A tutor encourages a tutee in a session.

Meet our Tutor Training and Quality Assurance Team

The team ensures tutors have the tools and skills to deliver high-quality tuition. From initial training to offering multiple and free, learning and development opportunities throughout the year, the team is on-hand at every stage of a tutor's journey with us.

Matt Wallis

Director of Training and Quality Assurance

Matt Wallis

Director of Training and Quality Assurance

Matt joined Tutor Trust in the summer of 2016 after teaching in primary schools in Sheffield, Hackney, Tower Hamlets, and Moss Side, Manchester. Teaching was all he ever really wanted to do but after 14 years of various roles (including supporting children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, English, KS2, and Inclusion), plus five years of senior leadership experience, Matt wanted a change. After seeing the impact of Tutor Trust tutors on the children in his own Year 6 class in his last school, he was thrilled to join Tutor Trust as the first Quality Manager and first former teacher more than seven years ago. 

Matt says: "I am now the Director of Training and Quality Assurance, overseeing all tutor training, tutors’ Continued Professional Development, and monitoring the quality of tuition. Alongside this, my passion remains supporting children and their families and ensuring all children have access to high-quality teaching and learning. That’s why I also teach children with dyslexia or dyslexia-type learning difficulties and am now the Chair of a local governing committee at a north Manchester primary school and a Trustee for a growing Multi Academy Trust."

Vicky Sadler

Deputy Director of Training

Vicky Sadler

Deputy Director of Training

Vicky became Deputy Director of Training in July 2022. In this role, Vicky helps to oversee the comprehensive first phase of tutor training plus managing a calendar of ongoing learning opportunities for our tutors throughout the year. She helps to manage our online learning platform and ensure it is stocked full of top-notch tutoring materials and resources to ensure that tutors are thoroughly prepared for their tuition sessions. Vicky also participates in the quality assurance procedures within our organisation, in partnership with the Quality Team.

Vicky says: "With more than 18 years of education experience, primarily within Greater Manchester, my journey has been inspired by a deep passion for transforming lives through learning. Starting in Key Stage 2, I honed my skills teaching Y6 in an inner-city Primary School, later taking on leadership roles in Diversity and Inclusion as well as SENCO training, where I championed support systems for vulnerable, SEND, and EAL learners. My diverse experience also includes leadership in Literacy, Art and Design, PE, Assessment, and mentoring students and Newly Qualified Teachers. During my own children's early years, I established an 'Outstanding' rated childcare business with a Forest School ethos, served as a Network Childminder, and organised sensory playgroups at a Stockport Surestart Centre. I further fuelled my passion for Early Years as an Early Years Leader in a Stockport Primary School until 2018 when my family and I embarked upon a two-year international adventure, during which I ventured into online tutoring.

"My enthusiasm for community-driven education equity led me to the Tutor Trust team as a Primary Quality Manager in January 2021. What I truly cherish about my role is the opportunity to empower tutors, leveraging my experience and knowledge to elevate their practice. It's a privilege to facilitate high-quality tuition that genuinely transforms lives and tackles educational inequalities head-on."

Helen has long dark hair with curls and a floral dress. She looks into the camera smiling.

Helen Clarke

Quality Manager - Secondary and Part-Time Tutor
Helen has long dark hair with curls and a floral dress. She looks into the camera smiling.

Helen Clarke

Quality Manager - Secondary and Part-Time Tutor

Helen joined Tutor Trust in 2023 after a successful career in secondary English where she taught across a variety of schools in Yorkshire, ranging from Year 6 up to Further and Higher Education. She has been a whole school Literacy Coordinator, transition manager and KS3 English lead where she explored curriculum design and implementation, developing engaging schemes of learning to be disseminated across the region and beyond and positive progression. Helen has written articles and been interviewed on podcasts for the English Association, exploring abilities in literacy and the importance of literacy as a life-long skill. She has partnered with an international charity, creating and implementing schemes of learning to develop literacy and the English language both in Britain and abroad, paying particular interest to the development of emotional and cultural literacy and the accessibility of education overall. 

More recently, Helen has undertaken roles in Teacher Training and continues to lecture for Huddersfield University on their PGCE course, coaching, mentoring, and supporting new and prospective teachers across a range of subjects. 

Helen says: "Motivated by a desire to make a positive impact on young people and their educational journey, I joined Tutor Trust, seeing a charity whose values align securely with my own in their drive to place young people and an equitable education system at the core of their mission. Young people can be empowered to affect change for themselves and society as a whole and I believe that education plays a pivotal role in shaping this future."

Jennifer Jones

Coaching Quality Manager

Jennifer Jones

Coaching Quality Manager

Jennifer joined the Tutor Trust as a Coaching Quality Manager in 2023 after almost 10 years working as a primary school teacher. She has taught in various year groups across KS1 and KS2 and worked with Year 7 teachers for the transition to KS3. Alongside this, she has been a Literacy Coordinator with responsibility for Phonics, Reading and Writing, and has been both a Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 phase leader.

