Port St Mary Tutors and Port St Mary Tuition

Personal Description:
"Julian is a fantastic tutor and enjoys teaching his subject with great zest and enthusiasm. My sons scored A* in Geography. Thank you Julian"

DUE TO DEMAND AND EXISTING RELATIONSHIPS, I AM LOOKING FOR ONLY 2 NEW CLIENTS FOR 2026.

I am passionate about Geography! I believe it is THE subject that defines our era.
This philosophy informs my approach to teaching vibrant, exciting student-friendly lessons in school and similar sessions in the tutoring experience.
I have been a head of department at leading schools in NW London/SW Herts since 2017. I have examined for AQA across all components (Paper 1 Physical Geography, Paper 2 Human, NEA/Coursework). My knowledge of both curricula and examinations is outstanding. Departmental results at my current school (high achieving independent in Harrow) are the best in the school and amongst the best in the whole area.

Teaching Experience:
I have been teaching in some of the area's best schools for around 20 years. Prior to this I was the director of education at an established UK children's charity.
During my career to date I have been quick to establish myself as a dynamic, confident and compelling teacher. Results under my supervision have been amongst the best in the area.
I develop student-friendly resources that have been adopted across the department by other colleagues. I lead the department on many ICT-related developments.
Some quotes from professional review/other tutees:
"Amazing tutor, he helped me improve in a short amount of time. I would recommend"
"In a very short time helped give my son the confidence and knowledge to lift his a-levels grades substantially. Would highly recommend him"

Tutoring Approach:
For some students, gaining confidence with many of the concepts and ideas presented in geography at Key Stage 4 or 5 is difficult - especially considering the pressures of coursework, ongoing assessment and the natural workload provided by other subjects. Yet these concepts underpin much of the reality that geography deals with.
My approach to tutoring is to enthuse the often overwhelmed student first and foremost with 'real', accessible geography. By using interactive ICT-based resources and practical assessment tools such as course guides, question mark schemes and exemplar work, the student can access previously hard-to-grasp material, and gain a critical understanding of the assessment process.
My belief is that you would not attempt to fix a car without instructions. I help the student interpret the manual to their course so they themselves can get behind the wheel and drive to success!
Please do not hesitate to get in touch to discuss your needs if this fits!

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Personal Description:
Born in London, I was educated in the UK and Hong Kong. I currently reside in Oxfordshire with my husband, where we both enjoy the outdoors in the Cotswolds.

Teaching Experience:
I have many years' experience in primary and secondary schools and home education in the UK, Hong Kong and Germany.

I teach in a school in Burford, Oxfordshire, and also provide home tuition to primary and secondary pupils.

Tutoring Approach:
To encourage your child to gain confidence and enjoy learning, I draw on my personal warmth and humour in lessons. I aim to help your child gain good exam results through:

lively engagement with your child's creative intelligence
continuous assessment and feedback of your child's progress
learning using a wide variety of resources

I believe learning comes alive through building on the child's immediate experiences and their curiosity for the world around them.

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Personal Description:
Spanish tutoring that actually works

I am a native Spanish speaker with over ten years of experience teaching Spanish to adults, young learners, and students who have struggled to learn the language despite trying multiple methods before.

Many of my students come to me frustrated. They feel that Spanish is "not for them", that they learn slowly, forget easily, or never feel confident speaking. This is exactly where my work begins.

I do not follow generic programmes or one-size-fits-all methods. Instead, I design a clear learning strategy for each student. I analyse how you have tried to learn before, identify the specific obstacles that are holding you back, and restructure your learning process step by step. This allows us to focus on what truly matters for you, without pressure and at a pace that builds confidence rather than anxiety.

My guarantee is simple: if you commit to the process, you will learn Spanish. Not because I repeat what everyone says about "adapting to your learning style", but because I work systematically on your real difficulties, using calm, structured and personalised strategies that make progress inevitable.

I work especially well with learners who:

Have tried courses, apps or tutors before without success

Feel blocked when speaking or afraid of making mistakes

Learn slowly and need clarity, patience and structure

Want real progress, not just more explanations

My experience teaching Spanish across different levels and contexts allows me to guide you with clarity, realism and confidence. Learning Spanish does not have to be stressful or confusing. With the right strategy, it becomes achievable.

