Horndean Tutors & Horndean Tuition

Personal Description:
I am a qualified teacher having been awarded a PGCE from the University of Cambridge. I also have a First Class Bachelors degree. I previously taught at Queen's College Preparatory School, London and now teach online for Eton College. I am a member of the professional body for tutors.

I have four young children of my own and enjoy working with children and helping them to become interested in and succeed in school work. All of my children attend UK independent schools and I have extensive experience in this sector.

I have helped students prepare for and succeed in gaining entry to top UK selective schools at 4+, 7+, 11+ and 13+. I have also successfully helped students obtain full academic scholarships to several independent schools as well as helping those secure a place who find exams difficult. All lessons are online via Zoom.

Teaching Experience:
Qualified from the University of Cambridge with a PGCE. I taught for two years at Queen's College Preparatory School, London before starting private tuition. I have been tutoring for 15 years in English, Maths, Science, Reasoning and Interview Skills. Further private tutoring for 4+, 7+, 11+ and 13+ School Entrance Exams, Scholarship Exams, Common Entrance Exams and the ISEB pre-test. I also provide guidance on school selection and have written a guide to the top independent schools in the UK and their admissions processes. It is never too early to start preparation for competitive school entrance exams and many students prepare for several years.

Tutoring Approach:
Tailor made approach for each individual suited to help students get the best grade possible in exams. Homework is given after each lesson and feedback is provided to parents. My students have several online learning tools that they can use. One is very similar to the ISEB pre-test and another is an online reading platform where thousands of books can be read along with comprehension, spelling and vocabulary questions.

I teach online using Zoom and have helped UK and international students prepare for entrance exams to selective schools such as Eton, Harrow, Radley, Wycombe Abbey, Westminster, King's College School, Magdalen, Guildford High School, St Paul's, Downe House, Winchester, Brighton College, Sevenoaks, Tonbridge, City of London, Hampton, Concord College, North London Collegiate, The Perse, St Edward's, Charterhouse, Marlborough and Cheltenham Ladies' College. I regularly use WeChat and WhatsApp to communicate with parents that are overseas so I can be easily contacted. I have extensive experience teaching children from all over the world who do not have English as a first language. I have taught children in China, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, The USA, The UK, Malaysia, India, Indonesia, Dubai, The Seychelles and The Maldives.

Subjects

Personal Description:
When I have free time, I like to go to the cinema and play badminton. I also like travelling and discovering different parts of the world.

Teaching Experience:
I am a qualified teacher with more then seventeen years of experience of teaching which spans nursery, foundation, primary and 11-19.

I am presently second in charge in science at a secondary school and I teach chemistry, biology and physics across KS3 and KS4.

I have passed a Chemistry postgraduate course. This has improved my subject knowledge to be able to teach chemistry to 'A' level. I also can teach biology to 'A' level.

Tutoring Approach:
Before I begin to tutor, I will assess what level you are currently working at. I will also speak to you in depth about what you do and do not understand about a topic.

I will then take you through the topic at a pace that you feel comfortable at. You will be set homework to test your understanding. In preparation for exams, you will be given ideas for revision that will help your style in learning and pass papers to prepare for exam format.

Your contribution to what you need is important and you are invited to express what help and topics you feel you need to cover. As a tutor I am here to help you succeed.

Subjects

Personal Description:
A recent University of Leeds graduate with a 2:1 class BSc (Hons) in Economics and Mathematics (Industrial) who is currently teaching in a secondary school in Birmingham. I am a passionate individual who strives to inspire younger generations to accomplish their full mathematical potential and to actually enjoy the subject. Throughout university, I undertook a wide range of mathematics modules to enhance my understanding of the subject I have an enormous passion for. I have held many positions of responsibility, including being a STEMnet ambassador, an Aston University mentor, a Punjabi school assistant teacher, a voluntary English teacher in South Africa, a course representative, the Bhangra society treasurer, the Sikh society interfaith representative and others.

Teaching Experience:
I have a years experience as a Maths teacher within a secondary school in Birmingham. This involved teaching a variety of Maths classes, of different sizes, abilities and age ranges from 11-16 as well as being a form tutor. I have had experience of tutoring an A-Level student, a year 9 student and a GCSE student. In eight short weeks I was able to help this student achieve the desired A-grade she had hoped for, improving by a massive two grades. The huge feeling of pride and satisfaction from this sparked a passion for teaching mathematics. I have also completed the Teach First Insight Programme. The final week of this scheme involved teaching in Nene Park Academy in Peterborough and I was able to give a year 9 class a mathematics lesson.

