A STUDENT has established a pupil to pupil tutoring business after his friends helped him pass his A levels.
Wasim Hassanali, a 21-year-old pharmacy Masters student at Kingston University and St George's Medical School, set up Students Achieve last year.
The business trains university undergraduates and recent A-Level graduates as tutors for younger students.
Wasim, from South Croydon, believes young people engage better with teachers closer to their own age who have recent experience of being a pupil themselves.
The former Harris Academy Crystal Palace pupil said his parents paid a maths professor a lot of money to teach him during his A-Levels but he didn't feel it was helping; so he went to the library with his friends instead.
He said: "A concept that would normally take over an hour for my previous tutor to explain would take my friend, who had already completed that exam, half an hour to teach me.
"The age gap between the tutor and tutee was relatively small so learning was not pressurised, and any questions I had I could ask without any sort of hesitation."
The business's motto is: "Education is not about filling someone's head with information but it's about inspiring them."
Within six months, Students Achieve has expanded to offer group tutoring sessions at ARK Oval Primary School.
All his tutors have a minimum A/A* grade in their subject at A-Level, and are guided through the National Curriculum by senior qualified teachers within the company.
Wasim said the business gives young people jobs, with all tutors aged 18 to 26, while creating low-cost tutoring so people from all backgrounds can access quality tuition.
"Why wouldn't they (students) be best suited in passing their knowledge on to other students who are going to sit that same exam a year or two later?" said Wasim.
"And, if a company was to train these top young students with the key concepts in how to tutor and place them in a professional setting, what would stop them providing tuition of a higher quality and at more affordable prices?"
Students Achieve charge £20 an hour for one-to-one tuition and £15 an hour for group tuition, comparing with average prices of £35 an hour.
But Wasim said the business is not underpaying its tutors. He said: "The tutors' ages range from 18-26 years and they get paid well above the standard hourly rate. Hence I do not believe that they are underpaid in any way shape or form."
He added that tutors receive training and support and the pay range varies depending on experience and the level they will be tutoring.
Wasim admitted balancing running a business and studying at university is not easy but he loves his work.
He said: "Although I personally feel I do not put a lot of work into the business – my family and friends would tell you otherwise!
"In any business that you undertake there is a lot of work to be put in, but if you have a passion for what you are trying to achieve, you would not really look at how much
