Upper Caldecote Tutors & Upper Caldecote Tuition

Personal Description:
With nearly 15 years of online and in-person tutoring French Common Entrance/13+, Westminster Challenge, Winchester entrance, GCSE, IGCSE, A-level, Pre-U, and SAT, I`m a 50-year old graduate of the excellent University of Sussex languages course with a First Class Honours degree in French and Russian. I lived for four years in Paris where I mastered the language and the accent!

I have also acted in plays in French, taking on the role of Alphonse in a production of The School for Wives, and touring to schools abroad to perform in front of students learning French elsewhere in Europe.

I like to stay abreast of French culture and society, read Le Figaro everyday, and regularly watch French TV news and discussion shows.

Teaching Experience:
I have tutored students at all levels, from 13+ entrance exams, including the Westminster Challenge, to most UK exam boards at GCSE, IGCSE and A-level, and I have also helped prepare students for their SAT in French and the DELF exam. I've taught adults who are complete beginners, or have some vague memories of what they learned at school, as well as helping several students gain entry to Westminster School via their Challenge exam

Since the switch to mostly online teaching, I have become an expert in making the most of the resources available, particularly the collaborative tools provided by Google, among others, which are particularly good for working on exercises and explaining grammar in a clear, helpful way.

Successes from the last (2019-20) academic year included: an two As at A-level, and two 9s at IGCSE, as well as entrance to Winchester College via their own exam.

For A-level students, I have already taught Camus's L'Etranger, Françoise Sagan's Bonjour Tristesse, Joseph Joffo's Un Sac de Billes, and Zola's Thérèse Raquin, and am very familiar with all the other set texts. Au Revoir Les Enfants, Intouchables, Entre Les Murs (The Class) and La Haine are the films I am best acquainted with from a teaching point of view.

Here are some comments from a few previous students - originals available on request.

'We could not have asked for a better result - A*s! He got full marks for the reading paper. Thanks so much for all your help, and patience.' - Margaret (parent of home-schooled GCSE student)

'Henry won a scholarship to Westminster. Exactly what he was aiming for." (Leslie, student's mother)

`Thank you so much for all your patient hard work - you taught her exactly the right stuff and there is no way she could have done it without you! I really didn`t think it was possible to teach the whole year 7 curriculum in a week but somehow you managed it. Tiffin Girls is one of the top state schools in the country and rather competitive. Chatting to the other parents outside the exam, most of the competitors went to good independents or had been tutored over a long period of time. You really knew not only what to teach but how to teach it, which shows you have exceptional skills.` - Anoushka (pupil`s mother)

`Just thought I should let you know I got an A! Thanks for all your help` - Helena (A-level student)

'I ended up with an "A"... thanks for all your help, both my spoken papers improved, over my previous efforts.' - Philip, mature student sitting AS and A2 French

Tutoring Approach:
It is important to tailor lessons specifically to a student's needs, but my general method is to engage him or her at a level just above their 'comfort zone'. Learning is about challenging yourself to do better, and it is crucial for a tutor to be supportive and encouraging, and also to keep the bar high.

Lessons can be conducted entirely in French, or in a mixture of English and French. I can work alongside a student's existing course (that is, from a textbook a student is already following), or we can use course books that I recommend.

Where the level allows, I like to draw upon material from contemporary sources such as French news magazines.

For "conversation classes", I find it is useful to base the discussion on an article or a book to help build vocabulary, and also think that incorporating grammar instruction (where appropriate) can be a good idea.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am currently teaching at one of the top independent schools for girls in Berkshire. I hold a PhD in chemistry, which gives me sound knowledge of the subject and I have completed my teacher training at the University of Cambridge.
I am told to be an approachable person which allows me to build a very good working relationship with my students. They are never afraid of asking questions and this gives me the opportunity to identify problems and rectify them quickly.

