Shafton Tutors & Shafton Tuition

Personal Description:
I am a fully qualified teacher with Cambridge MA, PGCE & DELTA, with 30 years' experience of teaching in a variety of contexts including general secondary school English and Drama, GCSE, A Level, IB, and tuition at university and postgraduate level, including assistance with theses and similar.
I have considerable experience of TEFL/TOEFL and a successful record in teaching Cambridge FCE, CPE, etc as well as Business English classes for non-native professionals.
I recently returned to the UK from Spain for family reasons and I am new to the York area. I'm taking time out for a while to write that elusive million-seller or sitcom! Meanwhile I am a member of SfEP and work part time as a professional proofreader and copy editor. I am very happy to help groups or individuals with their academic needs.

Teaching Experience:
15 years in all key stages of secondary school education in England.
5 years Adult Education, TEFL and private tuition in the UK.
10 years teaching a British curriculum in an international secondary school in Spain at all key stages incl. GCSE, A Level and IB.
Group and individual EFL classes for children and adults, including Business English for professionals and TOEFL in an American-affiliated college.
I have an excellent record of success in preparing students for English and Drama exams - GCSE, A Level, International Baccalaureat and beyond - as well as for Cambridge First Certificate, Advanced and Proficiency in English.
Amongst other notables, I was employed as personal tutor to the actress Rebecca Hall as a child and also to one of Tony Blair's sons!

Tutoring Approach:
I believe in a supportive approach and a friendly relationship, but without forgetting it's work: you're paying me because I can improve your (or your children's) future prospects.

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Personal Description:
Andreas Papapetrou was born in Nicosia, Cyprus in 1984. He began his music studies at an early age at the ARTE Music Academy (formerly Hellenic College of Music) from where he graduated in 2001 with a Degree in Piano with distinction. He continued his studies in Greece, at the State Conservatory of Thessaloniki, from where he got his Diploma in Piano with distinction in 2008, and at the Department of Music Studies of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, from where he graduated with a Degree in Composition with distinction in 2009. After this he moved to London where he studied composition at Trinity College of Music, acquiring his MMus in Composition with distinction in 2011. He is now a PhD candidate at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance.

He has studied composition with Michalis Lapidakis, Panayiotis Kokoras, Errolyn Wallen and Stephen Montague, piano with Elena Sophocleous, Emilia Tzima and Douglas Finch, accordion with Irinoula Constantinidou, and jazz song with with Yula Michail.

He has composed music for various ensembles, as well as works of electroacoustic and electronic music. His music has been performed in Cyprus, Greece, the United Kingdom and France. Works of his have been performed by the Trinity College of Music Student's Symphony Orchestra, the DissonArt Ensemble (Thessaloniki), the Contemporary Music Ensemble (Athens), the COMA Voices London choir, the TCM Harp Trio, the Solstice String Quartet, violinist Darragh Morgan a.o.

He is also an active music performer and focuses mainly on works of contemporary music and improvisation. He has performed debut performances of contemporary music works for piano or chamber music ensemble, in Thessaloniki and in London.

Besides music, his artistic interests include visual and performing arts. He collaborates with choreographers Stavri Kalopetridou and Elisabeth Schilling. He is a member of FIBRE Performing Arts Company, the contemporary music group Other People's Mail and the improvisation group 6daEXIt.

Teaching Experience:
I work as a freelance composer, performer and music teacher. As a music teacher I teach piano, accordion, music theory and
music composition, both for beginners and advanced students. I have been teaching music for the last 5 years. I have taught
people of all ages, from children to adults. I am currently a PhD candidate specialising in composition at Trinity College of Music.

I have taught piano at the State Conservatory of Thessaloniki, from 2006 to 2009, specialising on beginners and intermediate level students. I have been teaching piano, accordion, theory and composition privately since I came to London in 2009, to both children and adults.

In piano playing and teaching I specialise on classical music but I am also open to other styles, including popular music.
In accordion playing and teaching I specialise in classical music and Greek folk music.
In composition teaching, I prefer to let the student choose their preferred style. I do, however, specialise in contemporary classical music, ranging from acoustic to purely electronic music.

Tutoring Approach:
I feel that I have a good way to communicate with children and I am a very patient person. I am very receptive to my student's needs and I am willing to help and guide them into solving any problems related to music they might have. I always try to find the simplest way to communicate my ideas or what a music piece requires. I will always bear in mind what my student's opinions and needs are and try to adjust my teaching around these.

