Trefriw Tutors and Trefriw Tuition

Personal Description:
Professionally qualified (DfES number RP 04/31188).

I am a musician, qualified primary teacher (QTS) with a Master's degree in Education, Pets As Therapy volunteer, founder and facilitator at Meta for learning CIC.

My interests in education are in Open Learning, Outdoor Learning, Animal Assisted interventions, Blended learning and helping learners build international links.


As part of a distance-learning Masters degree in association with FUNIBER and the Universidad de León, I carried out an ethnographic action research project using a democratic approach called Community Language Learning. In this approach there is no syllabus or textbook to follow. It is the learners themselves who determine the content by means of meaningful conversations.
It incorporates translation, transcription and recording techniques.

When I am not working I love volunteering, practising ice skating or track cycling with my daughter and also growing an edible garden !

Teaching Experience:
I was born in Madrid where I trained as a primary teacher and classical musician (cello and chamber music).

I worked in Escuelas de Musica in the outskirts of Madrid which are inclusive socially-minded music schools where I taught cello lessons and support the development of the String Department by assisting during orchestra rehearsals. Both adults and children of all ages are welcome to take lessons.

Shortly after moving to the UK I started a part time job teaching Music to 5-7 yo children at the Rowans Prep school in Wimbledon alongside studying a Mater's and working in Adult education- I carried out a 2-year ethnographic action research project at St Luke's centre in Islinghton.

I then applied to a position in Esadst London and started working for Children's language services teaching at several primary schools in Tower Hamlets. My roles were to deliver the MFL primary curriculum; coordinate the implementation of new initiatives in schools ie use of the European Portfolio for language Learning which was being developed between the Council and universities, provide class teachers with CPD training; undertake tasks such as EAL First Language assessments.

After taking maternative leave I trained to become an online tutor and worked part- time for Own Tutors, Clapham.

In 2019 I founded a learning community Metaforlearning Cic where I run Self-Manage Learning programmes for young people.

In my tutoring work I am reliable, flexible and experienced. I have been working in the UK, Ireland and Spain and have experience in exam preparation for the Spanish internationally recognised DELE junior and DELE for adults; Spanish GCSE, IGCSE, Spanish A-LEVELS with AQA, OCR and EDEXCEL exam boards; and IB ab initio and Language B international qualifications. In the past I have prepared young cellists for 1-8 ABRSM performance grades.

Tutoring Approach:
Students set their own learning goals and I assist them in order to map the neccesary learning to achieve them and also by working at the level that they feel comfortable with at each stage of the process.

With young learners I make use of VR, AR and gamification for enhancing engagement in language learning.

If your enquiry is regarding learning for either improving wellbeing, traveling or living in a Spanish speaking country then we will be looking at different learning objetives and skills than for example an enquiry regarding accessing an university of your choice.

I have wide experience supporting international students in understanding and preparing to access Universities in the UK.

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Personal Description:
I have over 15 years of teaching and tutoring experience in both university modules and A-levels for all major exam boards, specializing in computer science, programming, mathematics, and economics. This extensive experience includes both in-person and online teaching, encompassing one-on-one tutoring as well as small group sessions.

Throughout my career, I have maintained high success rates, and tutoring is my passion. My teaching approach is individualized, as I believe every student has a unique learning style. I adapt my methods to ensure the learning process is efficient and engaging for each student. Many of my students have secured places at Oxbridge and other top universities in the UK.

Over the years, I have accumulated and developed a substantial collection of learning materials and exercises in the aforementioned subjects. I share these resources with my students to help them master the material and excel in their exams. Many of these materials and exercises have been custom-developed by me to provide individualized support whenever the available textbooks and standard exercises are insufficient. Additionally, I regularly administer written tests to identify gaps and areas for improvement, which also help students prepare more effectively for their exams.

As a tutor, I am motivated, friendly, patient, and open-minded. My strong communication, problem-solving, and analytical skills allow me to connect with my students and help them overcome challenges. My lessons are organized in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere. Instead of simply reiterating textbook content or going over available exercises, I focus on explaining and emphasizing core concepts, identifying any gaps or misconceptions the student may have. I create an interactive environment where students can develop their critical thinking and problem-solving abilities. Furthermore, I teach my students strategies for solving problems quickly, which is crucial in time-constrained exams. I also guide them in selecting the most appropriate methods and techniques for different problems, enabling them to perform well by quickly addressing the core of each problem without wasting time on less effective approaches.

