Hightown Tutors & Hightown Tuition

Personal Description:
I am an academic and scholar who holds both a PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) and a MLitt (Master of Literature) from The University of Glasgow, and a Bachelor of Arts (BA) honours degree from The University of Paisley. My first academic book 'Robert Taylor: Male Beauty, Masculinity and Stardom in Hollywood' (University Press of Mississippi, 2019) was shortlisted for the Best Monograph of the Year at BAFTSS Awards 2020 and my second academic book, 'Tyrone Power; Genre, Gender and Image in Classical Hollywood Cinema' (Edinburgh University Press, 2021) was released in February 2021. Among my other publications are chapters in anthologies for Palgrave Macmillan (2016) and Bloomsbury Academic (2021). I have contributed to several academic journals and been requested as a guest lecturer, guest speaker and reader/reviewer on several occasions. I am currently working on my next book, some academic papers for journals and chapters for scholarly edited collections.

I am a personal tutor with over a decade of experience in several subject areas including English, English Language, English Literature, Media Studies, Film Studies, Theatre Studies, and General Writing Skills. I have taught a wide range of students off-line from pre-exam age (11+) to Standard Grade, Higher, and university level, and on-line for pre-exam level (12+), GCSE, AS level, A-Level, university level, postgraduate and the adult learners over this time.

Teaching Experience:
A well as being an experienced on-line and off-line personal tutor, I have also had several other academic jobs including:

Lecturer at Forth Valley College

Seminar tutor at The University of Glasgow

Graduate Teaching Assistant at The University of Glasgow

Top-Up Tutor at The University of Glasgow

Step Up to University Lecturer at University of West of Scotland

REACH Tutor at University of Glasgow

Proof Reader at University of Glasgow, University of the West of Scotland and Scottish Rural University College

Note Taker at University of Glasgow, University of the West of Scotland and Scottish Rural University College

Study Support Tutor at University of Glasgow, University of the West of Scotland and Scottish Rural University College

Transcriber at University of the West of Scotland

Support Worker at University of the West of Scotland and Scottish Rural University College

Exam Scribe at University of Glasgow and Scottish Rural University College

Exam Invigilator at Scottish Rural University College

Tutoring Approach:
I believe that learning should be fun and in a relaxed atmosphere but at the same time academic and useful. My approach to teaching is to have the tutor and student both feel that they are getting a lot out of the experience and that the time is being well used. I will break down subjects into easily manageable blocks and make sure that my student understands the unit before moving on. I also like to vary my tutorials by having some in the form of lectures, some in the form of question and answers, some where I will give students feedback on homework they have done and suggestions to improve what they have done, etc.

I also find that on-line tuition is the best method and students can ask questions that they may not ask if they were face-to-face with someone, it is a much more relaxed approach but students get a lot out of it (and can save all the notes from lessons for use later on).

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Personal Description:
I am a native speaking qualified tutor with more than 19 years of' language training experience. I have worked for the University and secondary schools as well as taught privately. Furthermore, I have first-hand experience of running businesses, which helps me better understand the needs and requirements of my business clients. I have experience in successfully preparing my students for their GCSE and A-level exams as well as supporting university students.

I have authored a series of Russian language textbooks, available on Amazon, at Foyles, Waterstone's and other major book-stores and used at universities and schools worldwide.

I am also a qualified English language teacher currently working on my English language textbook.

Qualifications: MPhil in Linguistics, St Petersburg State University. MA in Political Economy of Russia, University College London (School of Slavonic and East European Studies), CELTA.

Chartered linguist, member of the Chartered Institute of Linguists, the UK Society of Authors, and the International Association of Russian Language Teachers.

I teach in Birmingham and once a week in Wolverhampton as well as on-line (my current students are based in Luxembourg, Paris, and Moscow).

I offer a 10% discount for students, seniors, UCL staff and alumni, members of the Vegan and Vegetarian Society.

Teaching Experience:
More than 18 years' experience of private tuition of foreign languages. I used to work for the University and secondary schools and I have been involved in one-to-one tuition for a number of years.

