Playden Tutors and Playden Tuition

Personal Description:
I am a fully qualified teacher, I teach as a supply teacher currently.I have approximately 30 years teaching experience both in mainstream and private home tutoring, also 1-1 tutoring. I have recently been an international teacher in Central America Panama and Yangon, Myanmar.

Teaching Experience:
Recent teaching experience , Plymouth city council 2000-2015.I also am a private tutor I also have recently enabled students to enter university through upgrading their marks in English . I now live in Weymouth. I have been international teaching in Panama and Myanmar. My most recent experience is teaching in Poole Dorset and Ian a supply teacher currently.

Tutoring Approach:
I am always focused on the needs of the pupil, recently I concentrate on essay writing, depending on which subject is required.
I am student focused and work in their needs at the time.

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Personal Description:
I am an experienced Lecturer in English Language and English Literature including the new specifications. I have been an examiner for OCR 'A' level English and AQA 'A' Level English for many years and have also moderated GCSE English examination papers. I tutor at all levels, from basic literacy, through to dissertations for under graduates including subjects not associated with the subject of English. I run a Creative Writing class and assist people to write novels and poetry and a variety of other genres. I have had outstanding examination successes in GCSE and 'A' Level and can provide references from former tutees.I am a member of the Institute for Learning - MIfL

Teaching Experience:
I have lectured English at both 'A' level and GCSE levels at a further education college. I teach a Creative Writing class, assisting people to write novels, poetry and a variety of other genres. I have also taught basic literacy (reading and writing) and have taught English to students of other languages (TESOL).

Tutoring Approach:
I am a patient and friendly tutor and my aim is to motivate students and ensure they achieve to the best of their potential. I tutor on a one-to-one basis, in small groups and also on-line or Skype. All my tutees have improved their grades and excelled in exams to a consistently high standard and I can provide references from former tutees.

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Personal Description:
I am a retired police officer who has retrained as an EFL teacher. My main interests are my rescue dog, swimming, music, reading, cinema, concerts and travel. As a person I am empathic, patient and kind. I am interested in current affairs both in the UK and worldwide.

Teaching Experience:
During my career I spent 5 years teaching IT in industry. As a police officer I spent 7 years in the Training Department teaching IT as well as Communications Skills, First Aid, Law and Force Policy.

Since retiring I have passed a CELTA course and have taught English in Vietnam for 3 months and Mexico for 4 months as well as a short contract in a high school in Austria. In the UK I have taught at a residential Easter School and two residential Summer Schools, teaching children and adults of all ages and from beginner to advanced level. During 2021 I volunteered teaching online for my previous employer in Vietnam as they were in lockdown for a considerable time and value having a native English speaker working with them.

Tutoring Approach:
I apply to tutoring the same skills that I have used during my extensive time as a trainer - I motivate by encouragement, patience and praise, and use a teaching approach that will suit the learning style of my student. I also enforce strict deadlines and standards in order to maximise the learner's gain from the teaching time and to ensure that they use their study time wisely and efficiently. My attitude towards learners is that the only silly question is the one which they want to ask but don't, and that if they do not understand something then it requires me to explain it in a different way. I believe that if a learner enjoys their study they will gain a lot more from it, so endeavour to make lessons and tasks interesting and relevant.

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Personal Description:
I graduated from the University of Leeds in 2009 and work as a manager tutoring maths part time. I work shifts so I'm generally available at any time throughout the week and weekend. I'm friendly, enthusiastic and make my students feel at ease so they feel comfortable to ask for help with questions which they may not have the confidence to ask during classes at school.

Teaching Experience:
Sixteen years tutor experience with pupils from year 7 up to adult learners. The majority of my students have been studying for their GCSE's.

There are many teachers on here which may be perfect for some children as a tutor. I am not a qualified teacher however all of my previous students have selected me for that sole reason - so their child has a tutor and not a teacher to help them with their maths. They have all felt instantly relaxed with me, more inclined to ask questions and extremely driven to prove themselves.

Reference available upon request

Tutoring Approach:
Every child is different so it's explaining a topic in a way that makes sense to them rather then the way the teacher wants them to learn. If the child feels relaxed with the tutor they are more likely to understand something rather then just feel under pressure to say they understand.

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Personal Description:
I have two degrees in history, my master's being on American and Scottish literature.
I lived for eight years in Spain and am now a Spanish to English translator.

Teaching Experience:
Nine years' experience tutoring children and adults in both Spain and Scotland, including one-to-one tuition, teaching in primary and secondary schools, adult learners and some university teaching in Edinburgh.

Several schoolchildren went on to study English at university

Tutoring Approach:
I believe that trying to establish a sincere interest in the subject is the best way to have a student make substantial progress. I expect students to have high standards with their work.

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Personal Description:
Hello! I'm a native Russian speaker from Kaliningrad who has been living in the UK since 1996 - now calling Yorkshire home for even longer than Russia. My life is truly shared between both cultures, and I am passionate about teaching and celebrating both the Russian and English languages.

I am a fully qualified teacher in both the Russian Federation and the United Kingdom, and I hold degrees in English (Kaliningrad), Linguistics (University of York), and Translation & Interpreting (University of Bradford).

