Superpowered by 15,000 brilliant minds
Tutorfair Foundation’s tutors are a community of 15,000 talented people who can support students with whatever they need to study.
In 2012, responding to growing signs that the education gap in the UK was widening, the founders of Tutorfair Foundation began exploring how they could help more young people succeed.
Their experience with Tutorfair.com had already proven the undeniable benefits of tutoring. Students who received consistent, individualized support learned faster, understood concepts more deeply, and gained academic confidence. Improved skills, in maths and English for example, became the foundation on which stronger futures could be built.
The irony, however, was that the students who needed tutoring the most were often the ones who couldn’t afford it.
Hidden in plain sight
The team at Tutorfair Foundation began designing a solution that would level the playing field, ensuring that young talent wasn’t held back by a lack of resources. They thought about all the brilliant minds across the country and how this collective knowledge could support a new generation of learners.
There it was. Volunteer tutoring!
“The idea was staring at us,” says Peter Kirby, who was Director, Tutorfair Foundation, at the time. “What if we could connect people with deep knowledge, a love for their subject, and a willingness to share, with students who could use that knowledge to grow?”
As requests for volunteers went out, university students were among the first to sign up.
“It’s very fulfilling to help someone learn,” says a tutor who was studying law at Queen’s University, Belfast when he started volunteering.
“We didn’t anticipate such a large appetite for volunteer tutoring. We had 30 to 40 people signing up every week,” recalls Peter Kirby.
And it wasn’t just university students. Retired professionals, teachers, and people from all walks of life stepped forward. They recognised the problem and felt motivated to contribute a little time to help solve it.
Systems, structures and safety
The next step was connecting this growing pool of volunteers with schools and students.
“Working frenetically out of an attic that served as our first office, we began designing systems that the programme could grow on,” says Peter.
Safety came first. Criminal checks, safeguarding policies, and clear codes of conduct ensured the programme was robust and trustworthy.
Training sessions followed, developed in collaboration with Teach First. Volunteers were introduced to educational theory, methodologies, and feedback sessions.
“Every school had its own ecosystem,” Peter explains. “So, we put programme managers and technology in place for scheduling, tracking, and gathering feedback.”
How attention became transformation
With the focused attention of a tutor, in individual mentoring or small groups, students discovered a new kind of learning space. They could practise without pressure, revisit difficult concepts and ask questions without fear of judgment.
“I found my tutor very helpful and patient during maths lessons. I learnt a lot from him and found it very useful.” - Student (Year 10)
The impact has been powerful. 88% of tutors report seeing an increase in student confidence through the programme.
The community that keeps growing
Today, Tutorfair Foundation’s volunteer tutors form a vibrant community of 15,000 talented, enthusiastic people that has supported over 10,000 learners.
Together, they are proving something simple but powerful: when knowledge is shared generously, opportunity expands.
With every new tutor who signs up, and every student who discovers they are capable of more than they imagined, the future grows a little brighter.
Get to know some of our inspiring tutors by reading their stories here.