Holmfirth English Tutors and Holmfirth English Tuition

Personal Description:
Friendly, simple person with a proven track record. Though heavily experienced in teaching, always experimenting about ways in which current students learn and hence posses a wide variety of ways to cater to different learning needs of different students.

Have helped Advanced Level students, university students, post grads etc

Teaching Experience:
More than 40 years experience as a university lecturer and tutor in UK, Singapore and Sri Lanka. Also have conducted private tuition classes (individual and group) for GCSE and A/L. Further, have worked as a researcher in International Research Institutes - all these experiences ensure you get a unique learning experience.

Tutoring Approach:
A novel approach which is student centered and outcome based. Includes many real world examples.

This new approach will ensure that learning become fun.

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Personal Description:
I am a fully qualified teacher with, with 25 years experience. I have worked in the state sector and in private education facilities.
I am committed to high standards both academic and in behaviour, I believe that my encouraging and student-centred approach is effective in this area.

I am experienced at teaching key stage 2 and 3, GCSE at AS/A2 level.. I have delivered these courses effectively and with successful academic results in my teaching career.
I am AQA examination marker for A level Psychology.
I am a qualified Psychotherapist.

Teaching Experience:
Over 25 years teaching experience, in secondary schools and colleges .

Tutoring Approach:
I am a highly experienced teacher who has worked across the educational spectrum. I am committed to high standards both academic and in behaviour, I believe that my encouraging and student centered approach is effective in this area.

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Personal Description:
A resident of Edinburgh for the past twenty years I enjoy meeting new people and learning new things myself. I am fairly well travelled, enjoy the arts and have a passion for working alongside others to help them achieve their goals.

I worked for 10 years as a professional actor with degree level qualifications in both Philosophy (Dundee University) and Acting (Queen Margaret University College).

Teaching Experience:
Exam season is always a great time for a little confidence boost and skills brush-up. I have worked with adults in improving spoken and written English for UK degree entry level. I have also worked with college and university students in the Middle East (UAE) to train science and drama education in both Arabic and English.

For several years I have visited schools in both the public and private sectors delivering reading, drama and science communication classes.

I have regularly taught 5-15 years drama in private classes and enjoy working with pre-drama school entrants of all ages in working on giving the best entrance audition possible.

Tutoring Approach:
I am confident at creating a structured approach that works with a pupil's own strengths and needs to provide a tailor-made package for learning.

Ideally I meet with each student to discuss their learning needs, current level and expected outcomes.

Although it is important to push the boundaries of learning, it should always be a workload that is both manageable and individually tailored.

People learn best when they are enjoying themselves, so I try my best to make learning fun and interactive.

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Personal Description:
Learn English at your home or work.
Personalised lessons for individuals and small groups.
General English / English for work / Citizenship Test Preparation / Cambridge English Exam preparation

I am a qualified English teacher (English as a Second Language), teaching adults at all levels from beginner (A1 : Elementary) to advanced (C1).

If you have come to the UK to live, work or study, I provide private lessons for individuals and small groups to help improve your use of English according to your particular needs.

Teaching Experience:
I have 14 years full time teaching experience in General & Business English for adults in Brazil, Italy, Switzerland and the UK.

From 2005 to 2010 : Full time Teacher of General and Business English in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Individual and group lessons both privately and working with private language schools.

Language schools : Link Idiomas, Alt Idiomas, Bridge Lingua-Tec

From 2010 to June 2015 : Full time teacher of general and business English in Northern Italy and Switzerland.
Individual and group lessons with private language schools, companies and at University.

Language Schools : Linguapoint (Reggio Emilia) / Corsi di Lingue (Varese)
University : University of Parma : Teaching Business English for the Masters in Marketing Management (2011- 2013)

Principal Companies : Ermenegildo Zegna (Lugano, Switzerland),
IBSA Pharmaceuticals (Lugano, Switzerland),
Max Mara (Reggio Emilia, Italy),
Vodafone (Varese, Italy),
Carl Zeiss (Varese, Italy)

From September 2015 to Present : Teaching private English Lesson in the UK.

Tutoring Approach:
Real life communication is central to the lessons and I always aim to make lessons as interesting, useful and relevant to the individual student as possible.

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Personal Description:
I am currently in my 3rd year of studying for my BA in Journalism & Creative Writing, I am happy and capable of tutoring up to A Level English Language. I am a friendly and approachable person, with experience volunteering in schools around sensitive subjects.

Teaching Experience:
No professional experience but have tutored coursemates and friends through Degree and A Level essays and exams. An A in A-Level English Language and maintaining a 67% average in my undergraduate.

Tutoring Approach:
I will change my approach dependent on how a student learns, getting to know them and how they respond to the subject. I can also offer extraneous knowledge of linguistics and language relevant to the course for potential credit.

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Personal Description:
I tutor 1 to 1 from my house in Goodmayes, Ilford (IG3 9) or online to UK/International students (through Zoom/Skype) so please stop reading if you are not willing to do any of these.

What I offer (during and outside school hours):

A-Level: Biology
GCSE: Maths, English, Science
KS3: Maths, English, Science
13+: Maths, English, Science
11+: Maths, English, Science, Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning
KS2: Maths, English, Science
KS1: Maths, English, Science
7+: Maths, English, Science, Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning
4+: Maths, English, Science, Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning

I am a First-class graduate from Imperial College London and a PGCE (teaching qualification) graduate from UCL IoE, and it is my ambition that my students surpass me.

I aspire to offer a 'super tutor' service (£100-£1500 per hour) and help compensate for an education inferior to the best schools in England (e.g. £65000 per year) at a relatively low price. Also, the coronavirus situation has caused a big dent in the education of many children and I try to ensure through my tuition that my students are successful in spite of it.

Teaching Experience:
I am a qualified teacher (DBS checked) and have over 4000 hours of tutoring experience, with students ranging from 4-18 years old.

On top of that, I also helped my brother gain entry into Cambridge University for Economics and have seen countless other students succeed under my mentorship (e.g. getting entry into schools, achieving KS1/KS2/GCSE/A Level grades, getting entry into universities/studying courses). This is because I recognise that there is a process and that if students follow that process, they are guaranteed to succeed.

