11901 TheTutorTrust ImpactReport2023 301123 1206 - Flipbook - Page 15
The how
Case study: Lucy Wharmby
Widening Participation
programme
We’re delighted that more and more of our
tutors come from the communities we work
in, with some having themselves attended
the schools we’re now tutoring in.
We’ve been working with our partner
universities to recruit more local students,
particularly those who participated in Widening
Participation programmes and who are the 昀椀rst
in their families to go on to higher education.
Lucy is a Quali昀椀ed Teacher, having
completed the Teach First Leadership
Development programme between 2020
and 2022. She’s currently studying for
a Masters in English Literature at the
University of Leeds, during which she’s
been tutoring with Tutor Trust. Having
come from a working-class background in
Mans昀椀eld, and having participated in both
the Sutton Trust’s Summer School scheme
and Access to Leeds before she started her
undergraduate degree, Lucy is passionate
about ensuring that all young people have
opportunities to access higher education.
For me, my goal is always that if
“
I can just help my pupils know that
She believes it’s important that all young
people are aware of the many options
available to them once they leave school
and believes that tutors, particularly those
who’ve themselves participated in Widening
Participation initiatives, are especially wellplaced to inspire their tutees to think about
higher education:
they can aspire to do what they want
rather than what they think the path
is that’s laid out for them. That I’ve
done it, I’ve been successful, whether
that is university or a speci昀椀c career.
I just want to make sure they know
what the doors are and then they
can choose the door that they want
to go through.
”
Excitingly, data from our internal pupil
assessments is suggesting that pupils whose
tutor engaged with Widening Participation
programmes may make greater progress on
average than other tutees. It’s early days,
and we need to dig into the 昀椀ndings a little
more, but it suggests that tutors who share
similar experiences with their tutees may be
particularly well-placed to act as role models.
Tutor Trust Impact Report 2022/2023
15