If you are ready to stop trying random methods and start learning with a clear plan that works, I will be glad to help you.

Teaching Experience:
- Private Spanish Tutor, 2010 - Present
- Modern Foreign Language Coordinator and Spanish Teacher, Chiltern Way Federation 2012 - 2014
- Spanish and Italian Teacher, North Chaderton School, Manchester 2010 - 2012
- Freelance Spanish Teacher, European Language Solutions, London Uk. 2009- 2010 / St. George International, London 2006 - 2008.

Tutoring Approach:
How my Spanish tutoring works

My teaching is based on one core principle: people do not fail to learn Spanish, methods do. My role is to identify exactly where the learning breaks down and rebuild the process in a way that works for you.

These are the key elements of my approach:

1. Personalised learning strategy
Before focusing on content, I analyse how you have tried to learn Spanish before and identify the specific difficulties blocking your progress. From there, I create a clear learning strategy tailored to your needs. Each lesson is designed with a purpose, not copied from generic materials.

2. Structured and calm progression
I work at a pace that ensures real understanding. Lessons are carefully structured so that concepts are reinforced, not rushed. This is especially effective for students who feel overwhelmed, anxious or discouraged by language learning.

3. Targeted problem-solving
Rather than covering everything at once, I focus on your weakest areas first. Whether it is speaking, pronunciation, grammar or confidence, we address problems directly and systematically until progress becomes visible and measurable.

4. Cultural context that supports communication
Language cannot be separated from culture. I integrate practical cultural insights that help you understand how Spanish is really used, making communication more natural and effective.

What I can offer you

Tailored Spanish programmes
Lessons are aligned with the Common European Framework and adapted to your goals. I combine structured exercises, guided speaking practice and focused activities that develop all key skills: listening, reading, speaking, writing and pronunciation. This approach works particularly well for learners who benefit from clarity, structure and guided practice.

Focused learning modules
If you already have some knowledge of Spanish and want to improve specific areas, I offer targeted modules such as:

Conversation and fluency

Vocabulary development

Pronunciation and accent clarity

Grammar made clear and usable

Reading comprehension

Writing skills

Exam and entrance preparation

Guaranteed progress for school students
I support children and teenagers who are struggling with Spanish at school or preparing for GCSEs and A-levels. My tutoring focuses on building confidence, correcting gaps in understanding and improving academic performance. With commitment and consistency, progress is guaranteed.

Spanish for business and professional contexts
For professionals, I focus on practical communication skills for meetings, workplace interaction and professional environments. The goal is not perfect Spanish, but confident, effective communication.

Location and flexibility

Lessons can take place at your home, office or another suitable location, creating a comfortable environment that supports focused learning.

If you are willing to commit to the process, I am confident that this approach will help you finally make real progress in Spanish.

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Personal Description:
I offer one-to-one tuition in maths, biology, chemistry, physics and combined science. One-to-one tutoring is a great way for students to become more confident in their subject, and to ask all those questions they don't ask in class. My graduate degree is in chemistry, while I also have a doctorate in medical molecular genetics and a teaching qualification.

Teaching Experience:
I have fourteen years' experience as a tutor and have tutored over 200 students in maths, chemistry, biology and physics. My students include home-schooled students and students who self-study.

I tutor maths at various levels, from Functional Skills to GCSE and chemistry, biology, physics and combined science at GCSE level.

Furthermore, I tutor chemistry and biology at A-level. I am comfortable supporting students with any aspect of their syllabus and, in particular, with the mathematics of chemistry and biology and the biology topic of genetics and biotechnology. Human biology is a particular interest of mine.

Tutoring Approach:
My approach to tutoring is different for every student because every student requires support with different sections of the curriculum. Students studying for an exam may need help with subject content or exam technique, or both, while students who are not in exam years may need support with topics addressed in class. I plan the tutoring sessions around those needs and always with the individual student in mind, which is why the sessions are different for every student. I have experience in meeting the needs of neurodivergent students. I very much value input from the student with regard to areas of difficulty and learning style so that together we can get the most out of our time. I offer in-person and online tuition.

