Coombes Tutors and Coombes Tuition

Personal Description:
Recently retired. Able to work away from home and willing to travel but charge £1 per mile to cover car expenses and time travelling. You can come to me. Married with son and grandchildren.

Teaching Experience:
35 years' teaching in junior and secondary schools. Head of English, Schools' Inspector and consultant. Dip. Sp.L.D. qualification. Recently, eight years' tutoring.

Tutoring Approach:
One-to-one, perhaps in your house. friendly, individual, personalised service, according to need and based on assessment and pupil or parent wishes. Normally one hour per week. Preferably for a year, at least, to achieve best results.

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Personal Description:
I live in Olney , I am 63, female, and can supply references on request, as I have provided private tuition for many A level and University students. I was Head of Psychology at a local college for 12 years , and I have examining experience. I now also lecture in BSc and MSc Psychology while undertaking my PhD which is looking at interventions to reduce stress in students.

Teaching Experience:
I worked as a Psychology Lecturer at Northampton College. I taught AS and A2 Psychology , I also taught Access Psychology. All previous tuttees I have supported have attained A-B grades if they start with me early enough in the year. I now lecture at my local university in Psychology.

Tutoring Approach:
My approach to tutoring is to tailor the method to the learner, I would aim to work through exam answers, but also to introduce all types of methods to help the learner take on the information. I very much focus on exam technique and how to maximie getting all of the available marks in the exams.

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Personal Description:
I first became interested in teaching through working as a private tutor with GCSE students, something I am doing since I finished my graduation, training to become a leader in the process. This made me realise I enjoyed working with the people in their learning process, and college experience confirmed tutoring/teaching as a career choice. My subsequent one year PGCE has served further to fire my enthusiasm and prepared me effectively to take responsibility for learners.

I have completed PGCE , a Masters and a BSc in Economics, level 5 Mathematics in Mechanics, numeracy level 1 & 2, Diploma in Computer Science & Application and I am a Certified Internet Webmaster Associate.

Teaching Experience:
I am teaching for last 5 years. In addition, I worked as a Teaching Assistant over two years.I have been privately tutoring primary and secondary maths, A level maths and Economics on one-to-one basis since 2003. My academic education and teaching practices have given me a good understanding of the curriculum and of what makes effective teaching.

Tutoring Approach:
I make a conscious effort to ensure I am not just catering for visual learners like myself, but try to see lessons through other learners' eyes. For example, to introduce pictograms to numeracy entry level class, I got the learners to create 'human pictograms' arranged by name length, pets, eye colour, etc. and then transferred that information as pictograms to the board. Kinaesthetic learners were thereby catered for in the physical movement and manipulation, visual learners in the pictograms created on the board and audio learners as we discussed and interpreted the graphs.

I have in particular come to understand the value of sharing learning objectives and success criteria with students. Knowing exactly what is expected and how they can achieve allow learners to focus more clearly on tasks.

I feel it is important to make learning interesting and creative, and one way to achieve this is using real life example; this allows learners to explore and understand situations and express feelings, thoughts and emotions. An example of how I have successfully used real life situation was with a GCSE class, working out the area of the classroom to decide the correct amount of carpet needed for the classroom. I gave the students measuring tape to measure the length and width of the classroom. They were incredibly enthusiastic and threw themselves into the task. They found this a fun, enjoyable and worthwhile learning experience, which enabled them to better understand the situation and empathise with those concerned.

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Personal Description:
I have been a Biology teacher for 37 years. I am now retired and living with my wife in Hartland in North Devon.
We have four adult children.
I have taught in state schools and independent schools in UK and at International Schools in Africa and the Middle East. During my teaching career I have been Head of Biology for twelve years.
I have always enjoyed studying Biology and I like to think that I can pass my enthusiasm for the subject on to my tutees.