Tutoring Approach:
Clear explanations, listening to the students, plenty of practice with live marking and most importantly, patience.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am a fully qualified Maths Teacher with over 10 years experience. I am full of enthusiasm and passion to ensure pupils do the best they can in Maths. I have been fortunate to enjoy teaching and tutoring many pupils to success, particular at GCSE level.

Teaching Experience:
Alongside teaching multiple Maths GCSE groups I have vast experience in tuition. I have marked many past exam papers and worked with a lot of GCSE groups. I have a very high understanding of the level that is needed to achieve each grade.

Tutoring Approach:
I look to establish their strengths and weaknesses quickly, build their confidence in the subject and push them to their maximum.
I have a very large collection of resources across all topics including many exam questions for all topics. These are used in lessons however I am also happy to offer extra work that will benefit the tutee if they wish to study further in their own time.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I have been involved in computers and IT for 27 years. I was first of all a professional computer games programmer / designer before moving into my current role as an IT Solutions Architect. Over the last 21 years in IT consultancy, I have developed a breadth and depth of knowledge in IT and computing which is hard to find almost anywhere in the UK having dealt with almost all types of systems and aspects of IT.

I'm not able to teach you all the intricacies of the Microsoft Office products like Excel or Word, but I can train you in system design, system support, software development and pretty much anything in between. I have detailed experience in virtually all Microsoft operating systems and applications. I am also very experienced on VMware products. I am also able to assist your training in application and web development in C, C#, VB, scripting and assembler (68000 & 6502).

Teaching Experience:
21 years of mentoring and training junior staff on systems including Microsoft operating systems and applications.
Delivered a classroom based Lotus Notes course for Computacentre.
Developing syllabi and exam question papers for the British Computer Society (BCS).

Tutoring Approach:
I would first of all need to know what your learning requirements are. What is it you want to know about and to what level? From that point, I would create a training plan for you to reach that goal.

Subjects

Personal Description:
¡Hola! My name is Estefaní­a and I am a native speaker of Spanish from Madrid. I absolutely adore learning languages and I try to improve them everyday. My motto is that teachers should never stop learning their subjects so that their students can get the cream of the crop in every single lesson.

I would say one of my strongest points is that I speak fluent English so I would not have any problem to switch back to your language if something is not completely understood, and it is also great if you have just started to learn the language!

Teaching Experience:
I have a Postgraduate Certificate of Education in Modern Foreign Languages (Spanish), as well as a Diploma in Teaching Spanish as a Foreign Language (ELE). Before coming to England, I worked as an English private tutor in Spain for more than 4 years so I have large experience in teaching foreign languages. I have tutored students from all ages, especially children and young adults so I know what teaching approaches and activities can work best depending on the age group.

Tutoring Approach:
My lessons are carefully designed to address each student's needs so please do not hesitate to let me know what your objectives are! Whether passing your Spanish GCSE or being able to chat with locals in your next trip to Spain, I will definitely give my very best to help you achieve your goal.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am a fully qualified and very experienced primary school teacher who can provide high quality Maths and English tuition in your home for primary aged and early Key Stage 3 pupils. I love being able to work one to one with pupils on exactly what they need to help them gain confidence, understanding and make progress to achieve the best they possibly can. I treat each child as an individual and aim to make every tuition session enjoyable and successful, connecting the learning with your child's interests where possible, and always giving plenty of encouragement and praise.

Tutoring is available for children being home-schooled as well as for children requiring a little extra help out of school hours.

Teaching Experience:
I am a fully qualified teacher who taught locally in primary education for 21 years before starting to home tutor children in 2015. I have successfully taught children with a wide range of abilities, including children learning English as an additional language and pupils with special educational needs.

Tutoring Approach:
Building good relationships is very important to me as a basis of effective teaching. Parents and pupils consistently testify to my professional, patient and friendly approach. Every lesson is specifically tailored to each pupil's needs, with pupils enjoying their lessons and quickly seeing the difference that their time with me makes. As far as possible, I channel lessons through the pupil's interests as well as using games, practical resources and visual aids, amongst other resources. Plenty of praise and encouragement is given in recognition of their efforts and to help motivate pupils further. Feedback is provided to parents/ carers at the end of each lesson to keep you fully informed.

