Alfreton Tutors & Alfreton Tuition

Personal Description:
Dr Paola Piccardo PhD
Online lessons nationwide and face to face based in Aberdeen.

I am a native Italian speaker with British nationality and fluent in both English and French.

I have a long working knowledge of English, having worked for several years as a librarian in Aberdeen and for the oil & gas industry (GE and NOV) for 8 years. I also worked for RGU prior to start teaching full time.

I offer Italian, French and English tutoring at all levels, from complete beginners to advanced.

I studied English language and literature with French and Italian at La Sapienza University of Rome, Italy, where I obtained my PhD.

After graduation I spent a long time working in France in Disneyland Paris. This gave me the opportunity to hone my French language skills.

I have experience teaching students of various age and nationality, both school children and adults who need to pass exams.
I have a PVG check.

Teaching Experience:
University of Aberdeen
Rosemount Community Centre, small groups - Aberdeen
University of Aberdeen language department
Tutoring agencies

Tutoring Approach:
I offer distance learning tuition via Teams for all beginners, intermediate and advanced learners.

I describe myself as enthusiastic, friendly and patient.

I am committed to delivering high quality tuition by offering tailor-made classes to suit different students' needs.

I think that a good tutor should guide the student towards the learner's goal with confidence and be able to explain clearly and in a friendly manner.

I am committed to bridge the gap between the textbooks and the demands of modern learning making the learning process fun and adaptable to each student.

Learning a new language should be fun. I am passionate about creating activities for the learners and make them feel at ease and comfortable during the class.

I have experience teaching school children and adults one-to-one, one-to-two, and small groups for different organisations across the UK such as private schools and community centres.

I offer flexible hours so my students can arrange the classes according to their needs and availability.

Learning a new language is a great opportunity to discover the culture of another country.

Cultural awareness is part of the language experience. Therefore, I love sharing the culture of my country and my knowledge of other cultures with my students.

For my teaching, I use different techniques and media. I love sharing online resources such as videos, articles and podcasts for listening activities and guided speaking exercises.

I can prepare for school and university exams, including GCSE and National 4 and 4 English, French and Italian and EFL exams.

For learners who take regular classes I can correct short written exercises.

During the first class I can assess the student's level in order to plan a suitable course tailor made to the learner's needs.

I am enthusiastic for using new technologies to add to the learning experience.

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Personal Description:
Fully qualified teacher with over 20 years' experience | Full-time A-level and GCSE Economics tutor | 12,000+ hours of online tuition to over 400 UK and international students | Economics degree from Liverpool University, plus top A-level grades | 10 years in advertising and an online business owner | Based in Bristol, married with 3 adult children | Passionate about helping students improve grades, increase confidence, and reach their potential

Teaching Experience:
I taught economics in secondary schools for over 10 years, but I am now a full-time tutor. I typically tutor 40 to 50 students across an academic year, and they consistently perform above expectations; for example the majority of my 2026 students achieved at least a grade B, with several gaining an A*. However, my main focus is adding value, and all my previous students have improved at least one grade since I began working with them. Indeed many have improved by 3 or more grades. I teach all the major exam boards (International Baccalaureate, Cambridge International, Edexcel, Edexcel International, AQA, Eduqas, OCR and WJEC) and am an experienced economics examiner. I also have a current CRB.

Tutoring Approach:
I will always begin by discussing my tutee's individual requirements and areas of the syllabus they would like to focus on. Students may ask to recap concepts and theories that aren't fully understood, however in my experience most require help with exam technique, and how to translate their knowledge into a high grade answer. I therefore place a great emphasis on guiding students through the process of answering past paper questions, across all topic areas. In our sessions I will help with essay structure, illustrate how to use higher order analytical and evaluation skills, and crucially, how to apply an answer to information in a case study, or how to bring in real world examples.

