Ballyclare Tutors and Ballyclare Tuition

Personal Description:
* Grew up as an eighth generation member of a travelling circus family. Brought up around a high risk lifestyle that
promoted good awareness skills. Son of a world renowned wild animal trainer.
* Began uninterrupted formal martial arts training in 1990.
* Achieved first instructor certification in a martial art aged 16.
* Organised security for the largest privately owned Dangerous Wild Animal collection of its kind in Europe on all their
open days.
*Founded Clubb Chimera Martial Arts
*Taught nationally and internationally in Ireland, France and Denmark
* Featured regular writer for Martial Arts Illustrated Magazine 2004-present.
* Featured writer for Combat Magazine
* Featured regular lead article writer for Jissen! Magazine 2008-present
* Wrote foreword for bestselling author and BAFTA award-winning screenplay writer Geoff Thompson's
"Everything that Happens to me is Fantastic"
* Edited Neil Horton's "Japanese Martial Arts"
* Wrote and presented the bestselling DVDs "Cross Training in the Martial Arts"
* Wrote "Mordred's Victory and Other Martial Mutterings"
* Wrote "When Parents Aren't Around: A Young Person's Guide to Self-Protection"
*Wrote "Wrong Fu"

Teaching Experience:
Relevant Qualifications:

Btec Advanced Certificate Self Defence Instructor

OCR NVQ/QCF A1 Assessor

Member of the Institute for Learning

First Aid Certificate

Child Protection Certificate

Full CRB check

Full public liability insurance

Geoff Thompson Self Defence Instructor

Mo Teague's Hard Target System

Clients:

Solicitor's Regulation Authority Forensic Investigation Unit

John Skillen's Martial Arts and Fitness Centre

Hard Target/Krav Maga Ireland

Various one-to-one private clients - both adult and children

Summersdale Media

Martial Arts, Self Defence and Combatives systems studied:

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (2004- present)

Various Mixed Martial Arts/Vale Tudo methods (2003-present)

Submission Grappling (2003-present)

Western Boxing, TVP Concept (2006)

Mongrel Close Quarter Combat Fighting System (2006)

C2: Core Combatives (2005-2006)

Dentokan Ju Jutsu (2003-2004)

Toyama Iaido (2003-2004)

Open Circle Fighting Method (2005, Assistant Coach)

Song Shan Shaolin Chinese Martial Arts and Wu Shu (1996-2003)

Taekwondo (1993-1995)

Sakiado (1st Dan Black Belt, 1991-1993)

Plus varying small degrees of formal instruction through seminars, workshops and private instruction in

Judo, Greco Roman Wrestling, Freestyle Wrestling, Kamishin Ryu Ju Jutsu, Daito Ryu Ju Jutsu, Wing Chun, Choy Lay Fut, Goju Ryu Karate, Wado Ryu Karate, Tony Somers' Intelligent Self Protection, Noma Ukushaya Induku (Zulu Stick Fighting), small firearms self defence, Dennis Jones's self defence approach, Karl Tanswell's S.T.A.B. programme, Kali, Esckrima, Panantukan, various Thai Boxing styles, Systema, Eddie Quinn's The Approach, Urban Combatives, the Keysi Fighting Method and many more.

Tutoring Approach:
My training revolves around clarification, scepticism and individuality. All training is time managed to ensure the student gets the most out of their lessons. We begin with a clear set objective and make sure the student has in mind the goal of every exercise undertaken. Rather than teach a list of techniques, I actively engage all students to get the most out of their individual strengths and I encourage them to look critically at what will work best for them. I promote a self-coaching concept for more efficient skill retention.

I have fully tailored programmes for online tuition via Skype or Zoom. I have my own custom-built gym for personal training.

Subjects

Personal Description:
Hello, I am a well qualified, BA, MPhil, PGCE teacher who is looking to branch out into more private tutoring work. I have privately tutored for many years and have experience since 1996. I have taught at all key stages and enjoy my work thoroughly. Last year (2019) my A level tutees all raised their grades by at least one and have gone off to uni. Proud to add that one in particular achieved an A* in Geography A level. and another A* in history and is now at Exeter. At GCSE my student achieved the first 9 which is excellent.
Please note that my rates are based on one to one tuition. Should you wish me to tutor groups of two or more either at home or in school I am happy to do so but rates will need to be discussed prior to my commencing work.
I now have experience of working on the E Bacc and depth studies.

Teaching Experience:
I have taught to A level in History for adult ed from 1998-2006
I have taught Geography to GCSE-level and A level
History in school at KS 3 and 4 AS and A level
I have helped undergraduates and post graduates in archaeology, history and teaching skills.
I can also teach basic geology and archaeology and classical studies.
Classical Civilisation to A level

Tutoring Approach:
I am always keen to engage students in whatever subject they are studying. I believe in being supportive and constructive in all that I teach. I am currently working on a one-to-one project with a student with special needs.
An excellent set of results (2015) all my 10 students passed, all raised their grade levels by at least one letter. All those off to uni are about to go so I wish them all well. Three others have a year or two left at school and have asked me to tutor them over the required time span.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am an experienced secondary school teacher with 20 years' teaching service, with proven results and demonstrable proficiency. I have a deep understanding of all syllabuses, textbooks and exam formats. Dedicated, passionate and creative, I have the ability to deliver a professional and outstanding standard of tuition. I have provided guidance to students of hugely varying ability, stretching the academically bright and nurturing those who lack confidence. I try to connect individually with each child by making the subject specific and relevant to them, using creative and innovative ways of explaining topics. I fully understand the pressure students are under and realise the importance of every student's unique situation and find positive ways to minimise the stress and overcome the challenges they face.

Previously worked in schools in Hertfordshire and a challenging North London school, now working in a top London public school; teaching Business Studies and Economics.
Experience and responsibilities include: Head of Faculty, Head of Key Stage 5 - Business and Economics, BTEC lead internal verifier, 6th form tutor, PGCE student trainer, Exams officer, visits coordinator, Timetabler, and mentor.
I also have 22 years of senior management industry experience - 6 years senior management with General Electric.

