Ballyclare Entrance Exams Tutors and Ballyclare Entrance Exams Tuition

Personal Description:
If you choose me, your child will see a marked improvement in their results and confidence levels. I am a highly experience, professional and friendly tutor with advanced DBS clearance. My teaching experience includes GCSE, iGCSE and A level (Edexcel, AQA, OCR (A and B for Physics), WJEC), University level Maths and Physics (including Oxford entrance exams MAT and PAT) as well as assisting PhD students to improve their thesis writing skills.

I pride myself on making lessons fun and informative which I believe provides the right environment to get the best out of my students. (2022 results: 100 percent pass rate at GCSE and A-Level. 77 percent got A*/A or 7/8/9)

As well as being a tutor, I work in research and development where I lead programmes that use Physics to understand complex problems. This experience allows me to inspire young people who have a love for the subject. I am also a STEM ambassador and would happily come to your school (for free) to inspire children in both science and maths.

I was awarded a First Class Honours degree from University College London in 1997 and went on to study a PhD in Quantum Mechanics. On successful completion of my PhD in 2001 I started work at Thales Research and Technology (TRT) where I led projects on Adaptive Learning Systems and Information Management. I initiated the first programme to span the three TRT laboratories in France, Netherlands and UK in the area of Cognitive Systems research. I then went on to set up and lead a large collaborative team between TRT and University of Surrey to study remote collaboration technologies. I joined General Dynamics United Kingdom Limited in 2005, primarily to ensure exploitation of DIF DTC technologies into the UK Ministry of Defence Equipment Programme. I received my Chartered Physicist status in 2004 and am now a director.

Teaching Experience:
Several students have improved by more than 4 grades after just six months of tuition with me, and commonly students improve by at least one or two grades. Many of my students who previously had lost their passion for Maths and Physics, go on to take these subjects to a further level. Apart from the usual syllabuses I am experienced at teaching students the Maths section of the SATs and ACTs in order to get scholarships to American Universities.

Tutoring Approach:
My tuition method involves making Maths and Physics fun so that children and young adults will remember their lessons and overcome the "I can't do science" syndrome. So that you can assess whether or not I am the right tutor for your child I offer the first lesson for free.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I graduated from Cambridge University with a BA in English Literature, and then from the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, graduating with a BA in acting, where I was the recipient of the Noel Coward Scholarship from 2008-2011. In July 2011 I won the Michael Bryant Award at the National Theatre, for verse speaking and Shakespeare.

When I'm not acting or tutoring I can be found in the plumbing, plastering, kitchen or grappling with a cryptic crossword.

CURRENT AVAILABLE SLOTS: 9-10am + 10-11am Sundays, weekly.

Teaching Experience:
I have been a private tutor since 2008.

Currently tutoring students in: 8+, 10+ & 11+ preparation (all four subjects); GCSE Maths. Adult English and pronunciation skills.

Previously: English - KS1, KS2, 7+ (Successful entry to Highgate), 11+ (Successful entry to, Haberdashers' Askes Boys, Trinity, City of London School for Boys, Alleyn's, St Alban's), A Level (A at A Level English and Extended English). Maths - KS1, KS2, 7+, 11+, 13+ (successful entry to Oundle, Haberdashers' Askes Boys), GCSE (grade improved from D to A*). University application assistance (Successful entry to Durham and Oxford). English as a foreign language - including public speaking and native pronunciation and grammar for business professionals.

During my gap year I spent some time as a special needs classroom assistant, working closely with a child with Asperger's Syndrome. This involved facilitating the social and academic change between primary and secondary education on a one-to-one basis.

Also at this time I ran Welsh language games sessions for primary children in non-first-language schools to improve and encourage their use of the language outside of the classroom environment.

Whilst at secondary school I taught reading skills to children who had low reading-ages.

I wrote a thesis on the connections between Maths and acting whilst at Guildhall.

Tutoring Approach:
My approach to tutoring is tailored to the individual's needs; firstly finding ways of fully explaining a concept, then cementing them with useful and memorable material to build students' confidence. My main objective would be to aid the student in understanding not only the specifics of the work but also the broader aspects of it, which I believe provides a truer grounding in - and enjoyment of - a subject. By making the work useful and enjoyable, and by finding alternative and effective approaches to study, I hope that my tuition will shed new light on subjects for students.

