Thorney Close Tutors and Thorney Close Tuition

Personal Description:
I'm Pauline, and I specialise in French and biology. It sounds an odd combination, but read on and I'll tell you more.

For French: I'm half French, complete with both British and French passports. I am fluent in the language, having started with "survival French" at the age of five to yell at my cousins, and then studying it at both GCSE (A* grade) and A-level (A grade). I go to France regularly and enjoy reading news articles in French. For lessons, I usually mix in reading, speaking, listening and grammar, as well as some history, geography and French current affairs to bring it to life. I am also available to practice speaking French, to improve your accent. I can teach both students for exam prep and adults if you're going to France and need some help with asking for directions and a coffee/glass of wine!

For biology: I again studied at GCSE and A-level and then did three degrees in the general field of biology! My PhD was in biomechanics so I specialise in anatomy and physiology, exercise science and cardiovascular; but feel free to contact me and we can discuss what you need. I can even teach plant science! A common request is to go through past papers: often, students have a good knowledge of the subject but find it hard to answer exam questions, especially AQA. My specialty is in exam technique, helping you to understand the questions and what they're really asking for. I have a large bank of past papers and questions of all shapes and sizes that we can go through.

I'm patient and friendly and use a flexible approach so you learn at your speed. Having obtained my PhD, I can relate to students and the specific pressures they face. I am DBS checked and can supply references on request.

Lessons are £30 per hour per person and £50 for two hours, including travel in and around Newcastle. There will be a small charge to cover my fuel for a longer drive, but I'm happy to discuss.

I may not be the cheapest but I'm experienced, reliable, friendly and flexible - I'd rather be good than cheap!

At the moment I am quite near full capacity but give me a shout and I'll do my best to help.

Teaching Experience:
I have been tutoring since 2008, working with a variety of ages and in a range of topics from French tuition to sports coaching. I have taught over 40 students, both school students and adults, and have excellent references.

Tutoring Approach:
I will work closely with you to achieve your goals, if that's to improve in the subject for its own sake, to pass an exam or even to be able to order in French at a restaurant. During the first session we'll agree on a timetable and set specific goals. We'll set aside a few minutes during each subsequent session to assess our progress. I am patient, friendly and reliable and above all I love teaching!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Personal Description:
I currently work for Derbyshire County Council as an 'out of school' tutor in the core subjects and also as a private maths tutor. During 2012/13 I worked at Levenshulme High school, an 11-16 girls school in Manchester, where I taught maths. Prior to this I worked at Burnage Media Arts College as a maths teacher and Astley Sports College as a maths teacher with extra responsibilities as the ICT coordinator and the gifted and talented coordinator for the whole school. From completing my degree to pursuing a career in teaching I raced as a semi-professional on the Great Britain National Cycling Squad. I have represented Great Britain at several World Championship events and also the 1998 Commonwealth Games. I have also gained gold medals at both World and National level over the last several years. I am also a member of Glossop mountain Rescue Team.

Teaching Experience:
I have been teaching Key Stage 3, GCSE and A Level maths for 13 years. I have taught in secondary schools in both Tameside and Manchester and also delivered one to one maths tuition throughout this period. I have extensive experience of teaching Edexcel and AQA syllabuses. I have specific experience of one to one tuition to convert grade D students at GCSE to a grade C. I have a Secondary teaching qualification and also an FE teaching qualification. I have a B.Sc honours degree in mathematics.

Tutoring Approach:
All programmes of study are tailored towards the specific needs of each student. It may be exam preparation, exam practise, exam revision or maths 'booster' sessions. I offer a friendly, supportive and affordable service. I use an extensive selection of resources to make learning fun and accessible to all students, whatever their needs. I also offer a 15 minute free consultation prior to any tutoring sessions. I have the flexibility of tutoring both at my own home, at the students' home or ONLINE LESSONS via Skype.

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Personal Description:
I have a BSc and an MSc in science and a PhD in engineering and have a theoretical and practical knowledge of maths and science. As well as that I have a lot of experience in industry and working around the world. I follow my family tradition in tutoring maths and science in my spare time, helping students, in particular those needing extra help and confidence in their studies. My husband and I have two children aged 17 and 13, we have a cat named Peter and have lived near Hereford for over 12 years. I volunteer at Marden Primary Academy as a classroom assistant and thoroughly enjoy helping out.

