Westerham Tutors & Westerham Tuition

Personal Description:
I live in West Cornwall with my young family, and currently work as a private tutor and academic mentor. Born in Brighton, it was there in 2009 I completed my teacher training and began a career as a science teacher.

As well as my classroom teaching experience, I have worked as a laboratory researcher, science editor, and more recently as an independent advocate within the field of mental health. Additionally, I hold an undergraduate degree in genetics and a masters degree in psychology.

Teaching Experience:
I obtained a PGCE in secondary science - gaining qualified teacher status in 2009. During training, I taught at two West Sussex secondary schools. Upon qualifying, I taught at a prestigious all-girls school in central Brighton, and then subsequently at Bellerbys International College in Brighton.

My classroom experience includes teaching ages 11-18 across all three sciences (biology, chemistry, and physics) from GCSE to A-level. I also have 17 years of private tutoring experience, having tutored GCSE, A-level, and mature students. I have a very successful track record.

Tutoring Approach:
I am very friendly and approachable, and highly dedicated to my students - giving a lot of time and effort to ensure they are achieving their full potential. Within sessions, I provide solid structure and tailor my approach to their individual needs. I suggest work for completion outside of sessions and provide them with direction to develop their individual approach to learning and revision.

I am able to explain difficult concepts in an easily digested way, making learning enjoyable and confidence-boosting. I have a clear, patient manner, and an excellent grasp of my subject specialisms.

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Personal Description:
IN PERSON and ONLINE Tutoring! Either way I always create a very good connection with my students.
I am a native of Italy who has lived in the UK for 35 years and has well adapted to the British system of education, still bringing in some of the flavour of her own mother country in connection with love and curiosity for languages, cultures, and contacts with people and their cultures through the activity of teaching.

Teaching Experience:
I have been in the field of teaching languages (Italian being my special subject) for 21 years and have taught for all these years at all levels: children, GCSE, Highers level, University level, and adult classes both vocational and leasure/tourist.
My qualifications include a ESOL-Celta (Univ. of Cambridge) in teaching English as a Foreign Language to children and adults; a degree in English language and literature, as well as French language and literature; a PhD in Italian Studies. I have had mostly experience of teaching at University level in both language and culture (literature and cinema) in the last 10 years where my teaching ranges from beginners through to advanced level of Italian Language; and all levels of culture tutoring; translation studies.

Tutoring Approach:
IN PERSON and ONLINE Tutoring! Either way I always create a very good connection with my students.
My teaching approach to tutoring varies from objective to objective. Languages should always be taught in a full immersion style, especially when it is targeting groups of people who are doing it for either vocational or personal reasons.
Tutoring of subjects such as languages with an objective such as GCSE or Highers or indeed University exams must take into account the syllabus that students must complete in order to reach their target: i.e. pass exams and, at the same time, learn in an effective though 'unforgettable' way. The majority of classes must be delivered in the target language, however in order to meet timing of syllabus coverage and exams some of the concept must be strengthened in the student's language.
In an ideal world, where no exams or timed targets exist, then tutoring of a language should happen 100% in the target language.

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Personal Description:
I have got MPhil qualification from the Univertsity of Leicester, UK in Engineering. I am an experienced teacher in Computer and Electronic Engineering at University level.

I am friendly by nature and my students always feel comfortable and enjoy studying with me. Many of my students have already made a successful career.

The tutoring rates are for teaching at my home. An additional cost would apply if I need to travel to the tutee.

I have a clear enhanced DBS certificate linked to CRB online update service.

Teaching Experience:
I have more than 20-year experience in teaching Computer and Electronic Engineering courses at the university level. Teaching is my passion and I take great interest especially when the student is eager to learn. The courses I like to teach are Embedded Systems, Digital Systems, Computer Architecture, VHDL, Engineering Maths, Embedded C programming, Microprocessor, and Microcontroller Design, Electrical Engineering, and other standard Engineering courses.

