Taddington Tutors & Taddington Tuition

Personal Description:
I am a qualified Science teacher with over 10 years of classroom experience and 18+ years of tutoring expertise, specialising in KS3 and KS4. I have also successfully supported learners across KS1, KS2, KS5 and adult education. With a BSc (Hons) in Pharmacology and an MSc in Educational Leadership and Management, I deliver clear, engaging and results-focused lessons that build confidence and secure excellent progress. My scientific background enriches my teaching, enabling students to grasp complex concepts with ease and apply them effectively in exams.

Teaching Experience:
I am a former AQA GCSE examiner for Biology, Chemistry and Physics, with experience marking live examination papers and applying grade boundary criteria accurately and consistently.

I have over 8 years of classroom teaching experience, including 6 years in inner-city secondary schools and 2 years in a specialist SEN provision, where I successfully supported learners with dyslexia, autism and challenging behaviour. My expertise is strongly rooted in KS3 and KS4 Science, delivering both Combined Science and Triple Science pathways across Biology, Chemistry and Physics.

I have planned and delivered high-quality, curriculum-aligned lessons informed by QCA guidance at Key Stage 3, and have taught GCSE content across multiple examination boards, including AQA, Edexcel, WJEC and OCR. I have also written and adapted schemes of work, assessment materials and differentiated learning resources to ensure full compliance with the latest curriculum reforms and to support pupils in achieving strong outcomes.

Tutoring Approach:
My teaching philosophy is centred on identifying each learner's starting point, pinpointing areas for development, and transforming those weaknesses into strengths over time. I am a strong advocate of personalised learning, and I create bespoke resources-including concise educational videos, mind maps, and simplified flashcards-to make complex concepts accessible and memorable.

I take a diagnostic and adaptive approach during the first week to determine which learning methods best suit the student. Based on these insights, I design a tailored progress plan that includes clear goals, appropriate pacing, and systematic progress tracking. My aim is not only to enhance subject knowledge but also to unlock confidence, resilience, and independent learning skills.

For students with limited time before an exam, I adapt this approach into a focused, accelerated programme that prioritises high-impact topics, targeted revision strategies, and exam-style practice, ensuring they make rapid, measurable progress and feel fully prepared within the time available.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am a graduate from the University of Sunderland - BSc hons Information Technology and Education - 2:1. I have been teaching for twenty successful years. I'm Head of Mathematics teaching GCSE Mathematics and GCSE ICT at a school in Northumberland. I have excellent experience teaching GCSE Maths, Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Publisher and Access. My personal teaching philosophy is to ensure each tutee achieves his/her best with my support. This is achieved by developing strategies to meet their needs, so that they are able to enjoy each lesson and achieve their full potential. I also gained a Master of Education from the University of Newcastle in 2006. I am married and have seven year old twin girls.

Teaching Experience:
I have taught GCSE ICT and iMedia in secondary schools for the past twenty years and GCSE Mathematics for 10 years. In our recent Ofsted I was graded Good with Outstanding elements in my Mathematics lesson. I have an outstanding success record at grade C and above in Maths & ICT. I have been a private tutor for seven years. I have taught Computers for Absolute Beginners and CLAIT for 5 years. I can also set up personal/business websites.

Tutoring Approach:
I plan and prepare my lessons to the need of the individual and re-enforce any uncertainty until the appropriate targets/level have been met.

Subjects

Personal Description:
Paola
Online lessons nationwide and face to face based in Aberdeen.

I am a native Italian speaker with British nationality and fluent in both English and French.

I have a long working knowledge of English, having worked for several years as a librarian in Aberdeen and for the oil & gas industry (GE and NOV) for 8 years. I also worked for RGU prior to start teaching full time.

I offer Italian, French and English tuition at all levels, from complete beginners to advanced.

I studied English language and literature with French and Italian at La Sapienza University of Rome, Italy, where I obtained my PhD.

After graduation I spent a long time working in France in Disneyland Paris. This gave me the opportunity to hone my French language skills.

I have experience teaching students of various age and nationality, both school children and adults who need to pass exams.
I have a PVG check.

Teaching Experience:
University of Aberdeen
Rosemount Community Centre, small groups - Aberdeen
University of Aberdeen language department
Tutoring agencies

Tutoring Approach:
I offer distance learning tuition via Skype for all beginners, intermediate and advanced learners.

I describe myself as enthusiastic, friendly and patient.