If you have any questions or would like more information, I would be pleased to hear from you.

45 minutes and one hour sessions are available - rates vary accordingly.

Subjects

Personal Description:
Cambridge educated, and an Oxford University prize winning teacher, I have recently passed my latest OFSTED inspection. I specialise in :

11+
English Language (GCSE and iGCSE)
English Literature (GCSE/iGCSE/A Level/ELAT)
GCSE/ A Level Business Studies
GCSE / A Level History
Creative writing (adults)
Business English (adults)
ESOL (adults)
UCAS statements
Mock interviews

I am DFE authorised to teach the subjects I advertise.

I hold an excellent degree in English, a PGCE in English/History, a Cert Ed.in Drama, an MA in creative writing from the number one UK writing programme, and a post graduate in teaching creative writing from Cambridge University.

I am a published author and editor.

I have taught students from:

Independent Senior : Rugby School, Gordonstoun, Warwick School, The Kingsley School, King's High School, Kingham Hill, King Henry 8th, Princethorpe, Bablake.

Independent Junior: Crackley Hall, Warwick

State Selective: Lawrence Sheriff, Rugby High, Alcester Grammar, Ashlawn, WMG Academy, Stratford Girls' Grammar, Kings Edward's Boys Grammar, newport Girls' High School.

State non-selective: Kenilworth School, Finham Park, President Kennedy, Babington Academy, English Martyrs, Bilton High, Houlton, The Harris, Avon Valley, Walsall Academy, Joseph Leckie Academy, Myton, North Leamington, Ernesford Grange, Southgate School, East Barnet School, Attleborough Academy, Southfield Girls' School, Rugby Free School.

State junior: Potters Green, Long Lawford, Holbrook, Park Hill, Dunchurch, Hillmorton, Cawston Grange, Abacus Academy, Our Lady of Assumption, Henry Hinde, St Anthony's.

University: Cambridge, Warwick, BCU, Keele, York.

I have taught students in the UK, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Russia and South Korea.

I am a native English speaker - this is highly advantageous to English as a second language students.

Scholarships gained: Rugby School, Warwick School.
Bursaries gained: Bablake School, Princethorpe College.
Grammar Schools: King Edward's Boys, Lawrence Sheriff Boys', Alcester Grammar, Rugby High School.

Having a grammar school education myself has been most useful and that my children were educated in the independent sector gives me an insider insight.

Many of my pupils have gone onto Oxford University, Durham University, and elite Universities to study subjects such a medicine and dentistry. One of my GCSE students moved from grade 3 to grade 7 in three months and another moved 4 levels from grade 5 to 9 in 6 months.

I hold QTS and DBS. Unlike tutorial centres, I focus only on one student in a session, ensuring better progress.

I teach students between the age of 8-adult.

I lecture in Creative Writing.

Teaching Experience:
I am an experienced, successful online tutor. I update my teaching skills annually. I have completed my Safeguarding Certificate, Sexual Harassment Awareness, PREVENT training, and my GDPR certificate.

I have worked with Grammar Schools, Independent Schools, Public schools, selective and non-selective state schools. I have been a Head of English and Senior Leader in a highly successful Birmingham school. I have taught writing to post-grads at Cambridge Uni, Warwick Uni, Hull and York University. I have published educational research and resources, edited publications and mentored writers.

I have been an examiner for KS2 SATS, English Language and English Literature and am an Arts Awards Assessor.

I am familiar with the following curriculum:

AQA, EDEXCEL, OCR, EDUQAS, iGCSE, Essex 11 Plus, Warwickshire and Birmingham 11 Plus, IELTS,Trinity ESOL, British Council ESOL.

I have worked with pupils struggling to perform at schools which have not served them well. I have worked on behalf of schools, providing one to one tuition for LAC pupils. I have worked with very good pupils at very good schools in order to support pupils to become excellent.

I am willing to do unlimited prep. I do not pluck activities off the internet and hope they fit as I design work especially for my pupils.

Tutoring Approach:
Your child won't be placed in a group with other children who have different needs and work at different levels!

I have high expectations of your child - this helps them to reach their goals.