I also guide and assist in final year projects (especially Embedded Systems and controls area), coursework, assignments, reports and thesis writing.

Tutoring Approach:
I believe in interactive teaching where a student can openly express his/her understanding without any hesitation so that I can figure out where to start from. I devise step-wise simple methods to understand the complex problems and develop their solutions.

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Personal Description:
I am a current A-level Chemistry and Biology examiner and author of A level Biology exam papers as well as textbooks and workbooks. I have worked in bioscience research and more recently in life science marketing and academic conference management in chemistry and biochemistry. I am a Chartered Chemist, Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry and committee member of the Protein & Peptide Science Group of the Royal Society of Chemistry.

I now offer tuition exclusively online, using the Zoom platform.

Teaching Experience:
I have many years' experience in one-to-one teaching, starting with giving undergraduate tutorials at the University of Oxford. I have been offering private tuition in A-level Chemistry and Biology for over 10 years.

I am able to tailor my teaching style to the individual needs of the student and to make best use of online and other electronic resources to help students to an understanding of the subject.

Tutoring Approach:
I start by identifying the particular needs of the student: do they have problems with understanding some or all of the subject; are there any areas of weakness that need to be strengthened; are there issues with exam technique that need to be addressed?

Even well taught students who have a good grasp of the subject can fail to achieve their full potential through poor exam technique. My earlier experience as a Chief Examiner, responsible for setting and marking A level exams, means that I have a detailed knowledge of the exam system and how students need to approach exam papers. My current examining experience has given me an insight into how to help students avoid unnecessary loss of marks by developing clear and rigorous approaches to their answers and to develop strategies to approach individual questions so as to maximise their performance.

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Personal Description:
Hello, my name is Robert. Learning and teaching in some form has always been part of my life; my personal motto is "Never stop asking questions....". I am a dad of two lively children (10 & 7), a primary teacher and a private tutor. I have a can-do approach to life and am never happier than when I am busy with my work or with my family. I play classical guitar, always have at least one book on the go, and love to walk in the countryside whenever our busy lives permit.

Teaching Experience:
I have 12 years' experience as a teacher, the first years spent gaining experience, the later years in positions of responsibility culminating in being appointed Head of Science responsible for delivering the whole of the curriculum to years 7 to 13. I taught Combined Science up to age 14, Physics and Chemistry to GCSE and Physics and Geology A' levels. In addition to my classroom experience I have a TEFL qualification which I put to good use while I was living and working in France for 12 years tutoring French people on a 1:1 basis. I taught both children and adults to learn English in the spoken and written word. Since returning to the UK just over a year ago, I have been working as a supply teacher in local primary schools delivering the complete curriculum, and I have started my own tutoring business and have a number of students whom I see after school for Maths and/or English tuition.

Tutoring Approach:
I believe the greatest benefit of 1:1 tutoring (or tutoring small groups), is that it is so much easier to tailor the learning to the student's needs, aiding understanding and building on that towards mastery of a subject. Progress is often swift because as has been so often stated, 1:1 tuition for an hour is probably the equivalent of several days in the classroom! My initial approach is to assess the student's needs in the first couple of sessions, using the information gleaned to build a program of study that is particular to that student. With regards to TEFL, having lived abroad for 12 years I appreciate just how difficult it can be as an adult to learn a foreign language, so I have great empathy with my adult learners and love helping them get to grips with our complex language.

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Personal Description:
Another great year with all my tutees gaining the top grades and the university of their choice. I am very proud that my tutees achieve such excellent grades as I am able to improve essay and short answer grades, often considerably, due to my extensive experience at A level.. I am a friendly, very patient and good humoured tutor who is highly professional in my approach to tutoring whether online or one to one. I work hard for my tutees and am always prepared to go the extra mile. My commitment to my students is not just in the tutoring session as I will assess work and give help whenever my tutees ask for it. I have a very extensive understanding of Economics and Business and I keep up with all the latest developments in my subjects. I believe I have warm and friendly personality with a good sense of humour and that I am also a good listener.