Tutoring Approach:
I try my best to make learning enjoyable for students but I also have high expectations as I believe every student has it in them to achieve the top grades.

Almost all the students that have come to me have improved and rapidly because of:

- First-class teaching
- Free homework after each lesson
- Mentoring/coaching/advice
- Increased confidence
- Better mental health for exams

Testimonials:

'He helped my daughter get into Forest School. The homework and regular advice really made all the difference. We cannot thank him enough.' - Mr. Atwal

'Starting with him was the best decision I made for my son's education. He did so much better in his GCSEs than we expected. He was on track for Ds and Es and managed to get nearly all A*-B! Imagine what Umar could've achieved if we'd found him earlier!' - Mrs. Ahmed

'Vinay helped me so much with A Level Biology. I got an A (very nearly an A*) and am now studying Dentistry at university.' - Raman

I look forward to working with your children and ensuring they can achieve the vision that you have for them!

Availability (may have changed by the time you get in touch so please contact me):

Mon-Fri afternoon or evening.

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Personal Description:
I have been a fully qualified teacher for over 6 years and I absolutely love what I do! I have particular interest in working with children on a 1-1 basis as I love to personalise their learning and help them to see things in a different way then they may have been taught and not quite understand before.

I strongly believe that if children are having fun then they will learn and be able to reach their full potential. I have seen such wonderful results with this over my teaching career so far. I create small achievable targets for my children so not only their learning can progress but so can their confidence!

No child should ever be worried about learning as we all learn things at different rates and in different ways! It's our job as teachers to ensure we find the best way for them!

Teaching Experience:
I have been a qualified teacher for over 6 years and I have been lucky enough to teach in London and in Wales. I am currently a full time class teacher in a Welsh primary school.

I have been running my own private tuition sessions for over a year now. We do have lots of positive feedback that has been left and there are lots of lovely pictures of the children on there taking part in some of the activities we do.

Tutoring Approach:
I tutor children in my own purpose built classroom in Mold - just off the A55.

There is a coffee shop 2 mins drive away if parents want to stay close by or a soft play center (Infinity) just on the corner if little ones need entertaining whilst waiting for a sibling.

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Personal Description:
I am 49, married and a proud father of two lovely daughters. I enjoy keeping fit and have recently discovered running and the sense of achievement and pride one can get from it. I am an approachable person who enjoys the company of family and friends. I like to visit new places and try to make the most of what comes my way.

Teaching Experience:
I am a qualified teacher with experience in teaching and preparing students for 11+ / entrance exams in English and Maths. With 20 years teaching experience, I have worked in both state and Independent school settings. I have prepared many children for their examinations in the schools I have taught at and individually through tutoring. All children are successful in attending their chosen school.

I currently enjoy teaching in an independent primary school setting from 4 - 11 year olds and have experience in teaching all subjects to a wide age range.

As well as specialising in preparing children for entrance exams and 11+ I have a masters level qualification in Special Educational Needs (SEN). I am genuinely passionate about helping those children with barriers to learning succeed, and to become happy and confident learners.

Tutoring Approach:
I believe fun, enjoyment and confidence are the key elements of learning. It is imperative to teach in a variety of ways and establish the best learning style for each individual pupil exploring Visual, Auditory and Kinaesthetic methods of learning. By 'doing' a learner learns and remembers. My initial training as a teacher has helped me to teach any subject effectively. Helping students overcome barriers to learning and making progress are the things I enjoy the most about teaching. I am genuinely passionate about my subjects and in seeing learners reach their potential. I too enjoy the challenge of mastering new things and embracing the notion that you never ever stop learning.

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Personal Description:
I am a married mother of 2 grown up children. I am passionate about education, I'm a school governor in my spare time!, but I also enjoy going to the gym and travelling.

Teaching Experience:
I am an ex primary school headteacher with 30 years experience in both the maintained and independent sectors. I am also a school governor and inspector so you can see I'm very interested in education!
I aim to make all my lessons fun and tailor them to the needs of the individual child whether they are working towards their 11+ examinations, SATs or just need that extra boost in their confidence; I have supported numerous children in all these situations.
I have also supported children with additional needs with particular experience in dyslexia, dyscalculia and ADHD.
I am fully insured and have an enhanced DBS certificate.

Tutoring Approach:
I listen to both the parents and the child and work with them to ensure that they enjoy the sessions and make progress every week. I incorporate games and practical work within my sessions. I work from my home where I have room completely set up for teaching with all my resources close at hand.

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Personal Description:
I graduated thirty years ago and have taught many pupils in the UK and Greece. I am still a teacher so I am fully up to date with current ideas and methods. I understand how pupils achieve and more importantly recognise what may cause a negative impact on learning. Because of this I will be able to support, assess, monitor and give swift feedback so that all pupils reach their true potential. I love teaching and tutoring.

DBS enhanced on update service.

Teaching Experience:
I have been a teacher for thirty years. I have worked in both private and state schools. I have taught from Years 1-7 inclusive during the past twenty years. I have taught in England and in Greece. I have taught a wide variety of students from many backgrounds; SEND, (Autism, Down's, ADHD) EAL and Gifted and Talented. I have also been a tutor and have tutored children and adults up to GCSE level in English and Maths.

DBS Enhanced on update service

Tutoring Approach:
I am aver calm and friendly teacher and tutor. I will provide all resources needed.

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Personal Description:
PLEASE SEE 'TUTORING EXPERIENCE' BELOW FOR THE MOST IMPORTANT PARTS OF THIS PAGE, THE RESULTS AND FEEDBACK

I am an Oxford graduate (English language and literature, first class), as well as a qualified English teacher, and have been tutoring since 2013. My specialism is A-level English literature.

Please get in touch for online English tuition, particularly if you are or your child is

• Preparing to take A-levels in 2026/27
• Doing coursework
• Working on the basis of continuous assessment, mocks, etc.
• Or planning to do / doing an English degree

I graduated from the University of Oxford with a double first in English language and literature, winning the prize for the best performance in English finals at Mansfield College, and the college essay prize. At school, I was awarded eleven GCSEs at A-star and three A-levels at A.