Teaching Experience:
I have taught in UK for 19 years:
Twelve years at the Radclyffe School in Oldham, two years at St John Rigby Sixth Form College in Wigan and nearly five years at Shebbear College in North Devon where I was Head of Biology.
I have taught at International Schools for 18 years. All the institutions followed the British Curriculum:
One year at Barewa College, Zaria in Nigeria and one year at Seepapitso Secondary School in Botswana.
Nearly six years in Kenya at Hillcrest Secondary School, Nairobi where I was also the Head of Boarding.
Three years at Muscat Private School in Oman, two years as Head of Science at the British School of Alexandria, and three years at the Modern English School in Cairo as Head of Biology.
I completed my overseas teaching as Head of Biology at Al Khor International School in Qatar where I taught for two years.

Tutoring Approach:
I have always enjoyed studying and teaching Biology which has effectively been my lifetime's work. I have extensive experience of teaching students from many different educational backgrounds and I have always been able to relate to my students and nurture an enthusiasm for the subject. As a tutor I would aim to make my lessons enjoyable but rigorous and I will always try my best to boost the confidence of my tutees. If students begin to enjoy the subject they will gain confidence and the examinations will then seem less daunting.
Whenever I tutor I will always incorporate the use of a computer into the learning process. I like to refer to animations and short video clips which greatly enhance the learning process. The on-line resources can then be used by my tutees to reinforce their understanding, as well as researching new material.

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Personal Description:
PhD in Molecular and Cell Biology.
Working as a GCSE Science teacher in a dyslexic school.
Head of Science

Teaching Experience:
20 year experience working in schools as a Science teacher.

Tutoring Approach:
Build students' confidence
Organisation and study skills
Ways to learn key words
Revision strategies
Mentoring

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Personal Description:
I like teaching. This is one of the reason I am looking for tutoring. Professionally I have Chartered Engineer status and Member of prestigious IET and having Bachelors degree in Electrical engineering and Masters in Business Administration (MBA) and over 20 yrs of professional work experience. Currently I am employed and working as Manager of system engineering in a large automotive organization. I have a loads of experience in electronics, embedded systems, MATLAB, computer science etc..

Teaching Experience:
About 22 years ago when I was studying engineering even then I was teaching part time to engineering students. After that I also taught lots of subject ranging from maths to computer science, embedded systems, MATLAB, electronics, physics etc..

Tutoring Approach:
I like to make students comfortable first so that they can ask questions, I believe no question is silly.to be honest I can observe easily if the student has understood what I explained or not, then I prompt looks like you didn't understand, so let's learn again. Time to time I keep testing either in the form of games or talking.

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Personal Description:
I am a teacher, novelist, and musician from Scotland. I have tutored for many years and taught at preparatory schools. I have also taught English abroad (Italy & Brazil).

I enjoy helping students to overcome their difficulties and find ways to enjoy the language and culture.

Lessons at my house or yours.
Online tutoring is a great way to work on your language (rates negotiable).

Teaching Experience:
12 years with First Tutors, from beginners, through Common Entrance, GCSE and A-level to university.
6 years with Greater London Tutorial Agency/Top Tutors
Latin, Ancient Greek & English:
12 years Classics, Hall Grove, Bagshot.
1 year at Academy School, Hampstead.

Creative Writing: 2 year University of Portsmouth
2 years Islington Summer University.

English as Foreign Language:
1 year St Giles, Sao Paulo, Brazil;
2 years English Academy, Molfetta, Italy, including PET, CAE, CPE, IELTS, TOEFL.

I also teach guitar, bass, piano and Italian.

Tutoring Approach:
Most pupils who come to me have simply lost track or lost confidence.
With careful guidance, it usually doesn't take long to put them back on the right track.

I can help with the building blocks of grammar, presenting it as a puzzle or a game; I can suggest ways to improve vocabulary; and I can point the way through the complexities of translation and syntax. Even working on exam technique can ease anxiety quickly.

I also enjoy enthusing students about classical mythology and literature.

I am happy to teach online as well as in person: with a committed tutee, this can work as well as tuition in person.

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Personal Description:
Hello and thank you for taking the time to read my profile. My name is Dr. Alisdair and I am a part time tutor with with eighteen years experience teaching psychology and research methods & statistics. I am currently the Head of Psychology at one of the top online schools. Developing and enhancing a student's learning experience is something I am passionate about. To achieve this, I employ a patient approach to tutoring, ensuring that students have an enjoyable, challenging and interesting experience. My teaching style relies on honesty, dedication and transparency. I aim to offer you a bespoke tutoring service that meets your requirements, be it face to face, or via online technology.