Overall, my approach to working with a student is as follows: First, I consider the specifications provided by the exam board for the specific subject or module. Next, I discuss with the students/parents to identify any special needs, requirements, and preferences that need to be taken into account. Together, we develop a suitable teaching plan and identify appropriate teaching and learning resources. This teaching plan typically includes regular homework exercises for the student to study independently between tutoring sessions, reinforcing the knowledge and skills acquired during our time together. This approach makes the tutoring sessions much more effective, allowing us to focus specifically on the student's needs rather than spending time on concepts they can understand independently through textbooks or worked examples. I always aim to provide the best value for money, ensuring that even a limited or infrequent number of sessions can significantly improve the student's understanding of the subject and their performance in exams. However, I also ensure availability for as many sessions as needed, with many students opting for several sessions per week or even daily sessions when exam dates are approaching.

Teaching Experience:
My educational background includes undergraduate and PhD degrees in Computer Engineering from the University of Patras (Greece). I have worked as a postdoctoral researcher at prestigious universities such as Cambridge, Surrey, and Essex. Additionally, I hold a teaching qualification for Higher Education from the University of York. I have also taught undergraduate and postgraduate modules at the Universities of York, Warwick, and London in the aforementioned areas.

I have over ten years of experience working on industry- and government-funded R&D projects related to next-generation computing and Internet technologies, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence. This experience has provided me with invaluable insights into advanced computing systems and electronics, novel techniques for computer networking and communications, as well as practical skills and knowledge in protecting systems and networks from cybersecurity threats. Furthermore, I have acquired strong programming skills across a wide range of programming languages and mathematical modeling techniques.

Tutoring Approach:
Currently, in addition to tutoring A-level and university students, I also deliver specialized training programs and masterclasses to professionals in organizations worldwide. I assist university graduates in preparing for industry-required professional certificates. Additionally, I provide consultancy services to both start-ups and established companies within my areas of expertise.

Feel free to reach out to me to discuss your requirements. I am eager to help and support students in achieving their goals. Before booking any lessons via the system, please make sure to contact me first, as my availability shown on the system may not always be up to date.

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Personal Description:
Hi, I'm Lucy and I am a mum of one, teacher and lover of all things French! By nature, I am diligent, reliable and good-humoured and love my job as a French teacher. I have lots of experience in dealing with young people and tutor on a regular basis.

Teaching Experience:
I have 20 years experience as a teacher and have taught French to all age groups and abilities, from toddlers to adults!
I have always given private tuition, an aspect of teaching that I particularly enjoy. I tutor both on a one-to-one basis and to small groups. I currently teach French to little ones through music, drama and games - there's never a dull moment!

Tutoring Approach:
I assess the student's requirements at our first session which is free. I also like to get to know a little of his/her personality which I consider paramount in order to develop a good rapport from the outset. I try to pinpoint as early as possible the area of difficulty and work on this as well as having an all-round approach to the language. Above all, I always try to be attentive towards my student.

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Personal Description:
I am a fully-qualified maths teacher having passed my PGCE at the University of York in 2011, as well as a married father of 3 young children living in Malton who enjoys teaching Maths!

Teaching Experience:
I have been teaching KS3/KS4 maths at secondary level since 2011/12, but also have experience of teaching at primary level having prepared a small group of Year 6s for their SATS this summer. Prior to teaching I worked in finance for 10 years.

I have been tutoring several students since February 2017 and am thoroughly enjoying increasing both their confidence and ability in maths. Two of my students who took their GCSEs this summer passed with a level 5 and 6 (strong grade `C` & B) both of whom were struggling when I started working with them just a few months prior to their exams.

Tutoring Approach:
I will travel to your home and cover the Ryedale and North & East Yorkshire coast areas. I have a positive and encouraging approach giving children the space to work at their own pace and in the style that best suits them. I find that after a few months of tutoring children will already show signs of being more confident and able at maths.

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Personal Description:
CURRENTLY ACCEPTING STUDENT REQUESTS FOR JULY 2026 ONWARD.

I'm an Oxford graduate English specialist with 4 years experience as a full time English tutor. I help students achieve top grades in their English GCSEs and A-Levels.

I have helped multiple students exceed their expectations.

***"Thank you so much for all your tips and advice - I ended up getting 9s in both English exams!" - HELENA***

I particularly enjoy pushing ambitious, hardworking students who might not yet have understood how to excel. I was one of these students. Everything changed when I got a private tutor at the age of 15. With their support, I scored 100% in my English GCSEs, 99% in English A Level, and went on to study English at St John's College, Oxford.

So, it's out of immense gratitude to my own teachers (and my younger self for persisting through anxiety and disappointment) that I try and show my students that success is well within their reach.