My passion is building confidence and fostering resilient approaches to problem solving.

I specialise in tutoring Maths and particularly enjoy helping those students whose confidence in the subject has become a barrier to their learning and enjoyment of the subject.

Previous Students' Comments:

'Before I met Alex, as a dyslexic, I was academically unconfident and dreaded having tutors who had never really helped me before. Alex tutored me from Year 8 to 11 and she completely changed my attitude to studying, helped me develop my organisational skills and gave me a huge amount of confidence in my abilities. As I approached GCSEs she tutored me particularly in Maths where I was struggling with a D grade. Without her expert tuition I doubt I would have been able to achieve my A* in Maths.

I think Alex is an amazing tutor because she has an extraordinary talent for making it a thoroughly enjoyable experience to the extent I would genuinely look forward to our lessons. Alex was far more than a tutor to me, helping me through such formative teenage years. I consider her a friend.'

- Tally

'Alex is a truly outstanding and gifted tutor as well as a fantastic person. I have very much enjoyed being her student for over six months, and have not only learnt a lot due to her expertise and impressive knowledge but also grew to love English Literature because of the inspirational nature of her tutoring. Previously, I used to constantly struggle with my assignments since English is not my first language, however, after a few weeks of sessions with Alex my grades and confidence significantly improved. She has an ability to keep the lessons varied and interesting; always well prepared for lessons - she was kind enough to provide me with extremely useful books and personal notes. Her incredible dedication and hard working nature also deserves mentioning as she was willing to help me even in the evenings when I was panicking about coursework and the approaching exams. With Alex's assistance and firm confidence in my ability I have achieved a high A in my A-level English Literature and even a merit award in Extended English. I would enthusiastically recommend Alex to anyone who wants to succeed in their exams and learn heaps of interesting information.

- Natasza (Graduated with an MA from Oxford University)

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am an experienced Teacher of Maths to A level, AAT, Tax, Financial Accounting, Management Accounting & Statistics.

My teaching experience ranges from 1-1 teaching, group teaching, teaching in state schools and private colleges, teaching for University Foundation Programs and delivering training at clients' premises.

I am enhanced DBS checked.

Teaching Experience:
Some of the schools/colleges I have taught are:

Loughborough College
Al Hikmah
East Kent College
Cambian Group
Royal Grammar School High Wycombe
Oaklands College St Albans
Nova Training College
Cherwell College Oxford
Cambridge Seminars
Emperia College Luton
Bell Cambridge
West London Vocational College (SAGE)
Milton Keynes College
EF Academy Oxford

Tutoring Approach:
Whichever way the student wishes the lessons to be conducted but personally I tend to focus on concepts.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am a fully qualified primary school teacher and have worked as a private tutor since having my first child in 2009. I tutor Maths up to GCSE and English up to Year 9. I also specialise in preparing children for the 11+.

Teaching Experience:
I have six years of full-time primary teaching experience, working within independent and state schools. In addition, I have tutored a range of children aged between 5 and 16 years of age, privately, and within schools for the National Tutoring Covid Catch-Up Programme. As a result, I have a wide knowledge of the National Curriculum.

Tutoring Approach:
I am a patient and caring person who can explain things clearly. I will take the time to ensure that your child understands a concept but will also set high expectations to push them to achieve their full potential. I believe in positivity and praise to build confidence and enthusiasm, which ultimately will aid success.

In terms of availability, I am flexible on days and times.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I have been a classroom teacher for 20 years, but have recently branched out to become a PE specialist, whilst I have still teach some maths and English I would like to teach more, whilst still keeping my current position. I am an outgoing friendly but strict teacher/tutor and pupils clearly enjoy being taught by me and respond accordingly with excellent results.

Teaching Experience:
I have been a primary school teacher for 20 years, constantly employed. I have taught all primary age classes and successfully prepared children for local entrance examinations. I am currently employed as Head of Junior Games at QEH Junior School in Bristol.

Tutoring Approach:
I enjoy the one to one style that tutoring provides as it allows me, as an educator, to use my experience to help the student get to grip with difficult issues.
It is a very personal way of learning that I believe is well suited to my style of teaching.