I have slots available during the day, to support home-schooled students and those self-studying, and late afternoon/evening.

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Personal Description:
I specialise in both face-to-face and distance learning over the internet. I am a friendly and approachable 35-year-old lecturer in physics at a local university in Sheffield. I completed my Ph.D. and MSci. degrees in nuclear physics at the University of Birmingham. Alongside my university teaching commitments I am an active researcher and supplement my teaching with references to up-to-date advances in physics.

Teaching Experience:
I have 12 years of experience teaching university level physics and mathematics. This includes theoretical, lecture-based subjects along with hands-on practical, lab-based teaching. I have also regularly taught GCSE and A-level students at week-long residential physics courses as a consultant for a charitable educational trust. Over the past 12 years I have taught a select number of students between the ages of 14-25 in the capacity of private tutor. Furthermore, as an active researcher in nuclear physics, I regularly share nuclear physics research with Ph.D. students and academics at national and international conferences.

Tutoring Approach:
I prefer one-to-one tutoring but will teach small groups up to three students. I encourage students to suggest areas they wish to cover in sessions because they know best about what area(s) of study they find most challenging. However, I always assess a student's current school or college work to aid me in identifying knowledge gaps. Whether the difficulties lie in specific topics in maths or physics or a more general overview of the courses, I will be able to provide help.

I hold a Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education and am a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. I strive to utilise up-to-date and innovative teaching practices, including advances in online teaching technologies. My experience as an experimental physicist means that I demonstrate difficult physics concepts through simple practical exercises; something that is often missing from traditional physics teaching.

Short homework problem sheets are set at the end of sessions to test the understanding of topics covered.

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Personal Description:
I am a native speaker of Italian with a degree in European Languages and extensive teaching experience. I have been based in Oxford for almost 20 years, after having lived in different European countries. I am an enthusiast linguist and my multilingual family is testimonial to that (a French husband, and trilingual children).

Teaching Experience:
I have gained experience in teaching to both adults and younger students (secondary school and degree level), both in formal context (university degree courses and schools) and less formal (evening and leisure courses) as well as Italian for business (directly to companies for their employees).

Tutoring Approach:
I privilege the communicative approach as after all languages are made to communicate! This allows all lessons to be more relaxed and rewarding as small results can be achieved - and seen - every time. I have run absolute beginners intensive courses and my aim is to allow the student(s) to go home speaking from the first time, however little it might be. At the same time, I also tend not to forget about grammar as it is the structure of the language and gives a better insight and understanding, but even grammar doesn't necessarily need to be taught in a very conservative manner.

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Personal Description:
An experienced information technology consultant working in the enterprise arena, I have a passion for teaching.
I have previous teaching experience not only on a one-to-one basis but also in the classroom environment.
Having attended private primary and secondary schools with exceptional teaching standards throughout, I have gained a lot of valuable experience and understanding in how educators can take their students the extra mile to ensure that not only do they get the best grades but also to ensure that students get the best from their education in order to assist them later in life, whether that be at university or in their careers.

Teaching Experience:
Having taught in both classroom and one-on-one based environments, I have a broad range of skills and expertise when it comes to actually lay out the knowledge. Private tutoring has been something I have always done on the side and having taught in such environments for over four years, I have significant experience in teaching and learning styles which can assist students on a multitude of levels.
I have taught students from secondary school to university level, the main subjects taught being Maths, English, Sciences, Law, Business Studies and Information Technology.
University Level can also be catered for, subjects such as Law, Business Studies and IT/Computing.

Tutoring Approach:
I like to give students a relaxed environment in which they can learn and enjoy. Furthermore, I believe working outside of lessons is also a key part to learning and developing one's knowledge hence my use of short yet effective homework exercises which not only prepare students for the next session but also help reinforce what they have already learnt. Using these techniques, I am able to better assist the student(s) on where they may need some more assistance. Of course, every student is different and learning techniques always need to be worked upon in order to ensure that students get the most out of their sessions with me.

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Personal Description:
I have been teaching art for nearly 20 years. I teach drawing, painting and sculpture. I also teach papier-mâché technique to make masks and puppets.