Studying and tutoring for many years has given me experience in realising the pressures that students face, and I'm able to use my awareness and knowledge to motivate learners. I have a real appreciation for how people learn and are able to adapt my teaching to different learning styles. I try to make lessons informative and fun, ensuring that the student takes an active part in the lesson. I feel my academic experience has given me the necessary skills to help students reach their full academic ability.

Teaching Experience:
One of my subjects of expertise is psychology. Having studied, researched and taught/tutored psychology to numerous students, I am well placed to help you with assignments, exams and general course content in all areas of the subject, including; cognitive, social, developmental, research methods and more. Whether you are studying for a degree or beginning your journey into psychology at GCSE or A-Level, I can help you to get to grips with this fascinating subject.

My other main area of expertise is in research methods/statistics. Since 2006 I have provided support to individuals from a range of backgrounds, including students studying social sciences, life sciences and humanities. My experience extends to helping employees with their data analysis. If you are struggling to interpret your analysis, or need help using SPSS, or if you want to understand more about statistics then please do get in touch.

If you would like support with learning English as a second language (ESL) then I can help you. Please do contact me if you would like to practise speaking or are having difficulty reading and writing in English. I can support you with vocabulary comprehension and word meanings for example.

I have experience in tutoring students with assisted learning needs, including; Asperger syndrome, dyslexia and dyspraxia. My one to one teaching experience extends to the supervision of final year undergraduates and Masters students, therefore I have coherently supported and guided students through empirical projects, improving skills such as literature search & review, analysis and scientific writing.

Qualifications:
My first degree was in psychology (BSc Hons). I then went on to complete a Masters (MRes) in psychological methods, followed by a PhD in psychology/cognitive neuroscience. I also obtained a 'Teach English as a foreign language' (TEFL) certificate.

Awards:
Excellence in Teaching - Awarded by Bournemouth University in 2013.

Feedback:
Below are some examples of student and parent feedback that I have received across various sites:

Lisa (Lily) 5/5
Alisdair was an amazing Tutor for my daughter. Her A Level tutor went on sick leave the term before her A Level exam, and after an initial couple of one to one meetings, we settled upon a series of Skype tutorials which were brilliant. Alisdair would send key exam questions for my daughter to do prior to the Skype tutorial, and she would send them back to him to mark before their tutorial. The system was so engaging and efficient that she went from a grade D in her mock A-Level to a grade A in her actual A-Level exam. Alisdair is flexible, personable and very effective. I would totally recommend his services.

Michelle (Sammy) 5/5
An excellent tutor - patient, kind, encouraging, and well organised with great resources. We used Alisdair`s services both for one to one sessions and online in the run-up to my daughter`s A-levels when she experienced a pre-exam confidence crisis. She found him to be an effective and empathetic tutor, with an obvious enthusiasm for his subject. We really appreciated Alisdair`s experience, which enabled him to work out how best to support my daughter and get her back on track. Alisdair was incredibly helpful, and very flexible in his scheduling of sessions. A`levels are now over, and I am sure that Alisdair`s help made a huge difference. Highly recommended!

Jeremy 5/5
Alisdair helped me with my final major project, both with the statistics, and academic writing. I was very happy to achieve a first for the project and I can`t thank him enough for his help. I learned a lot with his tutoring and improved my understanding of statistics and my academic writing. I now feel more confident going into my Msc next September. He was very fast at responding to my questions and emails and was always very positive and helpful.

Nicki 5/5
I've had the pleasure of knowing Alisdair for over a year, during which time he tutored me with my undergraduate psychology degree. Above all, he has excellent subject knowledge along with the ability to convey complex information in a simple and easy to understand manner. He made light work of SPSS and report writing as well as guiding me to a deeper understanding of psychological concepts. Alisdair's friendly personality immediately put me at ease and he knew the correct level of challenge to ensure that I gained a good grade for my dissertation. I cannot thank him enough! He is a truly talented tutor - smart, efficient, professional, and comes with my heartfelt recommendation.