Teaching Experience:
I have been tutoring maths, physics, biology, piano and theory of music for 2.5 years and have done home-schooling.

Tutoring Approach:
A patient approach, finding where a student is and then leading them on to a secure standard, with a feeling that it wasn't so difficult after all. Visual learning techniques are employed where possible in addition to learning by muscle memory, coordinating with any school work and homework so that there is no confusion with approach. I really enjoy tutoring and have fun which I think enables the students to ask questions which perhaps they were less able to do in a classroom environment.

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Personal Description:
Dynamic and focused personality. I always endeavour to support my pupils and their families to succeed. I enjoy reading, political commentaries and electric cars.

Teaching Experience:
Private one to one tutor and school teacher for over 15 years

Tutoring Approach:
Assessment/ inquiries
Clear expectations set.
One to one tuition where topics are taught and pupils are given tasks which are increasingly difficult. Activities are linked to exam boards and top universities. Home work given.

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Personal Description:
I am a mom to two teenage boys and have been teaching English for the last 15 years. I enjoy keeping fit, reading and cooking when I have spare time,
I am passionate about English language and Literature and love supporting students to achieve their best and beyond.

Teaching Experience:
I am an experienced teacher with a track record of excellent pupils results.
I am currently teaching English in a local secondary school from ages 11-18 years.
Specialisms are GCSE Literature and Language.
I adapt various teaching methods to suit the individual.
I have taught GCSE with various exam boards and an expert when enhancing pupil skills to meet examination criteria.

Tutoring Approach:
Face to face
Resources supplied

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Personal Description:
I am a Maths Graduate and Chartered Accountant based in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. I am married and have 4 daughters all of whom have been/are at University.

Teaching Experience:
I have been tutoring accountancy students for the last 17 years, helping them prepare for professional exams at all levels. During that time I have taught students with a wide range of abilities to pass a variety of subjects, many of which have included a substantial element of mathematical topics.

Tutoring Approach:
Many students come to maths exams with anxiety and stress; this arises from a variety of sources but often is due to a feeling of helplessness in the face of what can appear to be an unfathomable fog of confusion. My job is to give candidates the confidence and self belief to tackle any questions they may encounter in the exam. The first thing I like to do is to get an honest appraisal of where they are initially so we can begin to identify what needs to get fixed, and start plugging the gaps in their knowledge. Once we have an idea of where they are weakest, we can decide how to get them through the exam.The main focus will be on question practice and giving them useful analysis of their performance on past exam questions.

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Personal Description:
Hi guys, to start off with my academic background: I studied at Winchester College and Cambridge University.

I was generally a straight A* student at Winchester, and in my final exams I received some of the highest Cambridge Pre-U grades in the UK for my subjects of Philosophy & Theology, Russian and French (these were D1, D1, D2 - which translates in A-Level terms to A**, A**, A*). At Cambridge I studied a mix of Theology and Philosophy, with a focus on philosophy (ethics and metaphysics), history and literature papers.

In terms of my personal background: I was born in London and have lived in Islington most of my life. I've travelled a great deal, and in my gap year I spent stretches of time living in and travelling around America, Italy, Malta, Russia, Jordan and Pakistan.

In my free time I like classic cinema (Hitchcock especially) and novels (Tolstoy, Dostoevsky and Dickens are my favourites) but I'm curious about everything really, and I read books of any kind whenever I have the time - especially those relating to History (classical and modern), Philosophy, Theology, Politics, and Literary Analysis.

For most of my professional life so far I've worked as a salesman, lawyer and corporate strategist. I like theatre and stand-up and sketch comedy - Dylan Moran and John Cleese are my favourite comedians - and at Cambridge I performed in a couple of sketch comedy shows alongside members of the Footlights.

I'm friendly, good-humoured, energetic and I love teaching more than anything else!

Teaching Experience:
I've received excellent feedback on my tutoring so far. Here are some quotes I've received from former students who've been kind enough to supply written references for me (I can provide these and their contact details to you on request) :

- "the best teacher I have ever had the pleasure of learning from"

- [different student] "I can say without any doubt that he is the best tutor I have ever had."

- "thanks to Jasper, my school results became much better."

- "I can talk endlessly about how much I loved having meetings with Jasper"

- "His ability to convey complex historical concepts with clarity and engagement is a superpower."

