Balcombe Tutors and Balcombe Tuition

Personal Description:
Confidence is often the stumbling block for learners, and I always encourage all of my students to feel an early sense of achievement. Enabling students to see real progress quickly is essential to the building of self-esteem. I am very approachable and my style of teaching is relaxed and friendly. I love my job and hope that my own enthusiasm inspires my students to excel. Recently I have added French to my repertoire, for absolute beginners. I am sure French will be as popular and exciting as English and Maths have been.

Teaching Experience:
I have been a teacher since 1976. I have taught all age groups, from nursery to A Level. Teaching is a wonderful and totally satisfying vocation. I moved across to tutoring as I felt I could offer all of my experience in this role. Being a teacher is definitely something I was born to do, and I love it.

Tutoring Approach:
Students can learn by either visiting my home or at a distance using Skype. Every student is assessed as an individual and the content of their course tailored to their needs. I test my students periodically to ensure progress is going smoothly; also testing is a good way for students to observe their own progress. We use a variety of materials: books for writing and reading in English, and for revision in Maths; the computer for visual skills and games, listening and speaking is a major part of the programme for EFL students. Children learn in different ways, and I like to offer my students visual, auditory and kinetic tools, we can see which is most comfortable for the individual. The speed of learning is not as important as the confidence of the individual and their inspiration and motivation to progress.

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Personal Description:
I am 54 years old, I am married with four children. I have a degree ( Joint Honours, 2.1 in Agriculture with Agricultural Economics) and a Cert Ed. I am a member of the Institute for Learning. I have taught a wide range of subjects over 28 years and am able to coach you to success whether you are looking for science, geography, Excel spreadsheets, English as a Foreign Language or even French and German ( I worked in both countries when I was younger)

Teaching Experience:
I can help you prepare for exams in Geography, Biology, Ecology, French and German. I have taught English as a Foreign Language over many years. I can also help you with Microsoft Excel spreadsheets, particularly for Business. I am a patient, enthusiastic and committed teacher with 28 years experience particularly with post 16 and adult education. I have taught agriculture and related topics over that time, and very much enjoyed diversifying my teaching portfolio as new courses arose at the college. I have taught a range of biology and geography related topics, including plant and soil science, crop science, crop production, livestock production, environmental issues, ecology, woodland management. In business I have helped many people develop diverse enterprises, preparing carefully costed cash flow projections. I very much enjoy seeing people develop confidence with Microsoft Excel spreadsheets, which are an invaluable tool.

Tutoring Approach:
I am convinced that one-to-one tuition is by far the most efficient way in which a person can progress and gain confidence. Often someone can grasp a topic in 5 minutes of one-to-one that would have taken 2 hours to cover with a larger group. Once you are confident with a topic, we move on rapidly to the next one. A current A level tutee of mine told his father "I learnt more in that 2 hour session than I have all term at school" and his headteacher wrote to congratulate him on his improved grades. (The reason for this is not that his teacher is bad, far from it, but a tutor can give you personal one-to-one attention, concentrating on the bits you need) I always ensure that the learners are confident with each step before progressing further.

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Personal Description:
I am a native Turkish speaker. I was born and brought up in Turkey. I have been living in the United Kingdom for 14 years and I have British and Turkish citizenship.

Teaching Experience:
I have been working in private organisations. I have 7 years experience in teaching Turkish. I have thought different kind of students: one-to-one classes, small goups, beginners-advanced students

Tutoring Approach:
I belive within a very short time you should find that your listening skills have develop, you recognise Turkish words and phrases and your speaking skill are enchanced.

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Personal Description:
Whilst, as an English teacher, I do enjoy a good book, my main interest lies in physical activity. I am passionate about physical fitness and everything that comes with it: flexibility, mobility and nutrition.

My main sport growing up was rugby, which has now been replaced with playing for a football team on a Saturday (much easier on the shoulders).

I am an avid traveller and love nothing more than a European city break or an adventure much further afield.

Teaching Experience:
I have worked in the education sector for twelve years, with the last seven being as a senior leader in three different schools.

As an English teacher, I have experience of teaching the full range of student ability levels, from working with students in KS3 with low literacy to leading on English Literature A Level. I have extensive experience teaching the IGCSE, AQA, Edexcel and OCR English Language and Literature exam content.