Subjects

Personal Description:
Post doctoral researcher at University of Sheffield, working to improve mathematical computer models which predict onset of heart disease.

I recently completed a PhD in Bioengineering at Imperial College London, carrying out mathematical research on heart disease. My first degree was in Maths at the same university, and I took a Masters in Biomedical Research in between.

I attended both a state school and a top boarding school and am comfortable to cover topics on and off the standard syllabus.

I am a very fun, friendly person with a wide range of activities and hobbies from inline skating to singing and playing the violin.

Teaching Experience:
I have tutored A-level maths privately for a few years, and also spent several weeks as a teaching assistant in a secondary school during my undergraduate degree as part of the Student Associates Scheme. Many of my contemporaries from university are science and mathematics teachers across England and overseas, and I periodically discuss teaching methods and curriculum changes with them.

During my PhD, I led undergraduate tutorials and problems classes in the Mathematics and several Engineering departments, teaching undergraduates from 1st year to 4th year. The courses include Mathematical Methods, Matlab, Fluid Mechanics, PDEs, Modelling in Biology, Heat and Mass Transfer. I also carried out 1-1 tuition for undergraduates at departmental request. I have supervised a number of undergraduate and masters research projects and summer students.

Tutoring Approach:
I am a very approachable person and I prefer interactive sessions, although I can tailor the tuition style to the individual.

A first meeting would involve an informal chat for the student and I to get more familiar with his/her needs and style of working, and everything follows from there.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am a Depute Head Teacher based in the Motherwell area. I have fourteen years teaching experience with ten of those based in the classroom. I have taught in a variety of primary and SEBN schools in North Lanarkshire. I use a wide of range of innovative, inspiring techniques and strategies to engage the young people in my care.

Teaching Experience:
I am a Depute Head Teacher in North Lanarkshire with seventeen years teaching experience. I was classroom based for ten years and have had the pleasure of teaching a variety of young people ranging in age from 7-16 years old.

I look to build positive and lasting relationships with all young people in my care and use relationships to develop an in-depth understanding of what the needs of each individual child is. I use this information to derive a detailed individualised plan to meet the needs of your child. In addition to this I strive to use an assortment of teaching tools and approaches to ensure all learners are confident in understanding what is being taught.

Tutoring Approach:
As a private tutor I strive to give your child a positive and enjoyable learning experience, in turn enhancing their self-belief and self-confidence in a classroom environment. I use both practical and interactive teaching tools to help make all areas of the curriculum clearer and easier for a child to understand.

I use current and up to date materials to help give your child a better understanding and grasp of the curriculum as taught in his/her own classroom.

Subjects

Personal Description:
Cambridge educated, and an Oxford University prize winning teacher, I have recently passed my latest OFSTED inspection. I specialise in :

11+
English Language (GCSE and iGCSE)
English Literature (GCSE/iGCSE/A Level/ELAT)
GCSE/ A Level Business Studies
GCSE / A Level History
Creative writing (adults)
Business English (adults)
ESOL (adults)
UCAS statements
Mock interviews

I am DFE authorised to teach the subjects I advertise.

I hold an excellent degree in English, a PGCE in English/History, a Cert Ed.in Drama, an MA in creative writing from the number one UK writing programme, and a post graduate in teaching creative writing from Cambridge University.

I am a published author and editor.

I have taught students from:

Independent Senior : Rugby School, Gordonstoun, Warwick School, The Kingsley School, King's High School, Kingham Hill, King Henry 8th, Princethorpe, Bablake.

Independent Junior: Crackley Hall, Warwick

State Selective: Lawrence Sheriff, Rugby High, Alcester Grammar, Ashlawn, WMG Academy, Stratford Girls' Grammar, Kings Edward's Boys Grammar, newport Girls' High School.

State non-selective: Kenilworth School, Finham Park, President Kennedy, Babington Academy, English Martyrs, Bilton High, Houlton, The Harris, Avon Valley, Walsall Academy, Joseph Leckie Academy, Myton, North Leamington, Ernesford Grange, Southgate School, East Barnet School, Attleborough Academy, Southfield Girls' School, Rugby Free School.

