Bridging the Gap: Why we’re bringing tuition to everyone

Behind every headline about “learning loss” or “catch-up programmes” is a student who’s simply trying to do their best, often without the tools or support they need to succeed. It’s no secret that the pandemic caused serious disruption to education. For many young people, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, it’s left a lasting gap.

Studies show that the so-called ‘Covid generation’ is still up to six months behind in key subjects like English and Maths. But what often gets lost in the data is how uneven this impact has been. Students with access to resources - private tutoring, quiet workspaces, reliable internet - had a safety net. Others did not.

Private tuition has become one of the most effective ways for families to support their children’s learning. The Education Endowment Foundation reports that one term of targeted tutoring can boost progress by up to five months. But tutoring comes at a cost, and for most families, that cost is out of reach. In fact, around 70% of students in the UK do not have access to any form of private tuition. That’s not just a statistic, it’s a reflection of how unequal educational support has become.

This is exactly why we created Sophos Education.

Our aim is simple: to provide high-quality, engaging learning sessions that give all students the chance to catch up, stretch further, and feel confident in their subjects. Whether a student needs to review key concepts, explore a topic in more depth, or build up the study habits that underpin academic success, our livestreams are there to guide and support them.

Each session is taught by experienced Oxbridge tutors and designed with accessibility in mind. No jargon, no assumptions. Just great teaching, open to everyone. And because students can watch live or on-demand, they can learn at their own pace, in their own time.

This isn’t about short-term fixes. It’s about long-term equity. When we make learning more accessible, we don’t just help individual students - we begin to close the wider attainment gap. The Sophos Education Summer School is a small but powerful way of ensuring that support doesn’t depend on what a family can afford.

We believe that potential should never be limited by postcode or income. That’s why we’re doing this. Because with the right support, every student deserves the chance to thrive.