as the subject line’.
If your educational intuition is considering enrolling in the National Tutoring Programme you can start the process by visiting the DfE's Find a Tuition Partner Service.
If you are a tutoring organisation and you are interested in joining the National Tutoring Programme through the Tuition Partner pathway, you can do so here.
If you are an existing NTP Tuition Partner and have questions around the funding please contact the DfE helpdesk on tutoring.support@service.education.gov.uk.
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