Thirsk Tutors & Thirsk Tuition

Personal Description:
My name is Phoebe. I'm a native Chinese speaker who moved to England 22 years ago. I am now a British Citizen and have lived in Chesham for 20 years. I gained my MBA at the University of Leicester in 2002. I have two daughters, and both speak Mandarin fluently. I used to work for an insurance company as an auditor, and now I am a full-time Chinese Tutor.

I have gained two teaching certificates: "Teaching Chinese to Young Learners" and "Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language". I have been working as a Chinese tutor since 2009.

I have also tutored several students who went on to achieve top grades in their GCSE Chinese exams, and I currently teach at a private school in the Chalfont area. Teaching is truly my passion, and I'm committed to helping every learner reach their full potential.
If you or your child feel you could benefit from extra support, I'd be delighted to help.
Please don't hesitate to get in touch.

*****Congrats to my student Azaan M, who gained an 8 in GCSE in 2026*****
*****Congrats to my student Chokhmah J, who gained a 9 in GCSE in 2025*****
*****Congrats to my student: Loarn L, who gained an A in IGCSE in 2025*****
*****Congrats to my student Mungo L, who passed HSK Level 4 in 2024*****
*****Congrats to my student Nathaniel P, who passed HSK Level 2 in 2024*****
*****Congrats to my student Nathaniel P, who passed HSK Level 2 in 2024*****
*****Congrats to my student Mungo L, who gained an A* in IGCSE in 2023*****
*****Congrats to my student Sophie A, who gained an 8 in GCSE in 2022*****
*****Congrats to my student Eleanor P, who passed HSK Level 3 in 2021*****
*****Congrats to my student Charis P, who passed HSK Level 3 in 2020*****
*****Congrats to my student Jocelyn S, who gained a 9 in GCSE in 2019*****
*****Congrats to my student Jo-Emma B, who gained an A in GCSE in 2015*****

Teaching Experience:
I have extensive experience teaching children, teenagers, and adults, and I offer both group lessons and one‑to‑one sessions. Each format has its own strengths:
• In group classes, you benefit from interacting with other learners, which helps build confidence and conversational skills.
• In one‑to‑one lessons, the content is fully tailored to your personal goals, pace, and interests.
Whichever option you choose, you'll find that both are excellent ways to learn Chinese effectively and enjoyably.
Over the years, I've taught students from a wide range of nationalities, including learners from the UK, America, Canada, Russia, Germany, and South Africa. It has been a joy helping them progress, and we've shared many memorable moments along the way.
If you'd like to read some of their references, I'm happy to provide them upon request.

Tutoring Approach:
🌟Give Your Child the Gift of Mandarin! 🌟
This is a fantastic opportunity for your child to learn Chinese Mandarin in a small, supportive group of just six students. I'm an experienced Mandarin tutor and have been teaching since 2009. My lessons are interactive, engaging, and designed to help children learn quickly while genuinely enjoying the process.
✨ Why join?
• Small group size for personalised attention
• Fun, dynamic lessons that keep children motivated
• Suitable for complete beginners through to advanced learners
• A warm, encouraging learning environment
📚 Levels: Beginner to Advanced
⏳ Only four places left - book now to secure a spot!

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Personal Description:
I am a 42 year old maths teacher with nearly 20 years of experience in teaching, education and tutoring. I have wanted to teach from a young age (weirdly!) and see it as a way of giving something back to the local community, as well as having a keen knowledge and enthusiasm for the subject I teach.
I undertook a 3 year teaching degree at Liverpool John Moores University at their IM Marsh Campus in Aigburth between 2000 and 2003 and graduated with a 2:1 with honours in Key Stage 2/3 Mathematics education. My teaching qualification means that I am fully qualified to teach maths between the ages of 11 to 18, in addition to being able to teach upper primary pupils, although it had been nearly 10 years since I last taught in a primary classroom! I also have A Levels in IT, English Language & Literature, Pure Maths & Statistics, General Studies and French in addition to my teaching qualification. I am also a trained exam marker for OCR.marking GCSE Maths exams since 2015.