I will tell you the truth about your child, sharing information and assessments.

I standardise my marking in a secondary school every year.

Successes in 24-25* ( grade boundaries moved up)
100 % eleven plus passes
100% Grade 8 and 9 at GCSE Language.
100% Grade 7, 8 and 9 at GCSE Literature.

testomonials:

'Thank you ...as your support has very much enabled this success.'
'I am short of words to thank you, for all the help and support you gave.'
'She couldn't have done it without your support.'

2023- 2024 Academic year* ( grade boundaries moved up)

NR-9, 8 GCSE Eng Lang and Lit
LS- arrived in the UK with no English and has made 3 levels of progress within 6 months.
JR- gained an 11+ place at King Edward's Grammar School
AN-gained an 11 + place at LSS Grammar School.
AS-gained a place at Lawrence Sheriff Grammar School
RM- gained places at The Kingsley and Princethorpe independent schools
SG- gained a place at Bablake Independent school
SS- gained bursaries at Bablake and Princethorpe Independent Schools
HJP- an adult ESOL learner from South Korea, has progressed from A2 to C1 British council levels, and gained a distinction at GCSE speaking and Listening in less than 9 months.


Testamonials

LR- " We DID it!!!! Thank you so muchhhhhhhh. The scores gets him into the best grammar school - KEGS!Thank you so much for your perseverance and amazing teaching!!!"

SC-" We think you're best English tutor there is so no surprises with your ofsted rating."

Successes 2022-2023.

AC-9, 9 GCSE Eng and Lit ( school predicted grades were 6,6)
ES- 9,8 GCSE Eng and Lit ( school predicted grades were far lower)
HH- 8, 8 GCSE Eng and Lit
WN- 8,7 GCSE Eng and Lit ( school predicted grades were 4,4)
PH- 6 Eng Lang ( school prediction was a 3)

LH gained a place at Medical School and met the offer.
NQ gained a place at University, and met the offer, when the school stated she was not able to.
KS- gained several places at university for Mechanical Engineering and met the offers.

Successes 2022

FO - gained a music scholarship at Warwick Snr.

WH- gained 225 in his 11 Plus exam, entitling him to places at two top grammar schools.

HG- gained his place at a highly competitive Grammar school sixth form- in July of Year 10 he was told he was 'pushing' grade 5 by his teacher.

TW- gained his GCSE score two grades above his September working at grade and 1 grade above his target grade.

SDP- gained a place at a competitive independent school, with a massive bursary

SR- gained a place at a competitive independent school, with generous bursary

HA- passed 11 plus at 249 marks

EK- passed 11 plus at 226 marks

FO has gained a place at his chosen Independent School- he was the first to have been accepted while only in Year 5.


Successes 2020-2021

HL-invited to a medical school interview

KC-Grade 8 in GCSE Business Studies- he was a grade 5 in September and had a target of grade 6.

QN- Grade 5 in English Lit after three months of tuition and beginning at Grade 3.

BJ- Grade 5 in English Language despite predicted grade of 4.

Successes 2019-2020

VY- Grade 8 in English Language- was struggling to maintain a good grade 5 in school.

MS-Grade 7 in English Language and in English Literature- was working at Grade 5 in school.

HL- Year 13- grade 7 in Eng Lang GCSE November re-sit- HL started with me on a very low level 5 and has worked with me for less than one year.

SK-Grade 6 in English Language- was a low grade 5 in school.

WL-Grade 6 - was low grade 5 at school.

LS- Grade 5 in English Language after working with me. School gave him a Grade 3 in their August teacher Assessment GCSE.
BJ- Year 11 - BJ was working at a grade 4 in mid September when I began working with him. He gained a grade 5 in the Eng Lit exam.

KC- Year 10- KC was a low level 3 at the start of year 9 - gained a high grade 5 in GCSE Eng Lit at the end of Year 10.

II- Year 10 - II was a low grade 3 - gained a grade 5 in Eng Lit GCSE.

NE- Grade 4 in English Language - a very low Grade 3 in school.

AA-Year 6-AA passed her 11 plus.

HL- Year 13- received an offer from a good university to take a great Science course only 15 days after sending her UCAS application in on October 15th. Has two interviews for medicine too.

HS- Year 13- HS began studying medicine at Norwich after working with me to write his UCAS personal statement.