Jennifer’s experience at primary has also included leading the curriculum development and delivery of Art and Design, Design Technology, Geography, History, PE and Modern Foreign Languages (MFL). Over the last decade, she has coached and mentored many qualified teachers, Newly Qualified Teachers (NQTs) and School-Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT) trainees in various capacities. Having gained a Master’s in Educational Leadership and Management, she is excited to work with Tutor Trust to support tutors to deliver the best possible tuition and help them realise their true potential.

Jennifer says: "Joining Tutor Trust has re-ignited my passion for education after ten years in the primary classroom. It feels amazing to help our tutors develop and grow as individuals during training, and then see them in action transforming the lives of young people across the North West.

"I love working as part of a team who are passionate about providing high-quality tuition and constantly reviewing, reflecting, and innovating on their practice. Everyone at Tutor Trust really does live out our mission every day!"

Trixie Whittell

Quality Manager - Secondary

Trixie Whittell

Quality Manager - Secondary

Trixie joined us in January 2021 and brings with her over 10 years of experience as a Secondary Maths Teacher. Whilst studying Economics at the University of Cambridge, and on placement with WaterAid India, Trixie conducted extended research into the links between education and economic inequality. This experience deepened her passion for tackling educational inequality and led her to pursue a career in teaching. 

Trixie has worked as an Associate Lecturer and Course Tutor for the Open University and, as a Maths Teacher in Secondary schools in Newcastle and currently in Liverpool, has successfully taken on leadership roles both within the Maths Department and pastoral teams. As Secondary Quality Manager and Lead Maths Trainer with Tutor Trust, Trixie is passionate about helping tutors develop their practice and deliver high-quality tuition that truly benefits those who need it. 

Trixie says: "My decision to join Tutor Trust was motivated by my desire to make a positive impact on young people and their educational journeys. I cherish the opportunity to empower tutors and to support them in the development of their practice, and it is a privilege to be part of an organisation whose work transforms the lives of young people and tackles educational inequalities head-on." 

Claire has blonde hair and is wearing a red dress. She is smiling for the camera

Claire Robinson

Quality Manager - Secondary and Part-Time Tutor
Claire has blonde hair and is wearing a red dress. She is smiling for the camera

Claire Robinson

Quality Manager - Secondary and Part-Time Tutor

Claire joined the Tutor Trust as Quality Manager and Part Time Tutor in 2024, after almost 14 years working in schools. Feeding her love for mathematics, Claire studied mathematics education at Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU); training in both primary and secondary settings. With over a decade of experience in leading and teaching across Key Stages 1 to 4, in schools in Bedfordshire and Liverpool, Claire brings with her a range of experiences in driving change and innovation in mathematics. Alongside leading mathematics at an all-through school in Liverpool, she has also led with success in coaching and mentoring; as a professional mentor to individuals on various Initial Teacher Training (ITT) routes; she has also supported Early Career Teachers (ECTs) and has driven teacher subject knowledge enhancement in mathematics. 

Building on her supportive role within schools, Claire is now looking forward to sharing her mathematics expertise with our tutors to maintain high-quality tuition. She is equipped with the knowledge and skills to embed a little love of mathematics within everyone. Claire is excited by this opportunity to work with learners from all backgrounds to ensure they receive the high-quality mathematics exposure they deserve.

Claire says: “Embarking upon this tutoring journey is an exciting time for me to share my experiences and support others to become equipped with mathematical teaching knowledge, enthusiasm and energy. It has been a pleasure to see how the team at the Tutor Trust work collaboratively to provide excellence, equity and opportunity to every child they work with.

“Joining a team who are all dedicated to providing high professional standards in every aspect of their work, to maximise the beneficial impact of tutoring is paramount; all of the efforts culminate in ensuring the pupils we serve receive the very best.”

Cailum is a former Tutoring Plus tutor with us, and brings his understanding of the pupil-tutee relationship into his role as Quality Manager. He has long reddish-brown hair and a beard.

Cailum Finnegan

Quality Manager - Secondary and Part-Time Tutor
Cailum is a former Tutoring Plus tutor with us, and brings his understanding of the pupil-tutee relationship into his role as Quality Manager. He has long reddish-brown hair and a beard.

Cailum Finnegan

Quality Manager - Secondary and Part-Time Tutor

Cailum joined Tutor Trust in 2018 as a part-time Secondary Tutor for Science and Mathematics after completing the PGCE at the University of Manchester.  

