BESA CORNER
This month, in our ongoing feature highlighting the work of members of the UK education suppliers’ trade body BESA, we hear from EXIMUS EDUCATION and RAZZAMATAZ THEATRE SCHOOLS.
The power of high-impact tutoring: Eximus Education with Academies Enterprise Trust (AET)
In the corridors of 24,000+ UK schools, over 10 million students embark on their educational journeys. As primary school draws to a close, nearly one-third of these students encounter disadvantages, with only 13% having access to crucial private tutoring (Sutton Trust, 2023).
The challenge
Amidst the educational landscape, Academies Enterprise Trust sought after-school support for one of it’s predominantly disadvantaged schools, grappling with attendance issues, concentration lapses, and academic pressure. These challenges had a substantial impact on both students, who struggled with distractions, and the school’s staff, who faced increased administrative burdens in the aftermath of the 2023 post- pandemic period (University of Oxford).
Why teachers are the stars within Razzamataz Theatre Schools
In the exciting world of performing arts education, Razzamataz has carved a niche for itself by offering unparalleled opportunities for children to explore their creativity and curiosity. A key ingredient to the success of more than 60 Razzamataz schools throughout the UK, is the strong leadership.
While Principals come from various backgrounds, there is a strong precedent of teachers transitioning into the role of Razzamataz Principals. There are numerous reasons why teachers make exceptional Principals, and in turn, the franchise transforms their life, offering them financial freedom and flexibility which can be missing from traditional teaching roles.
Lauren Bill has been part of Razzamataz as a franchisee for the last 15 years, opening her first school in 2011 alongside teaching in a local college.
How we made a difference
Eximus Education, an award-winning tutoring social enterprise, collaborates with schools to design personalised after-school tutoring programmes aimed at bridging the attainment gap. For Academies Enterprise Trust, we designed high-impact, high- dosage online lessons for Sixth Form students, addressing specific challenges while easing administrative pressures. The programme included:
• Bespoke scheduling of online lessons for subjects like English, Maths,Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Psychology and Media Studies
• Carefully selected experienced teachers • Integration of AI-powered lesson planning • Lessons concentrated towards past paper practice and cementing the concepts learned in school • Feedback and support
“It became apparent to me fairly quickly that I wanted to devote more time to running my business so I gradually transitioned to building up the school so I was financial stable and could leave my job in 2015,” explains Lauren. “Since then, I’ve never looked back. I had my daughter Amelia in 2018 and a few years later I was planning on launching a second school. But when covid hit, I paused these plans to ensure my focus was on the students and staff at Razzamataz Weymouth.”
Lauren has recently launched Razzamataz Dorchester and in less than a term, the school has already broken even, showing there is a huge demand for the services.
“Being a Razzamataz student gives young people so many transferable skills, but I think the most important thing is that it gives them the chance to find something that they are passionate about and allows them to commit to it and learn more. It doesn’t matter if they don’t go into performing arts as a career, it is the chance to find something they love and develop it, this will be so valuable throughout their lives.”
Like many teachers, Lauren possess many skills for being an exceptional theatre school Principal. However, the lack of business experience means that a franchise is the ideal opportunity as she explains: “When I first became a franchisee, being part of the Razzamataz network was everything because they took me step by step through the whole process of setting up. I had no business experience so I was so grateful that they gave me a chance and trusted that I could do it with their support.”
The impact
By the end of the term, Academies Enterprise Trust witnessed remarkable improvements in student achievement, particularly in core subjects, prompting the continuation of the programme. Dr. Lucas, Vice-Principal, attributed these gains to Eximus Education’s premium tutoring lessons, commenting, “Excellent experience with Eximus. The students thoroughly enjoyed the sessions.”
At Eximus Education, our commitment to accessible online tutoring is fueled by 5-star reviews from 97% of our clients. Having delivered over 6,000 lesson hours, we are committed to levelling the playing field by offering subsidised rates up to 60% more affordable than the market with unmatched service quality.
Teachers are adept at understanding the unique needs of each student. This makes them well-equipped to create an inclusive and supportive atmosphere. With excellent communication skills, teachers can engage with students, parents and staff, which is vital to build a vibrant community with everyone fully engaged with the growth and opportunities for everyone within the school. Being a business owner and a theatre school Principal requires adaptability and being able to handle diverse responsibilities. Teachers naturally do this day in and day out within their classrooms, and the support from Razzamataz allows them to understand how to use these skills to build a business that inspires young people in their community while building a business that aligns with their lifestyle choices.
“After 15 years of being a Principal, I can honestly say I still really love it,” adds Lauren. “It all brings me so much joy and allows me to be creative, work with young people and work flexibly so I can be there for my daughter. I can do the school runs and be a successful business owner at the same time.”
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https://www.razzamataz.co.uk/franchise-opps/book-discovery-den/ 14
www.education-today.co.uk
February 2024
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