Teaching / tutoring experience
Economics - KS4 (GCSE and iGCSE) and KS5 (A level) Edexcel/AQA/Cambridge exam specifications.
Business Studies - KS4 (GCSE/iGCSE & BTEC) and KS5 Business Studies A level (GCE & BTEC) for Edexcel, AQA and Cambridge (including Cambridge Technicals) exam specifications.
Mathematics - KS4 GCSE
Also tutor primary school pupils in Maths (7-11yrs) for 7+ and 11+ private school selection tests.

June 2025
1) AQA Economics - year 12
2) A level Business Edexcel 9BS0 (2 students) - Grade B and Grade B
3) Cambridge Technical Level 3 Diploma grade - finished with M, M
4) Level 3 National Extended Diploma (Three A-levels) - finished with D, D, D
5) School GCSE grades OCR Business (9-1) J204 - 2 grade 8's, 5 grade 7's, 11 grade 6's, 8 grade 5's and 8 grade 4's
6) Edexcel GCSE Business tuition one student - year 10
7) CIE Cambridge International 9609 student went from predicted grade E to C in final exam
8) AQA Business 7132 - 2 students year 12

June 2024
A level Business Edexcel 9BS0 (2 Students) - Grade B and Grade B
BTEC Business :-
Level 3 National Extended Certificate (one A-level) Final grade - Merit
Level 3 National Extended Diploma (Three A-levels) Final grade - Merit
Level 3 National Extended Diploma (Three A-levels) Year 12 grade - finished year 12 with D, D, D
Cambridge Technical Level 3 Diploma Year 12 grade - M, M
School GCSE grades Edexcel 1BS0 - 3 grade 8's, 7 grade 7's, 11 grade 6's, 12 grade 5's and 7 grade 4's
Edexcel GCSE Business tuition one student - grade 8

June 2023
A level Business AQA 7132 - Three students all received Grade B
A level Business Edexcel 9BS0 - Grade B
WJEC Eduqas GCE A LEVEL in Business - Student in year 12
School GCSE grades Edexcel 1BS0 - 5 grade 8's, 3 grade 7's, 11 grade 6's and 12 grade 5's
GCSE Business tuition - 2 grade 4's and one grade 5

June 2022
School GCSE grades Edexcel 1BS0 - 3 grade 9's, 5 grade 8's, 8 grade 6's and 4 grade 5's.
A level Business Edexcel 9BS0 - Grade B and Grade D (School refuser)
A level Business AQA 7132 - Grade B (from predicted D to B in one year)
GCSE Business Edexcel 1BS0 - Grade 8

June 2021
School GCSE grades - 10 grade 9's, 3 grade 8's, 8 grade 7's, 5 grade 6's, 3 grade 5's, 5 grade 4's, 4 grade 3's, 1 grade 2. I had a cohort of 55 pupils and edexcel chose 5 pupils and asked for each of their 3 pieces of assessment work to moderate. Edexcel agreed with my marking, the level of challenge, and all my grades were accepted.
A level Business Edexcel 9BS0 - Grade B
AS Business AQA - Continued into year 13
GCSE Business Edexcel - one pupil earned grade 7, the other earned grade 9
11 plus Maths - Pupil entered St Margaret's School, Bushy.

June 2020
11 plus Maths - 2 students (St Margaret's Bushey, Dame Alice Owen`s)
OCR Level 3 Cambridge Technical Business - Paper 1 - merit and paper 2 - Merit
GCSE Business (9-1) Edexcel - tutored 3 students. (Grade 6, 7 and 8)
Edexcel AS (year 12) Economics (8EC0) - no exam
Edexcel A level Economics ((9EC0) A* - Accepted at University of St Andrews.

June 2019
1) GCSE Business (9-1) - 26 pupils - Grade 9x1, Grade 7x4, Grade 6x9, grade 5x12.
2) Edexcel A level Economics (9EC0) - Grade C and Grade B
3) Edexcel AS Economics (8EC0) - no exam
4) AQA Business A level (7132) - Grade B
5) Edexcel Business A level (9BS0)- Grade C


June 2018. My students achieved: -
1) Edexcel A level Economics (9EC0) - Grade C
2) AQA A level Business Studies - Grade B
3) AQA GCSE Economics unit 11 and 12 - Grade A (after remark A*)
4) GCSE Business (Cambridge iGCSE) 28 pupils - grades 6A, 10B, 9C, 3D
5) Edexcel AS Economics (8EC0) - Grade B

June 2017. My students achieved:-
1) A level (AQA 7132) Business - grade B.
2) AS level (Edexcel A) Economics - grade C
2) A Level (Edexcel 2015) Business - 3 pupils - grades B, C, D
3) GCSE Business (Cambridge iGCSE) 31 pupils - grades - 4A*, 4A, 14B, 9C
4) GCSE Economics (Cambridge iGCSE) 10 pupils - grades - 4A*, 2A, 4B

June 2016. My students achieved:-
1) GCSE Economics (Cambridge) 2 grade A and one Grade D
2) GCSE Business Studies (Cambridge) 3 x grade A, 3 x B, 3 x C and one grade D

June 2015. My students achieved:-
1) AQA Business Studies A2 - unit 1 A, unit 2 B unit 3 C and unit 4 E
2) GCSE Economics, edexcel, grade C
3) Maths SATs, year 6 - level 5
4) GCSE Economics, OCR, grade C

June 2014. My students achieved:-
1) One student A2 Grade B for Edexcel Business Studies
2) One student A2 overall Grade D for AQA Business Studies, but grade A for the tutored exam for unit 2.
3) Day job out of 8 students - A*, A, 2Bs, C, 4Ds - Edexcel A2 Business Studies
4) One student GCSE Maths - Grade D
5) Day job GCSE Economics 28 pupils - 100% pass