As well as tutoring, I have worked as a researcher, a copywriter, and a proofreader. I have also completed a PGCE in secondary English at the UCL Institute of Education, the highest-ranking college of education in the world ('QS World University Rankings'), during which I taught all age groups at two west London secondary schools, and received A's for my master's-level assignments. I am currently pursuing a PhD in English literature at the University of Buckingham.

As well as English tuition at any level, I can help you or your child with the following:

• Oxbridge entrance (the admissions process, practice interviews, the ELAT, etc.)
• Essay surgery - how to structure and write an essay
• How to revise - note-taking, organisation, making connections, committing to memory
• Grammar, punctuation, and style (a.k.a. 'usage and abusage')
• Speech-writing and public speaking
• Proofreading and redrafting essays
• Suggested reading and resources, including access to my library of 'TES' resources
• Creative writing
• How to annotate, analyse (and enjoy) English literature - sometimes known as 'close reading' or 'practical criticism'
• If you'd specifically like written feedback on your writing - more like a correspondence course - then I can also provide that.

In my spare time I enjoy cycling, writing, and photography.

Teaching Experience:
I have been tutoring since 2013, teaching English at all levels (including degree level), as well as A-level religious studies and classical civilisation. I have taught AQA, Edexcel, OCR, WJEC/Eduqas, and CAIE (Cambridge International), and am constantly familiarising myself with the new texts that my students are studying. I have experience helping students who have autism and ADHD. And I am interested in the role of generative AI and large language models in education, not to write students' essays for them, but as research assistants for students and teachers alike. It is of course important that students do not get the likes of ChatGPT to write their essays for them, among other reasons because they will not be able to do so in the exams. Tutoring is well placed to discourage this, since it has always been my practice to ask my students many questions about every essay they write.

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A student, June 2025: 'thank you very much for all the sessions! It has not only boosted my confidence in English literature but they really reminded me of how much I love the subject. It's always a pleasure to discuss nuance readings of the texts, and it has been a great help leading up to my exams.'

Charlotte, a parent, June 2025: 'Thank you so much for all your help and support for [L.]. We are so grateful for everything you have done with him and wish you all the best.'

Ann, a parent, June 2025: '[Z.] has thoroughly enjoyed her lessons with you and has gained so much from your guidance. We're very grateful for all the support you've given her.'

A parent, May 2025: 'Thank you so much again for everything you've done to help [G.] prepare for these exams - he has really enjoyed his sessions with you and he and we really appreciate your support'.

A parent, May 2025: '[N.] just received the below. It's an A* if the grade boundaries is same as last year. She couldn't have done it without your help. We really appreciate it.'

A parent, February 2025: '[S.] is really enjoying studying with you and has gained a lot of confidence in English. I truly appreciate the effort and dedication you put into teaching.'

A student, January 2025: 'thank you ever so much for your kindness and creative encouragement the past months. What is very special about you as a tutor is that you have never told me "what to write". Instead, you have asked me questions about my work that have led me to discover what I truly wish to write'.

Kate, a parent, December 2024: 'We're so pleased [G.] is enjoying his sessions and seems to be really motivated to read widely in between sessions, is making useful structured notes (which he didn't do before) and his confidence and awareness of what he needs to do when essay writing is really building. Thank you!!!'

Eleni, a parent, December 2024: 'I just wanted to let you know that [D.] received an offer […] today! She is super happy! […] I wanted to thank you again as [D.] found your sessions incredibly helpful and inceased her confidence during the exams process.'

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A-level results, August 2024:

'I wanted to write to say a huge thank you to you for all the help, support and inspiration you have given [E.] over the past year. You have not only given her the technical advice and support to help her make the most of her essays and exams, but more importantly you have helped her keep the love of the subject alive. I know a big part of the reason she is so excited to study English at university is because of how much she has enjoyed your conversations, and how you have helped her to consider texts in a way that the rather narrower scope of teaching at school does not allow. I am so very grateful to you and I really appreciate all the time and effort you put into her sessions - thank you so very much. […] You've been so great, and any other student/parent would be lucky to have access to your teaching.'

'I have just opened my results and am happy to confirm that I am off to Bristol this September with an A* in English! I just want to thank you again for making this possible.'

'I got an A in English, and will be going to Exeter, so mission accomplished. I wanted to thank you for all your help, not only for helping me to get what I needed, but for giving me back my confidence and enjoyment of the subject in the process.'

'Just to let you know [I.] got her results this morning and achieved an 'A' in English. We are over the moon […] Thank you again for all your help with the English, it's much appreciated.'

'thanks for your help this past academic year! Got two A*s in English and Philosophy'.

'I got a B and I was accepted into my firm university (Durham) which I am very happy! Thank you for all your help and support.'

'I was really happy to receive […] A in English Literature […] I secured a placed at my firm university. I will be studying English Literature at Durham University this September and I am very excited! Thank you so much for all of your support, I really appreciate it!'

'i got into Warwick with […] an A* in English!!!!! I am very happy :) Thank you for all your hard work, wisdom and wit over the last year or two'.

'Thank you so much for all your coaching and advice that you shared with [L.], it made such a difference to his confidence leading up to his exams. He is (as are we) delighted with his English result.'

'an A awarded in English […] so she is off to her first choice of Edinburgh University to study History of Art and English Literature.'

'Results day went well and I'm going to the university of Kent. Thank you so much again for all the time spent helping me to prepare for my exams it means a lot I'm very excited to continue my English literature journey.'

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A student, June 2024: 'Thank you so much for being the most amazing English teacher! It has been an immensely rewarding and interesting journey exploring so many books […] I have learnt so much from GCSEs to continuing with more amazing literatures in A-levels'

A student, June 2024: 'I […] wanted to say thank you for the tremendous help you have provided with the English content throughout the A level period. The resources that you provided for me were quite helpful in refining my knowledge in many areas of the syllabus so thank you very much.'

A student, May 2024: 'I've just received the results for my english coursework and wanted to thank you for all the help and feedback!!'