Teaching Experience:
I am a qualified, teacher with over thirty five years experience teaching and tutoring Economics and Business. I have worked for all the major examination boards as a moderator, examiner and question setter. I have a great deal of understanding of what GCSE and A level examiners are looking for in awarding top grades. As a result I get a huge satisfaction when my students gain really improved grades, year on year, very frequently exceeding their own targets. The feedback from students, parents and carers is always extremely positive and it is this high praise that makes me want to continue teaching and making the difference.

Tutoring Approach:
I firmly believe that the majority of teachers and schools/colleges do their best to help their students. However, many students have weaknesses especially in their written work. To gain high grades students need to be able to analyse, apply and evaluate their knowledge but those skills are often not developed by their school or college. However, my experience and individually focused sessions can remedy this and as a result my students soon are making far better responses to essay questions, data response and case studies than before they started tuition. As confidence grows I work with my students to help them achieve consistent high grades and a very pleasing final grade.

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Personal Description:
Welcome! A freelance tutor and singer, I give "Personal tuition in the right key". I can help you get the highest grades in exams, and study in the "key" that best suits you. Like the right song choices, I often inspire my students to succeed.

- Which subject(s) do you teach?

French, Spanish, Latin, Ancient Greek, English as a Foreign Language, Creative Writing, Singing, Oxbridge Interview preparation.

- Tell me about your qualifications.

Master of Studies in European Literature (Spanish) from Exeter College, Oxford University;
Master of Arts in Classics and Modern Languages (French) from New College, Oxford University;
PostGraduate Certificate in Education and Qualified Teacher Status from the Department of Education, Oxford University;
Diploma de Español como Lengua Extranjera (Spanish Diploma) from Salamanca University, Spain;
Advanced Certificate in Careers Education and Guidance from Canterbury Christ Church College;
Certificate in Teaching English as a Foreign Language (Level 5, CELTA equivalent, 140 hours) from EDI and i-to-i Volunteering.
Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts ("Working for 21st century Enlightenment")

- Where do you teach?

I teach online via FaceTime and/or Skype from my home and at students' homes. I live in Abingdon, in Oxfordshire, in the UK, and am prepared to drive up to c30 miles from home if online lessons are not possible, to include nearby towns such as Oxford, Wantage, Bicester, Henley, Reading, Newbury, Thame, Wallingford, Marlow ... I teach pupils online anywhere in the world, latterly in UK towns such as Northampton, Cheltenham etc. and abroad in Hong Kong, Russia, Kazakhstan ...

- Describe your arrangements for online tutoring.

I use Skype or Apple FaceTime. The video feed can be switched off at my student's request, or if it degrades the sound quality. Tests and exercises are sent to the student and returned to me for marking by email.

Teaching Experience:
- What kind of experience do you have?

Two years teaching Scholarship Latin and Greek in a local prep school (Cothill House);
Previously spent 25 years in the classroom in independent and state schools in the UK, France and Peru, teaching all ages;
Sometime Head of three academic departments (one of which I founded at Abingdon School);
c10 years one-to-one private tuition to all ages, latterly often online or through local agencies.

- Do you have an up-to-date DBS (Disclosure & Barring Service, formerly CRB) Certificate?

Yes - fully listed on the DBS update site.

- Where and with whom did you train?

University of Oxford, New College and Exeter College;
University of Oxford Department of Education;
Salamanca University;
Christ Church College Canterbury;

- Do you belong to any professional organisations?

I am a member of the General Teaching Council, the Association for Language Learning, sometime Chair of the Oxford Education Society, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and the Academy of St Cecilia.