- "Jasper's professionalism is also worth highlighting. He is highly organised, punctual, and dependable. He never came to a session unprepared, his teaching materials were always well-structured and insightful."

- "I must give a massive word of praise"

- " I truly hope he will have more students to teach, as he is very talented and truly deserves to be recognised. I wish everyone had a chance to have such a wonderful and supportive tutor."

Please note: The website format unfortunately limits the numbers of subjects I can list; I shall therefore add three more here. In addition to Philosophy, Theology, English, History, Russian and French I am also capable of tutoring up to and including GCSE Latin, basic (ab initio) German, and Debating.

More generally, I am also happy to advise on academic interview performance for elite boarding school or Oxbridge admissions.

Tutoring Approach:
1. So first of all we'll have an introductory session to determine what your interests, strengths/weaknesses and ultimate aims are. If you like me then we can have another session!

At the end of this I'll set an assignment for you to work on before our next session. The assignment may be easy, it may be tricky, it may be normal, it may be quite unusual! It will depend on what your aims and interests are and what I can come up with etcetera.

I'll also try to recommend some valuable learning resources and techniques for you to work with as you prepare that assignment.


2. In our second session we'll go through and discuss the assignment and your answers to it, focusing on different ways of looking at the issue and thinking around it, or effective ways to internalise that knowledge. This will take the form of a dialogue and a conversation that I hope you'll find stimulating and rewarding.

Note: You are welcome to stop sessions with me at anytime; it's entirely up to you and I won't be offended at all. But if you let me, I truly hope to teach you as much as I can.


- In summary the fundamental idea is to make the ideas as fun as possible, to assist you in learning them effortlessly and wanting to learn more. Education is always self-motored; the trick is helping you to fall in love with it. It is also to expose you to a wide array of alternative perspectives to broaden your bank of wisdom. Finally, I can recommend books and podcasts and resources to you that can have enduring value for you far beyond our own sessions, perhaps even for your entire lifetime.

I believe in sparking creativity and helping students make the ideas their own. My aim is to ignite imagination and enthusiasm as I put your intellect to the test, because only then will you really enjoy learning, and only then will you truly do well. Therefore I'll do my very best to generate an enthusiastic but rigorous atmosphere.

My enthusiasm can be pretty infectious... I promise you our conversations will be the opposite of boring!

At the same time, many of you will have real goals : to get better grades on your essays, to pass a crucial academic interview, or to smash your final exams. I believe utterly in studying carefully how to do that, and devising a strategy, so you can work "smart", not just "hard", and achieve your goals. I did this with great success for my own exams, and for many former students. I'm a former corporate strategist at an industry-dominating company! This is a real passion of mine.

Finally I also promise you that I'll also prepare carefully in advance of every session you have with me, to ensure you get the most out of me that you can. I have immense respect for my responsibility to you and your development.

Feel free to try a preliminary session with me!

I so look forward to talking with you,

All the very best,

Jasp

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Personal Description:
I`m an experienced, friendly, and professional tutor specializing in Entrance Exams, 11+, GCSE, and A-Level English and Maths, verified with an Enhanced DBS.

Proven Success:
My 11+ coaching consistently leads to offers from prestigious schools like Eton College, Wellington College, Reading Boys, Kendrick, Abingdon School, Magdalen College School, Reading Blue Coat School, Reddam House, and more. Covering all four skills and creative writing, I emphasize reasoning, boost confidence, and teach effective time management.

Academic Excellence:
In GCSE and A-Level education, my students secure exceptional grades and university placements. I nurture insightful reading and analysis in English and ensure comprehensive math understanding. Additionally, I assist them in developing effective revision techniques, test preparation strategies, and time management skills.

Your Child`s Progress:
Parental satisfaction and student progress are evident in their recommendations and feedback. With over 20 years of teaching experience, I provide personalized support, individualized lessons, and a friendly teaching style that fosters brain development and self-confidence.

Comprehensive Resources:
I maintain a vast archive of materials and standardized tests, allowing me to tailor teaching and facilitate effective progress assessment.

Trust and Success:
I take immense pride in the trust that families have consistently placed in my tutoring services. Over the years, this trust has enabled me to build a strong record of success. But don`t just take my word for it-scroll down to explore the feedback from other parents who have experienced the transformative impact of my teaching. Their testimonials provide valuable insights into the enriching journey your child can embark on with confidence in my guidance.

