A flexible path for teachers going part time

Are you thinking of transitioning away from school teaching but want to keep helping the next generation to learn? Read how Sally created a flexible career path by starting her own MagiKats Tutoring business.

As an experienced secondary maths teacher, Sally was keen to step away from full-time teaching while still doing the job she loves, with the added flexibility of a healthier work–life balance. She reduced her hours at school and began exploring tutoring opportunities that could provide an additional income stream.

Sally explains: “MagiKats ticked all the boxes. I’m passionate about creating a positive learning environment and wanted to offer something that genuinely benefits the community while also aligning with my own ambitions. MagiKats’ values, depth of expertise, established network and the freedom to be my own boss really resonated with me.”

“The long history of the franchise and the fact that all materials were produced for me in a structured programme to teach was also a major benefit. I can offer hands-on personalised educational support that makes a real difference to a child’s progress at school.”

Five years in, Sally still loves running her centre in Lytham and has a small team of mentors who help administer the sessions, including a retired Primary school Head Teacher and A-Level age mentors. This blend of experience and relatability gives the centre the flexibility to also offer individualised one-to-one tuition, for example, children with SEND, when needed.

“We have a mix of students of all ages and needs, from Reception and Year One right through to teens studying for their GCSEs, so our workgroups are tailored to suit. Students work in small groups which helps build a child’s confidence as well as making sessions more fun and engaging. From a business point of view, it’s also more profitable. Alongside developing strong subject skills in maths and English, we help children build important soft skills such as study habits, concentration, social interaction and teamwork so it’s really rewarding to see children develop during their time with us. We also make sure every session ends with a game to finish on a positive note and regular recognition for a task well done keeps children motivated so they don’t feel like learning is a chore.” 

Commenting on the leap into running a franchise and attracting interest from parents, Sally said, “It’s a business that you can run alongside your usual teaching so for people who may be nervous about leaving teaching completely, it’s a great way to transition into building your own business. Most students stay with us for a long time, for example if they joined us at KS2, parents see the benefit of carrying on through to KS3 as they see the positive impact the extra tuition has had.”

“Leveraging the MagiKats brand in my local area was a little daunting at first but there’s lots of marketing materials available to help and so I set about making myself more known in the area to build up parent interest in my offering. Now, enquiries come from a mix of referrals and recommendations, advertisements on Facebook, Google searches and local advertising I do in our independent cinema and dance school brochures.”

“It’s also reassuring to know I can draw on the wealth of experience within the wider network, from the head office team to fellow franchisees. That shared knowledge creates a real sense of community and guidance when it’s needed.”

Private tuition continues to thrive as parents look for ways to give their children every possible advantage. Demand for tutoring has risen by 39%* since 2022, and with so many options available, the credibility of an established brand can provide a valuable step-up when starting a tutoring business. Interested in learning more about the education franchise available through MagiKats Tutoring? Make an enquiry.

*Reported in the Financial Times, January 2026, figure supplied by TutorCruncher.