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Personal Description:
My name is Ahmed, and I am deeply passionate about teaching and learning. This passion is what led me to choose education as my profession, as it allows me to work with people from diverse backgrounds, understand their individual needs, and take on the rewarding challenge of helping them grow-both academically and personally.

The most important part of my work is seeing my students leave a session with confidence, curiosity, and a sense of achievement. I feel genuinely honoured when students are able to apply what they have learned, whether it is mastering a new programming concept, building a robotics project, or developing computational and problem-solving skills. Their satisfaction and progress are my greatest measures of success.

I am a patient, friendly, and approachable educator, and I place great importance on building strong rapport with my students. I believe that effective teaching goes beyond delivering content-it requires trust, encouragement, and mentorship. As a teacher and tutor, I strive to ensure that students see me not only as an instructor, but as a mentor who supports them in bringing out the best in their abilities and personality.

My professional expertise spans Computer Science education, programming, robotics, and artificial intelligence. I have extensive experience teaching programming to learners of different ages and abilities, guiding students through logical thinking, coding principles, and real-world applications. I am also actively involved in robotics education, helping students connect hardware and software through hands-on learning.

Beyond teaching, I work with organisations and individuals to support the implementation of AI solutions, helping teams understand how artificial intelligence can be integrated ethically and effectively into their workflows. I also teach Generative AI, focusing on how modern AI tools can be used responsibly to enhance creativity, productivity, and learning, while developing a strong understanding of their limitations and impact.

Teaching Experience:
I have been teaching for nearly 20 years, with extensive experience across secondary, post-16, higher education, and adult learning. I completed my Bachelor's degree in Software Engineering from City University London in 2006, before undertaking a range of teacher-training programmes that enabled me to transition successfully into education.

In 2013, I completed a Master's degree in Education with PGCE from UCL (Institute of Education), further strengthening my pedagogical knowledge and classroom practice. Since then, I have taught across KS3, KS4, and KS5, as well as at university level and with mature learners, adapting my approach to suit learners of different ages, abilities, and cultural backgrounds.

I have worked in multiple international school settings, gaining valuable experience within diverse educational systems and multicultural environments. This has shaped my inclusive, student-centred approach to teaching and leadership, and strengthened my ability to support learners from a wide range of academic and cultural contexts.

Currently, I work at a renowned Grammar School, where I serve as Head of Computer Science, leading curriculum design, teaching and learning strategy, and departmental development. Alongside my leadership role, I remain actively involved in classroom teaching, enrichment programmes, and the integration of innovative technologies within Computer Science education.

Tutoring Approach:
My approach is based on students' needs, which gives me and my students' satisfaction as it helps them to learn better.

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Personal Description:
My name is David and I am 40 years old. I live in a small village called Slinfold, which is just outside of Horsham. I am a upbeat, positive person, who loves helping people in all aspects of life. My interests outside of languages and teaching include golf, cricket, and snooker. I am a keen baker, but not quite Bake Off standard. I have a little dog called Molly.

Teaching Experience:
I have taught English as a foreign Language in both France and Germany in primary and secondary schools. I have also taught foreign students at English Summer Schools as well. Recently I have started up my own French and German private tuition company and teach students between the ages of 15-70. I have a Degree in French and German from the University of Oxford.

Tutoring Approach:
I am very flexible in my approach tp language learning, offering a bespoke service for the specific needs of each individual student. This includes emphasis on conversational skills, grammar, preparation for exams, or a more general approach for a hobby. I like to make my lessons fun and motivating, and will provide ongoing homework and testing if the student would like to be stretched. Ideally, I like working with students who are equally focused and motivated, as this will ensure the best results.

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Personal Description:
I have been working as an independent tutor for 16 years. I have an honours degree in English Literature from the University of Stirling and have almost 30 years of experience in publishing and journalism. In the tutoring sphere, this enables me to work creatively, quickly and sharply and to a deadline, which is often necessary.

Teaching Experience:
I have 16 years' experience working as an English tutor. During that time, I have achieved great satisfaction in improving the performances and results of numerous tutees.The vast majority of my tutees at National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher obtain an A in their examination, even those who find English difficult or a challenge. Others achieve a B or a C but are happy with this as it is the result they required.

Approximately 85 per cent of my tutees achieved an A in recent years. The remainder over-achieved to attain a B, with which they were delighted.

Tutoring Approach:
My intention is to make the tutee feel relaxed and that with practice they will gain the confidence to tackle all aspects of English. I tailor the tutorials to their personality and their aptitude.