A parent, February 2024: 'your help has kept her love of the subject and her enthusiasm alive and I can't thank you enough for that.'

A parent, February 2024: 'You were such a huge help to [S.], we will always be very grateful to you.'

Kath, a parent, February 2024: 'We would both like to thank you for all your invaluable help, especially all the helpful feedback on the coursework essay. [S.] has definitely learnt a lot and grown in confidence, especially in her knowledge of Twelfth Night.'

A student, January 2024: 'I just wanted to let you know that I got an offer from Oxford! Thank you so much for checking over my personal statement and all the help that you have given me since GCSEs. I really enjoy our sessions every week, the discussions keep me constantly creative and thinking.'

A parent, January 2024: 'Thank you as always for all your continued help and support for [E.]. I know she gets a tremendous amount from your sessions and I'm very grateful.'

A student, January 2024: 'Just emailing to let you know I did get an offer from […] Cambridge yesterday so thank you so much for all your help! It is really appreciated and I'm really looking forward to starting my degree in October!'

A student, December 2023: 'So thank you so much again for all your help; your insights have been very useful and I have really enjoyed talking about literature with you.'

Tara, a parent, November 2023: 'you are really helping [R.], he is becoming much more confident. Thank you so much'.

Paula, a parent, November 2023: '[M.] is always delighted with your teaching. You are asking questions no one else does. My husband and I see her grow academically after every session with you.'

Liz, a parent, October 2023: 'Thank you so much for all the work you have done with, and the kindness you have shown, [E.] to date. She really enjoys her sessions with you, and you've helped keep her enthusiasm for English very much alive. I'm so grateful.'

Kim, a parent, August 2023: 'I cannot tell you how happy we all were and your help was clearly instrumental in that. Not sure if he told you but he got 12 points above an A* and it was his best A level result!'

A student, August 2023: 'I really enjoyed our lessons and think it has really helped prepare me for the Oxford style tutorials.'

A student, August 2023: 'wanted to let you know I ended up getting an A* in English, thanks so much for all the help!'

Mark, a parent, June 2023: 'Many thanks josh for your help this year. [E.] has said to me it has really helped, you started assisting her at a time when she felt behind her class mates for the whole of the first year, having switched to English half way through term one.'

Melanie, a parent, June 2023: 'Thank you so much for all your time and effort with [T.]'s English literature. She really enjoyed your sessions together and it really boosted her confidence and inspired her to think more deeply and critically about the texts. It also confirmed that she is happy and excited to study a literature based course at degree level.'

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A-level results, August/September 2022:

'[L.] came home from university yesterday to attend her school prize giving ceremony, and this morning as she was leaving she asked me to let you know that she won a special prize in English […] Until last night, she wasn't aware of any of her awards, apart from her scholarship, so it was all a lovely surprise. Furthermore, the essays she wrote in her A level English exams have somehow found their way into her teachers' hands; they told her, with beams of pride , that the three marks dropped overall were actually in her *non exam* assessment, so 30/30 in all questions across all papers under exam conditions, something she had never achieved before. She had admitted to me in the aftermath of the exams that when she was writing her English papers she had really enjoyed the process, her thoughts flowing pretty effortlessly on to the paper. But she had also worried this stream of ideas might not be fit with the mark schemes. […] she […] wanted you to know about her prize, as she thought you'd be pleased, and she also wanted to say thanks one last time for your inspirational teaching that led to it.'

'I got AAA* for my results much higher than my predicted! particularly for english'.

'[G.] got an A star in English. And is off to Oxford. […] Thanks so much for everything - you were honestly amazing and really helped her get there'.

'[L.] got 3 a stars and an A star as well in her EPQ. Her highest marks were in English Literature ( 197/200)'.

'I achieved 4A*s in my Alevels - one being in English Literature. My teachers also let me know that I got full marks in both the exam papers'.

'[T.] smashed English Literature, A* […] she is absolutely over the moon . Thank you so much for all the work you put in with her !'

'I got a D[distinction]2!!! […] I got full marks on my PI!'

'I got an A* in English!!! Thank you so much for all of your help I wouldn't have been able to do it without you!'

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A student, January 2023: 'Just wanted to let you know I got an offer from Cambridge, thank you so so much for all your help.' And Kathryn: 'You were such a great help to [E.] in her preparation for the Cambridge application and interview and we were all delighted when she was offered a place this week. Thank you for all the support you gave her.'

Shaun, a parent, January 2023: '[E.] has found the sessions really very helpful (and has enjoyed them!)'

Guifang, a parent, December 2022: 'From what I hear from [S.], she really enjoys her discussions with you, it's really one of the highlights of her week.'

A student, November 2022: 'I'm extremely happy to tell you that I received an 8.3 for the literary review […] Thank you for explaining to me what a literary review is […] I remember whilst working on it I was so worried about my grade, but it appears I've survived.'

Deborah, a parent, September 2022: 'a huge thanks again to you for all your work with [S.]. I know he has been in touch to let you know that he got 9s in both English Language and Literature. He was over the moon - well beyond his best hopes, so thank you again for being instrumental in helping him attain those grades.'

Karen, a parent, August 2022: 'Both my girls really like your way of teaching and talking to them, they feel really listened to and respected for their opinions (as well as respecting yours obviously), so thank you :)'

Helen, a parent, July 2022: 'Thanks so much for all the help you gave [J.], he really benefitted from the sessions he had with you.'

Tara, a parent, June 2022: 'Thank you so much for all your help and patience - I think you have been brilliant for her confidence. She found English exams really very difficult before she started talking to you and it's amazing to see how much calmer (relatively speaking!) she has been going in to her A level English papers. Whatever the result, her sessions with you have definitely helped her to enjoy English again and I'm really grateful.'

A student, June 2022: 'This is incredibly insightful and thought provoking feedback. Thank you so much.'

Mei, a parent, June 2022: 'She found your lessons very helpful and always remarked to me how much you went the extra mile for her ; looking up and sending on links to whatever you'd been discussing. Much appreciated!'

Marguerite, a parent, June 2022: 'Thank you so much for all you've done for [T.] in the past year . […] you are a very talented teacher.'