June 2013. My students achieved:-
1) One student AS Grade A in paper 1 and paper 2 for Edexcel Business
2) Day job - Out of 15 students - 2Bs, 5Cs, 8Ds - AS Edexcel Business
3) One student AQA GCSE Business - Grade A
4) One student AQA GCSE Economics - Grade A
5) One student OCR GCSE Business - Grade D

June 2012. My students achieved:-
1) GCSE grade A in Business Studies
2) AS grade A in paper 1 and paper 2 for AQA Business
3) One student GCSE Maths grade A
4) A2 Edexcel four pupils grade B and one grade D

Teaching Experience:
KS4 (GCSE) and KS5 (A level) Economics
KS4 (GCSE/iGCSE & BTEC) and KS5 Business Studies A level (GCE & BTEC) for Edexcel, AQA and Cambridge exam specifications.
KS4 GCSE/iGCSE Economics Edexcel/AQA/Cambridge
KS4 GCSE Mathematics
Also tutor primary school pupils in Maths (7-11yrs) for private school selection tests

Tutoring Approach:
Experienced secondary school teacher with 20 years service, with proven results. I have provided guidance to students of hugely varying ability, stretching the academically bright and nurturing those who lack confidence. I try to connect individually with each child by making the subject specific and relevant to them.

Previously worked in a challenging North London school, now working in a top London public school.
Responsibilities included: Head of Faculty, Head of Key Stage 5 - Business and Economics, lead internal verifier, 6th form tutor, PGCE student trainer, Exams officer, visits coordinator, Timetabler.

Also have 22 years of senior management industry experience - 6 years with General Electric.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am an active independent-scholar and writer, living near St Andrews University. I have written numerous books and articles and am currently working on a new book as well as tutoring a handful of students. I am also a former Academic Advisor to students in the United States of America, and I have worked for two tutoring companies in Oxford since returning to the UK. I am therefore familiar with the needs of international students when it comes to navigating the English and Scottish University systems. I focus on technique over content with a particular emphasis on writing skills, though I also read all the books and articles my students are required to read, so that I can help them with content when required.

Teaching Experience:
Award winning teacher at the University of Georgia, 1999-2000
Academic Adviser to University Students from 2003-2007
Tutor Oxford International Study Centre, April 2013 - May 2014
Carfax Tutorial Establishment, November 2013 - May 2014
Freelance Tutor ongoing.

Tutoring Approach:
I adopt a holistic approach to tutoring, working with a student to address her or his individual academic needs. I am process-orientated, building on a student's strengths and eliminating weaknesses. I am also practical, constantly working towards the student's objectives. As a result, I focus very much on academic skills and developing the student's academic toolbox, so that they can gain confidence and become independent learners.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I'm a vivid, enthusiastic English and Turkish languages teacher and musician. Languages and teaching are my passions along with my qualifications, so my students have always been content with our interactive lessons.

Having completed my undergraduate degree at Bogazici University, English Language and Literature Department, I had my MA degree at Royal Holloway, University of London, Department of English.

Teaching Experience:
Teaching English and Turkish languages to various levels of students and various age groups have always been my primary occupation.

I'm a qualified English teacher with CertTESOL Level 5 Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages- TRINITY COLLEGE LONDON. + Cambridge DELTA Qualified.
I teach English to students from the beginner level to advance, special qualification English Exams such as FCE, IETLS, First Certificate as well as to native speaker, primary and secondary school students for Key stages 1-4, GCSE, A Level and AS Level.
Furthermore, I'm a Turkish native speaker entitled with a bilingual linguist. The same teaching areas, beginner to advance, GCSE, A Level and AS Level, for students who wants to improve their Turkish.

Tutoring Approach:
My methods are based on inductive presentations, more students talking time than teachers talking time and loads of interactive activities which I'm taught during my teaching experience and most importantly during trainee education.

It is never boring and never passive for either the student or the teacher.

Subjects

Personal Description:
Teaching is my passion. I have made higher salaries in other lines of work- I choose to tutor because it makes me happy! Therefore I don't just do this for the money, if a student isn't making progress then I will always tell clients exactly that. My primary aim is to help people, and if it isn't working, you'll get nothing but honesty from me!

Exam Results

I take great pride in the results of my students. Whether it be Year 6 SATS, entrance exams, GCSE Maths or many others, the greatest joy I feel is hearing good news on results day. To hear that I've managed to help someone change their life forever in a positive way is a high that I am constantly chasing.

Here are some of my student's recent achievements in major exams:

GCSE Maths

(Grade on the left is the student's grade before lesson one, grade on the right is the confirmed GCSE result)

GCSE Maths (2023)

1 student from a 4 (C) ----> 8 (A*)
1 student from a 4 (C) ----> 7 (A)
1 student from a 2 (E) ----> 5 (C+/B-)
2 students from a 3 (D) ----> 5 (C+/B-)
1 student from a 2 (E) ----> 4 (C)
1 student from a 1 (F) ----> 3 (D)
1 student from a 3 (D) ----> 4 (C)

GCSE Maths (2022)

1 student from an 8 (A*) ----> 9 (A**)
2 students from a 3 (D) ----> 5 (C+/B-)
1 student from a 1 (F) ----> 4 (C)
1 student from a 4 (C) ----> 6 (B+/A-)
1 student from a 2 (E) ----> 2(E) (started tuition just 6 weeks before exams)

GCSE Maths (2021)

1 student from a 2 (E) ----> 6 (B+/A-)
1 student from a 5 (C+/B-) ----> 6 (B+/A-)
1 student from a 3 (D) ----> 4 (C)
1 student from a 2 (E) ----> 4 (C)
1 student from a 2 (E) ----> 3 (D)

GCSE Maths (2020)
All exams were cancelled due to the pandemic

GCSE Maths (2019)

1 student from a 5 (C+/B-) ----> 6 (B+/A-)
1 student from a 2 (E) ----> 4 (C)
1 student from a 1 (F) ----> 4 (C)

GCSE Maths (2018)

