Oakwood Secondary School

Oakwood Secondary School, a comprehensive school with 950 students, was facing challenges with their GCSE Math and English results. Despite dedicated teaching staff, the school was struggling to meet its target of having 65% of students achieve grade 5 or above in both subjects. The previous year, only 48% of students had reached this benchmark.

The school identified several factors contributing to this challenge:

• Learning gaps from disrupted education during the pandemic
• Limited capacity for one-to-one support within existing teaching resources
• Varying levels of student confidence and engagement with exam preparation
• A need for targeted intervention for students on the grade 4/5 borderline

The school approached D1 Tutors to develop a solution that would address these challenges and help improve their GCSE results.

After a detailed consultation with the school leadership team, D1 Tutors designed a comprehensive GCSE tutoring program for 120 Year 11 students. The program focused on both Math and English, with the following key components:

• Small Group Tutoring: Students were placed in groups of three, matched by ability level and specific areas for development
• Curriculum Alignment: Tutoring sessions were closely aligned with the school's curriculum and exam board specifications
• Regular Sessions: Weekly 60-minute sessions over a 20-week period leading up to the GCSE exams
• Specialist Tutors: All tutors had extensive experience in GCSE Math or English teaching and examination
• Progress Tracking: Regular assessments and detailed progress reports shared with teachers and parents
• Exam Technique Focus: Dedicated attention to exam techniques, time management, and question interpretation

The program was implemented during school hours, with sessions integrated into the school timetable to ensure maximum attendance and minimize disruption to other subjects.

The impact of the tutoring program was significant and measurable:

• Improved GCSE Results: 70% of students achieved grade 5 or above in both Math and English, a 22% increase from the previous year
• Confidence Boost: 94% of students reported feeling more confident about their exams after participating in the program
• Teacher Feedback: Teachers noted improved classroom engagement and participation from students in the program
• Sustained Impact: The school reported that students developed study skills that benefited their performance across all subjects

The school has since expanded the program to include Year 10 students, providing earlier intervention to maximize the impact on GCSE results.

"The D1 Tutors program has been transformative for our GCSE results. The quality of tutoring, the detailed progress reports, and the seamless integration with our curriculum have all contributed to a significant improvement in our students' achievements. The confidence our students gained has been just as valuable as their academic progress."

— David Wilson, Headteacher, Oakwood Secondary School