Teaching Experience:
I am a chemistry specialist and I have five years experience of teaching Edexcel IGCSE and OCR A/B A level qualifications in a high achieving school. I am also confident with the content of the AQA, OCR A/B and Edexcel GCSE and AQA and Edexcel A level specifications which I have been tutoring for many years.

Tutoring Approach:
I do not have a unique approach. All students are different and they have all different needs. I try building a relationship of trust and listen to what their needs are. Very often is the case that they lack confidence and they just need some reassurance. Chemistry is a challenging subject but most students can do very well provided they have self belief and are willing to work hard.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I was born in Germany to British parents and lived there for 8 years before coming over to the UK to live. I also spent a total of 2 further years over there in Southern and Northern Germany after my A Levels and during my undergraduate degree to further my knowledge, working for OSRAM GmbH and studying at the Freie Universität Berlin.

Teaching Experience:
I graduated with a degree in German and Drama, with First Class Honours, in July 2010, from Queen Mary, University of London and have just completed a PGCE (Secondary) in Modern Foreign Languages (German with French), at the Institute of Education, University of London, also gaining QTS (Qualified Teacher Status) from the GTCE (General Teaching Council for England).

I am familiar with the National Curriculum at the Secondary level for Key Stages 3/4/5 - Year 7 through to Year 13, and will tailor tuition to suit individual needs, allowing for development in German language skills, as well as preparation for public examinations.

Tutoring Approach:
Friendly 1-2-1 tuition supporting development in German language skills, tailored to individual needs. National Curriculum at Key Stages 3/4/5 can be followed as well as key examination preparation to boost confidence and performance.

Currently offering sessions on a Saturday/Sunday @ £40p/h

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am a native English speaker. I enjoyed my work as a private ESL/ESOL tutor, but since I have retired, I mainly only undertake proofreading and giving advice on assignments for work or college, that a tutee may need.

Teaching Experience:
I am a fully qualified English tutor holding a Cambridge CELTA (Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults)
I have ten years experience teaching English in Further Education Colleges across Kent. I have also taught in English Summer Schools and accommodated students from abroad, in my own home, teaching them English and introducing them to English culture by taking them on excursions to places of interest in London and Kent.

Tutoring Approach:
During the first lesson I will assess my new student in order to place them at their correct level of English language acquisition. Thereafter, I can provide lessons appropriate to that level, taking into account their idividual learning needs and learning style.
I am very patient and aware of how it feels to be learning a foreign language as I have studied both German and Spanish as an adult. I like to ensure my students feel comfortable and at ease in their learning as I feel that they will progress more easily and quickly if they are confident that they will be encouraged and helped at all times along the way.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I have a BA History (2:1) degree from Plymouth University. In October 2014 I will be studying the Graduate Diploma in Law at BPP University in Bristol.

Teaching Experience:
I am a confident new English teacher. I am CELTA qualified (May 2014). I am working this summer at the Language Study Center in Bristol with 11-18 year old`s.

Tutoring Approach:
*Available August 2014* Conversational/everyday English.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am a fully qualified teacher of mathematics currently in full time employment in a Coventry Secondary School.

I have Bachelor degree in Mathematics and Statistics from Coventry University and Postgraduate Certificate of Education from Warwick University.

Teaching Experience:
I have 11 year teaching experience including 2 year experience as a Maths tutor at Coventry University.

Tutoring Approach:
I ensures that pupils develop fluent technical proficiency and think deeply about the underpinning mathematical concepts.
I provide homework and resources according to the new curriculum to support student in order to achieve their target grade.

Subjects

Personal Description:
My name is Margaret! I am a Software Engineer, and have recently graduated with a first class honours in MEng Software Engineering. My degree also included a placement in a locally-based software engineering company, and now I work full time as a software engineer in Belfast.
I have previously completed a HND in Computing and Systems Development with distinctions in every module, and achieved A* grades in GCSE and A level ICT, using technologies such Microsoft Access, Netbeans and Visual Studio. I have experience developing in a number of programming languages, including Go, TypeScript, Python, Java, C#, JavaScript, HTML, CSS and SQL. I am also an ISTQB certified tester with a Foundation Level (CTFL) qualification. I have experience with both coursework and theoretical aspects of these courses and would be more than happy to help!