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Personal Description:
I have a BSC Mathematics degree from the University of Leicester. My extensive knowledge in the subject, my tutoring experience has enabled me to get insight into the skills necessary for children to make progress. I have the motivation, determination and commitment needed to enthuse and effectively communicate maths to students in an adaptable way to fit the individuals learning style.

My aim is to give students the tools they need to become independent effective learners. I want every child to be well prepared academically and socially for their future academic and work life. I am patient and possess interpersonal skills, enabling me to connect with children; making me an approachable teacher

Teaching Experience:
From tutoring over several years I have a wide experience of working with pupils of many different ages, finding what can really help a student succeed in reaching their potential.

Tutoring Approach:
I treat all my students uniquely with an objective to make them obtain the highest possible results. I tailor my lessons to suit your child`s needs. I ensure each lesson brings value to a child, whether it be boosting a student's confidence or help struggling students with their problem solving abilities.

I communicate with parents and the child to understand the outcomes they require, feedback on the lessons and address any concerns they have. I will set homework to reassure the understanding of the material and track progress.

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Personal Description:
** Available after 5pm on weekdays**
I`ve completed a PhD in Mathematics at the University of York, UK, and I'm a native Italian speaker with a strong passion for teaching.
I have 15 years of experience with one-to-one Maths tutoring to students from any level of education, and I worked for 4 years as a seminar leader in modules taught in my university department.

Teaching Experience:
I specialise in Mathematics, and I teach GCSE, A-levels, IB, and university students; I have experience with Edexcel and AQA exam boards.
As to university teaching, I specialise in probability, calculus, and mathematical analysis.
I also have experience with teaching Physics to GCSE and A-level students and Italian to adult learners.

I started teaching in 2009 as a Maths a Physics tutor for secondary school students in Italy. I started tutoring in the UK in 2017, both online and in-person, and in 2018 and 2019, I also volunteered at the City of York council as a maths teaching assistant. I've been teaching secondary school and university students for 15 years now.
Between 2017 and 2021, I worked as a seminar leader in the Maths department of the University of York for probability, calculus, and mathematical analysis modules.
In 2019, I started teaching Italian to adult learners who need support with conversation skills and grammar.

Tutoring Approach:
My aim is to make my students confident and independent in their studies.

During the introduction, I meet the student and their guardian so that we can get to know each other. I learn about their needs and aims, and we start planning the lessons.

The plan typically consists of weekly or fortnightly lessons depending on the content the student needs to cover; some students need to focus only on specific topics, while others need support throughout the year.

During the lessons, I focus both on supporting the students with the new material they have to learn and on filling the gaps they might have in order to build a solid foundation. To do that, I use worksheets that are focused on a specific topic and past exam papers that can help students prepare for tests and exams.

I organise my lessons so that the students can think of how to solve exercises while I guide them to the solution, rather than tell them what to do step by step. That way, they develop their own method to understand and study Maths and boost their confidence.

As to my Italian lessons, I base them on practice so that the students can gain more confidence, especially with listening and speaking, while strengthening their basic grammar knowledge. During the lesson, I like to create conversations aimed at practising oral comprehension and production.

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Personal Description:
I'm Barry. I'm 46. I've been a qualified teacher for 14 years. I enjoy travelling, camping and outdoors activities as well as going to concerts and festivals and other events.

Teaching Experience:
I've spent the past few years teaching post 16 further education students with educational and behavioural needs in a vocational education setting. I have also taught ESOL/TEFL both in Britain and various locations overseas. Earlier in my teaching career I taught Humanities subjects in Secondary schools

Tutoring Approach:
Adaptable depending on what the student needs. Should be purposeful without losing the fun of learning.

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Personal Description:
Hi, I'm Frances a friendly retired Science teacher. I am an active 60 year old lady young at heart who enjoy spending time with family and friends. I always have had a passion for teaching and love to see children achieve their potential. I graduated from London University in 1984 with a joint honours in Maths and Physics. The following year I completed my PGCE in Canterbury and then began my 32 year teaching career. During this time I had my own family and now have two grown up children both in their twenties. In my spare time I enjoy swimming, cooking, gardening and decorating my new house.

Teaching Experience:
I have thirty two years teaching experience having taught in four different secondary schools in Kent during my career. I have taught science for over thirty of these and I am predominately a Physics specialist having taught up to A level. I have taught combined science courses along with core and additional science courses. This involves teaching Biology, Chemistry and Physics all up to GCSE level. I have held various managerial positions including being a Head of Department and been responsible for examination entries and moderation of coursework.