Monica, a parent, June 2022: 'You have been an absolutely wonderful tutor to [L.], and how time has flown since she first met you! […] Many a time she has needed someone to talk to, not so much about AO1-5, but rather about the beauty and burden of literature and life. You have always been willing to do that, and she is richer for it.'

A student, June 2022: 'Thank you for teaching me for the last year; I have enjoyed our lessons and I feel I have grown as an English student, with thanks to your teaching.'

A student, April 2022: 'I received an 8 for my essay!! I want to thank you for your tutoring on Keats and Wordsworth- I wouldn't have gotten such a grade without it!! […] I learned tons because of you.'

Ngozi, a parent, March 2022: 'Thanks for everything that you're doing for [G.] - it has been very helpful.'

A student, February 2022: 'Really, thanks so much. Was such a good and efficient service. Your feedback looks really good and I'm going to implement it today. […] Thanks again for doing this on such short notice'.

Deborah, a parent, October 2021: '[S.] said you make it really fun - he said at school his energy goes down in English lessons and with you it goes up! So that is praise indeed from a teenage boy!'

A student, August 2021: 'I got the A grade ! I'm so pleased, thank you for all the help and the essays really paid off :).'

Monica, a parent, July 2021: 'As would be expected from his first class qualifications, Josh is extremely intelligent. However, in my opinion, he has a a very particular advantage over others of a similar academic background, namely his ability to exhibit an authentic interest in the ideas his students express. He is always kind and encouraging, but without sacrificing rigour; this approach has had a hugely positive impact on my daughter when speaking, writing and reading. Furthermore, Josh has introduced her to a range of authors, poets , films and philosophical thought, thus enriching her far beyond the school curriculum. In the future, my daughter will undoubtedly look back on her time with Josh with both fondness and gratitude. I have no hesitation in recommending Josh as a tutor'.

Guifang, a parent, July 2021: 'I have know Joshua for 2 months and He has been supporting my daughter excellently through her GCSE courses, helping her to achieve a 9 in predicted grades. From this, Joshua has always been very serious with the work, needless to say, always punctual and gives detailed homework feedback. I know him to be a wonderful tutor to my daughter.'

Susan, a parent, May 2021: '[T]hank you so much for all your help with [N.] […] [N.] found your lessons extremely helpful which enabled her to enjoy and understand English in a greater depth […] it was excellent tuition . Thank you'.

Jamal, a parent, May 2021: 'Thank you Josh for all your efforts, you have greatly assisted [S.] in better understanding English Literature as whole.'

Zahed, a parent, May 2021: 'We are grateful for all your help and support. We are in no doubt that [A.] has improved a lot in English Literature under your guidance.'

A student, May 2021: 'I just got my coursework back and got an A in it. Just thought i should let you know thanks you!'

Margaret, a parent, March 2021: 'Thanks for helping [M.] to improve her English understanding. She really enjoys her lessons and chats!'

Chris, a parent, March 2021: '[R.] is benefiting immensely from your lessons and is definitely getting more confident in expressing his thoughts in writing! Thank you.'

Amanda, a parent, December 2020: 'Josh has really helped join the dots, encouraged a depth of questioning and ways to interpret and compare ideas, extracting and bringing fresh meaning to narrative styles and creative use of language. Josh has been a great support and steered [R.]'s confidence to look more thoroughly and develop a greater understanding all round. Josh has a kind, approachable style and encouraged [R.] with debating aloud and suggestions for further reading which all continue to be an invaluable help and inspire greater confidence in approaching exams and further reading in future!'

A student, December 2020: 'He helps focus my understanding and makes sure i understand the topic we are learning before moving on. Josh will make sure to ask you questions throughout the process and is always ready for your ideas even if you think it's wrong. He will set homework but makes sure to switch it up each week to make it more interesting and gives his feedback to help me understand what i need to do to improve.'

Diana, a parent, September 2020: 'Josh worked with my daughter for her A Level in English Literature. He was outstanding with his ideas and expanding her critical thinking. He went above and beyond to develop her analytical skills and as a result helped her obtain an A*. He is an absolutely lovely, gentle but dynamic and reliable tutor who has a rare ability combine his academic achievement with a natural talent for teaching. A real gem and we cannot thank him enough.'

A parent, September 2020: 'Joshua is an excellent tutor with great communication skills . He is very patient , helpful , approachable and takes time to explain everything clearly to my daughter . Joshua has been able to breakdown and explain in full detail all aspects of the A Level content.'

A student, June 2020: 'it's been great being taught by you, I've learned so many critical thinking skills in such a short space of time.'

A parent, March 2020: 'I can't thank you enough for everything that you've done for her - you've been the best English teacher she's ever had and she has loved her time with you.'

*

During my teacher training, I taught all age groups at two west London secondary schools.

While at Oxford, I was part of an 'e-mentoring' scheme to help candidates from schools without a history of Oxbridge applications.

At Christ College, Brecon, I ran two series of seminars, for sixth-formers studying RS and English literature. In English we covered 'The Tempest', Gothic literature, Pat Barker's 'Regeneration', 'Jane Eyre', Wilfred Owen, and 'The Canterbury Tales'.

Tutoring Approach:
I try to combine three things that I want my students to do, which are three forms of thinking: speak about complex ideas, read high-quality material, and write essays for which they will receive detailed feedback. For obvious reasons, lessons are weighted to speaking, and homework to reading and writing.

Speaking

Pedagogy's holy grail is measuring progress, which is difficult in a classroom and impossible in a lecture. Happily, the tutorial system allows this to occur continuously and efficiently via dialogue. Can a student re-express an idea they have heard or read in their own words? If the answer is yes, they have probably understood the idea. Hence the constant questions!

As well as understanding the ideas of others, speaking is essential for students to develop their own. I love the quotation from the novelist E. M. Forster, 'How can I tell what I think till I see what I say?' We improve the quality of our ideas through the process of articulating them.

For my part, quite a lot of what I say is explaining what texts mean. This might sound obvious, but great works of literature are complex, so, to understand their meaning, one's own interpretation probably needs the support of others' prior interpretations.