I have authored a series of Russian language textbooks now used at schools and universities worldwide (you can check some reviews for them on Amazon and Goodreads).

My current students include, among others:
- private bank manager (Luxembourg),
- director of the wealth management company (Moscow, Russia),
- partner of the wealth management company (London, UK),
- account managers from a private Swiss bank (London, UK, and Paris, France),
- barrister (London, UK),
- head of department at a financial advisory company (London, UK),
- trader at a major international bank (London, UK),
- director of an investment company (London, UK),
- TV journalist.

Finally, I have just finished tutoring an A-level student who enjoys learning languages and has got particular passion for Russian. He is now a student at the University of Bristol. Two other students (University of Westminster and University College London) have just finished both their course with me and their University course.

Tutoring Approach:
I can be of use for both children and adults and offer a number of courses, including Business Russian, conversational classes, assistance with grammar. ON-LINE language classes are now available.

My associates can also help you with English/French/Chinese/Italian to Russian translation and interpreting.

My recent students' testimonials say:

I've been learning Russian for over two years now and I've tried out a number of different Russian teachers from different companies. I can say that, without a doubt, Ignaty Dyakov has been by far the most outstanding teacher. His lessons are professional and extremely fun at the same time thanks to his friendly nature and good sense of humour. Most importantly - for me at least - he will immediately hone in on any problems you have and help you solve them (often without you even realising!). Ignaty is knowledgeable and very well informed about Russian culture; the Russian I have learned with Ignaty has always been accompanied by interesting cultural insights. Finally, I am always surprised at how impeccably punctual Ignaty is given the horrors of the London transport system!
- Richard P.

Ignaty is an excellent tutor of Russian language with very professional approach. He makes every lesson very interesting, bringing his sense of humour and outlook on the topics discussed in conversations. On a personal level I have found Ignaty is very diligent, reliable, willing to help and assist with founding out any information related to learning Russian language or exploring the Russian culture, art or ways of living. Ignaty has been an absolute pleasure to deal with right from my initial email to discuss my lessons till current date and I have no hesitation in recommending him to any individual or company who is interested in learning Russian language.
- Martina

I have been having private Russian Tuition from Ignaty for a period of 4 months during which I received outstanding education from a highly qualified, intelligent and pleasant individual. The lessons were result focussed, fun and interesting. Besides learning the language itself, I also learned a lot about the actual Russian culture. I can highly recommend these language courses to anyone who requires to be conversational in the Russian language in a short period of time.
-Peter

Taking this course with Ignaty has provided me with excellent grounding in the language and has been a highlight of the last couple of months. He has the patience of a saint (!) and is exceptionally knowledgeable. It's incredibly helpful that Ignaty has such extensive multi-lingual capabilities. His enthusiasm and knowledge has inspired me to explore the Russian culture further to the extent that my next holiday is being spent in St Petersburg. Thanks Ignaty!
- Mags

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Personal Description:
I am a fully-qualified professional teacher with more than 30 years of teaching and tutoring experience, both in the UK and abroad. I regard myself as a friendly and approachable tutor, as well as honest and conscientious, and I pride myself on being able to communicate with students of all ages, from pre-teen to pensioner.

I am the father of two boys, and we live in the Sutton area. My wife and I successfully tutored our sons for Sutton's grammar schools (WCGS), and they have since both graduated from top Russell Group universities. My hobbies are limited to reading these days, and I am particularly fond of English Literature. Dickens and Hardy are two of my favourites, but I am also keen on modern and less serious writers, such as Tom Sharpe and the two Rankins - Robert and Ian.

Teaching Experience:
After obtaining my first degree in Spanish with Politics and Economics, I started teaching abroad; first in Spain, then in Turkey, and later in Central Asia and the Middle East. Since retraining as a teacher of English, I have taught for more than 15 years in the UK and almost 15 years abroad, where I was Head of Department at an Institute of Higher Education for three years.

Most recently I have taught English at an independent school in Sutton, and previous to that I taught Academic Writing for East Anglia University for several years. Nowadays my tutoring is split 50:50 between English for the 11+ and Common Entrance (13+) exams, and English, Spanish, Economics and Politics & Government for the GCSE and A-level exams (all boards).