Tutoring Approach:
"David has been tutoring our son via Skype for the last year, since his Spanish teacher said she did not want to put him in for GCSE Spanish as she thought he would fail. David has been marvellous with coaxing and coaching him and giving him confidence. Just the one to one attention has been hugely beneficial, and the bonus that "tech"� was involved, and that there was no time lost in driving to and from lessons has been a real godsend too. David is incredibly supportive and encouraging without being at all patronising, and really strikes the right balance to get the best out of his students. Can recommend unreservedly."
Mrs F, Gloucestershire,

"Our son has flourished under David's tutelage; the balance and content of homework and classwork has been very carefully gauged and enabled our son to progress rapidly, with great enthusiasm for his studies. The weekly reports David submits have been of immense value to us as parents trying to support our son's learning, as has the clear structuring, marking and regular review of work." Dr M. and Mr E.

"David has provided my daughter with an excellent grounding in Spanish prior to her starting the subject at school. He has guided her through the basics in a clear, thoughtful and well-informed way and has formed a very good relationship in which she has felt engaged, supported and motivated." Mrs W.

"My two children (ages 9 and 10) have progressed rapidly in their French learning with David. His lessons with them are focused and thorough, and his approach is patient and clear. He has great enthusiasm for languages and significant experience in teaching them, which show through in his lessons. My children both very much enjoy their lessons and are even happy to do the homework! David is also very helpful in working with us to find the best ways to support their learning between lessons. " Jenny T

"Dear David, Thank you so much for all your help and guidance when I applied for the Chaplaincy. It was good, too, to see you there when I went for interview" Revd. Michael P"

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Personal Description:
Before going to university I worked in the NHS as a medical laboratory technician and phlebotomist with industrial experience in microbiology and analytical chemistry working for L'Oreal (yes I am worth it!) and Sunjuice Ltd.

After graduating from Kings College London with an immunology degree I joined Newcastle University and spent three years researching anti-cancer drugs. Deciding to leave research, I gained a PGCE teaching qualification from the University Of Wales, Newport and have been teaching A-Level biology since 2003.

I am a Chartered Biologist and a member of the Royal Society Of Biology and the Chartered College of Teaching. These professional memberships allow Tyrone to keep current in the biological and cognitive sciences, something vital to providing high quality and engaging biology teaching. I am a registered teacher with the Education Workforce Council in Wales so you can be assured of my professional status and fitness to practise as a teacher.

Teaching Experience:
I am an A-Level Biology specialist teacher. I have over 18 years of full-time A-Level Biology teaching experience with 16 to 20 year old students. This experience has allowed me to develop a dynamic approach to teaching and has allowed me to become an expert at helping students of all abilities.

Tutoring Approach:
I conduct myself to the professional standards set by the Education Workforce Council and the Royal Society of Biology.

I am a qualified teacher and so use proven teaching strategies skillfully and effectively. Some examples include Socratic questioning, compare and contrast to test understanding and interlinking.

I provide help with exam technique and with structuring long answer, QER, questions by showing the links between topics. I teach students thinking skills and why this is vital to understanding question command words and assessment objectives and how this determines the structure of an answer.

Along with covering the biological content of the specification I, also, teach the maths and practical content as well.

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Personal Description:
I have a PhD in chemistry and have published a book on Study Smarter: a lecture's inside guide to boost your grades.

With over 15 years as an academic, I have published extensively in peer-reviewed academic publications. My passion and outstanding commitment to teaching were recognised by the Royal Society of Chemistry in 2016 with a Higher Education Teaching Award. In 2017, I was awarded a prestigious National Teaching Fellowship in the UK.

Teaching Experience:
I have tutored A-level students and taught undergraduate and postgraduate students in my academic work.

Tutoring Approach:
Most students are wasting time with the study habits they use. This may seem like a crazy thing to say, isn't working hard the foundation to good results?
Research shows that at least 6 out of every 10 students are using suboptimal study strategies.
I've met this a lot in my own work. I have created a Study Smarter Audit to help identify where study habits can be improved. This can be over 2 sessions or longer depending on what you want to achieve. I work online and create a personalised plan to target effective study strategies and evaluate the changes.

