Most sixth forms — whether at a school or a separate sixth form college — assign each student a personal tutor for the two years of post-16 study. The tutor's role goes well beyond form registration, covering academic monitoring, reference writing, and pastoral support through to UCAS submission.
What is a personal tutor in a sixth form context?
A personal tutor is a member of staff — typically a teacher at the school or college — who takes pastoral and academic responsibility for a small group of sixth form students, usually between ten and twenty. The relationship typically lasts for the full two years of Year 12 and 13, which means the tutor develops a detailed understanding of each student's strengths, aspirations, and challenges.
The personal tutor role is distinct from the subject teacher role. A student's personal tutor may not teach them any of their A-level subjects at all; the tutor-student relationship exists independently of subject teaching, focused on the student as a whole rather than their performance in a particular discipline.
What does a personal tutor do?
The responsibilities of a sixth form personal tutor typically cover four broad areas:
| Area | What it involves |
|---|---|
| Academic monitoring | Tracking attendance, reviewing mock grades, flagging concerns to subject teachers, setting targets |
| UCAS support | Guiding the student through the application timeline, reviewing the personal statement, writing the school reference |
| Pastoral care | First point of contact for wellbeing concerns, absences, or personal difficulties; signposting to counselling or specialist support |
| Tutorial programme | Running structured sessions on topics such as study skills, careers, current affairs, wellbeing, and citizenship |
The UCAS reference is one of the most visible outputs of the tutor relationship. Most universities receive a reference from the school or college alongside the student's UCAS application, and this reference is written by the personal tutor (sometimes in consultation with subject teachers). A tutor who knows their student well can write a nuanced, specific reference that supports their application to a competitive course.
How often do students meet their personal tutor?
The frequency varies considerably between institutions. Common models include:
- Daily or near-daily form registration — a brief five-to-ten-minute check-in at the start of the day, primarily for attendance monitoring, with limited time for substantive conversation
- Weekly tutorial sessions — a structured 30–60 minute session with the whole tutor group, covering the tutorial programme topics
- Regular one-to-one meetings — a private meeting between tutor and student, typically once or twice per term, to review progress against targets and discuss future plans
- Ad hoc meetings as needed — tutors are usually accessible to students who need to raise a concern between scheduled meetings
Sixth form colleges, which often have a stronger pastoral infrastructure than school sixth forms, frequently invest more in protected one-to-one tutor time. School sixth forms vary — some treat the tutor relationship as a genuine individual mentoring arrangement, while others focus primarily on the administrative function.
What is the tutorial programme?
Most sixth form institutions run a structured tutorial programme alongside students' A-level subjects. This programme occupies a timetabled slot — often one lesson per week — and covers content that is not part of the formal curriculum but is considered important for students' development and preparation for university and adult life.
Common topics in a sixth form tutorial programme include:
- Study skills — time management, effective revision techniques, reading strategies for A-level
- UCAS and university — how the application works, how to choose a degree course, understanding offer types, preparing for Clearing
- Careers and employment — CV writing, interview skills, career exploration, apprenticeship options
- Current affairs and critical thinking — discussion of news events, debates, Oxbridge interview preparation
- Wellbeing — stress management, sleep, mental health awareness, managing transitions
- Enrichment — preparation for the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), volunteering, or other extracurricular activities
The quality of tutorial programmes varies substantially between schools and colleges. Students who receive a thoughtful, well-run programme leave with significantly better preparation for university life than those whose tutorial time is largely unstructured.
Who writes the UCAS school reference?
The UCAS reference — the confidential document submitted by the school alongside a student's UCAS application — is almost always written by the personal tutor, though the exact process differs by institution.
The reference must:
- Summarise the student's academic profile and predicted grades
- Describe the student's qualities, character, and contribution to school or college life
- Support the student's personal statement without repeating it
- Be written by a member of staff who knows the student, not generated generically
Subject teachers may be asked to contribute short paragraphs about the student's performance and potential in their subjects, which the personal tutor then weaves into the overall reference.
Students do not see their UCAS reference — it is confidential to the receiving universities. However, a good personal tutor will discuss the reference's content with the student beforehand and ensure it accurately represents their achievements and character.
How do predicted grades relate to the personal tutor?
Predicted grades — the grades the school estimates a student will achieve — are entered on the UCAS application and are one of the main factors universities use when making conditional offers. Although subject teachers typically set the initial predicted grades based on internal assessment and mock results, the personal tutor has an overview role.
If a student believes their predicted grade is too low and is planning to apply to a competitive course, it is the personal tutor who is most likely to be able to advocate for a review or contextualise the prediction in the reference.
Frequently asked questions
Can a student change their personal tutor?
It is possible to request a change of personal tutor, usually through the head of sixth form or a senior pastoral leader. This is uncommon and is generally only considered in circumstances where the tutor-student relationship has broken down or where there is a specific pastoral concern about the match. Most sixth forms prefer to manage difficulties within the existing relationship where possible.
What should a parent do if they feel the personal tutor is not supporting their child adequately?
Parents should contact the tutor directly in the first instance — many tutor issues stem from miscommunication rather than inadequacy. If the concern persists, the head of sixth form or the school's designated UCAS coordinator are the appropriate escalation points. Parents have the right to request information about how their child's UCAS application and reference are progressing.
Does the personal tutor write a reference for apprenticeship applications as well?
Most schools and colleges will write a reference for apprenticeship applications on request, even though these do not go through UCAS. The personal tutor is typically the appropriate author, and the reference will be tailored to the specific employer or apprenticeship standard where possible.
Is the personal tutor the same person as the form tutor?
In school sixth forms where Year 12 and 13 students remain in the school's standard tutor group structure, the personal tutor is often the form tutor. In sixth form colleges or schools with a separate sixth form structure, the personal tutor is frequently a different person with a more specialist sixth form advisory role, rather than simply the teacher who takes the register each morning.
For one-to-one support with A-level subjects and personalised guidance on sixth form study skills, visit aitutors.me.