I am a professional Theatre Stage and Costume Designer (M.F.A. graduated in 2004), and I have worked in many theatre productions in UK and abroad, as a stage, set and costume designer as well as a puppet maker. My latest theatre design works (in 2018) are with Xameleon Theatre Productions in London: "The Little Prince" (after Saint-Exupéry`s tale), "Heart of a Dog" (Mikhail Bulgakov) - in both productions I made stage, props and costume design.

For the last eight years I have also worked as a sculptor. I work in clay and my sculptors have been displayed in several exhibitions in London: in Royal Society of British Artists, in The Society Women Artists, in Cork Street Open Exhibition, in Mall Galleries and others.

I divide my time between teaching art , my theatre design projects and my sculptures.

Teaching Experience:
I have about 20 years experience teaching painting, drawing, sculpture and crafts making to individuals and groups.
My teaching experiences are:
- group art lessons for children from 4-12 years old
- Individual art lessons to any age, including GCSE, A-level and University.

I have an experience in supporting pupils in GCSCE and A-level art projects, aiding with composing sketchbook, and coming up with ideas for exam final pieces.

My previous pupils have achieved no lower than A* or A in art alevel and GCSE. In addition, I have an experience in preparing portfolios for application to art scholarships, as well as preparing the students for scholarship interview questions.

Furthermore, I help compose portfolio for university and art school applications, with my students passing interviews and gaining offers for art/design based subjects, at universities such as Sheffield, Edinburgh, Oxford Brookes and the Bartlett School of Architecture (UCL).

In 2017 my pupil, who studied with me for 5 years and to whom I helped to create portfolio, was accepted to the Bartlett School of Architecture in UCL in London.

Tutoring Approach:
I have an individual approach to pupils. Art is first of all based on creativity and inspiration. Each one has his or her own abilities, talents and skills, and what is important is that in the process of learning, the desire to create will not be destroyed, but on the contrary: will grow. It is essential that the learning process will not wreck inspiration and will not turn art into a boring thing. Even when studying anew and perhaps complex technique, the art must remain inspirational. So my approach is to extend and improve existing abilities of the pupil and with time to introduce new techniques which he or she is prone to investigate.

Based on your desire, I can tutor you in a range of media, including
- painting: watercolour, ink, acrylic, oil
- drawing
- mixed media and collage
- puppet making: paper-mache, foam puppets,
- ceramics/ sculpture
- model making: stage model making, model making to scale, architectural model making

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Personal Description:
I am a French native speaker. I am DBS checked.
I am successful as a tutor of all ages as I am very enthusiastic, calm and encouraging. I also have high expectations of my students.

Teaching Experience:
KS3 AND KS4
I started teaching in Birmingham as a French Assistant in 1990 and completed my PGCE in 1995.
I have taught in 4 different schools and was Head of a Modern Languages Department for 7 years.
As a teacher in mainstream schools, I have come across a very wide range of abilities, and have always adapted to the needs of my classes. I know what is required at GCSE and the progression needed from KS3 to KS4.
TUTORING ADULTS
Tutoring is something I greatly enjoy.
I had given private lessons to adults in the past and also to secondary school students, but in January 2019 I decided to create my own tutoring business.
In this last year, I have had the joy of seeing adults with very little knowledge of French blossom into confident learners.

Tutoring Approach:
For me, learning grammar and especially tenses is crucial if you want to become successful language learners.
I also have my own method for teaching pronunciation and this produces great improvements.
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I have recently suscribed to an online teaching platform which enables me to use video conferencing, upload resources, listening tasks, PowerPoints to make my lessons truly interactive. This platform makes the lessons accessible on tablets, computers and even mobile phones.

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Personal Description:
Acton/Ealing/Chiswick/Shepherd's Bush/Hounslow/Brentford surrounding areas home Maths tuition

Hi,

My name is Emanuel and I am a qualified Maths teacher (Secondary and Sixth form) with over 6 years experience as a teacher and 10 years experience as a Maths tutor.

In academics, I have studied Mechanical Engineering at UCL and then I graduated from my PGCE course to be able to teach.