Over the years I have taught an increasing proportion of students online, so that currently about 90% of my tutoring is done this way. I use Skype/Google Meet/Zoom and Google Docs, which students can also access. This makes the sessions as interactive as meeting face to face, and it also means I can tutor students from anywhere in the world (I have taught people in South Africa, China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Spain, France, Serbia, Russia, Montenegro and Bermuda). I always encourage students to provide feedback so that they receive maximum benefit from their teaching.

Below are some testimonials from past students:

"Ian is the most exceptional and professional tutor we have worked with during ten years of home-educating my son. From the outset, Ian exceeded every expectation. Within just a few sessions, my son was genuinely enjoying Economics, which says a great deal about Ian's engaging and encouraging teaching style. Ian is polite, punctual, friendly, professional and deeply committed to his students' success. I recommend him without reservation. We are incredibly grateful to have found him." Mrs L Compton - Northampton

"Ian tutored my daughter prior to her A Level exams in the summer of 2024. She had been predicted a B grade, but needed an A for her university offer. Ian covered content as well as exam technique with her, they also worked through past papers together and Ian on request would mark some of her written work. My daughter achieved an A☆ in economics… This was beyond her expectations, and we are extremely grateful for Ians tutoring and guidance." - Mrs De Simone - Cambridge

"My son initially struggled with the subject gaining an E grade in his mock exams but with Ian's help he managed a grade B in his AS level and attained an A grade in both A level papers. This was a huge improvement over the two years and I doubt it would have been possible without Ian's help, both with weekly tutoring and the all important pre-exam revision days. Ian's approach was personalised and intensive and my son's needs we're concentrated upon fully. Ian was always punctual and organised and struck up a good relationship with the whole family. I would happily recommend him." Mrs W - Redland, Bristol

"Matt only got an E grade in his February A2 mock exam and the school predicted he would get a C grade at A2. With the significant assistance from Ian, Matt achieved an A* at A2. In his other two A levels, Matt achieved Bs (he also had tutors for these). There are several reasons why Ian made the difference: 1.Being taught on Skype. Matt was initially very apprehensive about being taught on Skype rather than in person. But Skype proved really beneficial. Firstly it enabled Matt to fit in tuition at times that would just not have been possible if travel had been involved. Secondly it enabled Matt to have additional lessons when he had spare time. 2.Focussing on how to structure essay answers. The school just didn't put anywhere near enough emphasis on this crucial area. 3. Essay marking. A key aspect of A2 is exam practice. We paid Ian for essay marking which meant that Matt was effectively maximising his time with Ian. 4. Not accepting mediocrity. The school said that Matt should not retake his AS exams as he had a good B grade. Ian said he should retake as he could do better. 5. Providing positive encouragement. Matt has always lacked belief in himself and Ian gave Matt the confidence that he could achieve a good result.
We would strongly recommend Ian as an Economics tutor" Mr P - South Gloucestershire

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Personal Description:
I currently Subject Lead in Art and Design in a secondary school in Bishops Stortford and have a first class honours degree in Illustration and extensive skills in digital media including web design, image manipulation and design for print. Particular strengths of mine are life drawing and painting. I also have skills in textiles, quilt making, sewing and other crafts. I often like to introduce my students to new ways of working by combining media in creative ways. I have a PGCE in Secondary Art and Design as well as an MA in Art and Design in Education. I have successfully led groups of students through GCSE and A level courses in Art, Design, Graphics and Photography for over 13 years. I enjoy the creative process, especially when it is shared with others and I pride myself on helping students achieve the highest levels in public examinations. My students regularly achieve A*/level 9 and in the June 2024 series one of my A level students was commended as receiving one of the highest marks in the country from the exam board OCR. I can also advise on higher education courses and portfolio presentation for university application.

Teaching Experience:
I currently subject lead in a successful secondary school in Bishops Stortford I have worked in three schools across East London as part of my PGCE course and I have subsequently completed my NQT year in Dagenham Park Church of England School where I successfully led students of all ages through KS3, KS4 and KS5 curriculum and examination requirements.