11+ and 13+ (Common Entrance)
I am very happy to report that all but one of my twelve Eleven Plus tutees passed the SET (Selective Eligibility Test) for Sutton's grammar schools last September. Of these, 100% of them passed the second stage exam and obtained their first choice of grammar or independent school. I use a selection of published materials and those of my own creation, and insist on a high standard of weekly homework in reading, writing and language knowledge. For 11+ pupils I start tutoring in Year 4 or 5, whereas 13+ pupils begin in Year 7 or 8.

GCSE and A-level
I am equally happy to report that all of my most recent GCSE and A-level students have passed well, with top grades from B to A* (A-level) and 6-9 (GCSE). The majority of those have gone on to their first choice of further and higher education institutes, and in most cases this has been achieved by my insisting on regular homework done to a high standard. For GCSE pupils I prefer to start tutoring at some time in Year 10, whereas A-level students typically begin around Year 12.

I also provide individual tutoring in ESSAY WRITING and STUDY SKILLS, as my experience has taught me that many students at GCSE, A-level and undergraduate level face real problems in these areas. By working together on your essays, substantial improvements can be made in style, organisation, argument, presentation, and much more. This way, I can teach you how produce more effective and mature essays, and thus help you to obtain better grades and increase your confidence in producing written work.

Tutoring Approach:
With every tutee I carry out an initial assessment of his/her needs and abilities, and my teaching begins from there. Typically I work on improving their weaknesses and consolidating their strengths, and this essentially involves them producing high-quality homework on a regular basis. I use both established published materials and those that I have created myself over the years. This approach appears to be successful, and I can provide references.

Over the past twelve years I have successfully tutored students for the following schools and universities:

Schools: Sutton Grammar, Wilsons, Wallington County, Wallington High, Nonsuch, Whitgift, Trinity, Wimbledon High, Kings School, City of London, Reigate Grammar, Caterham School, St John's, Westminster, Epsom College, Ewell Castle, and many others.

Universities: Manchester, Warwick, City, East Anglia, St Martins, Lincoln, Kings, LSE, UCL, Nottingham, Reading, Birmingham, Bournemouth, and several others.

Please note that my fees are very affordable, bearing in mind that I travel to your house and offer a personalised tutoring programme.

I currently charge between £45 and £50 per hour, depending on subject and level.

NB: Any tutoring that involves more than 6 miles travel (round trip) usually incurs a small extra charge.

If you are looking for a fully-qualified, highly-experienced and versatile tutor, you need look no further. Here are a few messages from some of my most recent successful tutees:

Hello Jeff, I just got my IELTS results and I FINALLY passed it! Listening 8, Reading 7.5, Writing 7, Speaking 7.5 and it's 7.5 overall. I would like to THANK you sooooo MUCH for your help and all advice you have given me! It would not be possible otherwise. (Vanja)

Sam got into Wilsons and we are pretty sure that his English performance carried him through. Sam said we ought to say 'thanks' to you as you made a massive difference to his standard of English in a very short period of time. Not sure how, but you made something click in his brain where his school teachers had failed! (Cathy)

Hi Jeff, hope you are well. I am extremely delighted to tell you that Rick has a place at Westminster, and we are going ahead with that. He has also had offers from HABS, KCS and RGS Guildford. Thank you so much for all your support. (Animesh)

Hi Jeff, just to let you know that Dillon got a place at Sutton Grammar on Monday. He also received places at Whitgift, Trinity and Epsom. We have decided to accept Sutton Grammar, and thank you for all your help and time.
Thanks - Paulomi and Dillon.