1 student from a 3 (D) ----> 7 (A)
1 student from a 6 (B) ----> 7 (A)
1 student from a 2 (E) ----> 5 (C+/B-)
2 students from a 3 (D) ----> 5 (C+/B-)
1 student from a 4 (C) ----> 5 (C+/B-)
1 student from a 2 (E) ----> 3 (D)

GCSE Maths (2017)

3 students from a 5 (C+/B-) ----> 6 (B+/A-)
2 students from a 3 (D) ----> 5 (C+/B-)
1 student from a 4 (C) ----> 6 (B+/A-)

Year 6 SATS

(Grade on the left is the student's grade before lesson one, grade on the right is the confirmed SATS result)

Year 6 SATS (2019)

1 student from expected standard ----> above expectations
2 students from below expectations ----> expected standard

Year 6 SATS (2018)

1 student from expected standard ----> above expectations
3 students from below expectations ----> expected standard

Year 6 SATS (2017)

1 student from expected standard ----> above expectations
1 student from below expectations ----> expected standard

Heckmondwike Grammar Entrance Tests

3 students passed
1 student failed
75% pass rate

QTS (Qualified Teacher Status)

2 students passed on their first attempt
0 students failed
100% pass rate

Teaching Experience:
Over the last 5 years I have been teaching Maths from within my own home.

Tutoring Approach:
The goal of each and every lesson is to make the sessions as interactive as possible. By engaging pupils at every opportunity, the lessons become really enjoyable with the students learning an awful lot more than if they were simply to be handed workbooks. There are many tutors that will take this approach and just watch a student go at it, I prefer to be much more involved! I also make new learning games everyday and this is a big reason why my students have been so successful at all ages.

Subjects

Personal Description:
10 years experience as a teacher, subject lead, tutor and examiner of economics and business at GCSE and A-level across multiple exam boards.

Currently I am offering online lessons only

Teaching Experience:
Highly proficient in the delivery of online lessons as well as in person.

10 years teaching economics and business studies, 6 as the head of department leading economics and business studies in an outstanding school in South West London. I am an examiner for the AQA and have experience with both OCR and Edexcel. A proven track record of success and a determination and passion for the success of my students.

Tutoring Approach:
Depending on your requirements lessons will be driven by your specific needs. My tutoring style will be a mixture of theory revision and exam paper practice. I use a wealth of case studies and real world examples to aid in the explanation and simplification of difficult concepts.

I will share with you effective techniques that can really boost your grades and ensure you get that A* that you are working hard to achieve. I will be pushing you to excel but will be able to provide you with a wealth of notes, exam paper practice and model answers.

Unlike many tutors, you will find, I am a qualified teacher, and subject leader, and have experience with the various exam boards and their requirements for success; From the timing of your exam answers to evaluation skills necessary to standout from the crowd and ensure you reach those higher levels of response.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am a fully-qualified maths teacher having passed my PGCE at the University of York in 2011, as well as a married father of 3 young children living in Malton who enjoys teaching Maths!

Teaching Experience:
I have been teaching KS3/KS4 maths at secondary level since 2011/12, but also have experience of teaching at primary level having prepared a small group of Year 6s for their SATS this summer. Prior to teaching I worked in finance for 10 years.

I have been tutoring several students since February 2017 and am thoroughly enjoying increasing both their confidence and ability in maths. Two of my students who took their GCSEs this summer passed with a level 5 and 6 (strong grade `C` & B) both of whom were struggling when I started working with them just a few months prior to their exams.

Tutoring Approach:
I will travel to your home and cover the Ryedale and North & East Yorkshire coast areas. I have a positive and encouraging approach giving children the space to work at their own pace and in the style that best suits them. I find that after a few months of tutoring children will already show signs of being more confident and able at maths.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am a Maths and Chemistry teacher with 25 years of teaching experience in these subjects. I have taught the GCSE curriculum as well as MYP/IB curriculum in International Schools in Vietnam and Azerbaijan. I have a Bachelors degree in Education (Maths and Science) and Masters degree in Chemistry. My students have consistently improved their grades through tutoring and they have found my teaching style clear and easy to understand, with lots of helpful tips on how to remember information and apply it.

Teaching Experience:
25 years of teaching experience in International Schools with GCSE and IB curriculum and also in Indian schools with CBSE curriculum.

Tutoring Approach:
I have a very patient approach to tutoring, understanding my student's needs and being able to tailor my teaching to meet their learning style. I am able to simplify complex concepts so that students are able to understand the subject rather than simply memorizing it. I have a multitude of resources to supplement my teaching which will be beneficial to my students.

Subjects

Personal Description:
Hello! Originally I come from Doncaster in South Yorkshire, but I've lived in Kent for 16+ years now.
I live in Faversham now and have done so for a few years.

Teaching Experience:
I've been an English teacher for over 26 years. During this time I have taught AQA, WJEC and now EDUQAS qualifications at both GCSE and A level.
I have taught A level English Literature and A level English Language. My passion is English Language-I love to teach all aspects of this subject from Child Language Acquisition, to Diversity in Language to Language Change.
In my career to date, I have been Head of Department and then Head of Faculty and Senior Teacher but for health reasons now I am part time and Second in English at my current school. The school I currently teach in is a non-selective secondary faith school where I have worked for over 15 years now. Prior to my current school, I have taught in state, comprehensive schools in Yorkshire.

Tutoring Approach:
I think I'd take the approach whereby I'd let my tutee tell me where their areas to develop lay and go from there. Once I get to know my tutee better I would then be able to tailor my teaching according to their needs. A collaborative approach works better in my opinion.

Subjects

Personal Description:
PLEASE SEE 'TUTORING EXPERIENCE' BELOW FOR THE MOST IMPORTANT PARTS OF THIS PAGE, THE RESULTS AND FEEDBACK

I am an Oxford graduate (English language and literature, first class), as well as a qualified English teacher, and have been tutoring since 2013. My specialism is A-level English literature.

