MOST school leaders who have either already dropped out of the Tory government’s flagship tutoring scheme or plan to this year say that funding concerns are the main reason, a damning new report has found.

Nearly half (45 per cent) do not believe the Covid-19 catch-up National Tutoring Programme (NTP) is cost-effective, according to a survey of more than 400 head teachers. 

The report by the National Foundation for Educational Research found that 55 per cent of senior leaders who have already left the scheme, or plan to imminently, said that falling government subsidies was a key factor in their decision.

The Department for Education (DfE) covered 60 per cent of the costs schools incurred for delivering the programme in the current academic year, but the vital support is set to reduce in coming years.

The under-pressure government department originally planned to fund just 25 per cent of costs in 2023-24, but it was forced last month to double that amount.

The foundation’s Ben Styles said: “Tutoring is not yet embedded in schools. Long-term financial support is needed alongside reductions to the administrative burden on staff.

“Overcoming these barriers is vital if tutoring is to win the hearts and minds of schools and be seen as a sustainable way of helping to close the attainment disadvantage gap.”

Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) head Geoff Barton warned that the programme will “obviously become unaffordable for an increasing number of schools,” while James Bowen of fellow school leaders’ union NAHT urged ministers to “signal they will invest in tutoring properly and for the long term.”