My most recent role is at a large successfully secondary in Surrey where I lead on Teaching & Learning as an Assistant Headteacher. Previously, I have ran a sixth form and led on SEN provision as a senior leader. I have worked in schools judged as Outstanding and supported others that were in Special Measures.

Additionally, I am an SLE (Specialist Leader of Education) and I have been parachuted into struggling schools to help them raise standards.

In my most recent Year 11 group, 22% of students were targeted a grade 7+. However, over 44% of my students achieved a grade 7+ in their actual GCSE exams.

Tutoring Approach:
Through a decade of tutoring experience, I feel that it is vital to first assess the student's current ability and discover their most pressing need. Once this has been discovered, we will work towards tangible targets, whilst still focusing on priorities such as vocabulary, complex punctuation and improving a student's ability to express their ideas on paper.

My sessions are as interactive as possible, to allow the students to approach their learning in a contextual way that they can relate to real-life. I also like to promote a student's ability to articulate their ideas verbally through discussion, in order to develop their written skills.

Each tutee's progress is individually tracked against their personal targets and the overarching aim of the tuition.

I feel my extensive experience at a senior level in a range of school contexts allows me to quickly adapt to the needs of the tutee.

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Personal Description:
I returned to teaching sixteen years ago after working as a statistician for eighteen years.

Teaching Experience:
I have taught maths one-to-one, in small groups and in whole classes at secondary schools and further education colleges, covering all ages up to A level. I have also taught adults under the 'lifelong learning' scheme.

Tutoring Approach:
I enjoy explaining maths at all levels of ability and get real satisfaction from connecting at the student`s level. I believe I`m good at recognising what that level is and being able to adjust my explanations accordingly. I`m pretty relaxed and like my students to feel comfortable during our sessions. My approach is to identify areas of weakness, explain concepts from basics, then do some questions till confidence is achieved.

14% discount online.

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Personal Description:
I am a qualified teacher of both Spanish and French with extensive, recent experience teaching to both GCSE and A Level in UK-based schools.

Teaching Experience:
I have 10 successful years experience in UK schools teaching primary Spanish through to GCSE and A Level. I have worked in both the state and independent school sectors. Young people I have tutored have all passed or improved their expected grades after working with me. I also have experience supporting adult learners looking to develop or improve language skills for holiday travel or business purposes. I have additional experience teaching English as a foreign or second language with primary and secondary aged students. I have been an A Level examiner for a number of years.

Tutoring Approach:
I enjoy working with students on a 1 to 1 basis or in small groups and am particularly keen to help them overcome the 'I can't do it!' mindset so frequently seen in language learners in the UK. I have an excellent working knowledge of Spanish grammar and am familiar with many of the A Level texts and films exam boards require students to be able to understand and analyse.

Happy to work face to face or online where distance is an issue.

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Personal Description:
I have been teaching drum and percussion semi-professionally since 2010. Outside of teaching, I perform semi-professionally in variety of genres including Pop, Rock, RnB, Jazz, Fusion, and Gospel, in large venues across Surrey and London. I have extensive experience of working alongside top industry professionals, and have undertaken studio, session and live television work.

I also hold a Degree in Professional Music Performance for the Academy of Contemporary Music in Guildford.

Teaching Experience:
I am the founder of a music school specialising in high quality, affordable drum lessons for all ages and skill levels. We are independently owned and operated by a staff of qualified & experienced professional musician-educators.

Tutoring Approach:
I am professional and friendly, helping you reach your musical goals, and to inspire you to reach for new goals that you may never have thought possible.

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Personal Description:
I am a highly experienced Maths Tutor, Teacher and Leader of Maths with over 20 years of experience in both Secondary and Primary settings. During my career I have successfully tutored many students one-to-one alongside teaching in schools. I am now working as a full-time tutor. I can help those for whom maths is challenging as well as those who want to achieve the highest grades.

Ask yourself this "Is maths a mystery?" Do you wish you understood the 'why' as well as the 'how'? If you ask a question, does your teacher give the same explanation again and again? It doesn't have to be that way. My methods really work; my students increase their mathematical abilities and confidence, and can explain what they're doing. Some are so excited after my lessons that they can`t wait to tell their parents all about it! Do you wish your child was so inspired by their teacher that they voluntarily did extra maths in order to improve?

If your child has had a difficult time with maths at school, or perhaps you`ve tried other tutors and been disappointed, fear not, there is a better way. Follow other parents who have noticed their children finish my lessons with a grin, and a bounce in their step, follow other students who have excitedly messaged me after exams to tell me that there was so much they actually could do!

