A day in the life of a quality assurance specialist

Working in education is never dull – especially when your role revolves around supporting teachers, improving teaching standards, and, most importantly, enhancing the learning experiences of students. As a quality assurance specialist at Tute, my days are filled with meaningful work that keeps me engaged, reflective, and inspired. If you’re curious about what a typical day looks like, come along – I’ll walk you through it.

So, what is my role?

In short, I support teaching and learning across the board. During term time, my focus is largely on lesson observations. These are full, recorded lessons that I review in detail – looking at everything from structure and delivery to learner engagement, assessment and feedback, and student progress.

Each observation includes a safeguarding spot check and a review of the ‘suggestions for progress’ – comments teachers provide at the end of every lesson that track how students are doing and offer advice for independent work.

I complete a proforma using our ‘lesson review matrix’, where I note key strengths and areas for consideration.

Once the observation is complete, I set up a coaching-style feedback session with the teacher. This is, without a doubt, my favourite part of the job. These sessions are more than just reviews – they’re collaborative, reflective, and focused on growth. We celebrate what’s working well, identify opportunities for development, and agree on actions that make a real difference in the classroom. It’s a professional dialogue grounded in trust and mutual respect.

The rhythm of the term

Once the term gets going, my days find a natural rhythm. I might observe two or three lessons and deliver just as many coaching sessions in a day. It’s a full-on schedule, but incredibly rewarding. Every observation, every conversation is a chance to make a positive impact – not just for the teacher, but for their students too. 

Full observations take place once per term for each teacher, and each one is an opportunity to strengthen working relationships and celebrate the things they’ve implemented since the last cycle. 

Alongside this, there’s the usual mix of admin and team meetings to keep things moving – but the highlights are always the coaching sessions. I feel genuinely privileged to work with such passionate and skilled teachers, and to be part of conversations that centre on growth, improvement, and celebrating great practice. 

Beyond observations: supporting development

My role goes beyond lesson observations. I also contribute to data analysis – spotting trends and gaps that help shape our training and support offer. This insight feeds into our professional development sessions, including ‘Workshop Wednesdays’, which I help to plan and deliver. These sessions are tailored to both employed and contract teachers and focus on relevant, practical topics that support continuous improvement. 

Another part of my role is quality-checking student reports. Every half term, teachers write personalised progress updates for the students they teach. I sample a selection from each teacher in my allocation, review them for clarity and quality, and request any changes before they’re shared with students and partners. 

I’m also part of the internal quality assurance (IQA) process. This means working with colleagues to moderate observations and feedback – making sure we’re consistent, fair, and always improving how we do things. 

Why it matters

One of the things I value most about how Tute approaches quality assurance is its authenticity. We don’t give advance notice before observations. What we see is what happens – and that’s exactly the point. These are the real, everyday experiences of our learners. 

Because of this, the feedback we give is grounded and honest. It encourages reflection, experimentation, and the sharing of best practice. Teachers feel empowered to improve their craft and create even better learning experiences for their students. And that, for me, is what quality assurance is really about. 

What I love most about Tute

Tute is a genuinely special place to work. There’s a strong, positive culture that runs through everything we do. Everyone is united by a shared goal – to do the best for our students. There’s a real sense that every person matters and every role contributes to the mission.

What I love most about my job

One word: relationships. 

This role gives me the chance to build meaningful relationships with teachers across the organisation. I get to know them, understand their styles, and support them as they grow. I can honestly say I’ve never worked with a more dedicated team of educators – each one committed to going the extra mile. 

At the heart of my job is the opportunity to help teachers reflect, grow, and improve their practice. It’s not about judgement – it’s about partnership. And being part of that process is something I feel truly grateful for.