Please get in touch for online English tuition, particularly if you are or your child is

• Preparing to take A-levels in 2026/27
• Doing coursework
• Working on the basis of continuous assessment, mocks, etc.
• Or planning to do / doing an English degree

I graduated from the University of Oxford with a double first in English language and literature, winning the prize for the best performance in English finals at Mansfield College, and the college essay prize. At school, I was awarded eleven GCSEs at A-star and three A-levels at A.

As well as tutoring, I have worked as a researcher, a copywriter, and a proofreader. I have also completed a PGCE in secondary English at the UCL Institute of Education, the highest-ranking college of education in the world ('QS World University Rankings'), during which I taught all age groups at two west London secondary schools, and received A's for my master's-level assignments. I am currently pursuing a PhD in English literature at the University of Buckingham.

As well as English tuition at any level, I can help you or your child with the following:

• Oxbridge entrance (the admissions process, practice interviews, the ELAT, etc.)
• Essay surgery - how to structure and write an essay
• How to revise - note-taking, organisation, making connections, committing to memory
• Grammar, punctuation, and style (a.k.a. 'usage and abusage')
• Speech-writing and public speaking
• Proofreading and redrafting essays
• Suggested reading and resources, including access to my library of 'TES' resources
• Creative writing
• How to annotate, analyse (and enjoy) English literature - sometimes known as 'close reading' or 'practical criticism'
• If you'd specifically like written feedback on your writing - more like a correspondence course - then I can also provide that.

In my spare time I enjoy cycling, writing, and photography.

Teaching Experience:
I have been tutoring since 2013, teaching English at all levels (including degree level), as well as A-level religious studies and classical civilisation. I have taught AQA, Edexcel, OCR, WJEC/Eduqas, and CAIE (Cambridge International), and am constantly familiarising myself with the new texts that my students are studying. I have experience helping students who have autism and ADHD. And I am interested in the role of generative AI and large language models in education, not to write students' essays for them, but as research assistants for students and teachers alike. It is of course important that students do not get the likes of ChatGPT to write their essays for them, among other reasons because they will not be able to do so in the exams. Tutoring is well placed to discourage this, since it has always been my practice to ask my students many questions about every essay they write.

*

A student, June 2025: 'thank you very much for all the sessions! It has not only boosted my confidence in English literature but they really reminded me of how much I love the subject. It's always a pleasure to discuss nuance readings of the texts, and it has been a great help leading up to my exams.'

Charlotte, a parent, June 2025: 'Thank you so much for all your help and support for [L.]. We are so grateful for everything you have done with him and wish you all the best.'

Ann, a parent, June 2025: '[Z.] has thoroughly enjoyed her lessons with you and has gained so much from your guidance. We're very grateful for all the support you've given her.'

A parent, May 2025: 'Thank you so much again for everything you've done to help [G.] prepare for these exams - he has really enjoyed his sessions with you and he and we really appreciate your support'.

A parent, May 2025: '[N.] just received the below. It's an A* if the grade boundaries is same as last year. She couldn't have done it without your help. We really appreciate it.'

A parent, February 2025: '[S.] is really enjoying studying with you and has gained a lot of confidence in English. I truly appreciate the effort and dedication you put into teaching.'

A student, January 2025: 'thank you ever so much for your kindness and creative encouragement the past months. What is very special about you as a tutor is that you have never told me "what to write". Instead, you have asked me questions about my work that have led me to discover what I truly wish to write'.

Kate, a parent, December 2024: 'We're so pleased [G.] is enjoying his sessions and seems to be really motivated to read widely in between sessions, is making useful structured notes (which he didn't do before) and his confidence and awareness of what he needs to do when essay writing is really building. Thank you!!!'

Eleni, a parent, December 2024: 'I just wanted to let you know that [D.] received an offer […] today! She is super happy! […] I wanted to thank you again as [D.] found your sessions incredibly helpful and inceased her confidence during the exams process.'

*

A-level results, August 2024:

'I wanted to write to say a huge thank you to you for all the help, support and inspiration you have given [E.] over the past year. You have not only given her the technical advice and support to help her make the most of her essays and exams, but more importantly you have helped her keep the love of the subject alive. I know a big part of the reason she is so excited to study English at university is because of how much she has enjoyed your conversations, and how you have helped her to consider texts in a way that the rather narrower scope of teaching at school does not allow. I am so very grateful to you and I really appreciate all the time and effort you put into her sessions - thank you so very much. […] You've been so great, and any other student/parent would be lucky to have access to your teaching.'

'I have just opened my results and am happy to confirm that I am off to Bristol this September with an A* in English! I just want to thank you again for making this possible.'

'I got an A in English, and will be going to Exeter, so mission accomplished. I wanted to thank you for all your help, not only for helping me to get what I needed, but for giving me back my confidence and enjoyment of the subject in the process.'

'Just to let you know [I.] got her results this morning and achieved an 'A' in English. We are over the moon […] Thank you again for all your help with the English, it's much appreciated.'

'thanks for your help this past academic year! Got two A*s in English and Philosophy'.

'I got a B and I was accepted into my firm university (Durham) which I am very happy! Thank you for all your help and support.'

'I was really happy to receive […] A in English Literature […] I secured a placed at my firm university. I will be studying English Literature at Durham University this September and I am very excited! Thank you so much for all of your support, I really appreciate it!'

'i got into Warwick with […] an A* in English!!!!! I am very happy :) Thank you for all your hard work, wisdom and wit over the last year or two'.

'Thank you so much for all your coaching and advice that you shared with [L.], it made such a difference to his confidence leading up to his exams. He is (as are we) delighted with his English result.'

'an A awarded in English […] so she is off to her first choice of Edinburgh University to study History of Art and English Literature.'

'Results day went well and I'm going to the university of Kent. Thank you so much again for all the time spent helping me to prepare for my exams it means a lot I'm very excited to continue my English literature journey.'

*

A student, June 2024: 'Thank you so much for being the most amazing English teacher! It has been an immensely rewarding and interesting journey exploring so many books […] I have learnt so much from GCSEs to continuing with more amazing literatures in A-levels'

A student, June 2024: 'I […] wanted to say thank you for the tremendous help you have provided with the English content throughout the A level period. The resources that you provided for me were quite helpful in refining my knowledge in many areas of the syllabus so thank you very much.'

