Lumina Tutoring launches GCSE Support Squad to help students in care after results day
Dr. Gitanjali Bhattacharya, Director of Lumina Tutoring
Students across the United Kingdom received their GCSE results this week. GCSEs, are public exams typically taken at age sixteen and used for entry into post-16 study, apprenticeships, or work.
While national results have remained broadly steady in recent years, the attainment gap for children in care persists, particularly at Grade 5 and above in English and math.
Gitanjali Bhattacharya, Director of Lumina Tutoring, says: “Based on previous outcomes over recent years, we know that sadly a significant number of children in care will be disappointed with their GCSE results”. She adds: “For those who don’t make the grade, it too often reinforces a message of low expectations, and we refuse to accept that.”
Who Lumina is and how the model works
Lumina Tutoring is a UK program that connects volunteer teachers with looked-after children for targeted, online, one-to-one tutoring focused on building confidence and closing key gaps in core GCSE subjects and A-Levels. The program is fully funded, with volunteers receiving support and training. Started in the London Borough of Harrow, Lumina now works with multiple local authorities, including Barnet, Brent, Ealing, Hillingdon, Wandsworth, Cambridgeshire, Oxfordshire, and Hampshire, and the team plans to extend its reach across England.
Bhattacharya says: “There is still an opportunity to succeed and we know from running the Lumina program that with help and support of a group of inspirational teachers volunteering their time, pupils will be able to pass the next they attempt their GCSEs, whether that’s in late Autumn or next May. But to help them achieve this, we need the commitment of just 45-minutes a week from each volunteer teacher. It means that a lifetime’s worth of difference can be made.”
Call for volunteers and expected impact
Lumina is seeking qualified teachers to join its GCSE Support Squad, with the goal of helping children in care who did not get the grades they needed, or who require a stronger foundation for the next stage. Sessions are online and focused on practical progress toward upcoming resits or future exams. Availability is limited by volunteer capacity rather than funding, which places emphasis on consistent weekly commitment.
“Giving young people who need it the most a second chance, and sometimes a first real shot at success, is exactly what our GCSE Support Squad is about,” adds Bhattacharya.
A participating school teacher underscores the potential impact for pupils who face additional barriers. “The students that Lumina supports have been dealt some really difficult cards in life. Your help could make a difference in their academic progress and motivation levels. If you are able to, I would like to encourage you to volunteer with Lumina. I did, and it was one of the best decisions I have made this year.”
