From overcoming initial nerves to confidently speaking in front of a packed room, nine local children graduated from a free tutoring programme last week, celebrating a year of remarkable personal growth.
The after-school initiative delivered extraordinary results, with 89% of participating Perry Vale pupils making progress in Maths and English.
Funded by housing association L&Q, the year-long programme supported children in years 5 and 6 who were falling behind. By tackling the opportunity gap, the programme equips pupils from low-income households with the abilities and confidence needed to transition successfully to secondary school.
The project is part of L&Q’s ongoing partnership with Tutors United spanning 11 years. Tuition is delivered by university students from diverse backgrounds who are hired, trained, and paid the London Living Wage. This win-win model boosts attainment for young pupils while giving university students invaluable life experience and meaningful paid work.
Classes were held at the Bampton Hall community centre for one hour a week, maintaining a close ratio of one tutor per six pupils, with a classroom assistant present to provide additional, tailored support. The targeted programme has significantly improved the children’s baseline skills, motivation, and classroom participation.
Data from the programme highlights its substantial impact:
89% of pupils made progress in Maths and English through 11 hours of tuition
In English, lessons focused on long-form writing and literacy techniques like similes and metaphors, resulting in 112% average individual progress, with many children going up a full academic level
In Maths, pupils made an average individual progress of 82%, with tutoring working towards tricky topics such as multiplication and fractions
To support their onward academic journey, L&Q funded a starting school kit for every graduate, featuring a backpack, scientific calculator, Maths set, stationary, and a refillable water bottle. L&Q also judged a creative writing competition, awarding the winner a £40 Waterstones voucher.
In total, 10 children completed the programme in Forest Hill this year, with a further 9 students taking part in an adjacent L&Q-funded programme at Beam Park. In total, 107 children participated in wider Lewisham programmes across multiple local partnerships.
Among the success stories was Xyla, winner of the Maths Progress Award, whose mark jumped from 40% (lower than expected standard) to 70% (almost reaching higher than expected standard), allowing her to engage with Year 6 material while still in Year 5.
L&Q provides just under 6,000 homes in Lewisham and works with local partners to support neighbourhoods through targeted community investment.
Natalie Playfair, Community Development Lead at L&Q, said:
“This is a proud moment to celebrate these pupils’ achievements and seeing them speak so confidently shows just how far they’ve come. As one of the largest social landlords in Lewisham, we have a responsibility to invest not only in homes, but in the communities around them. That’s why we support programmes like this, creating opportunities for local people to build their skills, confidence, and ambitions. Tutors United have done a brilliant job, and this ceremony is a great example of what can be achieved when organisations work together.”
Tutor Mayomi reflected on the students’ growth, saying:
“The students were very shy and quiet at their initial assessment, but little by little, their personalities came through. They’ve been a joy to teach, each one curious and conscientious in their own way. Knowing firsthand the impression a dedicated teacher can leave, I’m grateful to have been able to play a part in their success.”
This programme also offered a classroom assistant role to Dagbale, an L&Q resident and former teaching assistant, helping her to get back into the teaching profession after a career change. She says, “I’m learning new skills and that is really good for me.”
The impact was reinforced by the children and their families. L&Q resident, Liya-Blessing, 11, winner of the best English Progress Award, said she has learnt so much and will always remember her time there, while her mother shared how much Liya-Blessing’s work ethic has changed: “Liya always looked forward to the classes, I’ve never seen her so focused. She doesn’t give up as easily; she will keep trying different things until she figures out the answer.
Graduate JJ, 11, added, “I’m grateful for the fun times we shared, and memories made with new friends,” while fellow student Amina, 10, praised the tutors’ adaptable, pupil-centred teaching style, noting, “With Maths, I didn’t always get the initial input. My tutors were patient and explained different ways to work things out.”