Teaching Experience:
After graduating in 2003, I began my teaching career by doing supply teaching with Select Education (Liverpool), working in a number of short term posts in different schools in Knowsley and Liverpool. I also worked voluntarily for 2 days a week in Prescot Primary school in Knowsley teaching mathematics to a whole class of Year 5 children as well as working with small groups. I also ran booster classes in maths for Year 6 pupils who were Gifted and Talented in the subject (Working towards level 6) in preparation for their National Curriculum tests (SATs).
In September 2004, I began my first full time teaching role at Holly Lodge Girls' College, passing my NQT induction year in the summer of 2005. Between 2005 and 2006, I was given responsibility for creating a transition unit based on government documentation to help Year 7 pupils to settle in to life in secondary school before they were setted in the subject. During my time there, I gained experience of teaching a wide variety of schemes of work (Key Stage 3, Modular GCSE, Coursework, Linear GCSE) and also taught sixth form GCSE resit classes for 2 years. I was also a form tutor for 5 years carrying my form through from Year 7 to Year 11 and participated in the school PSHE programme where I was involved in designing a unit of work for year 7 pupils with regards to financial management and calculations.
I left Holly Lodge in July 2009 due to my father becoming seriously ill and his subsequent death and took a year out of teaching to begin a family history research project before returning to the profession in September 2010 by working for Celsian Education (Liverpool) as a supply. However work was few and far between so by September 2011, I moved to another agency The Education Specialists. But once again work was far from plentiful. In October 2013, I joined Our Whiston Library Group (OWL) as a campaigner/volunteer with the initial aim of opening in April 2014 in partnership with Hugh Baird College of Bootle, but they withdrew at the last minute leaving our group to make a bid on our own to take over the building. I became vice chair of the group in October 2014. I am also a GCSE exam marker for OCR marking GCSE maths papers since the summer of 2015.

Tutoring Approach:
I have been tutoring for nearly 10 years now and my aim is to provide the same approach to tutoring as I did in the classroom. A firm but fair approach with an easy going manner and reasonable expectations of what pupils can do. Recent Ofsted and media reports have heavily criticised the standards of numeracy and maths teaching in the Knowsley and Liverpool areas. My aim is to give something back to these communities. And also to provide support for pupils in my subject during the current COVID19 pandemic. I also have a vast electronic collection of resources as well as books, at my disposal that I have collected over my teaching career.
My tuition rates are lower than the average due to my main target area of Knowsley (Mainly Prescot and Whiston) being a deprived area.

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Personal Description:
I am a 38 year old native German, moved to Northumberland in 2012 to live here with my family and our little dachshund. After my A-Level (including German and English) I have made an apprenticeship as a Travel Agent, as travelling is one of my passions. The last 4 years before moving here I have been working as a Sales and Marketing Manager in the music industry, as music is another passion of mine. So when I moved here, I started giving guitar lessons and German lessons and I really enjoy both. I love to teach my language to people and have experience in teaching both children and adults.

Teaching Experience:
I am currently teaching private students one-to-one, beginning from 6 years up to 60 years old. Some of them are beginners, others prepare for their GCSE or A-Level. I have been assisting in schools from nursery to A-Level and know the curriculum.

Tutoring Approach:
My lessons are tailored to your needs and full of fun. I am very patient and encouraging as I know how hard the German language can appear. Everybody learns in a different way and I am very flexible to adjust to yours to support your progress and make you a confident German speaker. It doesn't matter if you are a beginner or if you are already learning German, I want to help you improving your skills easily.
Please note that my lessons are 45 minutes long.

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Personal Description:
I teach biology in a very simple way to enable different student to understand it. Teaching approach is vary from one student to another and it depends on specific student needs. Also, I can help in answering biology questions in a scientific way and in practical. All students that I have taught were able to get highest marks in biology.

I also teach Immunology, Microbiology and Physiology for higher levels.

Teaching Experience:
- Currently, I am a private tutor for general biology and immunology since 2017.
- Teaching biology at Brunel university/ West London (2013-2015).
- Private A-level biology teacher/ West London (2005-2006)
- Biology lecturer at Al- Yarmouk university/ Jordan (1998-2005). Subjects taught: Human physiology, Comparative anatomy of vertebrates, embryology, and general biology.
- Private teacher for biology and chemistry for medical students in The University of Jordan/ Jordan (1997-1998).

