Widegates Tutors & Widegates Tuition

Personal Description:
I was born into a French-speaking family and have spoken French my entire life. I have a BA from the London School of Economics in French and Linguistics. I have also lived in France for several years. I have taught French privately for over 20 years and many of my students achieve very high standards. I am very dedicated to my students and try and get the best out of them and build their confidence. One mother with five children of differing ages from 6 years old to 18, where the children were attending Harrodian in Barnes said that her children told her I "was the best French teacher they ever had" - that works for me! I can turn the most hopeless student in French into a budding linguist.

Teaching Experience:
Teaching privately French for over 20 years from beginners to University students as well as adults has given me a great deal of experience across different goals and varying levels. I teach spoken French for those who only want to simply speak the language as well as grammar for those who need to take exams. I work with University students to achieve top grades in dissertations and essays or oral exams. One of my recent students was told by her lecturers she would get a 3rd in her degree ended up getting a 2:1 - not bad eh? I love French literature so if you are studying a piece of literature, I will be able to guide you through the book. I sing with some of my students as I find singing is a wonderful way of learning a language especially where vocabulary is limited. Other students need to listen to French radio in order to accustom the ear to current spoken language and we work together to understand what is being said. I will be the best French teacher you will ever have. Try me!

Tutoring Approach:
I begin by assessing the pupils strengths and weaknesses and then plan lessons to suit the individuals needs. The most important aspect is for the pupil to enjoy the lesson so learning French is a pleasure and not a chore. I also spend time teaching exam techniques as these are as important as studying the language itself. I move away from parrot fashion teaching and ensure that the individual has the rudiments of French and is able to create sentences and has the confidence to put pen to paper.

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Personal Description:
I have a degree in Theology from Cambridge and I have been tutoring RS and philosophy full-time since 2010. Feedback from my students emphasises my friendliness, understanding of the specification and my ability to teach exam technique. They particularly like my digital resources, including exemplar essays!

In August 2024, several of my tutees who were predicted a D or C when I started with them achieved A and A*s. No student of mine has achieved below a B in the last three years. Letters of recommendation are available on request.

Book me for a free one-hour trial session and we can take things from there! Online tuition is preferred.

Extracts from letters of recommendation (available in full on request):

"James is an extremely capable and sensitive tutor… he managed to turn things around completely for my son, and got him to really start enjoying theology again."
Mother of RS (OCR) A-Level student
Grade received: A

"My daughter got a D in her mock earlier this year ... You immediately set about lifting her spirits and inspiring her with high-quality one-to-one tuition. But for her to get an A really was at the top end of our expectations. You have made a big difference to one very happy 18 year old."
Father of A-Level RS (Edexcel) student
Grade received: A

"I cannot recommend James highly enough. He is punctual and thoughtful and I would not hesitate to hire him again in the future."
Mother of Religious Studies (Edexcel) student
Grade received: A

"James immediately established a very good working relationship with my daughter which encouraged her to really engage with the subject…I would highly recommend James as a tutor."
Mother of Religious Studies (OCR) student.
Grade received: A

"James was brilliant. Despite tutoring my two twin daughters at the same time, he adapted his teaching style to suit both of them differently…. he boosted their confidence and increased their essay writing skills. He provided a large amount of digital handouts which they also found useful. Both girls ended up with very high As in all the topics he taught them in."
Mother of twin daughters taught in Religious Studies (OCR) and Philosophy (AQA).
Grades received: A

RATES
If there is a results-based bonus I am happy to negotiate the hourly fee.

Teaching Experience:
I have thousands of hours of tuition experience built up over ten years of full-time tutoring. Some of the specific subjects I have taught include:

Cambridge Pre-U Theology & Philosophy
Philosophy A Level (AQA, OCR and Edexcel)
Religious Studies (OCR, AQA and Edexcel) GCSE, A Level
Government & Politics (Edexcel and OCR)
Theology and Religious Studies at degree level (I have helped six different students receive good grades for third year RS dissertations)
Oxbridge applications and interview practice

Tutoring Approach:
Receiving tuition can be a bit daunting at first, so I try to make sure my students feel I`m on their side and there to help them with anything they might not feel able to figure out at school.

My approach to tuition is to assess what specific needs a student has and then to organise the sessions around those needs. Some students need essay technique help and some have a specific set of topics they want to go over. Others might need an entire course taught to them as they have left school or are being home educated.