Mark 5/5
Alisdair is an exceedingly knowledgeable, friendly and patient tutor who responds promptly and with amazing clarity on even the most complicated of SPSS issues. He has a great understanding of the planning and organisational problems associated with dyspraxia, and was of enormous help to my son during his MSc project, keeping him calm and giving advice where needed. I only wish we had discovered him earlier! My son has achieved a Distinction at Masters level, and without Alisdair's reassuring and friendly discussions I don't think he would have managed to even finish his project. I would recommend Alisdair highly as a tutor.

Maha 5/5
The best tutor ever, he makes everything so clear and he trying his best to make sure I understood what we had in the session and clearly he is so kind as person and tutor!

Tutoring Approach:
Other services:
If you require help with developing your study skills, including; revision techniques, essay planning, critical thinking and more, then I can help you to hone your study skills set. In addition, feel free to contact me if you would like your work to be proofread. I will check your document to ensure the spelling and grammar is watertight. If you need me to, I can provide you with comments using track changes with suggestions/edits to improve the quality of the document, for example, the structure, scientific standard and whether you have answered the assignment question. Having published numerous scientific articles, I appreciate and understand the need for precision in the preparation of your work, therefore I'd be happy to help you with things such as APA formatting and preparing a manuscript for publication. Please take a look at the tasks I can help you with below.

Examples of tasks I can help you with:
Understanding concepts/theories/studies
GCSE/A-Level exam technique
GCSE/A-Level homework
Revision techniques
Critical thinking/reading/writing
Essay planning / editing
Report planning / editing / suggestions for improvement
Presentation planning
Dissertation/thesis planning/editing/suggestions for improvement
Preparing manuscripts for publication
Literature search/review
Help with systematic reviews/Meta analysis
Experimental design
Data analysis/selecting appropriate tests/interpretation/reporting analysis
Using SPSS/JASP
Figures and tables
Addressing Reviewer's and Editor's comments
Proofreading
APA formatting / referencing
ESL

Other details:
I also offer tuition via Skype, Zoom and e-mail for those students who do not want to meet in person, or live far away. Therefore I can fully explain any concepts, ideas or subject content that you need help with, and give verbal and written help with assignments and exam prep online.
A-Level exam boards I have tutored students on include; AQA, OCR and CIE. I have many resources, including; mind-maps, evaluation sheets, research study summaries, past exam papers, quizzes and more.
Please enquire directly to me about availability, do not go by tutoring website calendars.
Lessons cancelled less than 12 hours before the scheduled start time will incur a 50% charge, as will no-shows.
Student/parents will be asked to cover travel expenses/time for travel costs if lessons are to take place at the student's home or public place. It is £5 if you need me to travel up to 8 miles away, then 50p for any additional mile over that.
Group sessions (up to 3 students) can be arranged also, please enquire.

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Personal Description:
I'm an environmental scientist by training and I spent 16 years in the environmental chemistry sector before deciding that I wanted to teach.
I live in Little Sutton with my partner (also a teacher) and I have three children: Eleanor (19), Sarah (16) and Francis (13).
I have wide interests that include being out in the countryside a lot, cooking, fishkeeping and reading.

Teaching Experience:
During my time in industry I was heavily involved in the training and development of staff and this led neatly to my teaching career. I trained at the outstanding University Of Chester and worked across Wirral and Liverpool in a wide variety of primary school settings before teaching my own classes permanently and full time at schools in Birkenhead.
I relocated to North Wales in 2016, where I started to learn Welsh and to teach right across North Wales, from Wrexham to Llandudno and in primary and secondary schools. I have recently moved back to Wirral and so I teach in both countries now and I have built a reputation as a teacher with an outstanding rapport with children and the ability to teach children most subjects from age 4 to 16.

Tutoring Approach:
I will assess your child first, in order to gauge their strengths and areas for improvement and to benchmark their attainment, against which improvement can be measured.

I will spend time working with your child to understand their learning style 'mix' - this will allow me to tailor my approach to my teaching and to their learning.