Dear Jeff! Thanks you so much for tutoring me last year. You have helped my English greatly and without your advice and guidance I would have had a nervous breakdown when I was given the task of an essay. You taught me about causal connectives, signpost words, paragraph structure and much more vital strategies of writing an amazing essay.
Finally, I am happy that I got a place at Wilsons and know I would have failed the English language test without what you taught me. I am very grateful that you gave up your time to help me pass.
Yours Sincerely, Makar

Hi Jeff, I hope you're well. I just wanted to let you know that Andriy got offered a place at Whitgift and we have accepted it. Thank you very much for helping and recommending this great school to us. Andriy is really excited about it and cannot wait to start.
(Oksana)

Dear Jeff, sorry for the delayed reply as we are in India. Rishi has done well, has received English Language 9 and English Literature 7, and scored 8 in six other subjects. He could achieve good results only because of your support. Thanking you.
(Chandra)

Hi Jeff, I am pleased to inform you that Mahati cleared the 2nd round. Her cut-off score is 354. We hope she gets into either of the two schools. Thanks a lot for your support throughout.
(Sassi)

Hi Jeff, Tamana's results have come in for the Sutton Stage 2 test. She has passed with a relatively good score of 315, and based on last year's stats, she should get in comfortably to Nonsuch or Wallington. Thanks for all your lessons that significantly helped her in the preparations.
(Vedant)

Hi Jeff, hope you're doing good. We have got the exam outcome, and Samrudha is able to apply for Nonsuch. Her score is 309, and the highest total score is 389. Secondly she has cleared Tiffin's Stage 1 test and has been invited for Stage 2 on November 11, and we would like to take your help whenever possible.
(Kirthi)

Hi Jeff, I just wanted to let you know that Ed passed the entrance exams for all three schools. Thank you so much for all your support! (Emma)

Hello Jeff, I hope you are well. Vivaan passed the exams for Wilson's, Wallington and Sutton. He also got through Tiffins Stage 1. Thanks very much for your help and support! His English improved massively under your guidance.
Kind regards
Jyothi

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Personal Description:
I am a fully qualified secondary school teacher and a medical professional. I always had passion for teaching because I believe for a strong building you need a solid foundation. I have done my Medicine and was good academically throughout. I have good understanding of Science and Mathematics. I have completed my secondary school teacher qualification and PGCE from Birmingham City University in 2016

Teaching Experience:
I have taught my Juniors in School and College. I have now completed my PGCE and obtained a fully qualified teacher status. This gave me a better understanding of different approaches in teaching. I have few teaching skills and techniques which also brings fun in learning. I have taught at a local High School, so I fully understand the needs of a student. I have gained specialty in Science subjects but I also teach Mathematics up to GCSE level.

Tutoring Approach:
I am a firm believer that practice makes a man perfect. Hard work and enthusiasm are key ingredients to success. My style of teaching is to make any subject fun and easy to learn. Simple approach with lots of examples makes any subject fun and easy. It is very important to clear any misconceptions and make the subject very interesting. My approach to tutoring would be to do a detailed assessment and then concentrate on key areas where help is required.

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Personal Description:
Art and design has been the love of my life since early childhood. Being able to express oneself creatively and with imagination has always been my primary source of independence and happiness. Apart from that, i am also attentive to creative sparks and fires in the people around me, enjoying when the potential is given the chance to be fulfilled. Plus, i am thoughtful and hard working, with a light-hearted and empathic attitude towards people i work with. I am a bit of a connector, a bit of a maven, a bit of a geek and i always wear a sunscreen. I have studied Art and Design in Latvia and in London, have an Interior Design diploma and a degree in Product Design, strong drawing skills, sane knowledge of a range of arts materials, software skills and a spirit for safe experiments.

Teaching Experience:
Sustainable Opportunities Workshop 2011, in collaboration with British Council - designing the workshop and facilitating it.
Private arts tutor for life drawing and modeling, 2007-currently.
Learning Resources Assistant in University of Arts London, advising on materials and software (Adobe CS; Rhino; Solidworks for beginners) 2009-currently.
Arts tutor and group supervisor in Children Summer Camp, ages 6-16. 2007.