SE- Year 13 -SE lacked confidence when trying to write a UCAS personal statement. With my help, SE is now at a very good University.

BR-First Year University- BR was struggling to write his first academic essay. I taught BR how to reference and the importance of using authentic and serious sources.

Parental/ Learner Testimonials:

20-21

I was accepted into LSS...I would like to say thank you for the help in Business Studies as that helped me ace my exams.

KC- GCSE students

P was so happy with the lesson yesterday. He told me that V taught me more in one lesson than school taught me for the whole year which is fabulous !

PN's Mum (PN attends a Grammar school)


2019-2020

LS's mother-

I wanted to express my thanks again. I have no doubt that LS would not have achieved a level 5 without your tutoring, and it had been left to the school. I had every faith that LS was capable if he applied himself and had the right teaching and guidance but could not see him getting what he needed from the school. He did it. Thanks to you.

2018-2019

E has improved a lot lately with V's help. V is really good at teaching (E's mother)

I wanted to drop you a line to thank you personally for all the help and support you have given L over the last few months. Whatever the outcome is she couldn't have done it without your coaching. Her work has definitely improved which wouldn't have happened had she continued with just the support school gave her. So thank you.( L's mother)

Earlier Successes

2018-2019

KS 2 SATS - NJ had given up working in year 6. After my support he won a prize for writing and scored 113 and 117 in his English papers.

Scholarships - CA was a Grade 4 in History GCSE. He needed a grade 7 to obtain a scholarship. After my support CA gained his grade 7, got his scholarship and recently went on to gain a grade 9 in the actual GCSE securing his place at Rugby School.

GCSE- MS was at a good independent school and in top set. However, she was scoring at grade 2 in her English Language and English Literature mock exams. With my help MS went on to gain two level 7s for both her English GCSE exams.

Post Grads - S, A, I were all on a PGA at Warwick University. To get onto the MA course they needed to gain a distinction on their PGA assignments. With my support, all three transferred to the MA course.

ZN wanted to do as well as possible in his MA assignments but was struggling with Academic English. With my help he scored merits for his essays and dissertation.

H - a dyslexic adult who struggled with having to write personal emails/messages-she overcame this by just sending emojis. With my support H now composes emails using words and has the confidence to send emails / messages whenever she wants to.


2017-2018 successes :

N J-- NJ went from a Level 3 in school mock exams to achieving a Level 7 in the actual GCSE exams despite being dyslexic.

OL--OL went from a bottom grade D in school mock exams to achieving a high grade B in the actual A Level exams, taking up her place at Leeds Art School.

JA-- JA was home schooled and dyslexic. She felt that she was not able to study beyond GCSE. JA decided to continue with her education beyond GCSE as a result of the self- confidence she gained with my support.

AZ--As a result of my coaching, AZ had started to gain additional days work ( AZ has his own business)

Subjects

Personal Description:
Hello,
I am a 50 year old French woman who enjoys providing one to one support following my client/pupil's curriculum.
I have been in the UK since 1993 and worked as a Personal Assistant for 17 years, I am also a Personal Trainer.

Teaching Experience:
My experience to teaching is mainly through being an aunt to a 10 year old boy and an 18 year old girl - tutoring them English following their school lessons but giving more details, examples and lights on the rules of the languages and their exceptions, always aiming to reach the conversation level.

With my experience as a personal assistant and personal trainer, I know how to tailor exactly to the person's needs and requirements and also to foresee the next necessary step.

Tutoring Approach:
Once again, I very much adapt to the person but I am always warm, friendly, professional and driven.
I can come to tutor to your place providing that it's not above a 20 minutes drive, otherwise I am happy to tutor at my home in Hamble (not in the evening).

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am an experienced teacher and home tutor, able to offer all three sciences to A level and Maths to GCSE/Additional.

I am happy to provide references from amongst the many parents of past students who have agreed to this.

Teaching Experience:
I have taught biology and the other sciences in independent secondary schools for many years, and have tutored these subjects and maths, also for many years.

Tutoring Approach:
Generally speaking, my approach to tutoring is to find out from the student, either directly or through trying out questions, which topics they are finding tricky, or hard to remember, and to go through the important elements with the student. I tend to ask questions as we go, and write down, for the student`s future reference, aids to memory and vital points which are essential for understanding the topic.