Tutoring Approach:
If you are struggling with any area of art and design I can help you. I have outstanding teacher residuals and I regularly radically improve my students grades; whether you are aiming for a C grade pass or want to push yourself to an A* at KS5 or level 9 at GCSE I can help you meet your targets.

I am available to tutor in students homes if appropriate however I also have a home studio equipped with screen printing equipment, sewing machine and ample working space, as well as digital imaging software. I can provide basic equipment with ease, additional costs may be needed for larger projects. I am available every evening and weekend during the days for tutoring.

Ideally guidance on coursework projects/ideas for personal creative study would be where my skills would be best utilised. I work successfully with a wide array of students on many different creative projects.

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Personal Description:
Having grown up in an Anglo Italian family in both England and Italy, I am totally bilingual and I have a passion for language teaching in all its aspects.

Teaching Experience:
II have taught both English and Italian language for many years and in all kinds of situations.

- I have taught all ages: from children to senior citizens.

- all levels, from elementary to advanced

- from individuals to university courses of over 100 students

- in a variety of professional contexts for companies

- in my home and in cafes to create an authentic environments.

I love seeing my clients make progress.

Tutoring Approach:
I believe in putting students at ease and fostering a positive emotional environment within which the students can learn by doing. Believing there is no greater incentive than success I always adopt a positive approach to teaching.

Although grammar is fundamental to any language, I prefer to teach students collocations (groups of words that commonly go together) than dry grammar rules. I leads to people speaking more instinctively and spending less time worrying about the correctness of what they are saying.

Building confidence in the learner and helping them realise that they can transfer natural communication skills from their first language to their second language is key to their success.

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Personal Description:
I live in South Wales with my daughter and our pet cat. Besides study and work, I enjoy walking, keeping fit and photography. I have also recently volunteered at a local primary school working on numeracy/literacy interventions and I recently worked part time at in the Learning Support department of a local Comprehensive school. In the summer I mark GCSE exam papers (Maths and Biology) for a major UK examination board.

Teaching Experience:
I have been tutoring, mostly maths and science, on and off for over 8 years now, both online and traditional face to face tuition. I have worked in local primary schools and high schools assisting with activities, such as numeracy and reading, as well as assisting with detailed individual learning plans and support. I have detailed knowledge of all the major UK exam boards syllabus and exam technique for Maths, Geography and Economics.

Tutoring Approach:
I tailor tuition to suit the needs of the individual student as each student learns differently and will better attain desired goals via their own learning style. I structure full lessons, sometimes with presentations, as well as exam practice papers with questions, and I will set homework, if deemed appropriate.

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Personal Description:
My name is Toby, I am 19 and have just come back from a year abroad in France. I currently work as a lifeguard and musician and am heading to Reading University to study french and business in september. I am a fluent french speaker who is fresh from learning the language to fluency, so am very much in touch with the language-learning process from a student's point of view - I know exactly where the hudrles lie and how to overcome them.

Teaching Experience:
I studied french up to A Level and took a year out in France, working as an Au Pair to the Marquis de Biliotti family at the Château d'Anjou in Lyon. I was in the highest class level at my Lyon university (C1/C2 class) and learned the language fluently. I have experience teaching English to children in France, and have worked as a telephone translator and PA translator.

Tutoring Approach:
I am flexible with my sessions; I can work on specific topics with which the pupil struggles, grammar, pronunciation and phonetics, vocab etc as well as approaches to language learning; analysing areas for the pupil to work on and giving resources, apps, videos and advice to help further their independent learning.
I can also work through set syllabuses, workbooks or other related set-works with the pupil.
(I will build sessions around my current working hours.)

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Personal Description:
I am an Australian who lived in Spain for 20 years before moving to the UK as a permanent resident.
I studied Creative Arts at the University of Wollongong, NSW, Australia, worked as an artist for several years before deciding on a career in the catering industry.
I worked as a cook/chef for a few years before moving to Madrid, Spain to teach English to students of all ages and work as a part-time tour guide/manager for an English company.
I also do Spanish/English translations and am currently writing online educational material.
I teach online English for a Polish company and offer private tutoring in Spanish, EFL, Creative Writing and Art.