Teaching Experience:
I have an excellent record of students' performance over the years, with students mainly going to top Russell universities. To do this, I have set high standards within my sessions which must be met in order to achieve the desired outcome from the sessions which can be developing particular areas, additional support, revision, exam practice and preparation, etc.
Students always provide positive feedback because I can make difficult topics easy to grasp for anyone. Also, my students have appreciated the extensive work (exam questions and challenge questions) I provide them outside the sessions in order to better prepare for the exams. Thus, most of my students managed to obtain a grade that allowed them to go to prestigious universities (including Oxford, Cambridge and Imperial)

Tutoring Approach:
Areas I focus on:

* Creating a positive and supportive environment for lessons at your home
* Development in confidence and building on strengths, skills and knowledge
* Provide a wide range of resources to support achieving the best grades (resources for both homework and sessions )

Sessions are available in the evenings during the week (i.e. after school / work) or throughout the weekend and the cost per hour depends on location. Discount is available depending on number of sessions per week or for tuition with small groups of students.

I am DBS police checked and cleared (Disclosure and Barrings Service Police check)

Please do not hesitate to contact me for a consultation to discuss the possibility of working together.

I look forward to hearing from you.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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A-level results, August 2024:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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A-level results, August/September 2022:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

*

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

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

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

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

Speaking

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

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

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

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

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

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

Reading

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

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

Writing

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

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

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

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

Why study English?

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

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Personal Description:
Build understanding, transform grades! Qualified Teacher & 1st Class Maths Specialist | Former Head of Maths providing Expert Maths education at KS3, GCSE and A-level (15+ yrs experience).

If you're looking for tuition that is focused, effective, and grounded in years of successful classroom leadership and results, I would be delighted to help. Many families' reviews reflect the positive impact of this approach, with all 5 star reviews across multiple platforms.

A recent review:

"Chris has tutored both of my children at GCSE and A level and I cannot recommend him highly enough. After moving from Canada we discovered there were significant gaps in their understanding of math due to the different curriculum and methodologies. Under Chris' tutelage both of my children have gained in confidence and were able to achieve amazing results. My youngest son's success at GCSE was such that the head of his Math's department said he had never had another student make such progress (he went from a grade 6/7 to a 9 in Maths and a 4/5 to an 8 in Further Maths). Chris has continued to teach him during A levels and he just achieved an A in his mock exam."

Teaching Experience:
Throughout my career, I've supported students across the full ability range, from building confidence at KS3 to helping students secure Grade 4 or Grade 9 at GCSE, and enabling high achievers to earn an A* in A-level Further Maths. I've taught and led Maths, Further Maths, and Statistics across KS3, GCSE, and A-level, giving me both deep subject expertise and a clear understanding of how to teach complex ideas effectively to every learner.
My experience as Head of Maths reflects more than subject mastery; it demonstrates a secure understanding of the curriculum and exam requirements across a range of courses. I know how to make learning efficient, targeted, and purposeful. I tailor each lesson to the student's starting point and use a broad range of high-quality resources to ensure the time is productive.

Over the years, I've taken on a range of Teaching and Learning responsibilities, including roles such as Head of Maths, Head of House, and Intervention Lead. These experiences have given me a strong, whole-school perspective on how students learn across different classes and year groups, as well as deep insight into how individuals and small groups develop mathematically.

Tutoring Approach:
I believe that true mathematical understanding comes from mastering each topic in depth and revisiting key skills regularly. My approach ensures that students explore every concept thoroughly, working through a wide range of variations so their knowledge becomes secure and adaptable.

With most schools adopting a 'mastery' approach in Mathematics, this method is especially valuable at A-level, where the complexity and demands of exam questions have increased significantly - but it is still valuable at other levels.
In the lead-up to exams, I find that working through past papers is particularly effective. This not only strengthens familiarity with exam-style questions but also reinforces core material and highlights any areas needing further attention. Past-paper practice is essential for helping students perform confidently at the required standard.

If you're looking for focused, supportive Maths tuition that builds real confidence and mastery, I'd be delighted to help. Feel free to get in touch with any questions or to arrange your first session - and if you're not happy with the first lesson, it's completely free from me. I want to ensure you get valuable learning from the time spent.

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