A student, May 2024: 'I've just received the results for my english coursework and wanted to thank you for all the help and feedback!!'

A parent, February 2024: 'your help has kept her love of the subject and her enthusiasm alive and I can't thank you enough for that.'

A parent, February 2024: 'You were such a huge help to [S.], we will always be very grateful to you.'

Kath, a parent, February 2024: 'We would both like to thank you for all your invaluable help, especially all the helpful feedback on the coursework essay. [S.] has definitely learnt a lot and grown in confidence, especially in her knowledge of Twelfth Night.'

A student, January 2024: 'I just wanted to let you know that I got an offer from Oxford! Thank you so much for checking over my personal statement and all the help that you have given me since GCSEs. I really enjoy our sessions every week, the discussions keep me constantly creative and thinking.'

A parent, January 2024: 'Thank you as always for all your continued help and support for [E.]. I know she gets a tremendous amount from your sessions and I'm very grateful.'

A student, January 2024: 'Just emailing to let you know I did get an offer from […] Cambridge yesterday so thank you so much for all your help! It is really appreciated and I'm really looking forward to starting my degree in October!'

A student, December 2023: 'So thank you so much again for all your help; your insights have been very useful and I have really enjoyed talking about literature with you.'

Tara, a parent, November 2023: 'you are really helping [R.], he is becoming much more confident. Thank you so much'.

Paula, a parent, November 2023: '[M.] is always delighted with your teaching. You are asking questions no one else does. My husband and I see her grow academically after every session with you.'

Liz, a parent, October 2023: 'Thank you so much for all the work you have done with, and the kindness you have shown, [E.] to date. She really enjoys her sessions with you, and you've helped keep her enthusiasm for English very much alive. I'm so grateful.'

Kim, a parent, August 2023: 'I cannot tell you how happy we all were and your help was clearly instrumental in that. Not sure if he told you but he got 12 points above an A* and it was his best A level result!'

A student, August 2023: 'I really enjoyed our lessons and think it has really helped prepare me for the Oxford style tutorials.'

A student, August 2023: 'wanted to let you know I ended up getting an A* in English, thanks so much for all the help!'

Mark, a parent, June 2023: 'Many thanks josh for your help this year. [E.] has said to me it has really helped, you started assisting her at a time when she felt behind her class mates for the whole of the first year, having switched to English half way through term one.'

Melanie, a parent, June 2023: 'Thank you so much for all your time and effort with [T.]'s English literature. She really enjoyed your sessions together and it really boosted her confidence and inspired her to think more deeply and critically about the texts. It also confirmed that she is happy and excited to study a literature based course at degree level.'

*

A-level results, August/September 2022:

'[L.] came home from university yesterday to attend her school prize giving ceremony, and this morning as she was leaving she asked me to let you know that she won a special prize in English […] Until last night, she wasn't aware of any of her awards, apart from her scholarship, so it was all a lovely surprise. Furthermore, the essays she wrote in her A level English exams have somehow found their way into her teachers' hands; they told her, with beams of pride , that the three marks dropped overall were actually in her *non exam* assessment, so 30/30 in all questions across all papers under exam conditions, something she had never achieved before. She had admitted to me in the aftermath of the exams that when she was writing her English papers she had really enjoyed the process, her thoughts flowing pretty effortlessly on to the paper. But she had also worried this stream of ideas might not be fit with the mark schemes. […] she […] wanted you to know about her prize, as she thought you'd be pleased, and she also wanted to say thanks one last time for your inspirational teaching that led to it.'

'I got AAA* for my results much higher than my predicted! particularly for english'.

'[G.] got an A star in English. And is off to Oxford. […] Thanks so much for everything - you were honestly amazing and really helped her get there'.

'[L.] got 3 a stars and an A star as well in her EPQ. Her highest marks were in English Literature ( 197/200)'.

'I achieved 4A*s in my Alevels - one being in English Literature. My teachers also let me know that I got full marks in both the exam papers'.

'[T.] smashed English Literature, A* […] she is absolutely over the moon . Thank you so much for all the work you put in with her !'

'I got a D[distinction]2!!! […] I got full marks on my PI!'

'I got an A* in English!!! Thank you so much for all of your help I wouldn't have been able to do it without you!'

*

A student, January 2023: 'Just wanted to let you know I got an offer from Cambridge, thank you so so much for all your help.' And Kathryn: 'You were such a great help to [E.] in her preparation for the Cambridge application and interview and we were all delighted when she was offered a place this week. Thank you for all the support you gave her.'

Shaun, a parent, January 2023: '[E.] has found the sessions really very helpful (and has enjoyed them!)'

Guifang, a parent, December 2022: 'From what I hear from [S.], she really enjoys her discussions with you, it's really one of the highlights of her week.'

A student, November 2022: 'I'm extremely happy to tell you that I received an 8.3 for the literary review […] Thank you for explaining to me what a literary review is […] I remember whilst working on it I was so worried about my grade, but it appears I've survived.'

Deborah, a parent, September 2022: 'a huge thanks again to you for all your work with [S.]. I know he has been in touch to let you know that he got 9s in both English Language and Literature. He was over the moon - well beyond his best hopes, so thank you again for being instrumental in helping him attain those grades.'

Karen, a parent, August 2022: 'Both my girls really like your way of teaching and talking to them, they feel really listened to and respected for their opinions (as well as respecting yours obviously), so thank you :)'

Helen, a parent, July 2022: 'Thanks so much for all the help you gave [J.], he really benefitted from the sessions he had with you.'

Tara, a parent, June 2022: 'Thank you so much for all your help and patience - I think you have been brilliant for her confidence. She found English exams really very difficult before she started talking to you and it's amazing to see how much calmer (relatively speaking!) she has been going in to her A level English papers. Whatever the result, her sessions with you have definitely helped her to enjoy English again and I'm really grateful.'