In my years of tuition, I have built up a cloud-based digital archive of hundreds of handouts which can help a student get back on track and achieve the highest possible grade.

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Personal Description:
My name is Andy. I finished my A-Levels in 2011 and am preparing to study German and Russian at The University of Cambridge starting in October. I excelled at languages in school, receiving an A* in German A2 and an A in French AS. Between school and university I studied at the Goethe Institute in Berlin, lived and worked in Germany for over half a year, and am now starting to learn Russian and pusuing my other interests such as computer programming. I have also travelled extensively in France and Germany.

Teaching Experience:
I have no formal teaching experience (yet!) but learning three foreign languages myself and having studied German in a class actually taught in German, I am very familiar with the aspects of language that students have difficulty with. I am always thinking of better ways to explain things than the way they were explained to me, because every student learns in their own way; this makes me well placed to teach languages, German in particular due to my recent experiences in my gap year.

Tutoring Approach:
Having only recently completed my German GCSE myself (in 2009), I am familiar with the way it is taught in school. I also had lessons from a private tutor myself in German for a year or so during secondary school, so I know the sorts of things that will complement and expand on the material taught in class.

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Personal Description:
My name is Jaynish and I am a working professional in Banking industry. Currently working in Banking industry as a Manager. I have completed my Bachelors and Masters in India and MBA in UK. I am specializes in mathematics, science,biology and a native learner of Hindi and Gujarati. I started my teaching activity back home with nearby children to my house,try to help them to solve their problems with Maths,Science and Biology and since then have loved every minute teaching someone.

Teaching Experience:
2 years teaching experience to the neighborhood students in India. No formal qualification in teaching or experience other than teaching neighborhood students, however, I can offer a wealth of Maths knowledge gained and implemented during my educational and workplace career.

Tutoring Approach:
Practical and activities based teaching with feedback. I access the needs of the tutee and plan my lessons accordingly.

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Personal Description:
I am a qualified and experienced native English ESL/EFL teacher, specialised in working with adults in companies and universities.

I help people in a wide range of professions to give presentations, participate in meetings and conference calls, write emails, and to be generally more conversational and confident when speaking and listening.

I also work with university students to improve their academic writing, to pass exams such as the TOEFL, TOEIC and IELTS, and to prepare them for entering the work environment after graduation.

I offer a free, 30-minute evaluation without any obligation, and a course book is included in the price if you sign up for 20 hours or more. Classes take place at your home or workplace with no extra charges for travel.

Teaching Experience:
January 2013 - August 2016
Director of Studies and Principal Teacher at LE Maison, France

February 2012 - December 2012
Pedagogical Manager and English Language Training Consultant at Mahoney Training Consultants, Paris, France

August 2010 - December 2012
Freelance Business English Teacher in Paris, France

October 2009 - February 2012
Business English Teacher at Business and Technical Languages, Paris, France

Tutoring Approach:
Adult learners are often juggling several professional and personal commitments which makes finding the time to learn a struggle. Therefore, I make the process as fun and efficient as possible.

For this reason, I begin with an in-depth evaluation of the student's needs and objectives as well as their strengths and weaknesses. From there, I build a course using a wide range of materials that meets these requirements.

My classes are always engaging and never the same two weeks in a row. During each lesson, I discover something new about my student which allows me to continually adapt the course to help them stay motivated, interested, and improve as quickly as possible while making learning a pleasure rather than work.

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Personal Description:
I am a Civil Engineering Master's graduate from UCL and can speak Tamil. I like to teach what I know, and work in the insurance industry as a Data Analyst.

Teaching Experience:
I primarily have tutoring experience online of subjects Maths, English, Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Art.

Tutoring Approach:
By understanding the concepts solving the problem is easy.

Subjects

Personal Description:
Hello! I am a teacher of Design and Technology- main area is Product Design/ Graphic Technology but I also deliver Resistant Materials and Engineering. I have good (with outstanding features) teaching skills and subject knowledge. I have worked in the education sector for 10 years and have been teaching in schools since 2013.I have an in-depth understanding of my subject specifications and have a history of achieving good results.

Teaching Experience:
Prior to teaching I studied Graphic communication and then Graphic Design and Illustration at university. My journey into education started as a behavior and academic mentor helping those with barriers to their learning. I later developed my passion and skill to become a qualified teacher of Design and Technology at secondary level.

I have also taught KS3 Math (lower ability groups), GCSE Media studies and GCSE Engineering.