Teaching Experience:
20 years English teacher to native Spanish speakers, online classes to people of all nationalities.
Private tutoring in Spanish to all ages and arts and crafts to 3-12 year olds..

Tutoring Approach:
My classes are catered to the students' needs. I tend to prefer teaching young children with a more dynamic, creative and hands-on approach, incorporating various mediums such as art and crafts, story writing, plays and puppetry and simple film making.
However, if the student requires help with homework or exam preparation, then the classes are catered to those needs.
I am friendly and accessible and kids seem to respond well to my teaching techniques. :)

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Personal Description:
I am a self-employed music teacher who has been working in numerous schools across north-east England for over 10 years. Currently, I work alongside two music companies delivering music workshops in primary and secondary schools, and as of the 2023-2024 school calendar I deliver lessons to 10 schools on a weekly basis.

My main passion is delivering instrumental tuition on a number of instruments which include; electric guitar, acoustic guitar, keyboard, piano, ukulele, and music theory. Outside of the school day I have a wealth of private students whom I visit on a weekly basis to deliver hourly or half-hourly lessons. The majority of these students are between the ages of 5-18 however I do have a number of adult students who I personally love to see get involved in music. Age should never be a deterrent to learning an instrument.

Teaching Experience:
15 years as a private music tutor (Piano, guitar, music theory, and ukulele)
13 years as an ensemble leader The School of Rock & Pop in 5 centres
7 years as a peripatetic teacher for Musicworks in 10 schools per week

Tutoring Approach:
Teaching should always be fun and engaging. I cater each lesson to the interests of the student and teach the key elements of music through songs and practical exercises aimed at the music they enjoy.

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Personal Description:
I am a qualified Civil Engineer with a 2:1 Bachelor of Technology degree from India.

Previously, I have coached students for a period of 3 years.

Currently, I am doing my Masters in Business Analytics and Big Data from University of Liverpool.

Teaching Experience:
I was involved with teaching Maths and Physics both for-profit as well as for Charity for a period of 3 years or more.

Tutoring Approach:
I usually start with a small assessment test to understand at which level a student is performing.

Once I have assessed that I device a strategy based on the student assessment and the given end goal within a stipulated time period

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Personal Description:
I'm a fully qualified science teacher and the current Head of Biology at a large secondary school. With over 20 years of experience in education, I specialise in helping GCSE students succeed in Biology by building both subject knowledge and exam confidence. I also work as an examiner for AQA GCSE Biology, so I know exactly what examiners are looking for and how to help students maximise their marks.

Teaching Experience:
I've taught Biology across Key Stage 3 and 4, with a particular focus on the AQA GCSE specification. As Head of Biology, I lead curriculum planning, exam preparation, and targeted intervention strategies to support student progress. I also mentor early career teachers and trainee teachers, supporting them to deliver effective and engaging lessons. My work as an AQA examiner gives me valuable insight into how exam questions are marked and how students can approach them with confidence.

Tutoring Approach:
My tutoring sessions are calm, focused, and tailored to each student's needs. I focus on building a secure understanding of key topics, strengthening exam technique, and improving confidence. I use a combination of clear explanations, structured practice, and real exam-style questions. As an experienced teacher and examiner, I can help students refine their answers to meet the mark scheme and feel well prepared for their exams.

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Personal Description:
I am a primary teacher who was born in India, spent a few years in Malaysia, grew up in Australia and now live and teach in the UK. I understand people and children from different backgrounds, cultures and needs and love to meet new people. I am a mother to a young toddler as well.
I love reading now though this was not always the case when I was younger! I think this gives me a unique perspective on understanding and encouraging a love for reading amongst young children. I enjoy puzzles and quizzes which leans into my strength of logical reasoning.