Teaching Experience:
I have been teaching for over 18 years. In that time, I have worked in both Primary and Secondary schools and have been the Leader of Maths in both settings. I understand the demands of both the Primary and GCSE curriculums. I have excellent subject knowledge and a deep understanding of how students learn maths as this was the focus of my Masters research. This means that I can go into any tutoring lesson knowing I fully understand the concepts and can explain them effectively. I have worked with all abilities including those with Special Educational Needs. I made the decision to become a full-time tutor because tutoring is what I love! Tutoring full-time means I can put in more hours outside of lessons to prepare and communicate with students and parents to help them with any problems or questions they might have.

I offer online lessons via Zoom. I have Enhanced DBS and am registered with the update service.

Tutoring Approach:
My approach is one that is based on mathematical research and my many years of experience teaching in schools. I plan personalised learning for each tutee ensuring that they achieve their full potential. I pride myself on building excellent relationships with my tutees, and endeavour to instil in them a love of maths and a 'can-do' attitude. I liaise weekly with parents so they know how their children are progressing.

Since last year all my tutoring has taken place online. This has been highly successful with both my tutees and their parents preferring this method as it affords more flexibility and enables me to help students from across the country as well as internationally. I have worked with students from KS2 all the way through to GCSE.

My planning is completely flexible and is built around my student's progress and needs. I seek to identify common misconceptions and ensure that students have a solid foundation on which to build. I am patient and am used to explaining concepts in several different ways to find the way that works for each individual. I focus on helping students understand the 'why' not just the 'how.' Constant review is key in Maths and I build this into every lesson.

I love working with young people and am passionate about providing students with the best possible education that will benefit them throughout their adult lives. I love seeing them grow in confidence and ability as well as developing a real enjoyment of the subject. It is quite common for my students to experience a transformation in how they feel about their own abilities in maths and they frequently go on to be amongst the highest achievers in their respective cohorts.

TESTIMONIALS:

'Jackie is an outstanding tutor whose efforts helped push me to raise my GCSE maths grade from a predicted 7 to a final result of 9. Jackie always aims to create an engaging and enthusiastic environment to learn and help students advance in their studies.' Former student now studying A level maths and further maths at Sixth Form College.


'We have had the pleasure of Jackie tutoring both of our children for their GCSE maths examinations. I cannot praise Jackie enough in terms of her teaching ability and outstanding success in engaging our children in the learning experience and improving their examination results. A great deal of this success has been obtained by building the confidence of our children in maths and helping them believe that they can (and have) improved their results in this subject area. Our daughter has particularly grown in confidence in a relatively short period of time. Jackie always makes her lessons fun and engaging and both of our children have enjoyed their time with her. She clearly takes pride and pleasure in their success and I would very much recommend her services to anyone thinking of investing in maths tutoring.' Mrs B, parent in West Sussex.


'Jackie tutored both our children to help them prepare for their Year 6 SATS exams. Both of them really looked forward to their weekly lessons with Jackie as she made the lessons fun and engaging. She gave us weekly feedback on how they were progressing which I found very useful. Our daughter in particular made exceptional progress as she was really struggling with maths before going to Jackie. After a year of lessons, she had moved from the lowest group for maths in her class to the top group and told me she "loved maths now!" Both of our children achieved excellent results in their SATS exams which would not have happened had it not been for Jackie's outstanding teaching. She is very experienced and knowledgeable and I would not hesitate to recommend her to anyone thinking of employing a maths tutor for their children.' Mrs S, parent in Essex.

'Jackie taught me through my whole GCSE maths and helped so much. When I started in year 10 I just couldn't get my head around certain aspects of maths and I was failing but now I'm happy to say I managed to pass with a grade 5, which was above my target, thanks to her brilliant teaching! Thank you.' Former student now Head Boy at a Sixth Form in Surrey.

