Strome Ferry Tutors and Strome Ferry Tuition

Personal Description:
I am a fully qualified Secondary Chemistry and Science Teacher. I was Head of Science and KS5 Chemistry coordinator in my previous school and now I run my own education support centre in Birmingham City Centre. Prior to my teaching career. I was a Research Fellow at the University of Birmingham conducting research in the field of nanotechnology.
I have acquired the following qualification: PGCS (Chemistry), QTS, MRSC (Member of the Royal Society of Chemistry), Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Chemistry, a Master of Research degree (Msc) in material science and Bachelor of Science degree (Bsc) in Chemistry.

I believe the best way to be successful academically is by hard work, patience and the appropriate guidance. When students do not achieved the top grade for a subject, it is not because they don't work hard enough or they are not bright. It is purely because they do not have the right exam technique and guidance. Hence I believe with my support, students can achieve their desired grade because I understand where the difficulties lie.

Testimonials from students
"Dr. has helped and guided me a lot in the last two years and has been a massive contribution towards helping me achieve my grades at GCSEs and A-level. He always knew how to target areas which I struggled in and which approach I should take to tackle a problem. Dr. has always motivated me and pushed me to be a better student.I am very thankful for all the support you have given me and I wish you all the best in the future!"

"Dr is an excellent tutor who has really supported me and helped me to get set on the right path. I am extremely lucky to have had him as my tutor and I will forever be grateful"

Testimonials from parents
"Thank you Paul for guiding my daughter through her A Level chemistry course and giving her all the help she needed with difficult concepts and scientific analysis over the past four years - it has really flown by! She's now set to study at Kings College with good A Level results! Thanks so much."

Teaching Experience:
I have over 15 years of tutoring and school teaching experience in A-level Chemistry, in both AQA and OCR board. I have taught over 100's of A level and GCSE students over the years. Majority of my students (Both GCSE and A level) end up with level 7-9 in GCSE and A's in A level Chemistry. Most recent results: out of the 7 A level Chemistry student I have, 6 students achieved an A and 1 got a B (3 marks of an A)

Tutoring Approach:
The way I see tutoring is not about teaching students all the knowledge that school has already done, it is about helping students through their difficulties in the subjects. I believe a successful tutor needs to have patience and to understand their student's needs and teach accordingly. The saying I believe the most is "Tell me, I will forget, Show me, I might remember, Involve me, I will understand". With a good understanding and appropriate guidance, any student should be able to achieve any grade they desire.

Subjects

Personal Description:
Hello fellow mathematicians!

I'm Chris, a 23 year old maths PhD student at Brunel University. I was originally granted a School Studentship to fund my studies but then soon after starting my research I was upgraded to an ESPRC grant. I study maths because I enjoy it, and enthusiasm to teach it comes part of this package. For A-level and higher I specialize in pure maths, so algebra, calculus etc so if you happen to be struggling with areas such as these then I'm your guy. Any level lower than A-level I will also be happy to help with.

I do not have a current CRB check but I'm sure I could get one if it is needed - I haven't commited any crimes trust me.

Teaching Experience:
Whilst in 6th form and during my undergraduate years I often went back to my secondary school to help out in the maths department.

For the past academic year I have taught many seminars for foundation, 1st and 2nd year undergraduates. These have ranged from 2-100 students per seminar.

I tutored in the Maths Cafe which is to aid student's revision before their summer examinations.

Tutoring Approach:
Since I only graduated a year ago, I understand and can relate to difficulties students may face. With this in mind, I can offer the best form of tutoring in a way that I feel would have definitely helped me.

Subjects

Personal Description:
Oxford-educated and experienced English tutor, with a fantastic track record of guiding students to phenomenal success. I am an enthusiastic, supportive and encouraging teacher with a sense of humour, bolstered by a true passion for English Literature and Drama.

Students often describe me as friendly, hard-working and reliable and I love to help them to achieve their academic goals. I help with
rigorous academic preparation and a sharp focus on the demands of the exam syllabus, often helping tutees to jump several grades.

Teaching Experience:
I have been a successful private tutor for over ten years, as well as having taught English and Drama in some of the best schools in the country, helping to guide many students to phenomenal exam success. I have taught at Stamford High School and Oakham School - teaching all ages from key stage 3-5 and specifically including GCSE/A Level and IB. I also rigorously prepared students for university entrance at these schools, helping with personal statements, interviews and reading material. I helped many students achieve top grades, founded discussion groups, led the debating society at Stamford, coached the winning house play entry at Oakham and assisted on multiple interview panels. I also led a Shakespeare day, assisted with creative writing, organised multiple theatre trips and led specific workshops on set texts.