Teaching Experience:
With 10 years of primary classroom experience, my goal as an educator has always been simple: to turn complex ideas into lightbulb moments. As a current Year Leader and former Head of Science and Personal Development Lead, I bring both top-tier curriculum expertise and a warm, supportive approach that helps children truly thrive.

Nothing is more rewarding than watching that "switch flip" when a child moves from feeling stuck to feeling completely confident.

How I Help Your Child Succeed:

Building Maths Confidence: I specialise in demystifying maths. By taking the intimidation out of numbers and securing core mechanics step-by-step, I help pupils see that maths isn't just manageable-it's logical, predictable, and incredibly satisfying to master.

Building Reading & Writing Confidence: Literacy should unlock a child's imagination, not hold it back. I focus on developing fluent reading, rich vocabulary, and expressive writing skills so pupils learn to communicate with absolute clarity, creativity, and self-belief.

Tailored Learning: Every child learns differently. I draw on a decade of primary teaching to adapt lessons to your child's unique strengths, pace, and personality.

Whole-Child Support: With my background leading school-wide personal development, I focus on building resilience, self-belief, and a genuine love for learning alongside academic results.

Whether your child needs a confidence boost in maths, target setting for upcoming assessments, or an engaging space to master core skills, I am here to help them reach their full potential.

Tutoring Approach:
Starting with a clear plan ensures every lesson is purposeful, engaging, and tailored to your child's exact needs.

How We'll Work Together:

-Goal Setting & Target Assessment: We begin by discussing your precise ambitions for your child. Following an initial assessment, I map out any learning gaps and build a targeted roadmap to tackle them head-on.

-Active & Hands-on Learning: I use practical, interactive methods to bring concepts to life, making abstract ideas easy to grasp and remember.

-Structured Sessions: Every lesson balances predictable routine-to build fluency and recall-with high-energy engagement to ensure deeper understanding is truly embedded.

Session Structure & Ages:

Target Age Groups: I specialise in primary pupils from Year 2 to Year 6, though I also welcome secondary students needing support up to GCSE Maths and English.

Lesson Durations: Standard sessions run for 1 hour. For older pupils (Year 6 and above), I also offer 2-hour double blocks (split into 1 hour of maths and 1 hour of English) to maximise progress without losing focus.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am a Mathematics tutor with a PhD in Mathematics and many years of experience teaching students at different levels. I enjoy helping students become more confident with Maths and making difficult topics feel much more manageable.

I tutor Mathematics and Further Mathematics from National 5/GCSE through Higher, Advanced Higher, A-Level and university level. I am happy to work with students who are aiming for top grades as well as those who need help rebuilding their confidence or understanding the basics.

Teaching Experience:
I have around 30 years of teaching experience, including approximately 16 years of private tutoring both online and in person.

Over the years I have taught students of a wide range of ages and abilities, including school pupils preparing for National 5, Higher, Advanced Higher, GCSE and A-Level examinations, as well as university students studying Mathematics.

A large part of my work has involved exam preparation, past-paper practice, identifying gaps in knowledge and helping students improve their grades. I have also supported students working towards university entry requirements and conditional offers.

My academic qualifications include a PhD in Mathematics, an MSci in Mathematics, a BSc in Mathematics and Physics, and a Bachelor of Education.

Tutoring Approach:
Every student learns differently, so I adapt my lessons to suit the individual rather than using the same approach for everyone.

I normally begin by identifying the areas the student is finding difficult and then work through these step by step using clear explanations and worked examples. Once the student understands the method, I introduce practice questions and exam-style problems to help them apply it independently.

For students preparing for exams, I use past papers regularly to improve technique, identify common mistakes and help students become comfortable with the style and timing of exam questions.

I am patient and supportive, and I encourage students to ask questions whenever something is unclear. My aim is to help students understand why a method works, rather than simply memorising steps. This helps them become more confident and independent in Mathematics.

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