As a parent of a bilingual son, I have a strong personal and professional interest in bilingual education. In 2017, I completed a specialist course at Moscow State University on Teaching Russian to Bilingual Children.

In March 2022, I became a published author with my book My Favourite Subject is Russian, a collection of 30 texts designed to support students preparing for GCSE exams.

Teaching Experience:
I have been teaching ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) since 1991 and RFL (Russian as a Foreign Language) since 2000, building extensive experience with learners of diverse abilities, needs, and backgrounds.

My teaching experience spans both one-to-one and classroom settings in independent and language schools, including Prince Henry's Grammar School, Bradford Grammar School, and Bradford Girls' Grammar School. In recent years, I have expanded my reach nationally by successfully delivering lessons online.

Tutoring Approach:
I see teaching the Russian language and culture as both a privilege and a personal mission, and I am always excited to welcome new learners. Their curiosity and enthusiasm inspire me to design lessons tailored to individual goals, interests, and timescales. Our first session is an opportunity to get to know each other and agree on a clear, personalised learning plan. Every learner is unique, and I pride myself on being flexible and resourceful in adapting to different learning styles and aspirations.

For learners with prior knowledge of Russian, I offer a diagnostic assessment to establish their current level. I work in line with the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) and TRKI/TORFL (Test of Russian as a Foreign Language) standards, and I encourage students to work towards these internationally recognised qualifications.

We often select a core textbook to guide the learning process. I keep up to date with the latest teaching materials and regularly review new resources, enabling me to recommend the most suitable options based on each learner's level and objectives. However, lessons are not limited to textbooks - language can also be explored through films, documentaries, photography, art, and a wide range of online resources.

Learning with me extends beyond lesson time. I provide a structured learning plan supported by carefully chosen materials, along with additional recommendations such as books, articles, films, and podcasts. I set meaningful homework to ensure steady progress and to keep the learning process engaging and effective. Whether you are working towards a specific exam or learning at a more relaxed pace, the approach is always shaped around your needs.

I also offer guidance on effective learning strategies and provide expert support for exam preparation, including Pearson Edexcel GCSE and A-level, Cambridge IGCSE First Language, and TORFL. I additionally work as an independent examiner for speaking assessments.

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Personal Description:
I am an enthusiastic student of classics and ancient history, very passionate about teaching. I have learned Greek and Latin in university, and enjoyed learning them very much. I want to share my enthusiasm for the topic and teach Greek and Latin to others. I have an MA in ancient history from Durham University, and have finished my PhD in the same topic at UCL.

Besides Greek, Latin, classics and ancient history, I am also familiar with Babylonian, Assyrian, Egyptian hieroglyphs, Aramaic, Old Persian and Modern Persian (Farsi), all of which I can tutor as well.

Teaching Experience:
Taught for Greek and Latin at UCL from 2018-2021.
UCL arts and humanities outreach presenter
Tutored Modern Persian, classical Greek and Latin since 2016.

Tutoring Approach:
I always thought that languages are easy marks when I was at school. This remains true: languages are the easiest place for the student to get guaranteed marks in their studies - the problem is that people learn languages in different ways and this is where I can help. Through the years I have worked with many different students and know both the material and different teaching styles inside out.

My goal is to make the language not only an easy way to easy marks, but also a very enjoyable prossess. I see them as gateways into fascinating cultures and literature, and my students tend to agree.

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Personal Description:
I have studied Mandarin Chinese for past four years at university, including one year spent living in Hangzhou, China, and have continued studying in my freetime over the past year since graduating. I have recently decided to continue my education, and have been accepted at SOAS University in London.

Teaching Experience:
During my undergraduate degree I would help classmates to grasp a better understanding of Chinese grammar after class, particularly with features such as BA and BEI structures.

During my year abroad in Hangzhou, China, I briefly tutored children at a school called English Alive, which focused on children from 2-11 years old.

As well as tutoring children, I would often tutor other students who were learning English and Chinese at the same time, and help them with proof reading and spell checking.

At the beginning of 2019 I began tutoring outside of university. One student was a Chinese lady learning English, and the other was an English lady undertaking a Chinese course on the Open University. I can proudly say that both have improved, and on the official course my student earned a 1st.

Tutoring Approach:
My classes will be entirely focused on the needs, goals and capabilities of the student. Before lessons start, I like to correspond with my students to know exactly what they want without using the paid-for lesson time. The main factors I would want to determine would be the number of classes per week, the skillset priorities (speaking and listening, reading and writing, or all equally), and to what level my students would hope to study.

I would provide the textbooks and have plenty of resources to recommend to my students for further study.

My classes are usually an hour long. We tend to start with reviewing the previous lesson's key points and homework, before moving onto vocabulary development, often with flashcards. We then move onto grammar, where two-three grammar points are introduced depending on the level of difficulty. We then review a passage written in Chinese characters, pinyin, and English; any unfamiliar words are highlighted and noted, and the learned grammar points are explained thoroughly in the context of the story/passage. We then practice reading and pronounciation by reading out the passage.
At the end of the lesson we have listening practice in the form of funny, relevant videos spoken in slow, clearly spoken Chinese.