***"Thank you for helping him jump from a 5 to a 9. You are amazing" - N.K***

***"Thank you for your help: it really helped me get the 9! " - DAN***

***"Ankit is an amazing tutor. He boosted my son by 3 grades. I recommend Ankit to anyone who wants a tutor: Ankit really goes above and beyond to teach his students" - HAMIDREZA (Parent)***

Teaching Experience:
***"The results are here and I got a 9 in Literature and an 8 (2 marks off a 9) in Language. These were also my highest grades" - ELANG***

***Ankit helped my daughter improve from stagnant 4s to 9s in both Literature and Language!" - EYRE***

I've been an English tutor for nearly 5 years, following my education under award-winning professors, tutors, and teachers who shaped the foundation of everything I now teach.

Over the last 5 years, I've taught AQA's course extensively. I also have experience teaching OCR, Edexcel and Cambridge IGCSE at GCSE, and A-Level English Literature for OCR and AQA.

GCSE set texts that I'm very familiar and have many years of resources on include:

- Macbeth
- Antony & Cleopatra
- Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde
- A Christmas Carol
- An Inspector Calls
- Never Let Me Go
- Lord of the Flies
- The War of the Worlds
- Power & Conflict Poetry (AQA and OCR)
- The Woman in Black
- I'm the King of the Castle

I also have experience teaching these set texts (at both GCSE and A-Level):
- Romeo and Juliet
- Hamlet
- Richard II
- Paradise Lost (which I did my undergraduate dissertation on)
- The Bloody Chamber
- A Streetcar Named Desire
- The Great Gatsby
- Frankenstein
- Songs of Ourselves (Anthology)
- Pride and Prejudice
- Skirrid Hill
- The Handmaid's Tale
- Top Girls
- Romantic Poetry
- The Duchess of Malfi
- Of Mice and Men

My degree covered literature written from when English first became a language to the modern day. So simply let me know what you're studying and I'll be able to teach it.

***"I learnt more with you in 2 hours than I did in a whole year from my teachers" - KATYA***

Tutoring Approach:
***"I got an 8 in Literature (I never thought I would EVER get that in Year 10) and a 7 in Language" - AYANA***

My lessons balance challenge with warmth. I teach through discussion, questioning, high-level ideas and regular homework.

***"I couldn't be happier with the progress my son had made under Ankit's guidance, which has helped him reach grade 9. What sets Ankit apart is his patience and encouragement, which has really boosted my son's confidence"*** - VIJI (Parent)

I break English down into clear systems: top-band writing templates, essay formulas, and exam strategies tailored to the student's board and mark scheme. Together, we build ready-to-use paragraphs and flexible arguments that adapt to almost any question with the goal of reducing uncertainty, building fluency and writing material the examiners want to reward.

***"Ankit helped my dyslexic son at both GCSE and A Level. His manner with students is warm and engaging - CLAIR (Parent) ***

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Personal Description:
Hi! こんにちは！

I am Erina, a native Japanese teacher regularly tutoring adult learners via online Skype lessons. My home town is Tokyo, where I was teaching Japanese. I've been teaching Japanese for 6 years for beginners and lower intermediate (JLPT N5 to N4). I can also offer conversation practice for upper intermediate to advance levels. I'm very patient and enthusiastic teacher who tailors each lesson for the individual depending on the students interests and goals.

I mainly use a text book called Genki in my lessons which covers reading, writing, speaking and listening. The most difficult areas of Japanese language learning tends to be reading and writing, but I would like focus more towards listening and speaking. Although you need to know the Japanese alphabets of Hiragana and Katakana to be able to understand accurate pronunciations, isn't it more fun and motivated if you would be able to pick up some Japanese thorough movie, anime and songs you like!

In person lesson is limited slot and different price, please ask me if you need more information.

Teaching Experience:
I've been teaching Japanese for 6 years for beginners and lower intermediate (JLPT N5 to N4).Regularly tutoring adult learners via online Skype lessons. My home town is Tokyo, where I was teaching Japanese.

Tutoring Approach:
Tutoring Approach:

Genki 1 and 2 are the main text books

This lesson is suitable for beginners to lower intermediate level.

If you want upper level, conversation lessons are also available.

Please contact me if you are interested in learning Japanese or if you have any questions.