Tutoring Approach:
The best tutors in my life have been the strictest ones, with high demands and set standards. I have learned from them well and would aim for the same level of aspiration they have given me. But in addition, my strongest belief is that the best teacher is the one who understands the way his student works and learns and acts accordingly, being an inspirational teacher. Ages 6-99 can all benefit from expression through the different forms of art. First of all I would discuss the needs and desires of stakeholders and form a brief, which would include:
Desired outcomes
Program to reach them
Sourcing materials - what materials are needed
Timetable
Location

Then, we would be set for starting the learning and revealing the wonders of life and ourselves.

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Personal Description:
I live in Hastings and so can travel as far as Rye and Eastbourne. I have a First Class degree in Biochemistry from Oxford University and have worked at St George's Medical School and also at the British Medical Association. I am currently doing a PGCE in Science and Chemistry. I have twin 10 year old boys.

Teaching Experience:
I have taught at Wallington Boys Grammar School, Sutton, Surrey KS3-KS4 chemistry as a PGCE student and am currently completing my PGCE course.

Tutoring Approach:
A flexible approach based on Auditory, Visual and Kinesthetic learning styles.

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Personal Description:
My name is Ed. I am the Director of a private tuition company which has been providing impactful private teaching and tutoring services in a multitude of subjects across Common Entrance, GCSE, A-Level, IB and University.

We take pride in helping students to expand their minds, talents and skills, allowing them to reach their full potential. Our one-on-one tutoring brings a wealth of professional experience and expertise to those who strive to excel.

We offer personalised academic support, available in-person and online, to help students improve areas of difficulty and focus on exam techniques and preparation, helping them to succeed in attaining qualifications to their highest ability.

Please reach out and contact for further enquiries, look forward to hearing from you.

Teaching Experience:
Director, leading a team of tutors to support across a wide range of students including Common Entrance, GCSE, A-level, IB and University level - Present

Tutored a variety of subjects at different levels from primary schools, Common Entrance, GCSE, A-level, IB and University.

Offered service on giving academic advice as well as interview techniques for Oxford, Cambridge and other top schools and universities in the UK, US, Europe and Asia.

Tutoring Approach:
The approach is simple and effective. The general framework is to go through general concepts that are fundamental to student's understanding on the subject through the use of simple examples. I will then reinforce the message and encourage students to work on more specific and challenging problems.

Confidence is key and it is vital that my tutees are constantly motivated and encouraged in order to self-develop both at an academic and personal level.

We strive to make lessons as interactive as possible. We understand the different learning needs of different students. We will always be flexible with our teaching style and method and we are here to help you succeed.

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Personal Description:
Hi there! I`m a young professional drummer based in London. I am an enthusiastic and down to earth educator and have been providing drum tutoring for a number of years to all ages and abilities. I cover a wide range of styles and techniques, providing my students with the best tools to achieve their full potential.

I am happily married to my wife Ruth and love music, motor racing, films and good coffee! Thank you very much for your time.

Teaching Experience:
I received private drum tuition myself for a number of years from an excellent educator. I have been teaching drums to young children, teenagers and adults for over 4 years. I have taught classes at professional music schools, and provided one to one tuition as well. I have lots of experience reading and writing drum music, have been a professional musician for 10 years, and love it!

Tutoring Approach:
I have a thorough and practical approach to teaching. I believe in my students setting their own goals (with some suggestions from me), whilst encouraging and equipping them to achieve their best. I use a very down to earth and open approach to education. I hope to develop an excellent rapport with any student, so they can share their own goals and musical aspirations, so we can work together to achieve them. I am keen for my students to pursue practice in their own time, and provide them with the encouragement and inspiration to make that happen. I aim to build my students confidence greatly on the instrument, and give them a sense of real accomplishment in music.

I recently passed a DBS check for work within a school. I`ve been a member of the musicians union for many years, and can offer a great insight into the world of music through a professional`s eyes.

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Personal Description:
I hold a Masters Degree in Software Engineering from the University of Hertfordshire and a BSc in Computing from the University of Portsmouth with a Second Class Upper. My degrees focused on Software development, Data Science, Advanced Networks, Software Engineering, Database and Web development. I have been developing web applications professionally for over 10 years.