I cover a range of specialisms in my tuition, encompassing Shakespeare, poetry, drama texts, novels and essay-writing skills, as well as being highly skilled in exam and coursework technique and 're-teaching' Literature texts in a short space of time to students who feel their tuition has been below par.

Tutoring Approach:
I believe strongly in finding the best approach for each individual student. I don't believe in 'one size fits all' tuition and never have; we are all so gloriously unique and different! I do believe passionately in helping students to feel confident as quickly as possible and, as such, I tend to ensure that for each text, task or question, there is the opportunity for the student to quickly put into practice whatever has been taught. This might be quickly re-writing an introduction, re-ordering a thesis or perhaps simply writing a single line of analysis and quotation. Sometimes little and often is best, as English can be overwhelming for some students and they need continual practice in the art of forming articulate and well-informed sentences at every stage of an essay!

I believe in finding opportunities for the students to enjoy the texts they study, in addition to coaching them rigorously in the necessary set of analytical skills they need to write top notch essays or descriptive/narrative pieces. I enjoy assisting students at all stages of their education and have experience in teaching all key stages. In addition to preparing students thoroughly for public examinations, I have been able to help pupils explore a variety of texts and genres and discover the joy of great writing

I enjoy helping students contemplating Higher Education - having helped students look at different courses, selecting modules and advising them on their personal statements; it has been rewarding to try and help students play to their individual strengths. I have delivered several specialist seminars for University applicants and assisted in delivering intensive mock interviews, both at Stamford and Oundle School, assisted with interviews and entrance examination preparation.

I am also a professional actress and writer and have lots of experience guiding young people in the realms of theatre auditions and Drama GCSE and A Level. In addition, I hold an MA from The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama and further training at The Drama Studio in London and am also available for individual coaching for scholarships, drama school entrance and professional auditions.

I was Theatre Director-in-Residence at Kings College School in Wimbledon, directing many plays and productions, establishing a new writing group and adapting and creating Brighton Rock from an original adaptation, as well as leading the large scale community production of Macbeth. I have touring experience of my solo show and working in the industry which can be shared with students and especially help those wishing to join the profession.

I am based in Lincolnshire and, as such, I tutor all my tutees online.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am a fully qualified teacher of Biology and Environmental Science to A Level, and Maths and the three Sciences to GCSE. I taught for many years in both the private and state sectors.
A semi-retired Environmental Scientist, Zoologist and Freshwater Biologist, I am also fluent in Spanish and German, having spent many years living in Latin American countries, working for German and British multinational companies.

Teaching Experience:
I taught GCSE Science (Biology, Physics, Chemistry) and Maths and A-Level & IB Biology and Environmental Science in both the state and private sectors for many years. I have tutored students in these subjects and levels during the past 10 years, with excellent results almost always surpassing the student's predicted grades..
I have also supported Spanish-language classes and individual students at GCSE level, and have worked on conversational Spanish with adult learners.

Tutoring Approach:
I believe the key to successful tutoring is to provide the help, support and encouragement the student needs. Unlike a classroom setting, the agenda is and must be driven primarily by the student. Thus my first task is always to help students identify their strengths and weaknesses, and what they want to get out of the tutor sessions. From this we jointly develop a strategy and plan of action. I then tailor my approach to fulfil the student's requirements.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am a married mother of 2 grown up children. I am passionate about education, I'm a school governor in my spare time!, but I also enjoy going to the gym and travelling.

Teaching Experience:
I am an ex primary school headteacher with 30 years experience in both the maintained and independent sectors. I am also a school governor and inspector so you can see I'm very interested in education!
I aim to make all my lessons fun and tailor them to the needs of the individual child whether they are working towards their 11+ examinations, SATs or just need that extra boost in their confidence; I have supported numerous children in all these situations.
I have also supported children with additional needs with particular experience in dyslexia, dyscalculia and ADHD.
I am fully insured and have an enhanced DBS certificate.

Tutoring Approach:
I listen to both the parents and the child and work with them to ensure that they enjoy the sessions and make progress every week. I incorporate games and practical work within my sessions. I work from my home where I have room completely set up for teaching with all my resources close at hand.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am an experienced tutor who has been tutoring for the last 25 years. I teach from KS3 to A levels, Maths, Chemistry and Physics.
I started my career as a Chemical Engineer and completed my PhD in that subject.
In Industry I have worked on Polymers, Pharmaceuticals and ceramics. I have designed towers using principles of Maths and Science and have been able to work out, how long it will take a ceramic to reach a temperature inside a furnace.
I have also worked on Pharmaceuticals and in particular enzymatic reactors and their Mathematical modelling. I also carried out calculation on diffusion through membranes.