I sometimes like to break the question of a text's meaning into two: What's it about? And what's it really about? Answering the first question is comprehension, a necessary first step. To answer the second question is to understand. In 'A Streetcar Named Desire', for example, Blanche goes to live with her sister in New Orleans. She expresses a strong dislike of her surroundings and is frequently associated with images of water. She declines mentally and is eventually taken away. So what's the play really about? Blanche is a Romantic idealist who is disappointed with her life but still tends to imagine things in their perfect form. The play is about the human soul conceiving of things being as good as they could be (as if cleansed by water), reaching for the conception, and failing to grasp it - shuttling back and forth, in other words, on the streetcar named desire.

One thing I frequently encourage is making the link between those oft-cited elements of a good essay, themes and quotations. These are not unrelated ingredients, they are the text itself viewed from different distances. A theme (the desire to be cleansed) is a wide shot, and a quotation ('the land of the sky blue water') is a close-up. So the student of English has to practise their ability to zoom in and out.

Another way I try to support my students' studies is by making connections between the texts they are reading, which in my experience doesn't happen that much at school. Particularly at A-level, there are often many fruitful connections between the half-dozen or so texts being studied: the Romantics were devoted to Shakespeare and Milton, the Gothic is an aspect of the Romantic, the Aesthetic Movement drew on particular strains of Romanticism, etc. When these connections get made with reference to particular writers, they are no longer just isms. They make the material deeper and easier to understand at the same time. Towards the end of their school careers, students of the humanities should be able to get the sense of taking part in 'the Great Conversation that began in the dawn of history and that continues to the present day' (Robert M. Hutchins).

Reading

I regularly give my students PDFs of high-quality secondary material pitched at their level or just above it. Explanatory notes, commentaries, and essays can help with understanding, particularly when it comes to context. (And all exam boards have assessment objectives relating to historical context.) To know that a text was written during a particular period and what characterised that period is to have a mental scaffold that does not limit movement but frees it. In studying the humanities we are studying human culture, and no one can do that without a bit of structure. It also helps when thinking about texts in relation to each other - when writing a comparative essay, for example. I like to think of honing in from context to text, e.g. Romanticism (late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries) > William Blake (1757-1827) > 'Songs of Innocence and of Experience' (1794) > 'The Tyger'. (What's 'The Tyger' about? There's a question!)

In my experience, knowledge acquisition operates according to the Matthew principle, named after a verse in the Gospel of Matthew: 'unto every one that hath shall be given'. In other words, the more you've got, the more you'll get. Every time you learn something about Romanticism, the greater will be your understanding of the poetry of William Blake. Your internal bookshelves expand - more connections, greater understanding. Reading secondary material is obviously 'extra', but it works to enhance students' understanding of set texts rather than crowd them out. Homer Simpson said, 'every time I learn something new, it pushes some old stuff out of my brain', and we laugh because it's not true. You can't fill up a brain, so the cliché about people's (particularly young people's) limitless potential is true. Every time you learn something new, you enrich your contextual understanding of everything else you have ever learnt. '[E]very moment is a new and shocking / Valuation of all we have been', as T. S. Eliot put it in 'East Coker'.

Writing

Speaking and reading are in a concrete way preparation for writing. If you think and make notes while speaking and reading, by the time it comes to writing an essay, the question should not be about what to say, but how to arrange the things you want to say. So annotation is an important skill. It's a bit like getting 'in the zone' for a sportsperson - students must practise getting there and staying there. I model the annotation process something like this:

Read with a pencil in your hand. What makes you underline? Something fires in your brain, so that you have a response - you spot a developing theme, you're reminded of another book, you agree or disagree, there's a word you don't know and need to look up, you like the way a sentence sounds. It could be anything. Read until you've underlined twenty words or sentences. Work out the three or four connections between the things you have to say, and you've got a paragraph plan. Work out the main thing you have to say, and you have a thesis for your essay, which, as you aim your paragraphs at it, will accumulate force.

A lot of learning (and life) is about noticing connections, so getting into the habit of doing so is something like learning how to learn. If a student has developed this habit, they shouldn't really have to think 'What shall I write?' in front of a blank sheet of paper or screen. The content of the essay will be a sort of emanation of prior thinking.

When it comes to giving students feedback, I keep in mind one of the best incites I heard early in my PGCE: attend to your students' writing as you would a piece of literature. This way, the marking progress becomes analogous to the writing process. What are all the things that could make this essay better? And is there a connection between them, i.e. what's the main thing this student needs to focus on? (I usually give feedback using comments and 'track changes' in Microsoft Word.)

Why study English?

It has been said that 'If you can think, and speak, and write, you are absolutely deadly', and I think that's right. Learning how to construct and articulate good arguments is learning how to impose ideas on the world. To the extent that English is about feelings, it is about their articulation, and there is a great deal to learn about how feelings have been and can be articulated. Moreover, because English is the medium of instruction in all other subjects, command of it confers a freedom to range through the history of ideas and discriminate between reliable and unreliable, including online. Language is a prerequisite for thought - doing English properly is learning how to think better.

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Personal Description:
Hello! I am a highly experienced primary school teacher and tutor with a passion for teaching and education. In my free time, I love dog walks, reading and playing or listening to music. If you need support in Maths or English, or any primary subject, I would love to help!

Teaching Experience:
I am a primary teacher with 11 years experience teaching and tutoring across Ireland and England. I graduated with a B.Ed in 2011 and I recently completed a Masters in Education in school leadership. I have taught and tutored all year groups of primary age. In the past, I have worked as the Reading and Phonics leader across Early Years and KS1. I love to support students on their journey learning to read. I get the best from my students with a relaxed, engaging and creative approach. Good working relationships are important to me, and I like to get to know my students and parents well. Teaching remotely during lockdown has equipped me with excellent experience teaching online and I have much experience tutoring students of all ages.

Tutoring Approach:
I am a suitable tutor as I have ample teaching experience working with children not just in the classroom, but in learning support. I have worked with pupils to implement interventions in literacy and maths, in order to help them better access the curriculum. I like to stretch and challenge my students, while also providing opportunities for success on their learning journey. I make learning fun through an interactive and captivating approach to lessons. I have experience and have completed courses in teaching through White Rose Maths, Read Write Inc and Jolly Phonics. Before a lesson, I will thoroughly assess the student's abilities to enable me to adapt my lessons to suit their needs. I will always feedback to parents after each lesson and set homework if requested.