A student, June 2022: 'This is incredibly insightful and thought provoking feedback. Thank you so much.'

Mei, a parent, June 2022: 'She found your lessons very helpful and always remarked to me how much you went the extra mile for her ; looking up and sending on links to whatever you'd been discussing. Much appreciated!'

Marguerite, a parent, June 2022: 'Thank you so much for all you've done for [T.] in the past year . […] you are a very talented teacher.'

Monica, a parent, June 2022: 'You have been an absolutely wonderful tutor to [L.], and how time has flown since she first met you! […] Many a time she has needed someone to talk to, not so much about AO1-5, but rather about the beauty and burden of literature and life. You have always been willing to do that, and she is richer for it.'

A student, June 2022: 'Thank you for teaching me for the last year; I have enjoyed our lessons and I feel I have grown as an English student, with thanks to your teaching.'

A student, April 2022: 'I received an 8 for my essay!! I want to thank you for your tutoring on Keats and Wordsworth- I wouldn't have gotten such a grade without it!! […] I learned tons because of you.'

Ngozi, a parent, March 2022: 'Thanks for everything that you're doing for [G.] - it has been very helpful.'

A student, February 2022: 'Really, thanks so much. Was such a good and efficient service. Your feedback looks really good and I'm going to implement it today. […] Thanks again for doing this on such short notice'.

Deborah, a parent, October 2021: '[S.] said you make it really fun - he said at school his energy goes down in English lessons and with you it goes up! So that is praise indeed from a teenage boy!'

A student, August 2021: 'I got the A grade ! I'm so pleased, thank you for all the help and the essays really paid off :).'

Monica, a parent, July 2021: 'As would be expected from his first class qualifications, Josh is extremely intelligent. However, in my opinion, he has a a very particular advantage over others of a similar academic background, namely his ability to exhibit an authentic interest in the ideas his students express. He is always kind and encouraging, but without sacrificing rigour; this approach has had a hugely positive impact on my daughter when speaking, writing and reading. Furthermore, Josh has introduced her to a range of authors, poets , films and philosophical thought, thus enriching her far beyond the school curriculum. In the future, my daughter will undoubtedly look back on her time with Josh with both fondness and gratitude. I have no hesitation in recommending Josh as a tutor'.

Guifang, a parent, July 2021: 'I have know Joshua for 2 months and He has been supporting my daughter excellently through her GCSE courses, helping her to achieve a 9 in predicted grades. From this, Joshua has always been very serious with the work, needless to say, always punctual and gives detailed homework feedback. I know him to be a wonderful tutor to my daughter.'

Susan, a parent, May 2021: '[T]hank you so much for all your help with [N.] […] [N.] found your lessons extremely helpful which enabled her to enjoy and understand English in a greater depth […] it was excellent tuition . Thank you'.

Jamal, a parent, May 2021: 'Thank you Josh for all your efforts, you have greatly assisted [S.] in better understanding English Literature as whole.'

Zahed, a parent, May 2021: 'We are grateful for all your help and support. We are in no doubt that [A.] has improved a lot in English Literature under your guidance.'

A student, May 2021: 'I just got my coursework back and got an A in it. Just thought i should let you know thanks you!'

Margaret, a parent, March 2021: 'Thanks for helping [M.] to improve her English understanding. She really enjoys her lessons and chats!'

Chris, a parent, March 2021: '[R.] is benefiting immensely from your lessons and is definitely getting more confident in expressing his thoughts in writing! Thank you.'

Amanda, a parent, December 2020: 'Josh has really helped join the dots, encouraged a depth of questioning and ways to interpret and compare ideas, extracting and bringing fresh meaning to narrative styles and creative use of language. Josh has been a great support and steered [R.]'s confidence to look more thoroughly and develop a greater understanding all round. Josh has a kind, approachable style and encouraged [R.] with debating aloud and suggestions for further reading which all continue to be an invaluable help and inspire greater confidence in approaching exams and further reading in future!'

A student, December 2020: 'He helps focus my understanding and makes sure i understand the topic we are learning before moving on. Josh will make sure to ask you questions throughout the process and is always ready for your ideas even if you think it's wrong. He will set homework but makes sure to switch it up each week to make it more interesting and gives his feedback to help me understand what i need to do to improve.'

Diana, a parent, September 2020: 'Josh worked with my daughter for her A Level in English Literature. He was outstanding with his ideas and expanding her critical thinking. He went above and beyond to develop her analytical skills and as a result helped her obtain an A*. He is an absolutely lovely, gentle but dynamic and reliable tutor who has a rare ability combine his academic achievement with a natural talent for teaching. A real gem and we cannot thank him enough.'

A parent, September 2020: 'Joshua is an excellent tutor with great communication skills . He is very patient , helpful , approachable and takes time to explain everything clearly to my daughter . Joshua has been able to breakdown and explain in full detail all aspects of the A Level content.'

A student, June 2020: 'it's been great being taught by you, I've learned so many critical thinking skills in such a short space of time.'

A parent, March 2020: 'I can't thank you enough for everything that you've done for her - you've been the best English teacher she's ever had and she has loved her time with you.'

*

During my teacher training, I taught all age groups at two west London secondary schools.

While at Oxford, I was part of an 'e-mentoring' scheme to help candidates from schools without a history of Oxbridge applications.

At Christ College, Brecon, I ran two series of seminars, for sixth-formers studying RS and English literature. In English we covered 'The Tempest', Gothic literature, Pat Barker's 'Regeneration', 'Jane Eyre', Wilfred Owen, and 'The Canterbury Tales'.

Tutoring Approach:
I try to combine three things that I want my students to do, which are three forms of thinking: speak about complex ideas, read high-quality material, and write essays for which they will receive detailed feedback. For obvious reasons, lessons are weighted to speaking, and homework to reading and writing.

