Tutor and two pupils during a tuition session

How tutoring helps more young people choose teaching

After receiving high-quality training and support, tutors like Daniel are gaining valuable experience and time spent in a school setting, making them prepared and knowledgeable teacher training candidates.

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Daniel started tutoring in 2023 whilst studying Medical Biochemistry at the University of Leeds. 2 years on, Daniel has finished his undergraduate degree and has already secured a teaching role with training to become a fully qualified secondary school teacher.

 

Whilst studying, Daniel was initially unsure about a career in teaching, and he was considering a post-graduate degree in the sciences. However, after gaining experience in schools due to tutoring, he decided to decline his offer on a post-graduate course and instead, commit to his passion for educating the next generation.

As an enthusiastic and determined tutor, Daniel recorded over 450 hours of tutoring across 8 separate primary and secondary schools in West Yorkshire. The wealth of experience that tutoring provided set Daniel up for success as a teacher training candidate.

Why are more teachers needed?

The Department for Education have reported shortfalls in secondary teacher recruitment targets in recent years. We are currently seeing signs of recovery after year-on-year decreases in successful teaching entrants following the COVID-19 pandemic. The Department for Education reported an intake of just 62% of the recruitment target in 2024. The Institute for Employment Studies reported in April 2025 that the inability to reach the target was a result of:

“high teacher attrition rates, recruitment challenges, and policy changes affecting teacher education and supply.”

In December 2025, however, the Department for Education reported a more successful year, recruiting 88% of their target for new secondary school teachers. Whilst more teachers are needed, we are very pleased to see recruitment numbers increase.

Investment in tutoring can help to tackle teacher recruitment challenges. By providing highly educated professionals with the skills and training needed to be confident in the classroom, tutoring is making a career in education more attractive. Our tutors are gaining experience in the schools, and we’re providing a leg up to aspiring teachers from all backgrounds, including those who may find it more difficult to gain the relevant experience to enter teacher training.

We want tutoring to be part of a great education system, and finding passionate, driven teacher candidates will be crucial to reaching recruitment targets in the coming years.

Gaining valuable experience as a tutor

Not only has Daniel gained varied experience tutoring young people across age groups, but he has forged connections with different schools across West Yorkshire. The opportunity to build key relationships as a tutor has allowed Daniel to begin learning in advance of his PGCE (Post-Graduate Certificate in Education) application, from teachers with years of experience.

Our in-house tutor training, created by qualified teachers, educates aspiring tutors like Daniel on pedagogy (the method of teaching) in live sessions created in collaboration with our partners at the University of Manchester PGCE course.

During training and tutoring, Daniel was also given access to support and guidance from our in-house Quality Team, made up of qualified teachers, many with former roles in leadership and years of classroom experience.

Daniel encourages other students like him to become tutors:

 

I think anyone should consider tutoring as a job, it means that as a student, you still have your weekends, tutoring is about making connections and consistency for the students. I can take that drive and pass that on to the younger generation… be consistent for other people."
Dan sees the value of his tutoring
a female tutor works with a young pupil in a red top

Supporting the education system

Tutor Trust is proud to see so many of our tutors go on to a teaching career. As an education charity, we care about supporting the education system as well as being a force for change to benefit as many young people as possible.

We encourage any talented tutor who is considering a career in teaching to find out how their tutoring experience can help them get onto a teaching course. You can use this link here to take the first steps to your teaching career and transform more lives as a teacher.

Take the first steps into your teaching career