-Student review-
"Erina is an excellent native Japanese tutor.
Extremely patient, Erina breaks down the lessons into chunks and explains each language concept, rule and grammatical idea with clarity and a smile.
couldn't recommend her enough to anyone wanting to learn Japanese from scratch !!"
Kate S


"Enthusiastic and patient. Classes are always fun with Erina and she always sets up classes geared towards your wants and needs."
Ross W


"Erina is really a very patient tutor I must say. I think I could be a Japanese expert if I keep learning with her."
Joey H


"Thoroughly enjoying my lessons with Erina. She is extremely encouraging and enthusiastic in lessons"
George T


"Excellent tutor. Always prompt, polite and incredibly efficient. My son found Erina very friendly and informative. We have had 3 lessons , 1x a week and will be booking more. Site is easy to use and simple payments. Emails to update ever step of the way. Very happy highly recommend"
Rachel M


"Erina's lessons fly by, and are so helpful!"
James R


"I wasn't sure what to expect from the process but Erina has been great. I was quite specific with what I wanted to learn and she has been very flexible and patient. I feel positive about the process and I think she'll get me ready for a trip to Japan in the future."
Christian H


"Yesterday I had my first lesson with Erina, she was really fun to talk with, she quickly assessed my understanding and asked me about my goals etc. After discussing textbooks I already owned and my past experience she put me through my paces with some exam practice, reading comprehension and some speaking. I thoroughly enjoyed my lesson with her and gained confidence both in my current ability but also felt I was once again learning and not stuck in a plateau. Looking forward to our next lesson and completing my homework soon."
Sam C


"Erina is a great teacher! Learning from a native speaker has been so beneficial to me. Erina lessons are well structured and she pushes me to increase my learning while also making it fun. Highly recommended!"
Dominic C

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Personal Description:
Hey! I'm Simone and I'm a professional drummer with over 15 years of experience. During the years I gained experience playing around Europe. I used to play different genres that range from rock, blues, pop, electronic to funk, jazz, fusion, Latin, etc.

Graduated in BMus Popular Music Performance at The Institute of Contemporary Music Performance in London, having grown up in a family of musicians with a zest for creating and discovering original music. Ever since my first live show when I was 9 years old, I have developed a strong interest in music. This passion resulted in obtaining the Bachelor of Music at one of the top-tier music institutes in London. This journey enriched my portfolio in playing different genres whether this be live or in studios.

Lessons can be 1-2-1, in a group, or online. People of all ages and levels can attend.

Lessons can be taken at your house or convenient location; in my equipped drums studio situated in Manor House, North London; or online by webcam.

A bit about me:

I co-worked with various bands all around Italy and the United Kingdom.
I had the opportunity to play with a lot of different musicians and different genres of music, which has contributed to my personal development as a musician.
I currently play as a session musician around the UK and Italy and I'm the drummer for Harry Mold.

In 2016 I decided to devote myself to the study of music in a professional way and made a new significant step: I enrolled in the BMUS Popular Music Performance course at the music university "The Institute of Contemporary Music Performance" (ICMP) in London. I have been coached by eminent professors such as Gabor Dornyei, Richard Spaven, Darren Ashford, Ferguson Gerrard, Audrey Riley, Xantoné Blacq and Jon Harris.

I'm officially an endorser of the drumstick's brand Collision Drumsticks.

Teaching Experience:
I'm Simone and I'm a professional drummer with over 15 years of experience. During the years I gained experience playing around Europe. I used to play different genres that range from rock, blues, pop, electronic till funk, jazz, fusion, Latin, etc.

Tutoring Approach:
Lessons have to be different for each student because everyone needs to follow a specific and suited study. In the case that the student does not request a specific tuition, the subjects are subdivided into three sections: Lecture, Stylistic Techniques, and Performance. These are needed in order to build the character of the perfect drummer. It's also important for me during the lessons to be able to create a peaceful and relaxing environment, so that the student is able to focus on the study with serenity. In the case of teaching kids, it is important to create a situation of game/study to extend and keep the interest in the study of the instrument, avoiding making the lessons become boring.

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Personal Description:
I have been teaching for over 28 years and have been a Head of Biology at a leading independent school for 8 years. I am currently a teacher at a school. I have been tutoring for 20 years and online for 10 years. I am also a senior examiner for AQA and an assistant examiner for Edexcel. I have tutored many students and have experience in teaching all the major boards; AQA, OCR, CIE and WJEC.

Teaching Experience:
I have taught at 4 different schools over the last 22 years. I have taught coeducational, girls and boys all in different schools. I have also taught large numbers of students online over the last 4 years and have vast experience in remote learning through Skype and Zoom.

Tutoring Approach:
I taylors the lessons for what students want; whether you need confidence in exam technique and how to approach the questions at GCSE or A Level or consolidate theory. I can reteach topics to build knowledge and understanding and then always reinforce this with exam questions which I mark and feedback to you. I can then offer lessons which are specific to your needs.

