These days I use this blog to try to promote interest in the APTC – or Association of Professional Tuition Centres (of which I am the Hon. Sec). 

The Association creates a sense of shared purpose and togetherness for about 25 tuition centres spread across the UK. It has no head office, no paid officials, just the devotion of those who believe in its worth. It was born in 2011 out of challenges posed by the recession then setting in. A discontented franchisee of Kip McGrath Education Centres in Southend canvassed others across the franchise network – and the outcome was an independent Association, the APTC.

Over the years since, the Association has maintained its membership strength, and it aims to do so for years to come. A core activity is its annual meeting, part business, part social, at a venue in the Midlands. A large section of the membership, some travelling considerable distances, gather for a celebration dinner and an AGM. This year’s meeting took place near  Stafford in July.

One of the decisions of the July meeting was to conduct a questionnaire of the full membership, and this went ahead over the summer. What the results strongly showed up was a wish for more social events at a more local level. 

The APTC ‘North’ is already responding to this with a social planned at Barton Grange (near Preston) in November. 

The APTC ‘South’ is less advanced in its planning, but the seed is sown. Our get-together may be in the New Year.

If you happen to be a teacher thinking of starting a tuition centre of your own – or perhaps of taking over one that is already running – then coming along to an APTC social might be an ideal introduction. The pro’s, the con’s, the possibilities, the pitfalls …

Get in touch with me by replying to this post, as APTC members have lots of experience they are willing to share.