'Jackie was recommended to us as a maths tutor as she has many years of experience in teaching in Secondary School. Jackie teaches our child as an individual & at his pace. She goes out of her way go to make lessons fun and our son loves the games they play. She is very thorough with her updates to us as parents which we find very reassuring. In just four months we can see a massive improvement in our son's confidence & attitude towards his maths & the improvement in his maths tests are already starting to show. We cannot recommend Jackie highly enough.' Mr & Mrs D L-H, parents in Surrey

'We engaged Jackie on recommendation from another parent to help our son regain some confidence lost following the pandemic and the lengthy period of home schooling, which he found very hard work. Jackie is very patient and clear with him and lets him ask questions when he doesn't understand. He is brimming with confidence after three half terms and in his own words "the tuition is knocking his maths out of the park" and he feels he is easily grasping things in class now because he has covered it with Jackie. We also like to receive the weekly feedback from Jackie after each session. We will continue until he has completed his GSCE and would have no hesitation recommending Jackie to other parents.' Mrs A, parent in West Sussex

'Jackie greatly helped my daughter develop her maths skills in the lead up to her GCSE exams. My daughter initially lacked confidence in her abilities but with Jackie's excellent, inspirational teaching and supportive approach, was able to sit her maths papers feeling well-prepared. It was wonderful to see how my daughter flourished from having the maths sessions and I would have no hesitation in recommending Jackie to others.' Mrs K, parent in Surrey

'I have really enjoyed my lessons with Jackie. She has helped me so much with my maths and I now feel much more confident with the GCSE topics. Jackie is always encouraging. She is a great teacher and has made me feel I really can achieve success. I would definitely recommend her tutoring.' Former Year 11 student at school in Surrey

WEBSITE RECOMMENDATIONS:
"Jackie is a highly effective maths tutor and her many years of experience are put to use time and again to help young people achieve their potential in maths. Her results, and the progress her tutees make, speak for themselves."

"I highly recommend Jackie. She has worked with my son with his maths for a few years & has helped build his confidence to face next year's GCSEs in all subjects not only maths! As a parent who is not great with Maths it's wonderful knowing Jackie is there making sure he is getting every building block of the maths process!"

"Jackie is an amazing maths tutor who makes her students feel confident to fulfil their potential. As brilliant with the 'don't do maths' reluctant learners as the 'I've got this 'high achievers. Highly recommended"

"100% recommend Jackie. She tutored my son for a year after a long period of illness. He's just finished his GCSEs healthy, happy and full of confidence in his maths. She's fantastic!"

"Would highly recommend Jackie, who has patiently and expertly tutored my daughter through her recent exams."

"I highly recommend Jackie. She taught my son Max and he made exceptional progress under her knowledgeable guidance."

"Amazing maths tutor. Her methods are second to none. Very highly recommended!"

"Jackie is an amazing maths tutor. She helped my son revise for his GCSE and he found her invaluable! Highly recommend!"

"I cannot recommend Jackie enough! She has been working with my now 14 year old for the past two years and the progress has been great!"

"Jackie is a fab tutor -making maths lessons fun and relatable as well as helping to achieve amazing results and progress! Highly recommend"

"Jackie is a fantastic tutor - she has been working with my son (Y9 now) for the past couple of years - and he is actively requesting extra lessons! Highly recommend!"

"Jackie is an absolutely fantastic! She has done wonders for my daughter.
Jackie is calm, patient and done an excellent job at building my daughter's confidence. Thank you, Jackie!"

"I can highly recommend Jackie as a maths tutor, she really knows how to work with your child as a individual & help build confidence."

"Jackie is an amazing maths tutor recommend to anyone needing some encouragement, support and confidence in maths! She's really helped my year 11 this year with her GCSE exams, and she went to her exams much more confident, thanks to Jackie's tuition. Thank you, Jackie!"

"I would heartily recommend Jackie - she is fantastic! Our year 8 (soon to be year 9) reluctant student loves his lessons, his grade is up and he has proactively asked to carry on for next year!"

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Personal Description:
I am a professional fine artist with many years experience of teaching in Colleges and Universities both in the UK and the USA. I am committed to teaching and this to some extent informs my work I have continued my practice as a fine artist throughout my teaching career and I have continued to exhibit both in Europe the USA and Dubai. I have a studio in Crete Greece from where I regularly travel to various European Capitals to visit important museums and galleries and these experiences are fed back into my teaching.

Teaching Experience:
I have a Master's in Fine Art from the Royal College of Art in London and I am a professional fine artist with 30 years' experience of teaching in the field of Art and Design. In 2014 I was an early adopter of teaching the visual arts remotely to a range of students from different countries and backgrounds. Over that period I taught over 1000 students and as Head of Foundation Studies, I supervised the instruction of many thousands more. I have been responsible for strategies, content, and delivery of that covered media from fine art drawing and painting, photography, concept design, animation, theatre design, graphic design, and illustration. My approach across these disparate and rich media is to enable students to understand the connections between theory and practice and of how to develop a creative process which is research and concept-led. I continue my practice as a painter in my studio in Crete while exhibiting most recently in galleries in Greece, Switzerland and Spain. I regularly visits European museums and galleries and I am familiar with Art and Design from a global perspective. This knowledge is fed back into my teaching and evidenced in the high-quality work my students produce.