I am committed to delivering high quality tuition by offering tailor-made classes to suit different students' needs.

I think that a good tutor should guide the student towards the learner's goal with confidence and be able to explain clearly and in a friendly manner.

I am committed to bridge the gap between the textbooks and the demands of modern learning making the learning process fun and adaptable to each student.

Learning a new language should be fun. I am passionate about creating activities for the learners and make them feel at ease and comfortable during the class.

I have experience teaching school children and adults one-to-one, one-to-two, and small groups for different organisations across the UK such as private schools and community centres.

I offer flexible hours so my students can arrange the classes according to their needs and availability.

Learning a new language is a great opportunity to discover the culture of another country.

Cultural awareness is part of the language experience. Therefore, I love sharing the culture of my country and my knowledge of other cultures with my students.

For my teaching, I use different techniques and media. I love sharing online resources such as videos, articles and podcasts for listening activities and guided speaking exercises.

I can prepare for school and university exams, including GCSE and National 4 and 4 English, French and Italian and EFL exams.

For learners who take regular classes I can correct short written exercises.

During the first class I can assess the student's level in order to plan a suitable course tailor made to the learner's needs.

I am enthusiastic for using new technologies to add to the learning experience.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I have a BA (Hons) degree in Acting which I received at Birmingham School of Acting. I have 11 years performing experience; this combined with the inspiring training I absorbed in drama school gives me extensive knowledge and insight into my specialised area. During my training I was awarded a Laurence Olivier Bursary by the Society of London Theatre for being one of the most promising actors in the UK. I was also nominated for the Carleton Hobbs Radio Award, recording at the BBC. I have attended workshops at the Royal Shakespeare Company and was extremely privileged to be selected to perform & attend workshops at Shakespeare's Globe at the Sam Wanamaker Festival in 2010.

I am a professional actor, director & writer as well as a tutor; so am able to understand the importance of each perspective and explain and explore the possibilities within these areas.

Teaching Experience:
I have a PTLLS Teaching Qualification so am able to organise my knowledge and teaching plans to suit my student's needs.

I understand that student's have their own learning style and my role is to discover, adapt and then help them explore within that style.

Tutoring Approach:
Positivity, relaxation, bravery, understanding writing and a respectful connection to your emotional core are what I believe makes an actor special.

I will give you the tools and encourage you to reach your highest potential in the specialist area you would like to explore.

I will teach you to stretch your imagination in order to make the bravest, most exciting acting choices.

My specialist areas are Classical Acting, Contemporary Theatre, Physical Theatre, Psychological Realism, Stage Combat, Acting through Song, Performance Art, Vocal Technique, Comedy, Contemporary Dance, Audition Technique, Stage, Screen and Broadcast.

I am excited at the prospect of sharing my knowledge and insight to inspire the inner greatness out of my students!

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am a professional geography researcher specialised in regional geography and urban sciences. I have gained my knowledge and expertise from universities across Europe (Pécs, Wolverhampton, Maribor, Zagreb, and Ljubljana). I am currently a PhD Aspirant at the University of Pécs, Hungary.

I have been mainly researching in the field 'geography of energy', but my interests link my specification to other scientific disciplines such as sustainability, environmental sciences, and landscape geography, and I am able to perform and combine various geographical fields.

During my years as a PhD Student, I was given the chance to gain experience as a lecturer; teaching subjects which included: renewable energy resources and world regional geography. In 2015, I officially became a teacher after successfully completing my PGCE at the Birmingham City University in England.

As a teacher I have also gained experience in a prison setting teaching mathematics to a wide age range and ability of students and different learning levels, whilst I have been able to use the knowledge that I obtained from the course in practice.

Besides having published a number of articles and books, I am the founder and series editor of Frugeo's journal called Geographical Locality Studies.

I am a registered member of the Hungarian Geographical Society (MFT), and the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL).

Teaching Experience:
Being a 'good' teacher is a subjective opinion that I cannot state about myself. I am experienced in a wide-range of teaching environments from primary/secondary school-aged pupils to adult/prison learning and higher education.

People who have observed me teaching in the past have had positive criticism of my work and mentioned how efficient and encouraging my lessons and teaching methods are. In my opinion, to be a good teacher it is essential to be flexible with the environment you work in and have to have comprehensive knowledge both in outdoors and in classroom settings. You have to experience and observe the outside world for you to engage and maintain properly an enthusiastic class when teaching geography.