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Personal Description:
Bonjour ! I am French native speaker fully qualified to teach French in secondary school. I have a wide range of experience in teaching from nursery to secondary settings, as I have also a master in education in France to teach primary and nursery children.

Seven years ago, I decided to move to Scotland where I started as a nursery practitioner in Edinburgh: my enjoyment of teaching my native language encouraged me to get the full qualification to be able to improve my teaching practice and to teach French at different level and range of students.

I love travelling with my lovely dog Alba , as I cycled with her from France to Crete and we travelled in a van all over Europe !

Teaching Experience:
I have done several placements in primary and nursery schools in France during my master of education. Then I've worked as a tutor and a school supervisor in a high school in France during a year.

After moving in Scotland , I was a nursery practitioner and I have since 2020 a PGDE in Modern languages French. I worked 4 years as a French teacher in High schools while tutoring online and face to face and 2 years ago I decided to go exploring Europe for a year and to do online tutoring full time since. I do have now 6 years of experience tutoring online and I'm loving it !!

According to my students, I am enthusiastic, patient and supportive !

Tutoring Approach:
I tailor the lessons to your needs and wishes. I have an "activity based" and a "communicative" approach, which make you learn a language through discussions and what interests you most but it could also be games, challenges, debates, recipe, studying films and books if you wish !

First of all , we will have a conversation to getting to know you better, where I could evaluate your level and what do you wish to work on the different skills to learn a language according to your needs and your goals:
- Speaking: the best way to learn a language , with different topics you are interested in, using videos, films, musics, art, books, articles, etc…
- Listening and Reading to work on your pronunciation and your understanding using as many materials as you need: musics, news, films, texts etc...
- Writing, on subjects according to your goals, to work on your grammar and vocabulary. You can choose to work on specific points with exercises or also by having fun with games and challenges , there is so many different ways to learn a language!

I am qualified and have the experience to work with children and adults at any level , as to prepare any exams in National 5, Highers, Advanced Highers, GCSEs, AS and A levels.

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Personal Description:
I was born in Glasgow, and attended The Glasgow Academy. I have travelled to over 50 countries, and explored new cultures and languages. I have a degree in Chemical engineering, holding a PGCE in secondary Maths. I played cricket for 2 years with Scotland.

Teaching Experience:
I explore critical thinking with my students, and encourage them to be logical and systematic in their approach to answering questions. I am also an experienced GCSE external examiner. I have worked in Africa and the Gulf countries for 10 years, teaching the equivalent to GCSE mathematics.

Tutoring Approach:
I like students to take the lead and set their own targets. My job would be to guide and modify any planning laid out. Furthermore, I will integrate English into solving higher level context based questions pertaining to real life situations. Master the basic skills with practice and slowly develop the art of solving problems. This will allow students to use the same method to all subjects.

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Personal Description:
I am an experienced tutor, based in North-East Lincolnshire. I have many years of teaching under my belt, as well as experience of marking for exam boards. I am a dad and enjoy studying History and watching rugby.

Teaching Experience:
I have over 14 years of experience teaching in secondary schools in England. I have taught primarily History but also RS, Humanities, Geography, Citizenship and English. I have taught students of many different levels of attainment and from many different backgrounds.

I have taught History to A Level with experience of teaching units on Nazi Germany, the history of medicine, Elizabethan England, the American West, the Cold War, the Inter-War years, Civil Rights in America. As a historian, I specialise in medieval and early modern history.

I have taught RS to GCSE level, with particular experience of Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, Buddhism and philosophy.

Tutoring Approach:
I believe that effective tutoring is based on a positive and trusting relationship between the tutor, tutee and family. My experience allows me to quickly identify a student's strengths and weaknesses and to adapt the learning to best suit them. I work hard in preparation in order to empower students to become independent enquirers and self-sufficient learners. I believe in the value of reading widely around a subject and questioning to help students develop a deeper level of understanding rather than just regurgitating facts.

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