Commenting on a new evaluation of the National Tutoring Programme’s third year, published by the National Foundation for Educational Research’s (NFER) and commissioned by the Department for Education, James Bowen, assistant general secretary of school leaders’ union NAHT, said:

“These findings reflect what our members tell us about the positive impact that tutoring can have, especially for disadvantaged pupils.

“However, many schools are facing severe financial pressures, and have simply been unable to afford to continue running the National Tutoring Programme, even with the current 50% subsidy.

“We are still in the dark over whether the government is committed to the programme in the longer term and if it will invest in tutoring properly, and we urge ministers to provide that clarity."

Responding to the publication of Ofsted’s independent review into the government’s National Tutoring Programme in schools and the 16-19 tuition fund, James Bowen, added: “School leaders and their staff are best placed to make decisions about which pupils will most likely benefit from tutoring.

"What they really need now is some clarity about the long-term plans for the future of the National Tutoring Programme, particularly in terms of the funding commitment from government, so they can take a strategic approach to tutoring going forwards.”