It is important that children enjoy sessions, so wherever possible there will be fun!

My curricular strengths are English and maths, but I can also help out with 11 Plus and entrance exam preparation - verbal and non- verbal reasoning and mental maths. I am available in holidays also, if you want your child to catch up, or 'hit the ground running'on their return to school.

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Personal Description:
I was born in Germany and the moved to the UK once I turned 18. My English proficiency level has been assessed at C2 level, nearly native speaker. I am married to a South African and we have one teenage son and 4 adorable cats.
I love teaching and contributing to children's learning journeys, preparing them for the challenges that lie ahead of them.
I have a very strong work ethic, which is reflected in me always being on time, completing my duties beyond what is expected of me and being well-prepared for work. I treat everyone I encounter with equal respect, regardless of their circumstances and back-grounds. I am able to adapt swiftly to change and can be flexible. I am regularly reflecting on my work practice trying to identify gaps and seeking advice, guidance and training in order to continuously develop further on a professional as well as personal level.

Teaching Experience:
I have more than 10 years of work experience in the education sector in a variety of roles including class teacher, private subject tutor, language teacher, after-school club teacher, intervention teacher and substitute teacher. I have worked in schools across Surrey in the UK and one school in South Africa. I also have experience on management level: managing a pre-school and leading a team of 9 members of staff.

Tutoring Approach:
My lessons are dynamic, well-resourced and well-prepared in which an attitude of 'let's try' and 'can do' is encouraged and nurtured. Obstacles, challenges and difficulties are considered as opportunities to grow and extend skills and are thus turned into positive experiences.

The atmosphere during my lessons tends to be relaxed and flexible allowing for constant re-adjustment to the student's particular needs. We would use different resources to assist us during the lesson.

My planning would be founded on what the student knows already and then carefully building on this knowledge through identifying gaps, setting individual targets and developing steps to success in order to achieve the desired learning goals.

At the heart of my teaching lie open communication, honesty and respect flowing both ways. I believe every student can learn successfully if they are provided with the correct resources, circumstances and support. I always aim to build each student's self-esteem and confidence through setting individual learning targets that match their individual strengths and weaknesses, through celebrating their individual achievements, through praise and encouragement and through adequate support and guidance and by allowing each student to learn at their own pace.

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Personal Description:
I am a dedicated and passionate educational professional with extensive experience teaching in a range of secondary schools. Outside of the classroom, my skills as a climbing and mountaineering instructor help to enhance my practice and bring a fresh perspective to the material studied within an academic context.

On a personal level, I get great satisfaction from helping students progress and seeing consecutive generations achieve the academic qualifications that allow them to progress onto the next step in their lives.

Teaching Experience:
I have 7 years of experience in the English classroom; teaching across all secondary age ranges of KS3, GCSE and A-Level. I have a record of consistently excellent results with all exam classes I have taught, combined with a strong rapport built with students from every age range.

Tutoring Approach:
My teaching style is dynamic, adaptable and underpinned by a passion for the subject. I can accurately assess and analyse the greatest needs of a student, and then tailor a bespoke package of learning sequences based upon this analysis. Most importantly, I can draw on a deep understanding of what delivers results for students within the classroom, and then provide this as a bespoke and tailored service for any tutee.

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Personal Description:
I'm passionate about photography and the opportunities it affords for creative storytelling. I have a particular affinity for photographing 'the inbetween', unloved spaces sometimes referred to as liminal space.
Based in the northwest of England.

Teaching Experience:
I have been teaching A Level Photography (at an Ofsted OUTSTANDING college) for the past 12 years and have most recently undertaken a Head of Department role with responsibility for all creative subjects, including Fine Art, Graphics and Textiles, in addition to BTEC Art & Design.
I have a track record of helping my students to achieve excellent grades whilst allowing them to create highly personal projects.

Tutoring Approach:
I believe that there is a form of photography to suit everybody, regardless of experience or access to equipment and software. I believe that successful outcomes and therefore high grades result from a willingness to 'get out and take photographs' and a enthusiasm to be experimental in how those images are edited/presented.
Students must be willing to engage in independent study/research and to act upon constructive feedback.

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