In the ever-evolving world of education, meaningful change often stems from a drive to make things better. Syed, a qualified secondary school teacher in the UK, founded Canonical Tutors in the summer of 2022. Frustrated by the traditional UK curriculum's constraints, he sought a fresh approach to teaching. His answer? Rote-based teaching—a method that connects concepts, helping students understand complex topics in a more holistic way.
What is Rote-Based Learning?
Rote-Based learning emphasises reinforcing knowledge by revisiting it over time. Through spaced out reviews of knowledge, self-testing, and connecting new ideas to prior learning, students build a strong, lasting memory of the material. Syed passionately advocates for this approach, which strengthens students' understanding and helps them retain key concepts long-term.
“We need to return to the idea of sufficient practice,” Syed explains, “with experts leading and students mastering concepts through repeated exposure and guidance.”
Overcoming Early Challenges
Like many new business owners, Syed faced challenges—particularly with the time-consuming administrative tasks of running Canonical Tutors. Manually creating invoices and processing payments consumed hours and left room for human error.
“I couldn’t see how I’d scale without a streamlined process.”
Initially, Syed focused heavily on tutoring, working tirelessly to build his client base. But as Canonical Tutors grew, he recognised the need for a more sustainable, profitable model. Without pursuing external funding, Syed knew he had to focus on efficient business administration if he wanted to grow. TutorCruncher provided the solution.
Joining TutorCruncher was a turning point. "If you don’t invest, you won’t scale.”
TutorCruncher’s flexible pricing made management software affordable, sparing him heavy upfront costs.
“Joining TutorCruncher changed everything; the automated systems freed up time, allowing me to focus on growth.”
Why TutorCruncher Was the Right Choice
When evaluating software options, Syed found TutorCruncher to be the most comprehensive solution.
"If you’re planning to scale, you want the best solution from the start."
Highlighting how choosing the right software from the outset spares the hassle of switching later.
A Rigorous Tutor Recruitment Process
Canonical Tutors maintain high standards through a meticulous recruitment process. Syed personally interviews candidates, requiring them to conduct a 30-minute mock lesson so he can assess their teaching style first-hand. Successful candidates then go through three training sessions covering Canonical’s operations, the UK curriculum, and classroom observation of seasoned tutors.
“Our sales reps are given immense confidence on the phones as they trust our tutors because they know the curriculum inside out. It’s a very powerful tool to say that our tutors know the percentage of algebra that will appear on paper one”. This rigorous process provides Canonical Tutors with a competitive edge.
Safeguarding is also central to Canonical Tutors’ operations. Each new tutor undergoes a thorough DBS check, with a dedicated safeguarding lead always available. Every lesson is recorded to ensure accountability and student safety.
Advice for Aspiring Business Owners
As our conversation concluded, Syed shared advice for those looking to start their own tutoring businesses:
"If you want to grow, you need to automate processes. Use the tools out there; for us, it was TutorCruncher." His journey illustrates the value of smart investments for sustainable growth.
In a field that’s always evolving, Syed’s approach to tutoring—powered by TutorCruncher’s support—demonstrates how the right tools can help businesses thrive and make a lasting impact on students’ lives.
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