The qualifications and the reputation I have obtained in Geography are the results of an enthusiasm I have had since my childhood for this subject area and it is still part of my daily life that comes to life through my own business and its journal.

Geography is not only my profession, but is also my hobby that is present in my life with all of its aspects, whether it be examining a piece of rock or talking about coffee beans, I can discuss both in an academic sense as well as out of personal interest. The diverse use of language therefore is important when encouraging others on geography and the key is to find a common interest between subject and receiver for them to understand and to be inspired by what they are learning. For example, when teaching in the prison, Mathematics combined with Geography suddenly becomes more interesting and therefore engaging.

Tutoring Approach:
For a researcher with a deep understanding about the Earth's mechanisms, Geography will always reserve a high number of mysteries. Research is the foundation for everything that is taught and this will always be exciting for me to do. But the implementation of this new knowledge may be challenging, that is why you have to keep thinking of new teaching methods to improve the quality of the subject that you are teaching. For this reason, it is essential to assist the younger generation for them to become capable to deal with geography related topics and issues.

As originally a researcher with a non-British educational background and with a very colourful and diverse interest in Earth Sciences, I am able to shake things up. My aim is to develop people's knowledge, foster their understandings on geography and help them achieve the required goals set by the school/exam board which I hope will motivate them into using geographical knowledge in their daily lives.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am a bilingual (native Russian) educator with extensive experience teaching Science, Maths, and Russian across various levels, from nursery to adult education. Currently, I teach Chemistry, Physics, Biology, and advanced Maths at a small independent school in Bedfordshire.

I specialize in Maths and Science and have a particular interest in working with students with special needs and autism. I offer intensive GCSE exam preparation, with proven results such as helping a student improve their grade from 5 to 7 in just two months through focused sessions.

I hold multiple teaching qualifications, including an MA in Education (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities), which I obtained in 2022. I have also worked as an examiner for AQA in GCSE Chemistry and have experience supporting students with challenging behaviours and special educational needs.

My approach incorporates sensory stimuli to enhance engagement and reduce transitional times, based on my dissertation research into educational motivation for teenagers with challenging behaviours. I am passionate about leveraging students' natural interests to drive positive changes in behaviour and academic attitudes.

Teaching Experience:
I have extensive experience teaching Maths, Science, and Russian, both face-to-face and online. I employ various student engagement strategies to ensure a productive and enjoyable learning experience.

I began teaching Science in 1989 in Siberia. Since then, I have taught students of various ages and, after moving to the UK, expanded my teaching to include Russian. I also founded and ran a Russian language school for over 11 years, where I developed and tailored curricula to meet individual needs. The teachers I trained in my school are now making an impact in schools across the UK.

Maths: I teach Maths at various levels, from primary to GCSE. My approach focuses on building a solid understanding and confidence in the subject.

Science: I have been teaching Science since 1989 in different countries. In my most recent role at a private behavioural school, 90% of students initially expressed a dislike for Science, but 60% ended up eagerly attending my classes.

Russian: I teach Russian to a wide range of age groups, from 3-year-olds to 76-year-olds. I use diverse techniques tailored to each student's age, learning style, and schooling level to boost their confidence and maximize their potential.

SEND: I have a strong interest in teaching students with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), sensory issues, and challenging behaviours. I aim to equip all my students with the skills needed for employability and adaptation to the working environment.

Tutoring Approach:
My goal as a tutor is to cultivate a deep understanding and confidence in each student. I adapt my teaching methods to meet their individual needs, learning styles, and abilities. I aim to inspire independent thinking by incorporating real-world examples whenever possible. I typically start with familiar topics to build confidence and gradually progress to more challenging material. Additionally, I use questions and homework to continually assess and reinforce understanding.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am an arts enthusiast with incisive critical engagement skills and 16 years private tuition experience. I'm able to draw from a wide range of critical theories and approaches when analysing arts and performance related texts. A big fan of film, theatre, visual art, music, literature and comedy. I have taught up to MA level, have directed productions at RADA and currently hold the post of Contextual practice lecturer at Italia Conti Drama school.