State junior: Potters Green, Long Lawford, Holbrook, Park Hill, Dunchurch, Hillmorton, Cawston Grange, Abacus Academy, Our Lady of Assumption, Henry Hinde, St Anthony's.

University: Cambridge, Warwick, BCU, Keele, York.

I have taught students in the UK, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Russia and South Korea.

I am a native English speaker - this is highly advantageous to English as a second language students.

Scholarships gained: Rugby School, Warwick School.
Bursaries gained: Bablake School, Princethorpe College.
Grammar Schools: King Edward's Boys, Lawrence Sheriff Boys', Alcester Grammar, Rugby High School.

Having a grammar school education myself has been most useful and that my children were educated in the independent sector gives me an insider insight.

Many of my pupils have gone onto Oxford University, Durham University, and elite Universities to study subjects such a medicine and dentistry. One of my GCSE students moved from grade 3 to grade 7 in three months and another moved 4 levels from grade 5 to 9 in 6 months.

I hold QTS and DBS. Unlike tutorial centres, I focus only on one student in a session, ensuring better progress.

I teach students between the age of 8-adult.

I lecture in Creative Writing.

Teaching Experience:
I am an experienced, successful online tutor. I update my teaching skills annually. I have completed my Safeguarding Certificate, Sexual Harassment Awareness, PREVENT training, and my GDPR certificate.

I have worked with Grammar Schools, Independent Schools, Public schools, selective and non-selective state schools. I have been a Head of English and Senior Leader in a highly successful Birmingham school. I have taught writing to post-grads at Cambridge Uni, Warwick Uni, Hull and York University. I have published educational research and resources, edited publications and mentored writers.

I have been an examiner for KS2 SATS, English Language and English Literature and am an Arts Awards Assessor.

I am familiar with the following curriculum:

AQA, EDEXCEL, OCR, EDUQAS, iGCSE, Essex 11 Plus, Warwickshire and Birmingham 11 Plus, IELTS,Trinity ESOL, British Council ESOL.

I have worked with pupils struggling to perform at schools which have not served them well. I have worked on behalf of schools, providing one to one tuition for LAC pupils. I have worked with very good pupils at very good schools in order to support pupils to become excellent.

I am willing to do unlimited prep. I do not pluck activities off the internet and hope they fit as I design work especially for my pupils.

Tutoring Approach:
Your child won't be placed in a group with other children who have different needs and work at different levels!

I have high expectations of your child - this helps them to reach their goals.

I will tell you the truth about your child, sharing information and assessments.

I standardise my marking in a secondary school every year.

Successes in 24-25* ( grade boundaries moved up)
100 % eleven plus passes
100% Grade 8 and 9 at GCSE Language.
100% Grade 7, 8 and 9 at GCSE Literature.

testomonials:

'Thank you ...as your support has very much enabled this success.'
'I am short of words to thank you, for all the help and support you gave.'
'She couldn't have done it without your support.'

2023- 2024 Academic year* ( grade boundaries moved up)

NR-9, 8 GCSE Eng Lang and Lit
LS- arrived in the UK with no English and has made 3 levels of progress within 6 months.
JR- gained an 11+ place at King Edward's Grammar School
AN-gained an 11 + place at LSS Grammar School.
AS-gained a place at Lawrence Sheriff Grammar School
RM- gained places at The Kingsley and Princethorpe independent schools
SG- gained a place at Bablake Independent school
SS- gained bursaries at Bablake and Princethorpe Independent Schools
HJP- an adult ESOL learner from South Korea, has progressed from A2 to C1 British council levels, and gained a distinction at GCSE speaking and Listening in less than 9 months.


Testamonials

LR- " We DID it!!!! Thank you so muchhhhhhhh. The scores gets him into the best grammar school - KEGS!Thank you so much for your perseverance and amazing teaching!!!"

SC-" We think you're best English tutor there is so no surprises with your ofsted rating."

Successes 2022-2023.