Tutoring Approach:
I believe that all children can succeed, they need the tools and confidence to be able to do that. I encourage and build confidence in all students. I identify and build on weaknesses whilst the encouraging the growth and development of strengths,

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Personal Description:
Hi! I'm Rayyan- a second year architecture student at Cardiff University. As I did my A Levels and GCSEs in different schools, I am familiar with AQA and Edexcel exam boards. I am passionate when it comes to teaching as it is something I believe is rewarding to both the student and the tutor. It has instilled patience and communication within me among other qualities necessary for the role and I am looking forward to passing knowledge onwards!

Teaching Experience:
I used to tutor GCSE and A Level students at my college to prepare them for their maths assessments from which they benefitted a lot in the lead-up to their examinations.

I also used to be a liaison for 2 years working with year 8-9 kids in a classroom environment. My job was to guide and teach them, on a collective and individual scale, revision techniques, exam preparation and carry out weekly activities with the class in order to provoke thoughts for their futures and improve their teamwork, communication and academic skills.

Tutoring Approach:
Teaching method (open to be altered according to the student, however my default teaching method is as follows):
- Short walkthrough of the module topic with QnA throughout to ensure the topic is understood
- Exploring and answering example questions together
- Exam questions for the student to attempt and walk through the answer together (we go through questions until the student is comfortable with the topic and is able to move on)

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Personal Description:
I am an experienced language teacher with a PGCE and a degree in Modern Languages from Oxford University. I have also completed an MA in Linguistics, specialising in second/third language acquisition. Outside of the classroom, I enjoy travelling, reading, cooking and going to the cinema.

Teaching Experience:
I have twelve years of experience in teaching French and Spanish at secondary school level, both from KS3 to A Level. I have worked in both state and private schools, and in mixed school as well as boys/girls schools. I have taught both in class and online, and currently also work for an online school offering British-system education to students from around the world.

Classes/subjects that I can offer:
- K3 French and Spanish, to equip students with the grammar, vocabulary and exam skills in preparation for GCSE
- GCSE French and Spanish - I have in-depth knowledge of the courses (AQA, Edexcel, Edexcel IGCSE, Cambridge IGCSE) and the exam skills required. I can offer classes tailored to a particular skills (e.g. speaking or writing) or more general classes
- A Level French and Spanish - I have experience in teaching the specifications for AQA, Edexcel, Edexcel International, Eduqas and WJEC. I am able to provide tuition on the film element of the course (La Haine, Intouchables, Les 400 coups, Volver, El laberinto del fauno) and the literature element (Un sac de billes, Bonjour tristesse, No et moi, L'Etranger, Como agua para chocolate, Cronica de una muerte anunciada, La casa de Bernarda Alba).
- functional French and Spanish classes for casual learners who want to communicate effectively in the language

Tutoring Approach:
My approach depends on the objective of my students. I try to include a variety of activities to cover the skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing, to ensure that progress is made across all skills areas. For students wishing to learn a language for academic purposes, I obviously also include grammar and vocabulary. For students who are more interested in functional language skills, my main focus is on communication via speaking, and using authentic resources to prepare them for life/holidays in a foreign country.

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Personal Description:
BA (Hons) Primary Education / Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) / National Professional Qualification for Senior Leadership (NPQSL) / DBS checked

I am an experienced primary teacher with 10 years teaching experience across Years 2-6. I also have 5 years experience as an Assistant Headteacher. I specialise in KS2 SATs and 11+ preparation, with extensive experience teaching arithmetic, reasoning and problem solving, reading, writing, grammar and spelling.

£45 per hour - Free 20 minute consultation via phone or Zoom

I am happy to travel to your home or another suitable location. Journeys of more than 20 minutes may incur an additional travel charge.

Teaching Experience:
10 years experience teaching Year 2 to 6.
5 years experience as an assistant head teacher.

Tutoring Approach:
My approach is personalised and supportive. I begin with an initial assessment to identify your child's strengths, areas for development and specific support required, and continually assess and adapt sessions to ensure they are making progress. I have extensive experience supporting children from a wide range of backgrounds, including children with SEND and English as an Additional Language (EAL).

My aim is not only to improve attainment, but to build confidence, independence and a positive attitude towards learning. I believe face-to-face tutoring is the most effective way to build a strong relationship for learning and get the most out of children, although online sessions can be arranged where necessary.

What you can expect:

* Regular assessment and progress tracking, with sessions adapted to your child's needs.
* Clear communication with parents about progress, strengths and areas for development.
* Optional activities or homework to reinforce learning between sessions.

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