Innovative new mobile app is revolutionising access to tutoring

11 Feb 2020 02:42 PM

Tutoring outside of the classroom has proven to be advantageous for learners, however, not all young people are able to access the same learning opportunities.

For many young people and their families, the costs associated with private tutoring are completely prohibitive. This inequality is outside of the control of young people, however, they are the ones who are losing out.

With this in mind, a North East based start-up – Peer Tutor – has developed an innovative new mobile application, designed to make tutoring available and affordable to every student across the UK through peer-to-peer learning. Peer Tutor is wholly owned by NCFE, registered educational charity.

The mobile app has been designed to create equal access to learning and provide a low cost, high quality alternative to traditional private tutoring. It’s the first of its kind and gives students the bespoke support they need, anytime, anywhere, 24/7.

Household income shouldn’t dictate education outcomes

Peer Tutor CEO and Founder Wayne Harrison explains: “Whilst teachers work incredibly hard to close the gaps in academic attainment between students during the school day, the support that families with more disposable income are able to provide their children through private tuition cannot be underestimated. Peer Tutor has been developed precisely to bridge this divide, by providing accessible and affordable tutoring for all.”

Peer Tutor provides a secure online platform for pupils to access instant one to one support with homework and revision when they need it most. Learners can request a live one to one lesson within 15 minutes, request feedback on their work and take a photo of specific questions and receive a step by step guide and model showing how to tackle this type of question going forward.

Safe, cashless and high quality tuition

“We take learners’ online safety very seriously,” Wayne added.

Peer Tutor has a number of built-in safety features, including the latest AI screening technologies to moderate documents and feedback. All of the tutors are DBS checked and have passed their own exams at Level 6 (Grade B) or above and tuition is supported by Collins approved resources. This ensures the quality of the tutoring sessions and the safety of everyone who accesses the app.

Peer Tutor is operated on a credit-based system, where ‘gems’ are exchanged for question and answer based support, essay feedback or a 30-minute live tutoring session. Cheaper than private tutoring, where sessions can cost £25 and more, learners and parents have the option to purchase gems on the app on a pay as you go basis.

Organisations are supporting the future workforce

The app has been developed in partnership with a number of leading educational organisations and authorities.

To ensure that more learners can access the benefits of peer-to-peer tutoring, Peer Tutor has been seeking support from businesses to sponsor schools in their area and give learners access to the app for free.

By helping those young people who need some extra support, large organisations can share the responsibility of social mobility and enrich the lives of the future workforce through their CSR actions.

As a school leader, we can help local businesses in your location support learners in your school reach their maximum potential. Please consider sharing this video about Peer Tutor with business leaders in your area / employers that your school has a relationship with or visit the this webpage to find out more or submit an enquiry.