EDUCATION
Tutoring champions
WORDS : SARAH WALKER PICTURE : TOM BANKS
Meet the duo supporting students with a holistic approach to learning
Championing students - Linda Burgess ( left ) and
Anna Coulson .
Passionate teachers Anna Coulson and Linda Burgess have responded to a dramatic increase in demand for online learning with the launch of a new tutoring business .
Champion Tutor cares for its tutors and students alike with an emphasis on positive mental health and wellbeing for both .
Champion connects tutors from a variety of academic backgrounds with students aged five and upwards , taking into account their wide-ranging interests and hobbies for the most effective , personalised learning experience .
Its self-employed tutors include Oxford University graduates , from whom they have had a “ brilliant response ”, with exceptionally high-quality applications .
Former headteacher Anna , who has worked as a national leader in driving up school standards , said : “ We already have 50 tutors and we ’ ve been inundated with fantastic applications and have been able to get the very best tutors .
“ We only employ exceptional , experienced tutors who possess emotional intelligence and understand the reasons behind every child ’ s complexities .
“ They understand all our work is about helping students find a growth mindset and make sure all their communication with children is positively framed and personalised .”
Champion Tutor prides itself on matching students with relatable tutors .
It was able to pair a Darlington student with ambitions of being a pilot with a graduate who not only helped with maths and physics but had also experienced flying lessons .
Another student struggling with their Macbeth homework was put in contact with a tutor who , as a drama graduate , had recently acted in the play and could inspire interest as well as academic rigour . Anna said : “ We only employ the best tutors who relate to our students ’ interests and ambitions .
“ They learn quickly about the child ’ s interests and find unique ways of connecting with them .
“ Our tutors can help with all sorts of things , including children having selflimiting beliefs such as ‘ I will never be able to catch up ’ that can lead to self-esteem issues .”
The worry many students have about falling behind is very real due to the impact of Covid and the closure of schools during lockdown .
Anna said : “ We see top-performing students aiming for aspirational targets in primary and secondary schools , studying for GCSEs or A-levels , or trying to get into grammar schools or independent schools , and many feel pressure and have a fear of failure and of making mistakes .
“ They want everything to be perfect , but missing five months of education can cause a great deal of anxiety .”
Education Endowment Foundation research shows that children who receive tuition make five additional months of progress compared with peers .
Linda , who has a degree in psychology and a postgraduate qualification in working with students with special educational needs , added : “ In April , when Anna had this idea , I was leading special educational needs for the whole of Sunderland , developing personalised learning strategies , and I saw first-hand how children who were missing out on their education struggled .
“ We were both very passionate about incorporating wellbeing in learning and personalising education for the children . Our tutors adopt growth mindset communication , which inspires a can-do approach in learners from all starting points .
“ They can also support home-educated pupils ’ timetables , including group sessions , giving opportunities for social interaction in learning .”
Anna and Linda have invested heavily in bespoke software so lessons are taught in an interactive and safe environment .
The company also funds enhanced DBS checks on all its tutors for parents ’ peace of mind .
Anna said : “ We wanted to bring something really spectacular to our students , not just using Zoom or Skype .
“ We don ’ t know what is going to happen with exams next year , but we will be getting children ready and feeling confident they can feel self-pride and show their teachers just what they can do .”
Champion Tutor is offering six lessons for the price of five to Tees Business readers and normally applies a 10 % discount to bookings of 15 lessons or more . For more details , email support @ champion-tutor . co . uk or visit champion-tutor . co . uk .
The voice of business in the Tees region | 83