Tutoring Approach:
I am tutoring biology since 1995. I taught this subject in 3 best universities. My students were happy and they were able to understand biology in a very simple way. Also, they were able to get higher marks in their exams. I also taught biology for A-level students in the UK in 2005.

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Personal Description:
I've always been a bright girl in biology getting good marks and trying my best

Teaching Experience:
I used to work at an after school club with primary school students and helped them with their homework

Tutoring Approach:
I was recommended to come here by one of the teachers at the after school club

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Personal Description:
I am a very calm and patient person. I am very passionate about languages and teaching.

Teaching Experience:
I worked at Kent University as a French lector which I enjoye very much. And before that I did tutoring in France with children aged from 8 to 12.

Tutoring Approach:
My lessons are greared towards every level, from beginner to more advanced students.
The lesson really depends on the need and the level of the student. The first lesson would focus more on what you have done before, the knowledge you already have and what you want/need to focus on more deeply. I also try to link my lesson with topics that passionate the student so It makes it easier to understand and to remember.

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Personal Description:
I'm a Music Graduate, and will soon be a Philosophy Graduate [Edinburgh Napier University and University of Wales TSD, respectively]. I work in the third sector covering off humanitarian needs in Africa, Animal welfare in Asia and the care environment/Homelessness in the UK.

At the moment I manage volunteering contracts with Goldman Sachs, National Grid, Moorhouse Consulting, Visa and Prysmian Group.

I'm quite relaxed about most things, I do some consulting with small charities and I play a lot of music!

Teaching Experience:
I have been teaching music and English language periodically for around 20 years. I have taught privately, at Music Workshop Bath and Bath City College. I taught English language at a number of summer schools in Edinburgh, Bournemouth and at Cardonald College in Glasgow.

Tutoring Approach:
My style prioritises the needs of the student. Sometimes this is in relation to their immediate curriculum and is supplemented with a view to future study, if there is expectation that future study is probable. Sometimes, if the focus is solely on lifting a grade or working on soft skills around the subject - research/focus etc. then I make that the priority. All in agreement with the student.

In short - student focused.

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Personal Description:
I specialise in helping students achieve Grades 8-9 in GCSE Chinese through structured, exam-focused training.

TCSOL-qualified Mandarin teacher with over 20 years of experience, specialising in GCSE, IGCSE and A-Level exam preparation. I am also a certified HSK examiner and GCSE Speaking Examiner, with a clear understanding of exam requirements and marking criteria.

Teaching Experience:
Many of my students have achieved strong GCSE results, including those who initially struggled or lacked confidence.

I have developed a structured GCSE Chinese programme, supported by my own teaching materials, to help students improve efficiently and master key exam skills.

I focus on delivering targeted, high-impact teaching, while maintaining a supportive and engaging learning environment where students are challenged but not overwhelmed.

Alongside 1:1 tuition, I run multiple local GCSE Chinese group classes, allowing me to identify patterns in student performance and deliver highly targeted, exam-focused teaching.

Tutoring Approach:
Lessons are fully personalised and focused on achieving measurable results.

For exam preparation (GCSE / IGCSE / A-Level, including AQA, Edexcel and Cambridge IGCSE), lessons focus on:
- Speaking fluency and exam performance
- Writing structure and accuracy based on mark schemes
- Listening skills and exam techniques
- Targeted improvement on weak areas

Lessons are designed to be effective and focused, using proven teaching methods to maximise progress.

After each lesson, students receive targeted homework and lesson notes to reinforce learning and support independent revision.

️️ Limited availability - most students stay long-term.

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Personal Description:
Hello to all prospective students. My name is Mark and I have been teaching secondary level Science and maths for over 10 years. I am personally passionate about learning and endeavour to ignite the same love of learning in each student that I teach.

I have loved science and maths from a young age and went on to pursue a degree in biomedical sciences, prior to my secondary teacher training. I hope to continue to work with young people to help them realise their own goals in the fields of science and engineering.

Outside the classroom I am an avid musician and play guitar to grade 6 as well as writing and recording my own songs. I love to listen to audiobooks about ancient history and geopolitics, often whilst on a long walk in the countryside. I also like to play some sports and swim occasionally.

