Ruth Minhall, Tuition Extra Group CEO: “Failure is not a weakness but a stepping stone to growth. My experiences—whether as a struggling student, a journalist, or a teacher—have shaped my leadership philosophy. I encourage others to embrace challenges, learn from failures, and strive to be their best.”

The Tuition Extra Group, founded by British leader, Ruth Minhall, is a dynamic educational service designed to help students, particularly those with complex needs, overcome barriers to learning and achieve academic success. Ruth’s journey into the world of education was shaped by both personal and professional factors. As a single mother, Ruth needed a way to support her family while pursuing a fulfilling career. After discovering her passion for teaching later in life, Ruth realized the traditional teaching route was not financially sustainable. She began teaching at Borden Grammar School in Sittingbourne, where she quickly developed a unique ability to connect with harder-to-reach students, particularly those at risk of exclusion or disengagement.

This insight led Ruth to create Tuition Extra, initially a part-time venture providing affordable small-group tuition. However, as demand grew, she transitioned into a full-time model, focusing on specialized support for students with complex needs. Ruth’s approach revolves around innovative, creative solutions that address the underlying causes of challenging behaviors, such as unmet needs and communication barriers. This solution-focused model has allowed Tuition Extra to help students engage more effectively, fostering both their academic success and personal growth. Today, the company stands as a testament to tailored educational support, committed to empowering students and providing them with the tools that they need to flourish in life.

In conversation with Ruth Minhall, CEO of the Tuition Extra Group

Q. Can you share the most significant challenges you faced as a woman leader in the education and tutoring industry and how you overcame them?

For me, gender has never been an obstacle in leadership. I firmly believe in positive diversity and inclusion without politicizing identities. My focus has always been on people—the students, families, and staff who form the heart of our organization. That said, earlier in my career, I did encounter gender-based challenges, such as pay gaps. However, I approached these situations pragmatically. I believe in meritocracy and transparency, and I’ve always been proactive about negotiating for what I deserve. Women, in particular, need to have more frank conversations about money and expectations, treating work as a two-way street.

Leadership, to me, is about accountability, resilience and continuous learning. Failure is
not a weakness but a stepping stone to growth. My experiences—whether as a struggling student, a journalist, or a teacher—have shaped my leadership philosophy. I encourage others to embrace challenges, learn from failures, and strive to be their best.

Q. Can you explain your services in brief?

Tuition Extra Group is a multifaceted organization
offering a range of academic and vocational services. Here’s a brief overview:

Tuition Extra Tutoring Service: The tutoring function of the business is a scalable model currently operating across Kent and the South-East of England, providing both on-site and off-site academic and vocational learning opportunities. Our facilities include hair and beauty training salons, music studios, construction suites, art studios, IT suites and kitchens. In addition, students benefit from workspaces, as-well as access to therapeutic interventions that support wellbeing, learning engagement and progression.

Haven Nook Independent Special School: Haven Nook caters to complex-needs students, particularly those with autism spectrum conditions and anxiety. Many of these students were previously school refusers, sometimes out of education for years. We focus on therapeutic interventions combined with emotional and academic development, which has resulted in exceptional outcomes. The school is Ofsted-registered and recently received an outstanding assessment.

Maypole Farm: This 52-acre site in Kent provides a calm, outdoor learning environment for students with ADHD, complex needs, or sensory overload challenges. Activities include vocational training in animal care, land-based studies, construction and mechanics, alongside animal-assisted therapy. We rescue and rehabilitate animals, who then become part of our therapeutic programs.

Maypole Foundation: Our charity supports young people at risk of exclusion from education and society. It funds community and educational opportunities while continuing our animal rescue work. The foundation sponsors students who might otherwise struggle to access education.

Tuition Extra Group helps students aged 4 to 25 remove barriers to learning through a combination of therapeutic methods and innovative educational practices. By focusing on emotional development alongside academic progress, we achieve outstanding results year after year.

Q. What do you believe are the unique strengths women bring to education?

I believe women possess a great sense of empathy and nurture, which are often intrinsic qualities of our gender. I don’t see gender as a barrier or defining factor, men and women bring different strengths to the table. Together, these differences combined create opportunities for success. Women, in particular, often excel in relational work—whether it’s fostering connections or being intuitive and nurturing, qualities that are invaluable in education.

In our work with young people, especially those from challenging backgrounds, that warmth and approachability can make a significant difference. But it’s also about setting boundaries and providing a structured environment which is crucial for their growth. Women also have a natural knack for scaffolding ideas—breaking complex concepts into manageable pieces, which is incredibly effective when working with children or even older students who have had gaps in their learning. That ability to make learning accessible and creative is something I see frequently in women educators.