AC-9, 9 GCSE Eng and Lit ( school predicted grades were 6,6)
ES- 9,8 GCSE Eng and Lit ( school predicted grades were far lower)
HH- 8, 8 GCSE Eng and Lit
WN- 8,7 GCSE Eng and Lit ( school predicted grades were 4,4)
PH- 6 Eng Lang ( school prediction was a 3)

LH gained a place at Medical School and met the offer.
NQ gained a place at University, and met the offer, when the school stated she was not able to.
KS- gained several places at university for Mechanical Engineering and met the offers.

Successes 2022

FO - gained a music scholarship at Warwick Snr.

WH- gained 225 in his 11 Plus exam, entitling him to places at two top grammar schools.

HG- gained his place at a highly competitive Grammar school sixth form- in July of Year 10 he was told he was 'pushing' grade 5 by his teacher.

TW- gained his GCSE score two grades above his September working at grade and 1 grade above his target grade.

SDP- gained a place at a competitive independent school, with a massive bursary

SR- gained a place at a competitive independent school, with generous bursary

HA- passed 11 plus at 249 marks

EK- passed 11 plus at 226 marks

FO has gained a place at his chosen Independent School- he was the first to have been accepted while only in Year 5.


Successes 2020-2021

HL-invited to a medical school interview

KC-Grade 8 in GCSE Business Studies- he was a grade 5 in September and had a target of grade 6.

QN- Grade 5 in English Lit after three months of tuition and beginning at Grade 3.

BJ- Grade 5 in English Language despite predicted grade of 4.

Successes 2019-2020

VY- Grade 8 in English Language- was struggling to maintain a good grade 5 in school.

MS-Grade 7 in English Language and in English Literature- was working at Grade 5 in school.

HL- Year 13- grade 7 in Eng Lang GCSE November re-sit- HL started with me on a very low level 5 and has worked with me for less than one year.

SK-Grade 6 in English Language- was a low grade 5 in school.

WL-Grade 6 - was low grade 5 at school.

LS- Grade 5 in English Language after working with me. School gave him a Grade 3 in their August teacher Assessment GCSE.
BJ- Year 11 - BJ was working at a grade 4 in mid September when I began working with him. He gained a grade 5 in the Eng Lit exam.

KC- Year 10- KC was a low level 3 at the start of year 9 - gained a high grade 5 in GCSE Eng Lit at the end of Year 10.

II- Year 10 - II was a low grade 3 - gained a grade 5 in Eng Lit GCSE.

NE- Grade 4 in English Language - a very low Grade 3 in school.

AA-Year 6-AA passed her 11 plus.

HL- Year 13- received an offer from a good university to take a great Science course only 15 days after sending her UCAS application in on October 15th. Has two interviews for medicine too.

HS- Year 13- HS began studying medicine at Norwich after working with me to write his UCAS personal statement.

SE- Year 13 -SE lacked confidence when trying to write a UCAS personal statement. With my help, SE is now at a very good University.

BR-First Year University- BR was struggling to write his first academic essay. I taught BR how to reference and the importance of using authentic and serious sources.

Parental/ Learner Testimonials:

20-21

I was accepted into LSS...I would like to say thank you for the help in Business Studies as that helped me ace my exams.

KC- GCSE students

P was so happy with the lesson yesterday. He told me that V taught me more in one lesson than school taught me for the whole year which is fabulous !

PN's Mum (PN attends a Grammar school)


2019-2020

LS's mother-

I wanted to express my thanks again. I have no doubt that LS would not have achieved a level 5 without your tutoring, and it had been left to the school. I had every faith that LS was capable if he applied himself and had the right teaching and guidance but could not see him getting what he needed from the school. He did it. Thanks to you.

2018-2019

E has improved a lot lately with V's help. V is really good at teaching (E's mother)

I wanted to drop you a line to thank you personally for all the help and support you have given L over the last few months. Whatever the outcome is she couldn't have done it without your coaching. Her work has definitely improved which wouldn't have happened had she continued with just the support school gave her. So thank you.( L's mother)

Earlier Successes

2018-2019

KS 2 SATS - NJ had given up working in year 6. After my support he won a prize for writing and scored 113 and 117 in his English papers.

Scholarships - CA was a Grade 4 in History GCSE. He needed a grade 7 to obtain a scholarship. After my support CA gained his grade 7, got his scholarship and recently went on to gain a grade 9 in the actual GCSE securing his place at Rugby School.