Teaching Experience:
I hold an MA from The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) and Kings College and graduated from Royal Holloway in 2011 with the highest degree grade of the graduate year. I was approached by many of my co-students to advise them on essays and creative work and was employed by the Drama department to run workshops for prospective students. I'm now a professional theatre-maker, freelance drama practitioner and public speaking trainer. I have led workshops with a wide spectrum of people from ages 10 up to 75 years old and for organisations including BPP law school, RADA, Italia Conti, University of Bolton, Central Film school and UWL. Alongside tutoring I currently offer essay and dissertation guidance, proofreading and editing services. I also offer audition guidance and monologue tuition for actors and acting students.

Testimonial from Ina:

"Thank you for all your help with my Film Studies, I ended up getting an A* and also an A* in Media Studies. so I got my place at the University of Exeter to study Management with Marketing, thanks a lot, I couldn't have done it without you!"

Testimonial from Nadia:

"Dean's tuition was fantastic! He is patient but he still pushed me to do my best. I am much more confident writing about drama and theatre. Dean made sure I understood everything we talked about which meant I didn't forget it in my exam and I ended up getting an A!"

Testimonial from Yin:

"Dean's guidance really got the best out of me and he pushed me to explore my arguments in my dissertation. He gave me very precise, useful feedback on my dissertation. He is very nice to deal with and speak to and I was so happy with him. He also increased my English vocabulary!"

Testimonial from Kevin:

"I was really unsure and didn't know where to start with my first A2 exams but Dean's help made everything much easier and I feel much calmer and more confident about the rest of my course. Thank you."

Testimonial from Anna:

"Dean tutored my daughter via Skype for her Film Studies A Level. He went out of his way to accommodate the times she was available as this varied greatly week on week, sometimes organising other commitments around her. He always asked in advance what it was she wanted to cover so he could prepare for the session and was very good at explaining things that she didn't understand in some of the films, looking at them in more depth and detail with her. He also helped her with exam technique and she felt that she really got a lot out of the sessions. She has ended up with A A B so she is pretty pleased with that."

Tutoring Approach:
I like to spread a love and enthusiasm for arts and humanities subjects with an emphasis on the potential for personal as well as academic development. I am an adaptive tutor skilled at relating the work to the student's own experiences, ensuring they establish their own academically applicable opinions, ideas and approaches. I'm a meticulous problem solver and am able to pinpoint areas that need attention, particularly in essays, coursework and presentation work. I'm a natural entertainer but always maintain focus on the task at hand, offering insightful, productive and engaging tuition sessions to my students.

I maintain an industry standard cancellation/no show policy, please ask for details.

Subjects

Personal Description:
ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A DEDICATED, PROFESSIONAL AND EXPERIENCED PRIVATE TUTOR?

I am a highly experienced and successful private tutor in English language and literature, with over 40 years teaching experience in secondary and further education.

I have been a private tutor for the past 10 years, and find it extremely rewarding to continue to use my expertise to support students preparing for challenging English qualifications, which are so vital for success in life.

This is what the mum of one of my 2024-5 tutees has said about my support for her son, who completed his A Level English Literature in summer 2025:

"During the 2nd year of my son's A Level English course it became evident that he felt very uncertain of some areas of the English course curriculum.
He hoped that a tutor would be able to get him back on track and fill in the gaps.
My son instantly felt comfortable with Isla. He knew she would be able to help. This confidence came within one lesson as Isla asked him the right questions to ascertain his strengths, and concerns.
Isla provided the additional support that my son needed in a calm, considered way. As a parent I was also updated about the form of the lessons and my son's progress on a weekly basis.
Isla continued to support my son during the revision period and provided last minute tuition and encouragement which was invaluable.
Isla teaches passionately to the individual and has clear objectives that are communicated well. Most importantly she does this in a friendly way, in a safe and comfortable environment.
My son achieved a B for English Literature and he was delighted.
In our opinion Isla played a large part in him achieving this result."
Mrs HS, Rutland, August 2025

Here is another testimonial from the mother of one of my GCSE tutees who took his exams summer 2024:

"Isla is a wonderful, dedicated tutor and I really couldn't have wished for a better tutor for my son's GCSE English. Isla's lessons are extremely well-planned, resourced and delivered, and she has created an excellent method of teaching which helped my son to engage and focus on his preparation for the exams. Most importantly, however, was the strong teacher/pupil relationship that Isla built with my son. From the first lesson, my son had great respect for his tutor, valuing her feedback and acting upon the advice given. I realised after the first tutorial that Isla's teaching style is perfect for today's students. Thank you so much Isla for your guidance, We are grateful for all your help!"
Mrs PD, Grantham, July 2024
Footnote: this tutee who has dyslexia gained a level 6 in both English Language and Literature.