I have also worked with Engineering Development Trust and directed many students to apprenticeships post school education. I have strong knowledge and understanding of the forth industrial revolution and skill sets that will benefit the next generation in the working world that they will enter.

I currently work as a Design and Technology Teacher, specialising in Technical drawing. I am very familiar with AQA, Edexcel and OCR syllabuses. I also mark GCSE coursework and exams for the AQA exam board.

Tutoring Approach:
Learning is a personal journey. I am strong at scaffolding and differentiation of work. I like to work with students who want to build on their knowledge through a style which works best for them. Sometimes I could do mock papers, sometimes it could be activity based learning, other times it could be going over and improving what has been done at work (for example, coursework improvements).

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Personal Description:
Hello!

I'm looking to take on 1 or 2 tutees in the field of music technology for a 1-hour lesson per week (per student). If your child is aged 13-18, likes to create their own music, or is interested in sound engineering or music production, then this could be perfect for them. Lessons will be delivered online via Zoom.

Please feel free to reach out if you would like to have a chat.

Teaching Experience:
I have 3 years of experience teaching A-Level Music Technology and Rock School Grades 6-8, at a private boarding school in North Oxford, where I am currently employed.

In addition, I have had industry experience in recording studios, working at Abbey Road Studios, where I helped record some of the biggest albums of 2017, including Ed Sheeran's Divide and the film score for Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them.

I am a graduate of the prestigious Tonmeister course at the University of Surrey, which focuses on sound engineering, electronics, acoustics, and computing in the context of music production.

Tutoring Approach:
I have a traditional approach to teaching, having worked alongside teachers with decades of experience at St Edward's Oxford. Initially, we will set out goals depending on the skill level and experience of your child, and I will design planned lessons based on those goals.

My area of expertise is in the technical aspects of music production - for example, acoustics or digital theory - but I am equally able to advise students creatively on their own compositions and mixing techniques. My current students enjoy this double-sided approach of both the technical and creative aspects.

Finally, I am able to advise your child on their career choices, if they are considering music technology as a career path, having graduated from one of the top University courses in the country, and worked in the industry.

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Personal Description:
Hello Parents and Students,
I have a First Class Degree in Chemistry and am a qualified Chemistry Teacher, with 18 years of teaching experience, including as Head of Chemistry in a Boys' Grammar School.

I love tutoring privately and am really proud to say that all of my students from last year achieved an A* or A and most went on to study Medicine or Dentistry.
I charge an extremely reasonable rate compared to other Tutors with similar experiences.

Teaching Experience:
I tutor students, both face-face and online, from schools in the surrounding areas, including Tiffin Boys and Tiffin Girls Grammar School,
NHEHS for Girls,
Haberdashers',
Gumley School and
The Heathland School.
With online tutoring now just as common, I also tutor Students from all over the country.

As a current teacher, I have extensive knowledge of the EDEXCEL, AQA and OCR Specifications, as well as the CIE Board, at both A-Level and GCSE level, including IGCSE. In my role as a Chemistry Teacher, I also cover the Core Practical skills with all A-Level students.
I am also an Examiner for the Edexcel Examining Board.

I am therefore fully equipped to give the best to all my students, regardless of which exam board their school teaches to.

Tutoring Approach:
I take on a friendly approach to learning and always make the student feel that they can succeed, regardless of where they start at.

I like to spend a little time with my students trying to find out where their strengths lie and then work with them on their weaknesses first. I provide a clear set of notes, which I prefer to give as the lesson proceeds. This allows the student to be fully engaged in the work and gives them the chance to stop me at any point and ask questions, change direction or spend more time on a particular section than originally intended. I like to provide the student with exam questions to work on in their own time, because I feel the tutoring time is better spent consolidating key concepts. This way, I find students are much better prepared to tackle a range of exam questions and more confident in approaching unfamiliar situations within the exam context.

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Personal Description:
I am a fully qualified secondary school maths teacher, holding a Post-Graduate Certificate in Education (specialising in Mathematics), from the University of West England.
I have 3 children of my own, all of whom I have enjoyed supporting to develop and master their own maths skills.
I currently offer lessons for KS3, GCSE and adult learners.

Teaching Experience:
I have taught all years at secondary school - KS3 and GCSE (bottom sets through to top set).

Previous to being a maths teacher I was involved in training adults in the IT sector.

