The Rendezvous can help you get the maths and English qualifications you need for going to college, finding an apprenticeship or applying for jobs.
If I hadn’t got my maths qualification then I’d be kicking around Sherborne in a dead end job watching everyone else go off and do exciting things. Now that won’t happen…
It’s really different to school or college – you get your own tutor who will support you one to one, while you learn at your own pace with no pressure.
Our tutors are friendly and approachable volunteers. They go through vetting checks and an interview to make sure they’re right for the programme and right for you.
At school, the teacher had a whole class. If one person got lost, there was no time for one to one help and so I got behind.
Tuition Eligibility and Examination Guidance
Applicable from September 2026
INTRODUCTION
The Rendezvous is a small local charity providing one-to-one English and maths tuition for young people who need an alternative approach to learning. Our work focuses on young people who have struggled to succeed in mainstream education because of barriers such as anxiety, disrupted education, low confidence or additional learning needs.
Many of our learners have Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), and we are committed to making reasonable adjustments to help them succeed wherever possible. However, The Rendezvous is not a specialist SEND or therapeutic provision. Our tutors are volunteers who generously give their time to support young people in a personalised learning environment.
As a small charity, we are only able to support learners whose educational and support needs can be met safely and effectively within our staffing, volunteer expertise and available resources.
This guidance explains who is eligible to study with us, how tuition is funded, and how decisions are made about examination entry.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO STUDY WITH US?
Learners are eligible where they are:
· aged 16–25 and studying Level 1 and/or Level 2 English and/or maths, or
· Year 10 and 11 cohort who are no longer on the roll of a school. Learners who remain enrolled at school are not eligible.
SUITABILITY FOR TUITION
Before offering a place, The Rendezvous will discuss each learner’s circumstances to ensure we can provide appropriate support.
A place may be offered where the learner:
· wants to improve their English and/or maths
· is willing to engage with learning and attend regularly
· is able to work safely and respectfully with a tutor
· has support needs that can reasonably be met within The Rendezvous expertise and available resources
A place may not be suitable where:
· the learners academic starting point is Entry Level 3 or below
· the learner requires specialist educational, behavioural or therapeutic support beyond that which The Rendezvous can safely provide
· the learner requires continuous individual supervision or specialist interventions
· the learner is unwilling to engage with learning despite encouragement and support
· behaviour places themselves, staff, volunteers or others at risk.
Many of our learners who have experienced anxiety, poor mental health, disrupted education or low confidence and go on to achieve with us. We understand that they may be nervous or require time to settle. A willingness to learn is more important than confidence, and we will work with learners to build engagement wherever possible.
The final decision on whether The Rendezvous can meet a learner’s educational and support needs rests with The Rendezvous.
TUITION COSTS
· Learners aged 16–25
Tuition is FREE for up to 12 months for each at each qualification level.
This means:
· up to one year of free tuition for Level 1 English and/or maths.
· once Level 1 has been achieved, up to one further year of free tuition for Level 2 English and/or maths.
Where a learner has not managed to achieve the qualification within the first 12 months, further tuition will be charged at the current tuition rate until the learner achieves the qualification or leaves the programme.
In exceptional circumstances, The Rendezvous may agree an extension to the funded period at its discretion.
· Learners year 10/11 cohort
Tuition is charged with invoices being issues monthly, when the learner reaches their 16th birthday, charges will not apply as long as they are within their first 12 months of tuition.
Our tutors will work with you on Level 1 and Level 2 English and/or maths qualifications (Level 2 is equivalent to a GCSE pass). We have a team of volunteer tutors who are there to help you achieve – we’ve got a really high pass rate. You can read some of our learner’s stories here.
There are some charges for under-16s (school years 9-11).
HOW IT WORKS
One-to-one sessions take place face-to-face in either Sherborne or Yeovil. We find face-to face works best but, in some situations, we can offer online tutoring.
Sessions at the centre in Sherborne take place on Mondays and Fridays, and are run by Learning Manager, Julie.
Sessions in Yeovil take place on Tuesday mornings at Morley House, West Hendford BA20 1XE and are run by Holly K.
You can start at any point in the year (as long as we have a volunteer tutor available to support you) and you can take the exam when you’re ready.
Exams take place in the Sherborne Centre on Wednesdays. We are an accredited Pearson exam centre.
Get in touch
If you’d like to find out more then get in touch with Holly or Julie using the form below – we’ll mail you back so do please check your junk mail if you don’t get a response.
Funders
We are grateful to all our funders, large or small, including our main learning funder Somerset Community Foundation. If you or your organisation would like to support us in this vital learning role, then please get in touch.