GCSE- MS was at a good independent school and in top set. However, she was scoring at grade 2 in her English Language and English Literature mock exams. With my help MS went on to gain two level 7s for both her English GCSE exams.

Post Grads - S, A, I were all on a PGA at Warwick University. To get onto the MA course they needed to gain a distinction on their PGA assignments. With my support, all three transferred to the MA course.

ZN wanted to do as well as possible in his MA assignments but was struggling with Academic English. With my help he scored merits for his essays and dissertation.

H - a dyslexic adult who struggled with having to write personal emails/messages-she overcame this by just sending emojis. With my support H now composes emails using words and has the confidence to send emails / messages whenever she wants to.


2017-2018 successes :

N J-- NJ went from a Level 3 in school mock exams to achieving a Level 7 in the actual GCSE exams despite being dyslexic.

OL--OL went from a bottom grade D in school mock exams to achieving a high grade B in the actual A Level exams, taking up her place at Leeds Art School.

JA-- JA was home schooled and dyslexic. She felt that she was not able to study beyond GCSE. JA decided to continue with her education beyond GCSE as a result of the self- confidence she gained with my support.

AZ--As a result of my coaching, AZ had started to gain additional days work ( AZ has his own business)

Subjects

Personal Description:
My approach is to be friendly, supportive and professional when interacting with students. I encourage them to be proactive and resourceful in their approach to Maths, guiding them through the processes of learning to deepen their understanding and develop their thinking and problem-solving. Sessions are therefore individually tailored and flexible to meet the needs of the student, so are student-focused rather than traditionally teacher-led. I spend time getting to know my students and, whenever possible, encourage the practice of Maths skills within topic areas of personal interest to them or real life situations. I am a good listener and can empathise with my students, helping them to see areas for improvement in their work and offering practical advice and tips on how to develop it further. Ultimately, I aim to help my students fulfill their academic potential whilst also developing the range of skills needed to achieve their aspirations in life.

Teaching Experience:
Working in my professional career as a Maths Specialist in mainstream Primary Education, I am always keen to find a strategy that fits alongside what your child's school is providing to skeleton. This I do by studying materials your child brings home, observing strategies which your child uses and occasionally by speaking to schools to produce a bespoke medium of teaching that proves most effective for your child to enhance their mathematical ability and drive. I always believe lessons should be both educational and enjoyable to maintain engagement. There is a pleasure in self-improvement which I will want to build into your child so that they grow in self-confidence through learning.

Tutoring Approach:
Mathematics is a huge passion of my own and I have an ever-growing belief that regardless of what level children are at, with the correct guidance and the right attitude, success is always around the corner.

I have undergone extensive professional development training continuously for a number of years and counting, which ensures my skill-set is up-to-date with the Mathematics curriculum and is diverse and extremely effective.

I have privately tutored for 9 years as well as being employed professionally at a mainstream Primary School as a highly experienced Maths Specialist where my role is centered around working closely with individuals and groups of children from Year 1 to Year 6 of a variety of abilities, working in a variation of topics towards attainment. (Basic numeracy, problem solving, fractions/decimals, statistics/probability, algebra, geometry, entry-level maths).

I cannot help a student unless I know where they are in their understanding. I try to get my students to participate and be active as much as possible during lessons, often getting them to reason through problems and ideas themselves, while helping them along the way. This helps me understand their thought process, and lets me see any gaps they have in their knowledge. Since I pay attention to the student`s thinking, I can approach the lesson with the student him- or herself in mind, personalising it and consequently being more helpful.

My personal view is that being a teacher is crucial to being an effective tutor as I have first hand knowledge and experience of the curriculum and plentiful ways of teaching it effectively. I believe all children not only should access the curriculum but flourish beyond that with the right guidance to be progressive learners.

I have vast and varied experience and success of tutoring children for confidence, classroom support and entrance exams. I supply all of my own resources with a vast array of apparatus and prepare each tuition session beforehand, with homework.

If you feel I could help your child in enhancing their development in Mathematical ability or if you feel your child's potential is not being challenged enough at school then I would love to hear from you.