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Personal Description:
I am a Mathematician and Computer Scientist with 30 plus years plus experience working across both research institutes and business firms. I have a bachelor degree in "Mathematics and Computing", a Master degree in "Mathematics - Numerical Analysis" and a Doctorate degree in "Computer Science - Artificial Intelligence". I am friendly, enthusiastic and honest. I am also bilingual - English and French.

Teaching Experience:
I have tutored Mathematics and Computer Science to "GCSE" students and above. I have given 1-2-1 tutoring/coaching to individuals, and courses/seminars to small and large groups of university students and professionals.

Tutoring Approach:
I provide friendly, relaxed lessons either individually or in groups of up to twelve students, tailored exactly to the requirements of my students.

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Personal Description:
⭐ Hi! I'm James. I'm a coding tutor with over a decade of experience working on all sorts of coding projects. I've worked at the European Bioinformatics Institute, the University of Manchester, the Ministry of Justice, and even the UK Health Security Agency during the pandemic.

Throughout my career I've built enterprise level data services, AI programs, published academic computational genetic analyses, and lead dev and data science teams solving meaningful national-scale problems.

In all that, my favourite work has always been teaching young people about technology.

Teaching Experience:
In summary, I have taught learners from primary school to university level 📚.

🧑‍💻 I've volunteered as a Code Club mentor for the Raspberry Pi Foundation, delivered workshops in schools, and even won funding from the Wellcome Trust to run hands-on sessions where children learn science through video games. I love helping learners discover that programming is creative, playful, and something anyone can enjoy. I was also featured in the Sanger blog post on "Inspiring prisoners and their families with genomics".

Tutoring Approach:
👦👧 What will your child will learn?

My lessons are designed specifically for KS2 learners (ages 7-11), and this may be useful for some older children catching up on coding and computing. The lessons will cover concepts in the DfE National curriculum for England, and usually we will go beyond the curriculum very swiftly.

I will start by loosely adhering to the Raspberry Pi's scratch modules which cover algorithms, and building with code. However, I believe in child led learning. If your child is less interested in making games or programming animations, and is more interested in technology and robots, we will follow the BBC's micro:bit projects. 🎓 These can be followed by a gentle introduction to Python when they are ready (a widely used text based programming language).

Beyond the meat of the coding, there are also other skills we will cover like digital safety, and how to use search tools effectively.

I'm patient, friendly, and great at explaining complex ideas in simple steps using multiple methods to get the concepts across.

Whether your child is a total beginner or already curious about coding, I adapt sessions to their pace, interests, and confidence level.

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Personal Description:
I've been teaching Film Studies for over twenty five years now - it's a wonderful career which has enabled me to combine my enthusiasm for the subject, with developing effective teaching strategies to help students achieve their potential. I have extensive experience of teaching Film Studies A level at a sixth form college, where I'm also the head of subject.

My subject expertise is evident in my PhD qualification which I gained in 2019. It was a fantastic experience in many ways, not least in that I got to be a student again, a valuable reminder of the pleasures but also the stresses of studying. I am also the author of several Film Studies text books which are aimed at A Level students, as well as essays in academic collections

Teaching Experience:
Teacher and Head of Film Studies - Sixth Form College

Lecturer - Access to Higher Education course

Tutoring Approach:
It's really important to me to provide a supportive, focused atmosphere in which to learn in - I really enjoy sharing my knowledge of film and developing students' proficiency in wider academic skills. My classes are characterised by a range of teaching methods designed to engage with students who will be at different levels of achievement and confidence.

It's very important that students are able to develop analytical skills in written and spoken contexts, are able to evaluate and develop their own learning in order to meet assessment requirements. In addition to classroom teaching I am also experienced in the design and assessment of public examinations.

I'm happy to offer long term regular tuition throughout a course or short term sessions focusing an a particular area.

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Personal Description:
I have 25 years experience in Design & Technology (Textiles) , Art and Health & Social Care. I am experienced up to GCSE in all three areas and have taught A Level Art & Design for A level in an FE college.
I have one to one tutor experience for nearly a year in a PRU in Pembrokeshire focussing on GCSE core subjects, ie English and Maths primarily.
I am very good with pupils and am able to develop very good relationships with them. My success rate is excellent in my key subject areas.

Teaching Experience:
Secondary schools in Wales mainly.
Two years spent teaching in Auckland NZ
One year maternity cover A Level Art & Textiles in FE college.
PRU experience one to one tutoring in unit.
Currently on supply cover in secondary schools.

Tutoring Approach:
Organisation and well prepared. Establish good one to one relationship and be realistic and honest about outcomes.

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