Teaching Experience:
-As a high-performing student at Queen's University Belfast, I have been employed as an academic demonstrator. This involved supporting students during practical sessions and answers questions via email.
-During my time at Queen's University Belfast, I was involved with the School of Electronics, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EEECS) as a peer mentor, providing help primarily to first and second years studying Computer Science related degrees.
-Hosted a 'Code Club' in Holy Rosary Primary School for the academic year 2016/2017, teaching children the fundamentals of programming through Scratch
-Experience delivering tuition to individuals and small groups through workshops delivered in the Apple Store, Victoria Square
-Delivered a series of Apple "Summer Camps" to children aged between 8-13 through the summer of 2015.
-Experience delivering coding classes and talks to peers.
-Tutored peers through A Levels and HND in regards to coursework and theory work.

Tutoring Approach:
This depends on whether the student needs support with the practical (coursework) side or the theory. With the theory, I often look through past papers with the student to establish common questions and work to get the most succinct and correct answer. With practical problems I would often set a smaller, simpler challenge related to the problem which can help the student understand, and then apply to their own coursework. I aim to make the students complete the challenges themselves as much as possible - it is not my intention to create solutions for coursework/assignments for students to use as their own. All work is done as a collaboration between myself and the student.

Please note that I cannot assist University students with the creation of their final year projects.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am a native German speaker and I am passionate about teaching and I love people. I have a PhD in protein chemistry.

Teaching Experience:
I am teaching since 2012 and I have taught 31 private students so far. I have taught 17 Science GCSE and A-level classes in schools and Colleges. I also have taught 23 German, French and Italian evening classes.

Tutoring Approach:
My approach is student and needs centred.
My language lessons can focus on speaking and listening, essential grammar and writing sentences and essays.
In science lessons all weaknesses can be discussed, school homework and exam paper questions.
A typical lesson with me is one hour per week with one additional hour of homework for the following lesson, however this is entirely up to the student.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am 36 yrs old, happily married to my lovely wife Ren, and was born and raised in the United Kingdom.

I have a BEng (Hons) Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Oxford Brookes University and have A-levels in Mathematics, Physics and Physical Education. My degree had numerous modules in advanced mathematics and physics, which I excelled at and deeply enjoyed. I informally tutored several of my friends and peers during university in Mathematics.

Following my graduation I secured a junior project engineering position at a company in the Oil and Gas Industry in 2007. I progressed into a project management role within 3 years of starting my career and I have subsequently been a Project Manager and Project management consultant for large engineering and construction companies in the Oil, Gas and Energy industries, including Schlumberger and Koch Industries. I have been a Project Manager in the industry for over 10 years and have managed numerous multi million pound projects for many large clients including Shell, Exxon Mobil, Centrica and Saudi Aramco. I am a Member of the Association of Project Management.

However, over the last few years I have become increasingly aware and concerned about the impact of my industry on climate change and I have become very interested in contributing to society in a more constructive manner. I have grown more interested in tutoring, in large part due to the positive impact i have seen my father have on his students - he has been a tutor in A-level Mathematics and Physics for the last 10 years, following his retirement from his engineering profession. And I feel I can have a similar positive impact on young people with my educational, professional and personal experience.

Teaching Experience:
I have 3 months of tutoring experience. However, my career as a Project Manager has required me to lead, mentor and train young project engineers and project managers on the principles of project management, work practices and their duties. This required me to impart, share and educate my younger, less experienced colleagues to better prepare them for their roles. So I am confident these skills and experience will serve me well with students and hold me in good stead to be a successful tutor.

Tutoring Approach:
The approach I take with tutoring will be the same as I do personally and professionally. In my personal life, with my wife, family and close friends, I stay true to my values of being caring, honest, respectful, kind, patient and genuinely interested in anything I can advise on or do that keeps our relationships harmonious and happy.