I routinely bring to a tuition my set of revision guides which contains up-to-date syllabus information from all of the well-known exam boards.

Subjects

Personal Description:
Qualified Computer Science Teacher PGCE QTS with experience teaching A Level & GCSE at top independent schools, a Master's Degree from King's College London and experience working as a Software Engineer.

Teaching Experience:
I have taught at some of the top independent schools in the country, including North London Collegiate School and Berkhamsted. With industry experience as a Software Engineer in various fintech companies, I am equipped to teach students at all levels, from secondary through to post-university, covering KS3 to A Level.

I am dedicated to effective teaching and employ proven techniques such as interleaving, spaced repetition, step-by-step modeling, guided practice, and fostering enthusiasm, all of which contribute to a high success rate. I regularly research educational theory and practice, specifically, in and around Computer Science Pedagogy.

Tutoring Approach:
I enjoy what I teach, and love to continually learn, not only about my subject but also in theories such as Metacognition (learning how to learn) and Cognitive Load Thoery.

I take a friendly and down-to-earth approach, focusing on creating a relaxed and effective learning environment.

Subjects

Personal Description:
Welcome to my Page! I'm Tyrone. I'm glad you're here. Education can transform lives, and teachers help facilitate this. I speak from personal experience about this. My teachers did not see an academic career for me at school - and they did very little to help me change this. I was considered a low achiever and expected to be a plumber like my father. There is nothing wrong with plumbing; it just wasn't for me. If you've read this far, I hope you will continue as I map out my journey.

I left school with a list of low-grade GCSEs and 1 A-Level - yes, it was Biology! I had no hope of going to university with these grades, so I got my first job testing soil samples. Still determined to study science at university, I enrolled on several open university (OU) courses. I did well on the OU, which allowed me to study Immunology at King's College, London. I did this after spending three years as a medical laboratory assistant in the NHS, my second job.

After graduating from King's with a BSc degree and a fascination with cancer biology, I joined Newcastle University. I spent the next four years researching anti-cancer drugs' effects on DNA. I successfully developed novel ways to measure the level of anti-cancer drugs stuck to DNA. It was a great day when the Royal Society of Chemistry published my work. The Royal Society of Biology rewarded my academic and research experience with the Chartered Biologist status. Charted Biologist is the recognition of professional competence.

On returning home to Wales, I had my first taste of teaching 16 to 19-year-olds - and I loved it. However, teaching at Bridgend College was only for maternity cover, and my contract soon ended. My next position was with Loreal (yes, I am worth It) as a microbiologist. Loreal was great as it was a weekend position and allowed me to teach part-time at Gower College Swansea during the week.

I have spent the last 17 years teaching A-Level Biology at Gower College Swansea full time. During this time, I qualified as a teacher from the University of Wales with a PGCE. The Biology department is highly successful and renowned. The department has a 100% pass rate and grades well above the national average. I learned so much here about helping people with their education. It was where I saw firsthand how a teacher could facilitate the real transformational effects of education. I am proud to have helped so many students of varying abilities gain success in A-Level Biology.

Along with teaching at Gower College, I continued to tutor students privately. I started my tutoring business at Bridgend College and now tutor full-time online.

As your A-Level Biology tutor, I will use my vast teaching experience to guide you towards academic success. I strive to cultivate a nurturing and engaging learning environment where you can flourish.

Join me on this exciting educational journey, where we will unlock your potential and pave the way for a successful future.

Teaching Experience:
For more than 25 years, I have worked with thousands of students of different abilities to teach them A-Level Biology successfully. Throughout this experience, I have developed effective teaching and learning strategies tailored to each student's needs. These strategies consistently empower my students to achieve high grades allowing them to move forward in their lives.

Teaching Experience:

Bridgend College:
Bridgend College is a college for further education in South Wales. I taught here for approximately a year, instructing students pursuing the veterinary nurse HND qualification. My subjects included anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, and the practical aspects.

Gower College, Swansea:
Gower College is a large further education college located in Goresinun, Swansea. Over the past 17 years, I have taught A-Level Biology at this institution. The biology department is sizable, with over 300 students enrolled each year. As a department member, I have contributed to its success by ensuring student achievement, resulting in a 100% pass rate and grades that exceed the national average. In addition to teaching, I organised the British Biology Olympiad competition, served as the curriculum leader for GCSE science, and acted as a personal tutor, providing support to students.