Teaching Experience:
I am currently working across a multitude of schools in the North East of England for CER education resourcing. I have also worked as a science teacher for an outstanding rated academy, where I was personally graded outstanding as a teaching professional.

Throughout my career as a KS3/KS4 science teacher, I have taught and marked material for both AQA and EdExcel exam boards, which has given me an in depth knowledge of their expectations when it comes to GCSE exam preparations.

In recent years, I have also enjoyed teaching maths to key stage 3 across a variety of schools. As there are many mathematical principles which must also be applied to the sciences, teaching mathematics has helped me to develop teaching skills in both of these areas.

Tutoring Approach:
My initial goal whilst tutoring will be to assess a pupils abilities in each aspect of the subject, before moving on to anything specific. The logic behind this method of tutoring is to fill in any small gaps in basic subject knowledge so the students have a strong foundation with which to build on. From experience, this has always helped with pupil understanding and led to much better exam outcomes.

Later in the school year we will be able to work on application of knowledge which is essential for getting levels 7,8,9 in exams. I will introduce students to a variety of exam techniques so they will be able to choose the ones that lead to their best work.

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Personal Description:
I am Muhammad Tanzeel, an experienced educator from Pakistan. With 5 to 6 years of teaching experience, I have had the privilege of guiding students at the intermediate and bachelor levels. Holding a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science, I have developed expertise in this field. Currently, I am pursuing an MSc in Management with Data Analytics from BPP University's London campus, further enhancing my skills and bridging the gap between technology and business.

As an educator, I am deeply passionate about creating a dynamic learning environment that nurtures growth and understanding. I strongly believe in integrating real-world applications with theoretical concepts, ensuring that students acquire both practical skills and theoretical knowledge. My goal is to prepare students for success in the ever-evolving world of technology and business.

My teaching philosophy revolves around empowering students to reach their full potential. By combining my strong educational background, teaching experience, and enthusiasm for imparting knowledge, I aim to create a transformative learning experience. Witnessing my students' growth and witnessing them achieve their goals is my greatest motivation.

Teaching Experience:
With 5 to 6 years of teaching experience, I have had the privilege of guiding students at the intermediate and bachelor levels. Holding a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science, I have developed expertise in this field. Currently, I am pursuing an MSc in Management with Data Analytics from BPP University's London campus, further enhancing my skills and bridging the gap between technology and business. As an educator, I am deeply passionate about creating a dynamic learning environment that nurtures growth and understanding. I strongly believe in integrating real-world applications with theoretical concepts, ensuring that students acquire both practical skills and theoretical knowledge. My goal is to prepare students for success in the ever-evolving world of technology and business.

Tutoring Approach:
I begin by assessing the student's knowledge to identify strengths and weaknesses. Together, we set clear goals for our sessions, providing direction and motivation. Creating a supportive environment, I foster open communication and encourage active participation.

Tailoring my teaching methods to the student's learning style, I use visual aids, hands-on activities, and real-world examples. Emphasizing strong foundations, we solidify fundamental concepts before tackling more complex topics.

Through regular practice and feedback, I reinforce learning and develop critical thinking skills. I gradually encourage independence, promoting self-reflection and effective study habits.

To monitor progress, I continuously assess performance, adjusting our approach and providing additional support as needed. Motivating and inspiring students, I show the real-world relevance of the subject matter, fostering a passion for learning.

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Personal Description:
I have a passion for Chemistry and I love helping students to understand it better.
Some students find Chemistry really hard, and I can help them over that hurdle.
My favourite topic is Organic Chemistry and I have spent a lot of time helping students who are struggling with it.

Teaching Experience:
6 years experience teaching Chemistry across 3 schools including Harrow International School Bangkok.
I have taught 4 different exam boards
GCSE: CIE, AQA
A-Level: iEdexcel, OCR
Chemistry Olympiad, CREST
Tutoring since 2014.

Tutoring Approach:
I use a lot of Socratic questioning to scaffold how the student should think when they approach a question they don't understand, this helps them be more confident to think through questions in the future.

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

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

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

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

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