Who we are
Partner, not provider
At Tute Education, we pride ourselves on being more than just a service provider—we are partners dedicated to the success of our students and partners alike. Our consultative and collaborative approach ensures that we support and empower local authorities, schools, and non-mainstream settings to achieve meaningful student outcomes.
Students are at the heart of everything we do. Our mission is centred around their needs and experiences, and we make every decision with their best interests in mind. We continuously strive for quality in our provision, combining the expertise of qualified teachers with advanced technology to engage and empower students through effective, tailored, and accessible provision.
Our story
Supporting students since 2012
Since our inception, Tute Education has been on a mission to fill the critical gaps in today’s education system. We were founded with the belief that every child deserves access to high-quality, inclusive education.
Over the years, we have evolved, but our core values remain the same—student-centricity, quality, collaboration, and innovation. These values drive us to create and deliver curriculums that address diverse student needs while aligning with partner budgets and priorities.
We are passionate about making a difference in the lives of students who cannot access mainstream education, providing them with the opportunity to engage and achieve through our transformative online learning platform.
Our vision
Creating an education system that meets the needs of all students
To build a world where engaging, flexible alternative education is accessible and accepted by all. We aim to deliver improved, meaningful outcomes by empowering any student, anywhere, to achieve their real potential. By bridging tradition and technology, we strive to create an education system that meets the needs of all students through the transformative power of online learning.
Our journey
Tute is born
The company is founded in Wrexham, North Wales
Tute is a Bett Award winner
Whole School Aids Learning, Teaching and Assessment category
New Tute HQ
We moved to a new office!
Tute is a Bett Award finalist
Covid-19 Response Champions category
Tute is an Education & Training Awards winner
Best Cloud-Based Education Provider (UK) category
New platform launch
Offering partners more functionality and students the option of accessing learning via a mobile app
Tute is an Education Resource Awards winner
Collaboration between school and supplier category
The Tute team
Meet the Tute Team – a diverse, passionate, and dedicated group of education professionals united by a common goal: to put students at the heart of everything we do. Our team, from senior leaders to teachers, HR, operations, and partnerships, works seamlessly together to deliver high-quality education and support the unique needs of our students and partners.
We are proud of our team and the positive, lasting impact we make in the lives of our students. Together, we are building a world where engaging, flexible alternative education is accessible and accepted by all.
Vanessa Leach
A teacher by trade, I’ve always been passionate about teaching and learning, and student outcomes. As a free school meal child who today would be classed as disadvantaged, I know first-hand how important education is to young people. So, I left the classroom for Tute back in 2013 to lead on all things T&L; I realised that there was more scope here to make a difference than in my Welsh class!
I moved to become MD in 2018 and some say this job is lonely, but I disagree! I am incredibly lucky to work with and lead a fantastic team of committed professionals who each puts the student at the core of everything they do at Tute. Yes, Tute is a business, but our purpose and vision really are about giving students a chance to reach their potential. Outside of Tute, I am Chair of Governors at my youngest’s school and have learnt a lot whilst doing the best I can to support. I’m happiest when I’m with my family, friends and dogs either walking, entertaining or watching a good old box set. My party trick is a solid head stand and making my bottom eyelashes disappear!
Phil Davies
A qualified accountant with 26 years’ experience leading finance teams, I’m experienced in developing and delivering business plans and strategies and interacting with external stakeholders and investors.
I have worked in several sectors, most recently technology, within both AIM listed, and PE-backed companies. I have been at Tute since 2018.
I’m a keen golfer with a handicap of four and have completed six marathons, albeit at the moment I could barely run to the end of the road; I blame lockdown!
Fun fact about me – as part of my best man duties at a wedding in Africa I had to dance into the church with the chief bridesmaid.
Carol Skitt
With over 25 years of HR and recruiting experience, my areas of expertise include compliance and best practices, I fully support and lead our management team in all HR matters including policy and procedure reviews and updates, employee relations issues, onboarding and safer recruitment. I joined Tute in 2012 as the very first employee, and previously worked in the electricity industry
Fun fact – I LOVE belting out a Cher tune on karaoke!
Phill Hughes
I have a passion for all things tech related and love to help people get the most from it. I have an honours degree in computer networking and security and a foundation degree in IT support.
In my spare time I like to go and watch the mighty reds Wrexham AFC.
Fun fact: I made a commercial about double glazing for radio when I was 8.
Julie Kelsall
As a former Head of Languages, I joined Tute in 2019 ready to combine previous experience in teaching, marketing and educational technology.
Previous jobs include being a bilingual PA in London and Marketing Exec for a publishing company. My role as client relationship manager brings together my past experience to make working for Tute great fun.
I love spending time with family and friends and putting the world to rights over a glass of wine.
Rob Hughes
Rob Hughes
I have high expectations for quality and set high standards, ensuring all of our students are included, protected and provided with opportunities to learn, make progress and grow in every Tute lesson.
At the weekends, I love nothing more than to swing my Flying V guitar over my shoulder and sing lead vocals for my disco rock covers band! ⚡
Kate McCombe
As a child I hated school so much I’m still astonished I grew up to become a teacher. My teaching career fast-tracked me to school headship in a residential setting for CLA with complex needs then a random job offer took me to China and a brush with the world of business. My heart brought me full circle though and back to improving outcomes for children and young people, something Tute enables me to do daily for those who need it most.
I never tire of meeting new customers, hearing about the challenges they face and working with them to make Tute part of their solution. Their positive feedback and student success stories inspire me to keep going.
When I’m not working, I’m often in the water outdoor swimming year-round, snorkelling, scuba diving or paddle boarding. I have a diploma in vegan nutrition and enjoy experimenting in my kitchen with foraged or homegrown ingredients and love a cosy night in by the fire curled up with my cat and a good film.
A fun fact about me is that I used to design and make wedding dresses from scratch.
Dr. Sharon Smith
Dr Sharon Smith
Before moving to Tute in 2014, I taught for 8 years in secondary schools in Manchester and Chester, often working with disadvantaged students and those at risk of disengagement. I started teaching with Tute at the same time as I begun my Doctorate in Education, keen to explore whether there might be other ways for students to learn effectively, outside of and alongside the traditional classroom environment.
I completed my Doctoral Thesis in 2020 (based on field work I undertook in rural Uganda, exploring teacher training programmes). I also received a fellowship from BERA in 2019 to complete work exploring student voice for online learning. I am now so excited to work on evaluating the impact of the provisions offered by Tute and to contribute to the emerging knowledge base around learning online.
In addition to my work with Tute, I am a Visiting Research Associate at The University of Chester, I’m a mum of two amazing girls and I’m a chair of governors at my eldest’s primary school.
Free time is a bit of a rarity, but I love a girls’ weekend, a meal or a gig with my husband and I’m an avid fan of cheesy TV drama; it’s an antidote to all the academia!
Jasmine Brown
Jasmine Brown
In my spare time, you can find me either on the sofa binge watching the latest Netflix series, dining out with my partner (I’m a foodie), or walking my dog, Milo, along a local beach.
Fun fact about me – I am absolutely dog mad. You could say that I’m a crazy dog mom.