Subjects

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"

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am a friendly encouraging professional teacher with a BA Hons degree in English & Spanish with Art History;. I have over 25 years experience teaching in schools, adult education centres. I am a Specialist SEND tutor/ Learning Mentor, 11+ entrance exams and IELTS for overseas students, private colleges. I regularly teach private companies such as Jaguar Land Rover, INEOS, Santander Bank .
On line and in person. Although If I have to travel cost may differ.

I thoroughly enjoy seeing students develop and improving their knowledge. I am a specialist in preparing you for the IELTS exam for Australia and the spouse visa for the UK.
Together we see your progress. Regular assessments and feedback are available.
Good IELTS results achieved with overseas students who want to enter UK universities . International doctors who need IELTS score 8/9.T I teach on -line using Teams or Zoom.

Teaching Experience:
Over 25 year experience teaching at various levels, from entrance exams at primary to university IELTS and degree level Spanish.
I have recently taught adult English to Chinese graduates at Grant Thornton's Accounts company.
I provide professionally recognised materials that comply with exam requirements.
I have supported many adult learners with English as a second language.
I presently teach Academic Skills for various universities including LJMU, Liverpool University, Manchester Univ. and many others.
Specialist Mentor for SEND students.

Tutoring Approach:
I listen carefully to your requirements and tailor make a course to suit. I use multi media materials including. past papers, exam practice and listening podcasts for GCSE and A Level, .etc... I will direct you to good learning websites.
- I give clear goals for each session .
- Continuous assessments and feedback.

Subjects

Personal Description:
Experienced teacher of 12yrs with an MEd, able to tutor in 4+/7+/11+ common entrance, EFL, IELTS preparation, lower primary English/maths/homework help, homeschooling, language and literacy support, early years, Phonics and end of year exam preparation. Can also offer drama, voice & beginners guitar tuition. Will travel locally. Enhanced DBS checked.

Teaching Experience:
12 years in EFL, Early years education and general primary education in the UK independent sector and in international schools overseas. 8 years experience as a private tutor. IB PYP, Montessori, UK EYFS, KS1&2 and US Common Core training and experience.

Tutoring Approach:
Tailored lessons to suit individual needs, aimed at heightening engagement for younger learners as well as thinking skills, confidence and curiosity. 1:1 attention with homework help and distance learning or homeschooling. Available on weekdays. Reduced rates for online tuition.

Subjects

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!'

*

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.'

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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.

Subjects

Personal Description:
Experienced University admissions assistant with over 5 years experience at Oxford & Cambridge.

I have extensive experience assisting students to understand the requirements and best practices in enhancing their university applications to maximise their chances of securing their dream university.

Currently undertaking a PhD at Oxford and a member of my college admissions team.

Teaching Experience:
I utilise my experience and extensive bank of good personal statements, understanding of what universities are looking for in candidates and offer insider advice on how students can enhance their applications.

I offer the opportunity to coach students into improving their applications, proofreading and reviewing applications.

Tutoring Approach:
I provide a wealth of knowledge and materials to my candidates to enable them to succeed.

Subjects

Personal Description:
Hello, my name is Luisa. I'm a 20-year-old medical student who speaks English, German, Hungarian, and French. Subjects such as business and economics interest me outside of Medicine, and I'm based in Scotland. As a native German, Hungarian, and English speaker (having learned all three at the same time while growing up), I offer a natural teaching approach that matches the way one would learn as a native speaker.

Teaching Experience:
Thus far I have only tutored in German, but I have assisted others informally in subjects such as Biology, Chemistry, Maths, and getting into Medicine.
[As a Medical student my CRB check has also been done.]

Tutoring Approach:
I love past papers! These for me were key when I was revising for my Highers, Advanced Highers, and even for the Medical School entrance exams such as the BMAT, UCAT, and TMS (Germany). I believe they offer key information on what exactly it is you need to know, and to what standard/ depth one must answer questions. At the beginning I like to get a feel for what level of knowledge students have, and together we set goals for what we wish to achieve (e.g. time remaining until the exam, what grade they wish to achieve, if there is any particular section they are struggling with, etc..). Preferably, I like to communicate with my students before the lesson, so we can decide what learning outcomes to focus on during our session, so we can both prepare beforehand.