Teaching Experience:
I have been teaching for some 25 years on a one to one basis and to groups. All my students end up in getting admission to a University of their choice and a course to their liking. At the moment I am doing online tutoring. Online tutoring has many benefits which includes cost and the comfort of learning in familiar surroundings. . Online teaching has many positive aspects as compared to a traditional classroom.

Tutoring Approach:
I start by assessing the student in terms of present standard and academic potential. Once I have found out the level, I then collaborate with the parent or guardian to set targets.
My approach is a question and answer one, where the topic is discussed and any misconceptions are rectified and corrected.
Once the student has worked on their topic vocabulary, it is generally found that the student becomes a quick learner.
I also find motivation is an important factor in learning. If the student is keen on the subject they then begin to show creativity.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I'm a college student studying Mathematics with previous tutoring experience and a great deal of passion for my course. I'm very friendly and patient with a strong work ethic, maths is an incredibly diverse area of study and there are countless numbers of ways to learn it at a pace and method suitable for any student. My goal will not only be to push my student to the grade they want and beyond, but to also develop an appreciation of the subject, such that they would be able to tackle any future struggle with more confidence.

Teaching Experience:
I have previously tutored my friends to help them improve their grades. Also my neighbours kids who were preparing for there SAT's.

Tutoring Approach:
I like exam questions, so when I notice my student is comfortable with the topic I make them practice lots of exam questions to make them more comfortable and confident in answering exam questions.

Subjects

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.

*

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.'

*

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.'

*

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.'

*

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!'

*

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.

Subjects

Personal Description:
Travelling, I have visited many countries around the world, I also love musical theatre ( both local and West End) attending gigs and live tribute acts, dance lessons, reading, and walking my dog along the beautiful Dorset coastline

Teaching Experience:
I have been working as a teacher for the past nine years after completing my PGCE at Roehampton University in 2011.
Even though my main experience is in Early Years, since January 2018 I have worked as a Supply Teacher and have taught every year group up to year 6. Prior to becoming a teacher, I worked for four years as a Senior Teaching Assistant, spending two years in Nursery and two years in Reception. This school-based experience also inspired me to pursue a career in teaching, especially my passion for working in Early Years.
Due to my experience, I have a secure knowledge and understanding of the EYFS curriculum. I have taught 'jolly phonics'. which is the foundation for recognising and understanding each phoneme and is essential in children beginning to learn to read and write simple sentences and basic punctuation. I have taught maths which involved number recognition and introducing counting, shape, colour, weight, height, sorting, and considering 'more' and 'less' up to 20 I have also taught PE, IT, topic subjects, and guided reading. I have also worked as an EYFS teacher in a pre-school where I was also a key worker to 11 children of pre-school age, so I have up to date knowledge of teaching in a nursey setting. I have high expectations for my pupils and set clear objectives based on individual targets, so momentum and challenge are maintained. I am always mindful of differentiating my planning and teaching to cater for every child's ability, learning needs and styles of learning. This is because I have the experience of teaching children with a wide range of differing needs. I am also acutely aware of how Covid 19 has interrupted essential progress and delayed learners important development, and how this unwelcome change in their educational routine has impacted on a child's self esteem and ability to learn in a familiar and happy environment.
I consider one of my strengths to be the excellent relationships I have developed with my pupils, with whom I form positive and productive relationships, promoting a nurturing environment where Early Years children can feel safe and happy and therefore facilitate learning. I am also a strong believer that children learn when they are enjoying themselves so lots of singing and fun is essential. Young children engage with audio visual so these are included within the lesson to stimulate and maintain interest.
During lockdown I also gained my TEFL qualification so am able to give conversation classes to students who are looking to improve their English language skills

In conclusion, I believe every child matters and each child is entitled to the best so they can reach their full academic potential.

Tutoring Approach:
I am an experienced KS1 teacher, who specialises in Early Years. I recognise that fostering self-esteem in a nurturing,safe setting is fundamental in children becoming confident, happy, successful independent learners and young adults. My approach is to assess each individual to establish their specific learning requirements , which will inform future bespoke planning. Each child is unique and will therefore require their own personal learning journey. I am happy to work at a slower pace, to reinforce and consolidate learning or work in depth to push more able children. I have earned the trust and respect of parents and colleagues in all my roles by my empathetic, approachable and conscientious approach to all that I do.