Tutoring Approach:
My approach to tutoring is to work with the students regarding whatever project they may be working on. In some cases I write a project for them. I speak online face to face to each student once a week and encourage them to upload work in-between our meetings for advice and comment. I help the students to understand what it is to be a visual artist and how to discover their own creative process. I also introduce the students to professional artists both Historical and Contemporary whose work might inspire them and I introduce the notion that discussion and dialogue can ensure that the student become curious and committed to their practice in an informed manner.

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Personal Description:
Hello there! 🍁 I'm a friendly Canadian who's made the UK my home. Teaching English is not just my profession; it's my passion. Over the years as a volunteer, I've had the incredible opportunity to work privately with students from diverse corners of the world - South America, Europe, and, of course, back home in Canada. These experiences have deepened my love for helping others learn English, whether it's their second language or they're looking to polish their reading and writing skills in their first language.

What truly inspires me is working with adults who, for various reasons, have limited reading and writing skills. Witnessing their journey of learning and improvement is a real privilege. It's incredibly rewarding to see someone gain confidence in their abilities and open up new opportunities for themselves through language.

But it's not just adults I've had the pleasure of teaching. I've also worked with children, including my own little ones, to give them a head start in their schooling. Preparing them for the early years of school, and making it fun and engaging, is something I find truly fulfilling.

Whether it's guiding someone to discover the joys of reading or helping them express themselves more confidently in writing, or deciding to learn English, I'm all about making learning an enjoyable and enriching experience.

I'm here to help you on this exciting journey!

Teaching Experience:
Teaching English is not just my profession; it's my passion. Over the years, I've had the incredible opportunity to work privately with students from diverse corners of the world - South America, Europe, and, of course, back home in Canada. These experiences have deepened my love for helping others learn English, whether it's their second language or they're looking to polish their reading and writing skills in their first language.

I have also taught in Private School environment and but have chosen to work with students privately.

Tutoring Approach:
In my tutoring sessions, I prioritize practical learning approaches and concepts to foster a nurturing environment for both children and adults. Understanding that learning English as a Second Language presents unique challenges, I tailor my methods to meet the individual needs of my students, ensuring they grasp English not just theoretically but in real-world applications. By incorporating everyday scenarios, interactive exercises, and engaging material, I make learning English accessible and relatable. My goal is to build confidence and proficiency, allowing students to use English effectively in their daily lives and achieve their personal and professional goals. With patience and encouragement, I guide each learner through their journey, celebrating every milestone towards mastery and confidence in the English language.

Whether they are learning to read + write, learning for early years school preparation, or learning English.

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Personal Description:
I'm a 4th year medical student with a strong passion for education and helping others achieve their goals. Alongside my medical studies, I've dedicated my time to tutoring students across different levels and backgrounds. I enjoy breaking down difficult topics and making learning an engaging and rewarding experience.

Teaching Experience:
I've tutored students from primary school all the way up to A-levels, covering subjects such as Maths, Science, and English. I've supported high-achieving students aiming for top grades as well as those needing extra help to build confidence. I also run my own tutoring company, where I manage a team of over 30 tutors and have helped hundreds of students succeed academically.

Tutoring Approach:
Every student learns differently, so I make sure to adapt my sessions to each individual's needs. I focus on building a solid understanding of core concepts, boosting confidence, and preparing students effectively for exams. My approach is patient, structured, and encouraging-creating a space where students feel comfortable asking questions and motivated to improve.

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Personal Description:
I am a very experienced teacher of Business both GCSE and A Level. I have worked in many schools in South Wales and have been Head of Department and a classroom teacher. I am now based in the Vale of Glamorgan.

Teaching Experience:
I have over 25 years of teaching both GCSE and A level business, mostly with WJEC Examination Board but have taught GCSE Edexcel as well.

Tutoring Approach:
I am happy to tailor my experience to your needs and can teach the whole syllabus, individual topics or go through past papers.

Lessons would last for 50 minutes and I am happy to mark past paper questions or go through them with students.

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