You can see more reviews in my testimonial section below.

MORE ABOUT MY TEACHING EXPERIENCE:

After I retired from full-time teaching , I decided to continue teaching by becoming a private tutor, because I love teaching.

Formerly, I taught 11 to 18 year olds : Key Stages 3, GCSE and A Level, and in my work I had an excellent track record for enabling my students to achieve their academic potential; my school pupils achieved consistently good or excellent GCSE and A Level grades and this has continued to be the case with my private tutees.

I love my subject and I am a thorough and kind teacher dedicated to raising standards of literacy through my teaching of English language and literature, and to the educational and personal development of young people more widely. Reading and writing skills are vital to success, and I want to empower my tutees by helping them to acquire those essential skills.

As well as teaching my academic subject, I was a sixth form personal tutor ( Years 12 and 13) in my school for 18 years, monitoring my students' academic progress, and guiding and mentoring those applying to university, assisting with UCAS applications and personal statements, or helping tutees plan for a gap year or for employment - a role which I found particularly fulfilling. I am available to support UCAS application personal statements. I get on very well with all my students and oerhaos especially those aged 16 - 18.

I also have experience of teaching in further education and have taught mature students from different cultural backgrounds.

I have also supervised sixth form students taking the AQA Extended Project Qualification. I greatly enjoy one - to-one tuition.

TUTORING EXPERTISE

In my long teaching career, I have built up extensive subject knowledge and teaching expertise, which I can adapt to students ranging from 11 years to adult, and taking exams with various examining boards, with my main focus as a private tutor being on GCSE and A Level.


A selection of TESTIMONIALS

I love working as a private tutor, helping my tutees to gain confidence in essential reading and writing skills and to achieve exam success.

In addition to the two above, here is a selection of testimonials from former tutees and their parents:

GCSE:

"When my daughter was about 14 it became apparent that she was really struggling with English. She had other difficulties going on that had made the subject very difficult for her. Her main problem was she didn't know how to approach answering questions and didn't understand how to structure an answer. We realised the importance of getting our daughter extra support, not only for her English Language and English Literature GCSE but as a foundation to other subjects and her future in life. We were very lucky to find Isla, who had experience of the exam board that we were using and many years teaching experience. She worked with my daughter on a weekly basis, through Year 10 and Year 11; Isla always planned our sessions and she covered all areas of the curriculum across both English GCSE subjects. By the time my daughter came to take her exams she was really prepared and had a new found confidence. I know that whatever her results are they will be better than they would have been. Do not hesitate to get support from Isla, she will work flexibly with you and listen to your needs."
Mrs LC, Stamford, July 2022
Update following exam results August 25 2022: this tutee is very pleased to have achieved a level 5 ( strong pass) in GCSE English Language and a 4 ( standard pass) in English Literature.

"My son was really struggling to get any motivation to study either English literature or language in both the first and second year of his GCSE course and so I made the decision to get him some support and contacted Isla to help him. Over a period of about 12 months Isla steadily helped Josh to work through the syllabus and both supported him and stretched him in order to help him maximise his potential. In his finals Josh received a solid B in both subjects and has gone on to study A level literature. I have no doubt he would not have achieved this without Isla's ongoing help and support."
Mrs M.M. Rutland , 2018


" Our son needed help to raise his GCSE English grade from a C to a B. We are so pleased that we found Isla to help him. He thoroughly enjoyed the sessions with Isla, which were paced at just the right level for him. He produced homework each week which was marked before his next session. He responded well to Isla's teaching methods and worked a lot harder than he had at school. Results day was brilliant - he gained an A grade. Fantastic! We would recommend Isla wholeheartedly."
Mrs J R, Rutland, 2017

Isla has helped both of our boys this year - one with his Personal Statement for his University application and one with his Dissertation for his degree. Both boys found Isla very easy to work with, approachable, friendly and very knowledgeable. Both boys have now moved on to University and work - both having benefitted from Isla's fantastic help.
Mrs J R Rutland, 2019