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Personal Description:
I am a very experienced teacher with a Bachelor degree in French and Greek literature and linguistics, a Master degree in Performance and Socio-cultural studies and a PhD in Arts and Pedagogy.

I am very approachable and friendly and I live and breathe my subjects, which I love teaching in a structured yet fun way.

I am passionate about motivating my students to excel and surpass their expectations of themselves.
I specialise in children and building their confidence and in nurturing their love of learning. I can also offer guidance to teenagers, direct them towards the right subjects and suggest appropriate university courses or help them with their applications. I teach essay writing skills that are essential for all university studies.

Teaching Experience:
Over 25 years of experience in private tuition, teaching as a qualified teacher in primary state schools and in an independent French school where I teach GCSE. I have over 8 years experience as a lecturer in Dance and Drama departments in British academia (Roehampton University, University of Middlesex, University of Surrey and Goldsmiths College).
I am also a visiting lecturer for the University of Malta.

Tutoring Approach:
Interactive, and inclusive teaching student, completely student-focused and taking into account my student's interests and hobbies.
I design fun lessons with the aim not just to cover material and guarantee success in exams, but to create a learning foundation for life and impart study skills that are transferable to all fields.

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Personal Description:
I am fully qualified teacher and have been tutoring online for over two years. I now work part-time tutoring online, usually from my home, but occasionally from elsewhere. I have two adult children, one just finishing university and the other working in an apprenticeship. I originally tutored in person, but made the transition to online tutoring after the first lock-down. My existing pupils did extremely well at the transition and have continued to grow in confidence, to learn just as much as they did before and to also improve their ICT skills, using the keyboard to write, by using the classroom tools and sometimes sharing their screen.

The other advantages of online tutoring are that I am never held up in the rush hour traffic, there is no need to wear masks and I have even tutored pupils that have travelled abroad or have been living elsewhere, like Norway or even Nigeria, so continuity of tutoring is easier. Children seem just as able to build a relationship with a tutor online as in person, so this has never been a problem and I have had really good relationships with all of my pupils and their families. I really enjoy working with young people and their families. Sometimes I start working with one sibling and then with a brother or sister, or swap around depending on which child needs the most help.

I can be flexible and will try to work around parents' work and home responsibilities and commitments, but I will need to charge if lessons are cancelled within 24 hours.

I charge £35 per hour and that includes lesson preparation, providing homework (including marking if/when required), and providing feedback to parents/carers.

Teaching Experience:
I have been involved in Primary education for seventeen years, mainly in Key Stage 2. I have experience working one-to-one with children with Special Educational Needs, those needing just a little extra support to move them on and to boost their confidence, as well as working with highly academic children that need stretching, to ensure that they are never bored with schooling.

As well as being a fully qualified classroom teacher, I have been a School Safeguarding Governor for more than eight years and have worked with the Local Safeguarding Board, as well as with other Children in Care providers and have personal experience of caring for Looked After Children, so whatever your child's educational needs are, I'm here to help. I believe in teaching children to ensure that every child maximises their potential and I try to find ways to engage them in learning by using activities that they will enjoy. To do this I employ various teaching styles to suit the individual needs of each pupil. Whenever possible, I try to help children to understand how and why they are learning new things, how it relates to the wider world and why it is important for them to try to grasp new or difficult concepts and to take responsibility for their own learning.

Tutoring Approach:
I like to get to know the pupil I'm working with to find out the best way that they learn. Sometimes this can be encouraging them to engage in practical activities, such as cooking/baking, because it engages a child in a way that takes them away from the 'classroom' style of learning and puts them more at ease, as they are no longer feeling under any pressure to 'learn'. I have found that some children learn much more quickly when faced with a practical problem, such as reading a recipe and halving/doubling ingredients etc, with the added incentive and reward of eventually making something that they can eat. In addition, this may also help by giving them a visual and sensory memory of what they have learned. When tutoring I like to find out about each child's learning preference and tailor their tutorial accordingly. I believe in making learning fun and enjoyable, setting achievable goals that will help your child gain confidence and boost their self-esteem, as well as progress them academically.

Most children love ICT, but some are less confident and so involving them in online tutoring can be the best way to help them overcome any fears and concerns they may have, building their confidence as they learn to manage the whiteboard tools and communicate successfully with their tutor. They can also easily and quickly see their own progression. There are many fun and interesting games available for all the different subjects and working through some of these together often leads to children taking more responsibility for their own learning and becoming more eager and more confident to take on greater challenges. Once they become fully competent at a particular activity, they are usually keen to find another one. ICT can also provide a means of recording the subjects that they need to revise and they can then go over these and practise them in their own time.

The thought of taking the 11 Plus test is challenging and can cause a lot of unnecessary stress and upset, for both parents and children. Having taught in a junior school where about fifty percent of the children move on to a grammar school, I am well aware of the pressure that some children are under to 'pass' the 11 Plus. There are many things that can be done to support your child and to help them to reach their maximum potential. Identifying the areas of learning that they find most difficult and overcoming this, is key to their gaining confidence and enabling them to make their best effort whilst taking this test. As well as teaching whole classes of children preparing for the 11 Plus, in recent years I have been working one-to-one with children preparing to take this test. I assist them in the aspects of English and maths that they have found most challenging, including using questions from past 11 Plus test papers so that they have become familiar with the test format. Pupils gain confidence in themselves and then they know that they will do their very best when they take the test.

The 11 Plus test can vary, depending on the school and catchment area. Most grammar schools prefer pupils not to be tutored, otherwise pupils may struggle if they are successful in the test, but do not possess the natural speed of learning required at many of these schools, so my preferred method of tutoring is to help pupils to understand any concepts they struggle with and to help them to become more advanced in these areas. Pupils should work through the appropriate 11 Plus practice materials on their own and identify the areas where they need the most help. This helps them to gain confidence in their own ability and to take responsibility for their own learning. This is very important for them if they are to progress well and if they are successful in gaining entry to a grammar school.