In my professional and working life, I always conduct myself with integrity, fairness and when necessary with respectful firmness to ethically guide and collaborate with my colleagues to achieve the best possible results for my projects. I take a purposeful, disciplined, hardworking approach in all my professional endeavours, but when appropriate will be light hearted and sincerely seek to cultivate good relationships with everyone I work closely with.

I intend to bring the above core values, principles and ways of working to my tutoring duties with the earnest hope of improving the knowledge and experience of my prospective students.

Subjects

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.

Subjects

Personal Description:
Bonjour ! 😀 I'm Jérôme from France 🇫🇷 , a very enthusiastic and passionate language tutor ✨. If you have always felt that French was a locked door 🚪, I can be the key to help you open it 🔑. Read more below ⬇️ to know about my experience, methodology and most importantly, how my lessons can help you! 😊

Teaching Experience:
👨‍🏫 Experience

I have been teaching French for 5 years in British schools (from level A0 to level C2) and also giving private lessons online for more than 2 years (general French, conversation, exams, etc.)

📜 Certifications

I have studied hard to obtain the Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and the Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). For 4 years, I have learned how to teach French effectively and how to help each student to reach their potential.

Tutoring Approach:
🧭 Methodology

My approach is the following: teach pronunciation, vocabulary and grammar through engaging activities such as role-playing and discussions oriented to your areas of interest.

Our first lesson will start with a simple assessment of your skills and, depending on your level, I will design a specific learning plan in order to make you achieve your goals.

So, why should you choose me? 🤔

I have always been passionate with teaching and being able to teach my own language to enthusiastic and curious learners in and out of schools is one of the most rewarding activity to me ✨.

Whether you are:
- a complete beginner,
- a student with an intermediate or advanced level,
- a parent who wants their child to learn or improve their French,
- a person who has to take a French level test,
- a person who simply wants to learn French for any other personal or professional purposes,

✅ I am the tutor you are looking for.

Book the trial lesson and see by yourself.

I am looking forward to meeting you! ✨

Jérôme

Subjects

Personal Description:
I specialise in teaching A-Level Maths and Further Maths. I teach using clear exposition and by giving many examples. I have a massive database of resources including questions from both past exam papers and questions tailored to the common difficulties experienced by students in each topic. I believe the best way to learn A-Level Maths is by practice and experience of as many questions and problem types as possible. Having a tutor who is able to guide you through these problems and select an appropriate follow up task whilst also being able to identify key areas in need of development will give you a great advantage in your final exams.
I am unable to travel, or tutor in my home, so all private tuition will take place on Microsoft Teams. You will need a Microsoft account and can either download the Teams app or use the web app by visiting teams.microsoft.com

Teaching Experience:
I have been teaching Maths and Further Maths in schools and specialist A-level colleges since 1999.
I moved over to full time private online tuition in 2021. Prior to that I was the head of the Mathematics department in a private sixth form college for many years, taught intensive revision courses every Easter and gave classes to Oxbridge candidates who sat the various Oxbridge Maths entrance exams, I also coached for Maths competitions such as the British Mathematics Olympiad.
Now, as a private Tutor I continue to do all of the above privately and online.
During my time as a Head of Department I was continually exposed to discussion with exam boards about syllabus details and marking trends, this put me in a great position to advise students (and my staff) as to the best ways to go about tackling problems and the most effective way of presenting solutions to ensure maximum marks are gained.

Tutoring Approach:
I use Microsoft Teams for online teaching, which has some great features, such as file sharing, a chat system and automatic - outside classroom - access to any board work that is done during a lesson, which is great for students to review the lesson and to consolidate the parts of the lesson afterwards.
I have been teaching online lessons since 2019, both one to one individual tuition and larger groups, although I like to keep the group size to four or fewer. It is a highly convenient and safe way to teach for student and tutor alike and with the development of technology in recent years it has become my favourite way of giving private tuition.

Subjects