"Knowing her for roughly around two years, I found Isla to be a very professional, sincere, caring and accommodating teacher who has a passion to deliver the best she can offer. With no love for literature at all, my daughter struggled with GCSE English specially the literature where she would get C/low B compared to her other subjects. We were really concerned and wanted to push up her grade in English. That's when Isla came in as a great help. She quickly picked up and addressed the areas of concern and gave enough advice and support on revision techniques preparing her for the exam.. My daughter got a 9(A*)in Eng language and a 7(A) in literature in GCSE. In my daughter's own words: "Isla has been absolutely instrumental in boosting confidence within me without which I couldn't have asked for this result. No doubt - we highly recommend her."
Mrs P, Peterborough, 2017

"Isla provided excellent support during Year 10 and 11 to our daughter in relation to her GCSE studies in both English Literature and Language. This complemented her learning at school and enabled focus on those areas where extra support or explanation was needed. Isla was very flexible in her approach, tailoring her lessons to our daughter's needs and providing additional support on the run up to the exams themselves. Although our daughter isn't continuing her English studies at A Level, Isla is going continue to provide support in relation to essay structure and comprehension in the subjects she has chosen to study. We would highly recommend her."
Mrs R M, Leicestershire, parent of GCSE pupil, 2015

A LEVEL:

Isla is a very dedicated English Literature teacher. I saw the benefit of her lessons from the outset! Isla is reliable and meticulously organised as she always had the session planned which allowed us to make the most of every lesson. I am very grateful to have found Isla as I not only gained a clearer understanding of the books taught, but also my confidence in exam technique improved immensely due to Isla's support. I highly recommend Isla, she is a very kind person as well as an incredibly devoted teacher. Thank you Isla for your guidance and support.
DD, Grantham, September 2023
Footnote: my tutee DD gained a grade B in English at A Level and A grades in Mathemarics and Economics . She decided to take a gap year and is now studying for a degree in Economics at LSE.


"Isla has been a wonderful tutor for my son, and was able to support him enormously in all aspects of his AQA A level English Literature. Isla is very knowledgeable and thorough in her approach and assisted with his research and planning for his coursework, and with close study and revision of the challenging texts my son studied over the course of the 2 years, until he took his final exams in June 2019 . She also supported him in developing and writing his personal statement for UCAS, which resulted in excellent offers of university places. My son found Isla to be very approachable and very easy to work with as her teaching style is friendly, patient and clear, and she was also open to scheduling extra sessions when needed to fit around his studies. Isla"s support has been invaluable and has enabled my son to achieve a good set of A Level grades, including a creditable grade English Literature, and he is now settled into his first term at one of the top universities in the country, studying Economics. We would have no hesitation in recommending Isla as a private tutor.."
Mrs J.M., Leicester. October 2019

We turned to a private tutor because our daughter received a disappointing result in her first year of A Level English, but she knew she could do better and wanted to go to a first class University to study English. Her coursework had been excellent and most of her homework was good, too, but her exam technique was less secure. Isla definitely made a difference. She is a nurturing teacher who interacts with the student really well. Isla gave good advice about preparing for the exam paper and gave support in revision of the various texts, which boosted our daughter's confidence. Having achieved the necessary entry grades, our daughter is now at Newcastle University starting her degree course and wants to keep in touch with Isla."
Sally S, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, parent of A Level student, 2016

"As someone who wanted to pursue English at university, my grade C at AS Level was not good enough, so during Year 13 we found a private tutor to help me with my A Level English Language and Literature course. Isla put lots of time into helping me come out with an overall high grade B. She gave me wonderful advice with my creative coursework and really enhanced my knowledge of the two plays I was studying for my written exam. I am so grateful and will continue to keep in touch with Isla as I enter my degree course at Newcastle University for English Literature and Creative Writing."
Emily S, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, A Level tutee, 2016

Update from Emily S, Peterborough (above) received June 27 2019:

"I wanted to send you a quick email to let you know that I have received a First Class Honours from Newcastle University in English Literature and Creative Writing!
I am really thrilled as I wasn't expecting it!
You were a real help to me and my time with you was the beginning of me finding my feet with poetry; I went on to write a creative portfolio of poetry instead of a dissertation and received a mark of 75 for it.
So this is just to say, thank you very much!! "


"Isla has helped both of our sons this year - one with his Personal Statement for his University application and one with his Dissertation for his degree. Both boys found Isla very easy to work with, approachable, friendly and very knowledgeable. They have now moved on to University and work - both having benefitted from Isla's fantastic help."
Mrs J R, Rutland, 2018

I assisted a former GCSE resit tutee in his final year at university . This email arrived from his mother to tell me about her son's graduation:

Just to let you know that XXX got a 2.1 in his Sports Psychology degree!
We are very proud of him.
Thank you so much again for all your help and support.
June 2021

Teaching Experience:
I have been a private tutor for 9 years. Private tutoring enables me to stay in touch with young adults and to continue to use the teaching skills I have developed over a long and successful teaching career.