I offer both online and in-person lessons.

Teaching Experience:
With over 20 years of teaching and 10 years of tutoring expertise, I have a proven track record of helping students thrive. My approach instills confidence and yields consistent academic success.

Parents often express heartfelt appreciation for the progress and growth their children achieve under my guidance. I would be happy to share this glowing parent feedback with you.

It is my privilege to understand each student's needs and create customized plans to support their mastery and achievement. I build strong partnerships with students and parents to pave the way for growth, both in academics and life.

Please feel free to inquire about my background, approach and success stories. I look forward to potentially collaborating with you. Also: kindly be aware that the mentioned fees do not encompass charges associated with home visits.

Tutoring Approach:
• Provide personalized tutoring and coaching to Year 2-5 students preparing for 11+ exams and independent school entrance assessments.
• Boost confidence in areas where students feel unsure or need extra support.
• Build classroom readiness, study skills, and higher SATs achievement to gain placement in top maths, English, and science sets.
• Make learning engaging and enjoyable while developing lasting strategies for independent success.
• Offer tailored 1:1 attention to fill in gaps and complement mainstream schooling.
•Partner with parents to establish efficient home learning routines that set students up for achievement.
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••••• Feedback ••••• (a few of the 45 feedback I have received since 2014):

06/01/2023
5/5 Rating
Ben is an amazing tutor! Very professional, always finds a proper attitude to overcome challenges with tasks! I am amazed how much my son changed since we started working with Ben! Not only he motivated and supported my son throughout all this time, but also helped to overcome his personal resistance to working hard! We are very lucky to have an opportunity to work with Ben and grateful for all his support!

21/01/2022
5/5 Rating
Ben is very understanding teacher who not teach well but also understand child strong and weak points and then accordingly help them to improve and excel. I would highly recommend Ben.

08/09/2021
5/5 Rating
Ben has been tutoring my son for the last few months and has made great progress with him. He is friendly and builds a rapport quickly with both child and parents, so that he can understand what tutoring is required and where more work needs to be done. I would highly recommend Ben as a tutor.

10/07/2021
5/5 Rating
Ben has been tutoring my son for a few weeks now and I happy with the progress my son has made under Bens direction in preparation for his exams. Ben has been quite flexible in providing extra lessons as well and I wouldn`t hesitate to recommend him as a tutor.

09/06/2021
5/5 Rating
Ben is a fantastic teacher, very experienced and engaging. I like the openness in communication and idea sharing that benefits both the student and tutor. My daughter is honing the benefit on both techniques and discipline from Ben.

01/08/2020
5/5 Rating
We are very glad we found Ben . In a short period of time , Ben made a good assessment on my daughter`s status and have devised a plan suitable for her and started classes with her . With in few classes we have seen good progress in her.Ben is very patient with kids and teach them as per individual needs .My daughter totally enjoys his class .I would highly recommend Ben
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05/11/2019
5/5 Rating
Ben has been working with my boys for past 4 months now and I couldn`t happier with my choice. My boys are really happy to be tutored by Ben. They feel that their confidence has increased and look forward to working with him. As parents we feel Ben knows child`s ability and aptitude like the back of his hand. When Ben started working with my boys I was really happy with his systematic approach towards the subject depending on the ability of the kids. It is not one size fits all approach but it is customized. Though being twins they are different and Ben has identified this and understood their uniqueness from the first session. He is a firm, fair as well as fun teacher and the kids seem to like this mixed quality. I couldn't ask for more in a teacher and look forward to working with them. Thanks Ben.
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01/12/2018
5/5 Rating
Ben has taught my son for Eleven plus since September and I can see my kid doing his daily homework himself without expecting our help. We can see the way of reading has changed and now he looks for new words and try to find the meaning.

Most importantly, Ben develops the wrap over the kid and takes control of reading and writing completely, leaving us in the back seat to see he completes the daily homework. This is great, as we don`t want to study class 4,5 again or teach a different method than thought in school.