Q. How do you leverage these strengths within Tuition Extra?

At Tuition Extra, I look for individuals who bring relational and intuitive strengths to their roles. Many of my staff are women who are returning to work after raising families or seeking a better work-life balance. They may not have extensive formal experience, but they have invaluable life skills—such as empathy, patience and the ability to connect with others. These are things you can’t teach and they’re critical for our work.

We provide training to equip them with the necessary skills, but it’s their natural ability to connect with students that makes them exceptional. Currently, our team comprises of 160 people, with plans for extensive growth. The results speak for themselves. Our staff members are not just educators—they’re role models for young people who may have never had safe, constructive examples in their lives.

Q. Inclusivity is a core value of Tuition Extra. How do you ensure it remains part of your leadership?

Inclusivity isn’t an agenda item for us—it’s simply who we are. My team is incredibly diverse and I don’t care about labels or personal details. What matters to me is how I can support my team members and the value they bring. We employ people from all walks of life, including those with disabilities, mental health challenges and neurodiversity. For instance, some staff members may need flexibility to manage bipolar disorder or other challenges; we make accommodations because they are worth it. Their contributions are invaluable and this inclusive approach also leads to staff loyalty and retention.

I genuinely believe that fostering a culture of inclusivity isn’t about politicizing differences; it’s about valuing and celebrating the unique strengths every individual brings to the table. This, in turn, allows us to better connect with and support the diverse young people we serve.

Q. Tuition Extra offers a variety of services, from alternative provisions to animal-assisted learning. How do you stay ahead of trends in the education space?

Honestly, we don’t chase trends. Instead, we focus on creative problem-solving and critical thinking. I encourage my team to bring solutions whenever they identify a challenge. Our culture promotes innovation and out-of-the-box thinking—actually, we don’t believe in the box at all!

This approach has helped us remain ahead of the curve. For example, we’re currently conducting research on new projects that will further expand our offerings. This safe-to-fail culture fosters creativity and ensures that we’re continuously evolving.

Q. What does the future hold for your company and its customers? Are exciting things on the way?

We are currently focused on an ambitious growth agenda which includes expanding our tutoring services and growing the Haven Nook School. We are recruiting talent and developing an online learning capability to extend our reach, allowing us to serve students across the UK and potentially globally. While online education may not be my preferred method, it is an effective way for many students to benefit from our academic support and tailored tutoring services. By investing in this capability, we can reach a broader audience and offer our expertise to even more learners.

In addition to growing our online offerings, we are also in the process of sourcing new sites for Haven Nook School, with plans to scale up further. The brand is growing and we’re exploring innovative ways to expand, including a model that draws inspiration from successful business frameworks. While I’m not a fan of franchising, we are considering a strategy that allows us to maintain the core values of our business while supporting expansion through investment and careful management.

The heart of our approach is maintaining the essence of what makes us special—the passion behind our team and the close-knit support system we provide. It’s crucial for us to continue delivering quality education while remaining connected to the students that we serve. Our success comes from strong leadership, clear communication, and a shared vision that guides us forward. We are driven by the belief that we can change young lives and positively impact the future of education. We also understand that many of the students we work with have complex needs, so we provide personalized support, including special educational needs services, therapeutic care and tailored learning strategies. Our team, which includes specialists in special education and curriculum development, ensures that every student receives the attention they need to succeed. Our growth model will continue to support these crucial services as we expand.

Looking ahead, we are excited about our rebrand, which will be unveiled in September, and we are exploring opportunities to further integrate alternative learning methods in line with our forest schools and outdoor education spaces. Additionally, we are expanding the Maypole Foundation which aims to support families and children who face barriers to education or access to resources. This foundation, alongside our animal therapy model, is a win-win, positively impacting both children and animals.

Ultimately, our goal is to share our success with the wider community, influence government policy, and extend our methods to help even more young people, especially those with special educational needs. We are committed to improving society by addressing issues like crime rates and unemployment, and we’re confident that our work will continue to make a profound difference. We’re not just building a business; we are shaping the future of education for many young people who need it most.

Ruth Minhall, CEO

“I genuinely believe that fostering a culture of inclusivity isn’t about politicizing differences; it’s about valuing and celebrating the unique strengths every individual brings to the table. This, in turn, allows us to better connect with and support the diverse young people we serve.”