The unfamiliar characters are listed, and given to the student for homework, which is usually something along the lines of "create a sentence using each word. One unfamiliar word per sentence."

Games are included, as are movies, tv shows, cartoons, etc.

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Personal Description:
GCSE & A-Level Computer Science Specialist (OCR Examiner)

I am Head of Computing and an official OCR GCSE Paper 2 Examiner (graded Excellent). I help ambitious students unlock the top grades they're truly capable of.

My Results:
The majority of my GCSE students achieve grades 7-9
Last year, my A-level OCR Paper 2 students averaged 99.6 out of 140 - significantly above the typical average

I teach both OCR and Edexcel at GCSE, with a sharp focus on exam technique and practical skills. At A-level I specialise in OCR, particularly algorithms, Big O notation, and the extended questions that separate good students from the very best.

My teaching combines deep subject knowledge with real examiner insight - helping students understand exactly what top marks require and how to deliver them under pressure.

If your child is serious about achieving a 7-9 at GCSE or an A at A-level, I'd love to help them get there.

Teaching Experience:
I have been teaching since 2010 and have been Head of Computing since 2012. I launched and have led the Edexcel GCSE Computer Science course since 2013 and have taught OCR A-level Computer Science since its introduction.

Since 2018 I have been an official OCR examiner for GCSE Paper 2, and in the 2025 series I was graded as marking to an 'Excellent' standard.

Tutoring Approach:
My lessons are structured, focused, and results-driven. I combine clear, engaging teaching with targeted exam practice to help students develop both deep understanding and strong exam technique.

Every lesson includes:

Focused teaching on key topics and exam skills
Practice questions with detailed, constructive feedback

Lesson notes and resources sent after every session

I also provide exam marking and personal statement support. All lessons are delivered via Zoom with flexible scheduling to fit around busy student timetables.

Here are some recent comments from parents of students I teach with names changed:

"You are an excellent teacher - thorough, efficient, and explain things very clearly."
- Rachel (parent of GCSE student)

"Thank you for your patience and guidance. James really likes your class and has made great progress."
- Parent of A-level student

"Sam got a 5 in Computer Science - we are so pleased. I wish we had found you sooner."
- Parent of GCSE student

"Alex scored 41 out of 50 in his end-of-year test - a huge improvement. We are over the moon with his progress and can't thank you enough for driving his passion for the subject."
- Parent of Year 10 student

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Personal Description:
I am Viren, a graduate in Science with Distinction from BITS Pilani. I have Level 3 Award in Education and Training. I love teaching and have tutored my classmates at school and university. I tutored my children and both went to top UK universities. I am good at understanding where the student needs help and ensure they understand the concepts well. I believe that strong fundamentals are essential to learning, not just a focus on doing well in exams

Teaching Experience:
For the last 20 years, I have conducted a number of corporate trainings for my team and mentored them on various areas. I love teaching and have tutored my classmates at school and university. I would help them in Maths and all 3 sciences. At uni, a good part of my studies would be done just by tutoring my friends in Maths (topics like Probability, Algebra, trigonometry) Chemistry (organic and inorganic) and human biology. I tutored my children and both went to top UK universities. Now I wish to take time out to formally start tutoring, a thing I really enjoy doing. I have Level 3 Award in Education and Training.

Tutoring Approach:
I believe that each student is different and needs a very specific approach. I will first try to ensure that the concept and the base of the subject is strong before we go on to a number of past paper questions and exercises. I believe that the best way to learn is to see how any problem can be tackled, go through the thought process and then apply what you know to the specific problem and solve it.

I will first see what the student finds most difficult and what their weaknesses are and then strive to overcome them. Each student will have their own learning methods, some may learn by understanding the whole concept then going into the exam questions, some want to go through exam questions while they are learning the concept to see how the theory can be applied to the problems. Some may learn visually with experiments or examples whereas others will learn through trial and improvement of their own. I will spend the first session finding out how they like to learn and design a program just right for that individual student.
Hopefully once we start tutoring, the students will feel much more confident with the subject and the key to success for any exam is self confidence. I will always be there as a guide, a mentor, a friend to help them through what they find difficult.

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Personal Description:
Head of Physics at Independent school, experience teaching, tutoring and examining A level Physics all exam boards including IB.

Teaching Experience:
20 years experience, 15 as Head of Physics

Tutoring Approach:
Either online through zoom and interactive whiteboard software or face to face. One hour sessions based on filling in gaps in knowledge and exam practice.

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Personal Description:
I am always passionate in teaching and learning. My first degree is MA English (Literature). I completed masters in Education from Roehampton University London. I understand teaching is the way to transfer knowledge using pedagogical approaches so I try to bring effective teaching strategies to assist my students.

Teaching Experience:
I have been teaching A level and GCSE Biology, Chemistry, General Science, Urdu and English as a foreign language for more than seven years.

In addition, I have been training students for IELTS for more than four years.

Tutoring Approach:
Lesson planning
One to one lectures
Mock test
Monthly test

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