Examination Board Experience:
Throughout my 25 years of teaching, I have taught the specifications of all UK exam boards, including WJEC and Eduqas. As a result, I have a comprehensive understanding of the requirements necessary to prepare students for their exams.

Moreover, I have worked as an examiner for the WJEC, Eduqas, and Edexcel exam boards. This experience as an examiner has equipped me with valuable skills and strategies in exam techniques, which I utilise with all my students to help them achieve high marks.

Research and Laboratory Experience:
A-Level Biology encompasses a significant practical component. I possess extensive experience in experimental biology, having worked as a microbiologist, an industrial chemist, and a research scientist.

Continual Professional Development (CPD):
I am a member of the Royal Society of Biology, Chartered College of Teaching and the Tutors' Association. These affiliations enable me to stay informed about the latest developments in education and biology.

Tutoring Approach:
Teachers and tutors may seem unnecessary nowadays because of Google and AI. The most valuable thing a teacher can do for their students is to teach them thinking skills. Students must analyse the information in questions to achieve high grades in A-Level Biology exams. It's not just about memorising facts like what Google and AI can provide; it's about understanding the underlying concepts. This, and other areas, is where I can offer my professional assistance.

To provide effective help, I customise my approach for each student. I communicate with students and their parents to identify the areas that need attention and create an initial plan for improvement. These plans are regularly reviewed to ensure they continue to address the student's specific needs. I monitor students' progress using questions, tests, and activities, making adjustments as necessary to keep them on track. I keep parents up to date with their son/daughter's progress.

Now, let's explore some of my other techniques and their importance.

Simplifying Biological Concepts:
Breaking down complex biological concepts into simpler parts makes them more accessible for students. This accessibility enables students to establish meaningful connections between what they have learned and what they are currently studying. These patterns help them link ideas from the entire syllabus, giving them the confidence to tackle extended answers, such as the 25-mark questions in the AQA or the 9-mark QER questions with the WJEC/Eduqas.

Active Learning and Feedback:
I adopt a holistic tutoring approach, focusing on active learning strategies combined with feedback. These strategies include: retrieval practice, puzzles, quizzes, spaced repetition, Socratic questioning, and CRIME (chunking, rehearsal, imagery, mnemonics, and elaboration).

Understanding Scientific Language:
Learning biology is akin to acquiring a new language. Throughout the A-Level Biology course, students encounter numerous scientific terms they must understand early on. To facilitate this, I teach students comprehension strategies and the meanings of biological terminology, allowing them to develop a deep understanding of biology and apply it effectively.
Exam Technique:
Mastering exam techniques is another crucial aspect to cover. Helping students comprehend exam questions and analyse data significantly improves their grades and confidence. This skill is vital for writing precise answers needed at A-Level. It can be challenging for students to develop this level of precision, often causing frustration. Therefore, I employ various activities to guide students in honing this critical ability.

Consistent Study Habits:
I emphasise the importance of consistency in studying to all my students. Even with ample assistance, improvement can be limited without personal dedication and regularity in studying biology. Transitioning from GCSE to A-Level Biology can be overwhelming for students due to the abundance of new concepts, words, and facts. This transition is often referred to as the "big step up." Students may feel confused, frustrated, and disappointed when progress seems lacking or test results are unsatisfactory.

I teach my students that progress occurs incrementally through consistent effort and active learning strategies. With my guidance, their efforts will compound, leading to rapid advancement. This approach makes the learning process more enjoyable and less stressful. I focus on establishing solid foundations, good study habits, and providing support.

Embracing Failure and Mistakes:
My understanding of the struggle and the value of failure sets me apart as a tutor. Although failure can be discouraging, it is crucial for making improvements. With my guidance, I help students turn failures and mistakes into valuable learning experiences.

Ensuring accessibility to biology with all its complexities is paramount to me. My experience as an examiner and teacher and my diverse science background qualify me to provide the highest quality tuition. Creating a warm and friendly atmosphere in my lessons is essential to fostering an environment where students feel encouraged to ask questions, explore, and embrace their curiosity.

Learning should never be dull; instead, it should be an exciting journey of discovery and growth. To ensure success in A-Level biology, I infuse my teaching with engaging activities, relatable examples, and stories that captivate students' interest.

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