I greatly enjoy one to one tutoring and my students feel supported and more confident about facing their exams.

My tutees tend to be students who are struggling with the subject and have been predicted lower grades than they need.

Sometimes there is a specific issue such as spelling, or a student might struggle with a particular aspect, such as reading, or with a particular set text, or with how to write essays and exam answers that will earn high marks.

Without exception, my tutees grow in confidence amd improve their standard; they often go in to achieve very creditable grades that enable them to move to the next stage of their school career, or gain the university place they want.


At GCSE and AS/A Level my pupils have obtained consistently excellent results. I have taught a very wide range of set texts for literature and have taught courses by different exam boards, such as Edexcel, OCR, AQA, and the CIE IGCSE.

My school teaching often involved one-to-one sessions with pupils who needed extra support and I have taught those whose attainment in the subject is modest, as well as higher achievers in English.

Other teaching experience includes teaching for a total of 7 years full and part-time in further education colleges, and I have also taught English as a foreign language for the British Council in a Middle Eastern country.

Because I love teaching and supporting young people in their intellectual development, I have continued tutoring privately since retiring from full time school teaching, and I currently tutor students ranging from 14 to 18, assisting with preparation for GCSE and A Level exams.

I am able to offer both one- to- one in person teaching or teaching online.

My tutoring role includes assisting my tutees with English Language papers and with close study and revision of a wide range of set texts for Literature exams , demonstrating my adaptability in quickly grasping what different exam techniques are required. I have also given advice and support to students in higher education, pursuing English degrees.

My support for GCSE pupils enables them to achieve a creditable grade so they can proceed to the next stage of school/college. My shooort for A Lebel students often enables them to obtain the grade they need for University entrance.

Tutoring Approach:
PASSION FOR AND KNOWLEDGE OF MY SUBJECT
I prepare lessons thoroughly and imaginatively, striking a balance between getting through the necessary work - but making it varied, interesting and fun.

I begin by getting to know my pupil, their background, and specific needs.

Often, pupils needing extra tuition lack confidence and self-esteem and I care about addressing that sensitively.

In addition, I plan what needs to be covered: making sure I am fully in the picture with regard to the specific course being followed and the exam criteria, and I use the exam boards' websites to source relevant materials such as past papers and teaching resources.

In my tutoring, I aim to give my pupils more confidence in the classroom and in their written work.

BUILDING A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH MY TUTEES

I always have a clear plan for the session and an aim of what I wish to achieve in the time available.

Equally, I am flexible and nearly always end up adapting my plan to what comes up that day, in terms of what the pupil needs.

I like people and I am a friendly, outgoing person who communicates warmly with a tutee; I greatly enjoy the company of young people and am experienced in putting my tutees at their ease, reducing their anxiety and building their self-confidence, which is vital.

I form friendly, personal relationships with those I teach and am good at listening to them and assessing their needs, and adjusting my strategy accordingly.

A RIGOROUS APPROACH AND DETAILED FEEDBACK
As well as preparing thoroughly, I mark work meticulously and give very detailed and helpful feedback, both in writing and orally. I set relevant work to be completed for the next tutorial, and monitor progress closely; I stay in regular contact with my students and/or their parents via email and phone.

MY COMMITMENT TO YOU
You will find me a hardworking, and sympathetic tutor committed to the interests of my tutees; my aim is to help you to achieve your full academic potential in the subject and gain exam success. I see your progress in English in the context of the whole school or college picture and as part of your personal development. I often stay in touch with my pupils as they move on in life and take a keen interest in how they are getting on. I always treat my tutees with respect, kindness and understanding.

WHERE AND WHEN TUTORIALS TAKE PLACE
I tutor in my own home where I am set up to receive my tutees in a quiet and relaxed environment with my extensive resources and teaching materials readily to hand. During the pandemic I continued to tutor online and since then have continued to tutor online because my tutees often find it saves then travelling time and fits in with their lives better. I will consider face to face tutoring if this is required, or online only, or a combination of the two methods.