Upon obtaining his Master's degree in Physics from the University of Manchester, Cailum decided to pursue a career in education.  He went on to complete a PGCE in Secondary Science with teaching placements in the Greater Manchester area. Having completed over 200 hours of tuition for young people in Alternative Provision whilst working as a part-time tutor, Cailum began in the role of full-time Alternative Provision Tutor in 2019.  He also took on the role of a Lead Tutor to support our tutors throughout the academic year.  

Cailum is now using his tuition and Science expertise in his role as Quality Manager-Secondary and as a Part-Time Tutor.

Cailum says: "My initial decision to join Tutor Trust was motivated by my desire to continue working with and supporting young people, particularly those that need it the most, whilst pursuing external (musical) endeavours after leaving the classroom! This was in 2018 and I am still here all these years later due to finding that my passion truly lies in supporting the most vulnerable young people in education. This led me to take on a role as a full-time Tutoring Plus Tutor in 2019 and ultimately become the Lead Tutor for Tutor Trust. Throughout this time I tutored incredible young people who have encountered various challenges to their engagement with education, working with them to navigate their circumstances as best we could.  

"My current role has enabled me to continue working with the amazing young people that the Tutoring Plus team supports whilst also assuring the quality of our tutors and delivering our science training as part of our amazing Quality Team. Two distinct hats that I'm very proud to be able to wear!"

Ellie smiles for the camera

Ellie Cross

Tutor Engagement and Support Manager
Ellie smiles for the camera

Ellie Cross

Tutor Engagement and Support Manager

Ellie became a tutor in 2018 while studying for a BA of Arts in Creative Writing and Film at Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU). She joined the staff team as Liverpool Schools and Systems Coordinator in September 2020 and, two years later, became our first Tutor Engagement & Support Manager. In this role, Ellie's focus is on streamlining recruitment processes and improving all support for our tutors.

Outside of Tutor Trust, Ellie volunteers as a Youth Leader with the Fair Education Alliance in their Youth Steering Group to tackle the issues of socioeconomic inequality. Ellie coordinated their Youth Bulletin group monthly, which had a large readership among school partnerships and education stakeholders in the FEA alliance, from 2021 to 2022. 

As a Youth Leader, Ellie has spoken at the FEA's Annual Summit on the importance of youth engagement and leadership and joined the Department for Education's National Tutoring Programme team day in 2023 for discussions on the importance of tuition. 

Ellie says: "What initially drew me to Tutor Trust in 2018, and led to me becoming a tutor, was the prospect of uplifting and supporting young people across the North West who were usually forgotten about in education. As somebody who is passionate about social mobility and equality, I found it fulfilling to help tutees through 1:1 and small group tuition, and create a support network that most of the students hadn't had before. 

"Because of this, I continue to work at Tutor Trust, to support and uplift our tutors; who are at the heart of what we do."

Carmel Kellett

External Trainer - English

Carmel joined Tutor Trust as an external English trainer and continues to support our English tutors in planning and delivering high-quality tuition. She taught English for 17 years in a variety of schools in Essex, London and Derbyshire.  Carmel currently works at the University of Manchester as a PGCE English Secondary tutor and also works for a leading exam board where she is a senior examiner for GCSE English Literature, working closely with schools in Sheffield and Derby on behalf of the exam board in supporting them. 

Carmel is a Continuous Professional Development (CPD) trainer which involves delivering a range of English-based courses nationally and more bespoke training to individual schools. Carmel has written articles that are focused on practical strategies to support trainee teachers in the English classroom.  She has also designed some teachers’ resources for Cambridge University Press to support the new GCSE specifications for English Literature.

Mike Fitzpatrick

External Trainer - Pedagogy

Mike Fitzpatrick currently works in Initial Teacher Training at the University of Manchester on the PGCE Secondary Course. Liaising with partner schools and colleges, he oversees recruitment and selection and delivers sessions on classroom skills, behaviour management and voice coaching. He writes and researches in the areas of spiritual, moral, social and cultural judgements for Ofsted and the Arts in Education.

A graduate of the University of Manchester, he gained an MA from Loughborough University specialising in curriculum innovation, leadership and management of schools and drama in education. With extensive teaching experience, Mike worked in three high schools in two local authorities in Lancashire and Manchester. He held posts as subject leader, head of faculty, senior teacher and most recently deputy head in a large high school with responsibility for staff development, teaching and learning, NQT induction and middle management coaching. As a member of the Drama Board (ADB) and visiting examiner, he contributed to the development of assessment and testing at GCSE and A Level Theatre Studies.

Mike is passionate about the Tutor Trust: "It fulfils a number of key issues in education; to facilitate intervention, boost progress, alleviate disadvantage and expand aspirations. It helps realise a key objective of The University; to promote social responsibility, delivered by our own undergraduates to the pupils of our partner schools. Tutors themselves will discover skills and abilities which may well lead to a future career in education."