Individual approach, great advice, positive attitude.
Always on time, ready to help, very easy going, intelligent and kind. Thanks so much!
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14/09/2017
5/5 Rating
We have been impressed with Ben`s knowledge, experience and commitment. He is reliable and always turns up on time. Ben started tutoring our daughter only 4 months before the 11+ and he quickly identified her needs and developed a programme for her to follow and appropriate workbooks. Regardless of the outcome of the 11+, he has already helped our daughter feel more confident at school and set her up well for Year 6 and secondary school. Thanks Ben!
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17/10/2016
5/5 Rating
I was able to see tremendous improvement in my daughter for 11+ exam. He knows the tricks to get the best out of the student. My daughter did enjoy the sessions with him and as a teacher, he is really good. So I will definitely recommend.
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13/09/2016
5/5 Rating
Ben has excellent teaching skills and my daughter significantly improved in class from lower to top groups. I`ve seen him working really hard with my daughter while preparing her for 11+ and he knows the tricks to make the pupil understand the exam technique and how to improve academically. He teaches in a very systematic way and the child really enjoys while studying with him. He soon developed good rapport with us and I would say he`s definitely a recommended one!

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Personal Description:
Hi, I'm Momoka from Hokkaido, Japan. I love traveling and have been to 31 countries. I'm also interested in learning languages. I can speak English fluently, make small conversation in Khmer (Cambodian language), read French (beginner level).

Teaching Experience:
I used to teach Japanese in Cambodia for one year. I used "みんなの日本語" and taught mainly N4/N5 level.
I passed the Japanese Language Teaching Competency Test and am a qualified teacher.

Tutoring Approach:
My lesson is flexible. (Reading, speaking, writing, Anime language, JLPT, etc…) Just let me know your goal and how you want to learn.

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Personal Description:
I am a physics and maths teacher with 18 years teaching experience. I am passionate about helping pupils understand this fascinating subject so that they can reach their potential

Teaching Experience:
I have taught physics up and and including A level for 20 years. I have also taught maths up to GCSE for many years. I am a previous head of science & assistant headteacher. Previously, I am an examiner for OCR Physics at A level and WJEC for Science at GCSE and currently deliver the WJEC specification to students in Wales. I tutor pupils from all examination boards across the UK.

Please message me for any information on Maths or Science.

Tutoring Approach:
My approach to tutoring is to ensure students understand the areas of learning they are struggling with and build on that to ensure confidence in all areas of the course. I challenge pupils on what they already know to ensure it is correctly reinforced and their confidence grows. I tutor using reciprocal learning, where students are able to independently learn a topic and then have a tutorial style lesson where they reinforce that learning. Tutoring styles are always adapted to the needs of the learner which is very quickly established.

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Personal Description:
I am a professional fine artist with many years experience of teaching in Colleges and Universities both in the UK and the USA. I am committed to teaching and this to some extent informs my work I have continued my practice as a fine artist throughout my teaching career and I have continued to exhibit both in Europe the USA and Dubai. I have a studio in Crete Greece from where I regularly travel to various European Capitals to visit important museums and galleries and these experiences are fed back into my teaching.

Teaching Experience:
I have a Master's in Fine Art from the Royal College of Art in London and I am a professional fine artist with 30 years' experience of teaching in the field of Art and Design. In 2014 I was an early adopter of teaching the visual arts remotely to a range of students from different countries and backgrounds. Over that period I taught over 1000 students and as Head of Foundation Studies, I supervised the instruction of many thousands more. I have been responsible for strategies, content, and delivery of that covered media from fine art drawing and painting, photography, concept design, animation, theatre design, graphic design, and illustration. My approach across these disparate and rich media is to enable students to understand the connections between theory and practice and of how to develop a creative process which is research and concept-led. I continue my practice as a painter in my studio in Crete while exhibiting most recently in galleries in Greece, Switzerland and Spain. I regularly visits European museums and galleries and I am familiar with Art and Design from a global perspective. This knowledge is fed back into my teaching and evidenced in the high-quality work my students produce.

Tutoring Approach:
My approach to tutoring is to work with the students regarding whatever project they may be working on. In some cases I write a project for them. I speak online face to face to each student once a week and encourage them to upload work in-between our meetings for advice and comment. I help the students to understand what it is to be a visual artist and how to discover their own creative process. I also introduce the students to professional artists both Historical and Contemporary whose work might inspire them and I introduce the notion that discussion and dialogue can ensure that the student become curious and committed to their practice in an informed manner.

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