Speaking

Pedagogy's holy grail is measuring progress, which is difficult in a classroom and impossible in a lecture. Happily, the tutorial system allows this to occur continuously and efficiently via dialogue. Can a student re-express an idea they have heard or read in their own words? If the answer is yes, they have probably understood the idea. Hence the constant questions!

As well as understanding the ideas of others, speaking is essential for students to develop their own. I love the quotation from the novelist E. M. Forster, 'How can I tell what I think till I see what I say?' We improve the quality of our ideas through the process of articulating them.

For my part, quite a lot of what I say is explaining what texts mean. This might sound obvious, but great works of literature are complex, so, to understand their meaning, one's own interpretation probably needs the support of others' prior interpretations.

I sometimes like to break the question of a text's meaning into two: What's it about? And what's it really about? Answering the first question is comprehension, a necessary first step. To answer the second question is to understand. In 'A Streetcar Named Desire', for example, Blanche goes to live with her sister in New Orleans. She expresses a strong dislike of her surroundings and is frequently associated with images of water. She declines mentally and is eventually taken away. So what's the play really about? Blanche is a Romantic idealist who is disappointed with her life but still tends to imagine things in their perfect form. The play is about the human soul conceiving of things being as good as they could be (as if cleansed by water), reaching for the conception, and failing to grasp it - shuttling back and forth, in other words, on the streetcar named desire.

One thing I frequently encourage is making the link between those oft-cited elements of a good essay, themes and quotations. These are not unrelated ingredients, they are the text itself viewed from different distances. A theme (the desire to be cleansed) is a wide shot, and a quotation ('the land of the sky blue water') is a close-up. So the student of English has to practise their ability to zoom in and out.

Another way I try to support my students' studies is by making connections between the texts they are reading, which in my experience doesn't happen that much at school. Particularly at A-level, there are often many fruitful connections between the half-dozen or so texts being studied: the Romantics were devoted to Shakespeare and Milton, the Gothic is an aspect of the Romantic, the Aesthetic Movement drew on particular strains of Romanticism, etc. When these connections get made with reference to particular writers, they are no longer just isms. They make the material deeper and easier to understand at the same time. Towards the end of their school careers, students of the humanities should be able to get the sense of taking part in 'the Great Conversation that began in the dawn of history and that continues to the present day' (Robert M. Hutchins).

Reading

I regularly give my students PDFs of high-quality secondary material pitched at their level or just above it. Explanatory notes, commentaries, and essays can help with understanding, particularly when it comes to context. (And all exam boards have assessment objectives relating to historical context.) To know that a text was written during a particular period and what characterised that period is to have a mental scaffold that does not limit movement but frees it. In studying the humanities we are studying human culture, and no one can do that without a bit of structure. It also helps when thinking about texts in relation to each other - when writing a comparative essay, for example. I like to think of honing in from context to text, e.g. Romanticism (late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries) > William Blake (1757-1827) > 'Songs of Innocence and of Experience' (1794) > 'The Tyger'. (What's 'The Tyger' about? There's a question!)

In my experience, knowledge acquisition operates according to the Matthew principle, named after a verse in the Gospel of Matthew: 'unto every one that hath shall be given'. In other words, the more you've got, the more you'll get. Every time you learn something about Romanticism, the greater will be your understanding of the poetry of William Blake. Your internal bookshelves expand - more connections, greater understanding. Reading secondary material is obviously 'extra', but it works to enhance students' understanding of set texts rather than crowd them out. Homer Simpson said, 'every time I learn something new, it pushes some old stuff out of my brain', and we laugh because it's not true. You can't fill up a brain, so the cliché about people's (particularly young people's) limitless potential is true. Every time you learn something new, you enrich your contextual understanding of everything else you have ever learnt. '[E]very moment is a new and shocking / Valuation of all we have been', as T. S. Eliot put it in 'East Coker'.

Writing

Speaking and reading are in a concrete way preparation for writing. If you think and make notes while speaking and reading, by the time it comes to writing an essay, the question should not be about what to say, but how to arrange the things you want to say. So annotation is an important skill. It's a bit like getting 'in the zone' for a sportsperson - students must practise getting there and staying there. I model the annotation process something like this:

Read with a pencil in your hand. What makes you underline? Something fires in your brain, so that you have a response - you spot a developing theme, you're reminded of another book, you agree or disagree, there's a word you don't know and need to look up, you like the way a sentence sounds. It could be anything. Read until you've underlined twenty words or sentences. Work out the three or four connections between the things you have to say, and you've got a paragraph plan. Work out the main thing you have to say, and you have a thesis for your essay, which, as you aim your paragraphs at it, will accumulate force.

A lot of learning (and life) is about noticing connections, so getting into the habit of doing so is something like learning how to learn. If a student has developed this habit, they shouldn't really have to think 'What shall I write?' in front of a blank sheet of paper or screen. The content of the essay will be a sort of emanation of prior thinking.

When it comes to giving students feedback, I keep in mind one of the best incites I heard early in my PGCE: attend to your students' writing as you would a piece of literature. This way, the marking progress becomes analogous to the writing process. What are all the things that could make this essay better? And is there a connection between them, i.e. what's the main thing this student needs to focus on? (I usually give feedback using comments and 'track changes' in Microsoft Word.)

Why study English?

It has been said that 'If you can think, and speak, and write, you are absolutely deadly', and I think that's right. Learning how to construct and articulate good arguments is learning how to impose ideas on the world. To the extent that English is about feelings, it is about their articulation, and there is a great deal to learn about how feelings have been and can be articulated. Moreover, because English is the medium of instruction in all other subjects, command of it confers a freedom to range through the history of ideas and discriminate between reliable and unreliable, including online. Language is a prerequisite for thought - doing English properly is learning how to think better.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I'm a professional guitar tutor. I have BA degree of Saint-Petersburg University of Culture and Arts - jazz guitar. I'm awardee of International Blues festival Noc Bluesowa, 2 International Festival in Crimea 2007

Teaching Experience:
16 years of tutoring
7 years of seniority in kid music school

Tutoring Approach:
Individual methods for every person according to abilities

Subjects