I have successfully built and deployed several web applications in the following industries both individually and in a team; Insurance Financial services, E-commerce , Construction, News & Media . I have experience in C#, HTML, CSS, SQL, Javascript, ASP.NET MVC & Web forms, PHP, Laravel, MySQL, MongoDB, GIT, Docker and Linux Shell scripting.

Helping others grow through education is a passion that has led me to UKTutors.

Teaching Experience:
I have taught Computer Science to Secondary Students and have also worked as an IT Teaching Assistant at a College so I have got the right mix of skills and experience to enable me efficiently transfer knowledge from myself to my prospective students.

Tutoring Approach:
I believe the best way to teach is to get the student involved from day 1 and using lots of real world examples to make some of the abstract concepts in programming and computer science more understandable to students. Importantly, I love teaching others because I believe a well-taught person is an empowered person.

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Personal Description:
I studied medieval languages, literature, and history at the University of Cambridge before completing an MA in Medieval Studies at the University of York. I then moved to La Rochelle (France) in 2016, where I taught English in two schools. After spending 4 months in New Zealand, I began teaching English at the Sorbonne University in Paris (2018-2020). I am now in the process of completing a PhD which focuses on medieval literature and languages (including Old French). I take a keen interest in language, especially French, and enjoy sharing this with my students.

Teaching Experience:
From October 1st 2016 until April 30th 2017, I taught English to 11-18 year olds in two French high schools. I also privately taught English to a French businessman in preparation for his travels in Australia, and to a young student studying for his baccalaureate exams. I gained a TEFL qualification in 2015.

Tutoring Approach:
I am a friendly and unintimidating person, and encourage my students to ask questions on any linguistic point of difficulty. I will adapt my lessons to my student's needs (be it to improve reading, writing, grammatical knowledge, listening and speaking skills, or all of these in turn) so that each session is productive. I will happily teach according to school curriculum requirements, and I will also create my own teaching resources if necessary. I personally find it immensely satisfying and exciting to be able to speak and understand another language, and I encourage my students to share this pleasure.

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Personal Description:
A qualified teacher with enhanced DBS status, I work with students at primary, secondary and further education level and am qualified to Master's degree level. With my highly personalised learning programmes, we work together to ensure rapid progress. Students quickly benefit from the enjoyment and confidence that results from finding success in the subject, whatever challenges students are currently experiencing with their learning. I have a personal love of lifelong learning and consider it a privilege to share this with my students. When I'm not teaching, I am studying French and Italian. I also love walking, cooking, playing the piano and painting.

Teaching Experience:
I am a qualified teacher and work with children and adults of all ages and with a wide range of abilities, including a wide variety of educational needs. I hold a Master's degree with distinction in addition to my qualified teacher status and Bachelor's degree. Tutoring is provided from my dedicated, fully-equipped classroom and I hold enhanced DBS status and full insurance. Having worked in the classroom since 2014, I am experienced in providing highly specialised learning tailored specifically to the needs of each individual learner. I am a member of The Tutors' Association and undertake regular CPD to ensure that my teaching is evidence-based and incorporates the recommendations of current practice.

Tutoring Approach:
I offer a highly personalised program of learning to enable my students to make rapid progress towards their learning goals. We work together to identify areas of need and implement a tailored, goal-oriented plan to ensure that learners are developing their skills quickly and enjoying the resulting confidence and motivation boost. Tutoring sessions are carefully constructed using a combination of learning approaches to ensure an optimal learning experience and maximum progression.

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Personal Description:
I am an engineer from a top engineering college and worked at several leading organisations thereafter. My love for quantitative and analytical subjects brought me to London School of Economics (LSE) where I am pursuing a specialisation in Applied Development Economics.

Teaching Experience:
I have taught mathematics and economics to school students since past 3 years. I have also taught undergrad students during my engineering education.

Tutoring Approach:
I love mathematics. I can make someone understand the problem in simple and fun way by giving practical examples. I believe in building on basic skill set repeatedly to master the advance concepts. More you play with maths more you start learning it. My approach is to first build student's confidence in mathematics by inculcating a love for the subject. I am a strong believer in learning by doing.

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