Normally I tutor on weekdays, and aim to complete my tutoring sessions by 7.30 p m but my times are flexible. I prefer not to tutor at weekends because of family commitments, though I can do so by by arrangement, with Sunday morning being a possibility.

I am usually able to tutor in school holidays, when I can offer longer, more intensive revision sessions.

I am always willing to try to fit in with a pupil's/parents' needs.


FEES

My professional fee for an hour is £45 for GCSE and £50 for A Level English and for support with UCAS personal statements.

Fees for other tutoring categories on request.

My fee include include preparation for the lesson, marking of set written homework, the actual intensive contact time with me, and follow-up emails and phone calls.

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Personal Description:
I am a music graduate, with aims to go into music lecturing. I am about to start an MA in Applied Musicology at Utrecht University. I decided to start Skype tuition because it`s an incredibly effective medium for teaching, and also because I don`t stay in one place for longer than a year at the moment due to being a student.

Teaching Experience:
I have been playing guitar since I was 8 years old, so for over 14 years now. I studied at Leeds College of Music for 2 years, and have recently graduated from Anglia Ruskin University with a BA(Hons) degree in Popular Music. I have played a range of styles, but find my favourite, and most developed, styles are funk and blues.

Tutoring Approach:
The teaching will be focussed around where YOU want to go. What type of guitar do you want to play? You tell me, and I'll tailor the path we take in order to both develop you as a musician and play the music you love!
I specialise in funk, blues, and rhythm guitar.
There are some core books I recommend you have access to before we begin, but aren't obligatory. They are: 'A Guide to Chords, Scales, & Arpeggios' by Al Di Meola, and 'Basix Scales & Modes for Guitar' by Steve Hall and Rom Manus.
I use these books for warm up exercises, which I value greatly, as it prevents damage to your hands, and means you learn and maintain the level of professionalism expected of every good musician.

My aims as a teacher are to get you to where you want to be with the guidance I can offer, and at the same time giving you the skills required to develop even further in your own independent practice.

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Personal Description:
Hi, I'm half Finnish and half Irish and currently studying management at The University of Stirling. I love teaching English as a foreign language and can also teach Italian for beginners. I am doing this to earn some money alongside my studies as well as gain more experience.

Teaching Experience:
Last summer, I worked in a summer school where I was teaching English as a foreign language for six hours a day for six weeks to Italian, French, Spanish and Chinese students.

I have also done one-to-one tuition in Italy for three months.

I have never taught Italian before but willing to teach those who want to learn beginner Italian as I lived in Italy for 5 years so do know the language quite well!

Tutoring Approach:
I take either a vocabulary or grammar topic and combine it with two of the four language skills; speaking, listening, reading and writing. I mix things up but keep it fun and enjoyable.

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Personal Description:
I graduated in 2020 with a Diploma of Higher Education in Mathematics from Heriot-Watt University. Since graduating I have been working as a Data Analyst, using problem solving and mathematical logic every day.
I have taught myself how to code in various languages, such as R and SQL. I love mathematics and statistics and I look forward to using this passion to help others.

Teaching Experience:
I have tutored family and friends to achieve their National 5 and Higher qualifications.
In my current and previous roles, I have trained new starts, which requires teaching a lot of specific industry knowledge in a small amount of time. I pride myself on being very patient, passionate and understanding.

Tutoring Approach:
My biggest aim when tutoring is to install confidence in a tutees ability in mathematics and help them reach their qualification goals. I believe that a motivated and willing tutee can achieve any goal with some one-to-one help.

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Personal Description:
I am an experienced OCR/AQA/CIE A-Level/GCSE Computer Science teacher and Examiner with multiple years of teaching in UK Secondary schools, currently teaching A-Level and GCSE Computer Science. I have several years of tutoring experience both at A-Level and GCSE. Expert in bespoke OCR/AQA NEA Support. Enhanced DBS Checked.

Teaching Experience:
OCR Computer Science Examiner/Moderator.
A-Level/GCSE OCR/AQA Computer Science teacher.
A-Level/GCSE OCR/AQA/CIE Computer Science tutor.

Tutoring Approach:
Exclusive Online Learning - Lessons taught online on a dedicated, exclusive Classroom. One Student. One Classroom. Exclusive - Tailored Resources - Students benefit from exclusive, non-publicly available resources, tailor-made to their needs following their personal tutoring plan. Excellent Destinations - Students achieve their desired destinations, to include Oxbridge, Russell 20 Universities, 6th Form or College.

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