I provide lessons for KS1 and KS2 pupils to help them with any areas of the curriculum that they find difficult. I provide homework if required.

I occasionally tutor pupils in KS3, mainly Years 7 and 8, often helping them with their homework.

I can be flexible and will try to work around parents' work and home responsibilities and commitments, but I will need to charge if lessons are cancelled within 24 hours.

Whatever year a child is in at school, it is important for them to know that every step forward is a step towards greater achievement and understanding. Whatever your child's academic needs, please be assured that I am here to ensure that your child grows in confidence and achieves their maximum potential and will do my very best for them and for you.I look forward to working with your child.

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Personal Description:
My name is Salvia and I am a native English speaker with a deep committment to teaching. Languages are my special interest - I enjoy learning them as much as I enjoy teaching them! I have an enthusiastic and playful approach to teaching, with a focus on facilitating your growth and improving your confidence.

Teaching Experience:
I have over 20 years of experience teaching and tutoring in a variety of situations - in primary and secondary schools, universities, after school programs, and online. I have held many different positions with the schools and educational companies I have worked for, including head of department, senior teacher trainer, private personal tutor, and classroom teacher. I have taught all ages and ability levels. I am experienced in ESOL and well as teaching native speakers.

My students get consistently high results on their exams: GCSE, A-level, IELTS, TOEFL, and more.

I have taught and tutored several languages as well as music, although my speciality and focus nowadays is English language and literature, reading and writing skills, and helping students learn how to study effectively.

Tutoring Approach:
My approach is entirely student centred. Our first session is a FREE 20 minute meeting in which I explore your linguistic needs and determine how best to support you. I will then develop a personalised, adaptable curriculum, just for you. Each student is different and has different needs and best ways of learning. I will meet you where you are and create a programme personally designed to support you in your language goals.

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Personal Description:
As a passionate advocate for technology and innovation, I hold a degree in Artificial Intelligence & Data Science from Dr. D.Y. Patil Institute, where I developed expertise in Python, machine learning, and data analysis. machine learning enthusiast, currently diving into Neural Networks, particularly NLP and Computer Vision. Since joining the Women Techmakers and Microsoft student learn ambassador community ,I've enhanced my technical and presentation skills, Also in my university journey I have contributed to projects that increased team efficiency by 60%.My confidence help me to tackle complex challenges, and I'm committed to creating impactful solutions that empower others through technology. With a focus on fostering collaboration and promoting continuous learning, I aim to drive growth and innovation within the tech space.

Teaching Experience:
As a member of the Women Techmakers and Microsoft Student Learn Ambassador communities, I have enhanced my Teaching/guiding and presentation skills while fostering collaboration within diverse students. During my university projects, I contributed to initiatives that increased team efficiency by 60%, showcasing my problem-solving abilities and tutoring mindset.

Tutoring Approach:
With my strong foundation in computer science I believe in making the foundtion of my students to be strong My tutoring philosophy centers on fostering a supportive and engaging learning environment tailored to each student's needs and learning style. I focus on simplifying complex concepts by breaking them into manageable steps, using relatable examples, and encouraging active participation.

I believe in a hands-on approach, combining theoretical understanding with practical application to deepen comprehension and retention. For instance, when teaching concepts like machine learning or data analysis, I incorporate real-world projects and coding exercises to bridge the gap between theory and practice.

I also prioritize promoting critical thinking and problem-solving by guiding students to explore solutions independently while providing constructive feedback. By fostering curiosity and building confidence, my aim is to empower students to tackle challenges with resilience and enthusiasm.

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Personal Description:
I'm local to Much Wenlock and live a stonesthrow from the local bus stop and William Brookes School here in Much Wenlock.

I have a genuine desire to help those who may be struggling with their English and History and would benefit form additional 1-2-1 support.

On completing my Degree at UCS Shrewsbury in English Literature and Creative Language, I later passed a Level 3 Award in Education and Training (TQUK/RQF)

Teaching Experience:
Although I have little teaching experience I have began supporting and tutoring Key Stage 4 Students in Much Wenlock who are currently studying for GCSE English Language & Literacy.

Tutoring Approach:
• are you studying for sats or gcse/a-level english or history?
• do you require additional support outside of the classroom or because you have chosen to be homeschooled.
• are you seeking support or coaching on exam technique?
• are you perhaps neurodivergent and think it would be of help if your tutor was neurodivergent too?
• would you benefit by gaining support from a younger tutor who passed both gcse & a-level english and history, going on to achieve a ba (hons) degree in english and creative writing?

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Personal Description:
I'm Sophie, a fully qualified teacher with eight years of experience across both state and independent schools - and someone who has spent the better part of two decades with a deep enthusiasm for literature, language, history, and Ancient Greece and Rome, and many years developing the craft of helping people think and learn more effectively.

I hold a BA in English from the University of Cambridge and an MA from the University of York, and I bring that depth of knowledge into every session, tailoring my approach entirely to you or your child - your pace, your goals, your ambitions.

Why choose me?
- BA in English from the University of Cambridge and MA from the University of York
- Qualified, experienced teacher with eight years across state and independent schools
- Genuinely enthusiastic about all of the above subjects (yes, even grammar and poetic metre)
- Structured sessions with clear goals - but always room for a good tangent
- Flexible scheduling to fit around school and other commitments
- Sessions available in person or online

Teaching Experience:
- 8 years working in primary and secondary, state and independent schools; qualified as a teacher in 2020
- Taught KS2 English, French, Latin, History and Verbal Reasoning; KS3 English, Drama, French; KS4 English; KS5 English, Media
- BA in English (including French), MA in Medieval Studies (including French and Latin), A-levels in English literature (A*), Film Studies (A*), Classical Civilisation (A), AS-levels in French (A) and History (A)

Tutoring Approach:
Objective-oriented lessons that can be taught from a pre-planned curriculum or decided on a lesson-by-lesson basis. Just been told you have a surprise Macbeth mock in two weeks? Well, that can be what our next session is on!

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