Subjects

Personal Description:
Hello! I'm Athavan, a passionate and dedicated tutor specialising in Maths and Physics. With a strong academic background, I am committed to helping students achieve their academic goals and build confidence in their abilities.

Background:
I passed my 11+ exams and had the privilege of attending Wilson's Grammar School. This experience instilled in me a love for learning and a strong foundation in Maths and Physics.

Academic Achievements:
In my GCSE exams, I achieved outstanding results, securing a grade 9 in Maths and an A* in Physics. These achievements are a testament to my dedication, hard work, and passion for these subjects.

Master's Degree in Civil Engineering: I hold a Master's degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Southampton. This rigorous program equipped me with advanced mathematical and scientific knowledge, which I apply in my career as a Civil Engineer.

Teaching Experience:
With no formal teaching experience, this is why you should choose me:

Personalised Attention: I offer a fresh perspective and a willingness to tailor my approach to suit the individual needs of each student.

Academic Excellence: My own academic achievements serve as proof of my ability to excel in Maths and Physics. I am committed to helping my students achieve similar success.

Commitment to Growth: I am eager to learn and grow alongside my students. Together, we can navigate the challenges of education and celebrate our achievements along the way.

Tutoring Approach:
Passion for Learning: My passion for Maths and Physics runs deep. I believe that enthusiasm is contagious and that my genuine love for these subjects will inspire and motivate my students.

Empathy and Understanding: Having recently been in the shoes of a student, I understand the challenges and pressures they face. I approach tutoring with empathy, patience, and a willingness to adapt to each student's unique learning style.

I will follow a systematic method of teaching which will include finding out what they are struggling with and helping them through the curriculum alongside what they are learning at school. This will be accompanied by worked examples, practice questions, and past paper questions to help them grow in confidence when it comes to exams and assessments

Subjects

Personal Description:
Hi, I'm Tom. I'm 25 and have been a professional software developer for 2 years, having finished my undergraduate degree in physics and computer science at Edinburgh in 2023. Since then I've been working full time and have just finished a masters level apprenticeship alongside my work. I used to do tutoring before and at the beginning of uni and really enjoyed it so am looking to get back into it! I've also got a DBS check (issued November 2025) and would be happy to show this if requested.

Teaching Experience:
Aside from my experience at school and uni, I've got experience in tutoring KS3 and GCSE maths, science and Spanish. Whilst at school I tutored one boy from year 8 to GCSE maths, science and Spanish and whilst at university tutored another in GCSE maths science and geography. Both of these were pupils were tutored using a combination of in person and online sessions. I also used to volunteer to do reading lessons at a local primary school and worked part time at young engineers whilst at university, teaching children from 3 to 11 years old the basics of science through lego

Tutoring Approach:
I've found in the past that the best approach to tutoring is to be very positive and flexible. I have never been a super forceful or strict tutor and think that trying to be too overbearing, particularly in sessions outside of or extra to school like tutoring, just makes people perform worse. I will always try and be positive and make sure sessions are not painful for students (as I remember how much doing homework can be a chore!), but equally make sure students are getting the most out of sessions by asking questions of them to demonstrate their knowledge and checking they're confident with what we've done.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I'm Oliver - I have a passion for all things English and am looking for tutees happy to work over Zoom / Teams etc, either on weekday evenings or weekend mornings.

I hold a BA in English from The University of Liverpool and an MA also in English Literature.

Teaching Experience:
I have taught English for 9 years now across a number of schools in Merseyside and London. I currently work as a Lead Practitioner of English and Lead for Key Stage 4, though I have also previously led in my school on Key Stage 5 English Literature also.

I have also marked extensively at GCSE and A Level for the AQA exam board - so I know what students need to do to achieve marks - and have had a lot of success previously with predicting exam questions for GCSE Literature.

My particular specialisms are GCSE English Language, GCSE English Literature and A Level English Literature, particularly within the AQA specifications. I can be particularly of help also with the following set texts: Macbeth, Romeo
And Juliet, A Christmas Carol, Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, An Inspector Calls, Power and Conflict Poetry.

Tutoring Approach:
I conduct tutoring sessions over zoom / teams etc. ideally in one or two hour slots so that progress can be made. To make the most of your time I like to get the tutee to do small bits of work in this time so that I can offer immediate feedback. I'm also happy to share all of my teaching resources to take away and work with

Subjects