Tutoring Approach:
I really enjoy helping my students to gain new skills, developing their understanding so that they can gain their best possible grade. I am friendly and supportive and tailor learning according to the pupil's individual needs.
I specialise in helping students to improve their memory recall.

Subjects

Personal Description:
Hello, my name is Aleksandra. I have been a Sociology teacher for over 3 years. I did my bachelors degree in European Social and Political Studies and did a PGCE in Social Sciences at UCL.

I have achieved A*A*A grades at A-Level Sociology, Politics and Geography. I have studied both AS and A2 Level Sociology with AQA and have received A* Grades in all my modules - the topics I have studied were: Family and Households; Education; Crime and Deviance; Beliefs; Theory and Methods. I have also taught the Media component of the course.

Even if I haven't studied the same topics, I believe that I can offer extremely valuable essay tips and techniques to help you succeed at A-Level Sociology as I have gained a wealth of knowledge over the last 3 years of teaching this subject.

I can offer an array of resources from past paper exams, example essay answers and detailed notes which I am more than willing to share.

Teaching Experience:
I have been a Sociology teacher for over 3 years, therefore so I have a lot of experience with AQA A-Level Sociology specification. Also, I have tutored A-Level Sociology for over 4 years.

Here are the reviews I have gotten from past tutees:

"Her lessons are interactive and highly informative. She asks what i want to focus on next session and will send power points in case i was unclear on anything. She has made sociology much clearer to me." - Rachael

"Whilst I was part of the corona virus a level year and didn't actually get to sit my exams! Aleksandra had been a great help. Her lessons were always very organised and structured and she was very prompt. They genuinely improved my subject knowledge (sociology) and even though I had gone to a grammar school, I feel like it's Aleksandra's teaching above all that would've enabled me to get an a* due to her little tips and key words!" - Trudi

"Very good and friendly" - Julia

"I currently get online tutoring from Aleksandra, she uses powerpoint style learning which is easy to follow along to and make notes, she is also good at explaining how to do past paper questions." - Malaika

"Very good tutor and explains the subject well. Power points are very helpful" - Natasha

"Miss Aleksandra Is absolutely great! She came prepared and organised never once watched the time! Helped my daughter so much already in just two lessons couldn't be more happy with her" - Nyomi

Tutoring Approach:
I make presentations for every single lesson. I make them as interactive as possible, as this is what allows for retention of information. Throughout the lesson I make sure that the tutee understands the content (e.g. asking the tutee to rephrase the content that is being learnt to make sure they fully grasp the topic.) I end lessons with recap questions, a quiz, or practice exam questions.
After the end of the lesson, I send the presentation through email so you can revisit it at any time.
Also, I am very accessible via email so if you have any queries related to Sociology I am always happy to help.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I have grown up studying the art of teaching and how students learn well. I have a broad education and can talk about ancient history, the elements of classical music, Latin texts, Jane Austen and Charles Dickens, Italian literature, and of course anything to do with maths and numbers.

I achieved an A1 in maths and was in the top 2.5 percentile for my year for Leaving Certificate (a broader A Level equivalent) reflecting my abilities in both maths and exam preparation.

Teaching Experience:
I have regularly taught in different ways while reading maths and Italian at Trinity College Dublin and have since started a PGCE teacher training course in maths. During my training I have gained extensive experience delivering lessons via OneNote and Microsoft Whiteboard via tablet and smart board, equipping me for effective online teaching of maths.

I already have experience teaching a weekly class of 10 young teenagers Latin as well as tutored maths, Music, and Latin to different ages and types of students. I'm a patient and considerate teacher and hope to bridge the gap that often plagues students in mathematics. I promise to be a good tutor and guide during some of the most formative and decisive years of your life.

Tutoring Approach:
My focus is on building the skills and concepts learnt at school through one-to-one 45-minute tutoring/grinds or small group lessons.

I aim to give an individual-focused approach. The lessons will focus on student's previous work and aim to improve skills and concepts already established. Great effort will be given to finding real world examples to motivate the exercises and to grasp or master a topic. The student will be encouraged to work out exercise in the tutor's presence and correct flaws or improve methods themselves.

I am willing to meet in Canterbury or give online lessons via Microsoft Apps such as OneNote, Whiteboard, and Teams.

I cover the GCSE curriculum as well as the pure Maths and Statistics aspects of A Level.

I am also available for university maths for 1st year and general maths tutoring for STEM subjects.

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