Subjects

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:
University of Cambridge Undergraduate. I achieved 9 A*`s at GCSE and A*A*A*A in my A-Levels.

As someone who has recently experienced what it is like doing the new style of GCSE`s and A-Levels, I understand and recognise what works best in order for students to excel beyond what they think might be their limits. Having achieved 9 A*`s at GCSE(6 "9`s" for GCSE and 3 "A*`s for IGCSE) and A*A*A*A at A-Level recently, I understand what approach works best in order for a student to excel and what the exam boards are looking for so that the pupil can achieve the best grades. I am able to teach a wide variety of exam boards.

My students feel that it is very easy to connect with how I teach and are not afraid to ask questions or approach my teaching in a fun and informal manner. I provide my students with resources that I myself used to achieve my grades, which allows them to truly know whether they have grasped a topic.

I am passionate about developing personalised learning experiences and effective tutoring techniques to increase academic achievement and encourage a love of learning.

Teaching Experience:
With over 3 years of extensive tutoring experience - having clocked in hundreds upon hundreds of hours - I have relished helping pupils sky-rocket their grades. During my time tutoring I have helped students of all ages - helping them with their 11+, GCSE's, A-Level's and University Admissions. Every single one of my students have achieved their desired grades that, in turn, have helped them get admission into their dream secondary school, dream sixth form, or dream university (with many students getting into Oxbridge and other Russell Group Universities). A significant percentage of those I tutor come to me for help in Economics, Maths, Politics and help in their University Applications (from help with their personal statements to Oxbridge support for their desired course).

Tutoring Approach:
In my tutoring sessions, I prioritise engaging and straightforward lessons that are academically stimulating without being overly complex. I foster an environment where students feel comfortable asking questions at any point, thereby maintaining a focused and confident learning space. Through active recall and spaced repetition techniques, I help students retain knowledge efficiently, while constantly assessing their understanding using a variety of resources including past papers and a personalised question bank.

I craft personalised learning plans, tailored to each student's abilities and the requirements of any exam board, filling knowledge gaps and building on existing understanding. Moreover, I keep parents informed about their child's progress and areas for development, fostering a collaborative approach to achieving academic success. My goal is to not only help students achieve their academic potential but to enjoy the learning process along the way.

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Personal Description:
Published UN economist and UK Government consultant providing premier support across exam technique, content understanding, and essay writing.

Looking for targeted entrance exam support or a stable mentor throughout your A-Level or IB Economics journey? I am a proven tutor with some available spaces remaining for weekly sessions from September to the end of the current academic year. As a full-time tutor, I have enhanced flexibility and on request I can offer intensive crash-course sessions for students on study leave.

I always offer a free consultation before the first lesson, to understand my clients' needs and to ensure our learning styles fit. My specialist subject is Economics at IB and A Level across the CIE, AQA, WJEC, and Edexcel exam boards. I hold a First in Economics from a Russell Group university and achieved straight A's and A*'s in my GCSEs and A Levels.

Teaching Experience:
I have tutored Maths and Economics since 2021, and in that time have received 100% positive feedback from my clients who often go from fail-grades to As and beyond in short timescales. I have also taught English as a second language and Maths in several parts of the world, including Nepal, China, and Thailand.

Tutoring Approach:
I have taught various subjects as a private tutor since 2021, but I specialise in Economics. My lessons are highly interactive for maximum engagement, and I generally require students to have an iPad, tablet, or touchscreen laptop. In all initial lessons, I discuss with the student and/or their parent the student's needs and goals, identifying any weak spots in content knowledge or technique.

My lessons are almost always 90 minutes long, as I find this helps students get into a rhythm of learning and improves content retention. I use a structured but adaptable approach, tailoring each session to the student's progress. A typical lesson includes a brief recap of previous material, interactive problem-solving, and targeted exercises to reinforce key concepts. I also incorporate exam-style questions where relevant, ensuring students develop both knowledge and technique.

I believe in fostering an encouraging and supportive learning environment, helping students build confidence in their abilities. My teaching style is patient and student-centred, and I adjust explanations to suit individual learning styles. Whether working towards exams, strengthening general understanding, or tackling specific problem areas, I aim to make learning enjoyable and effective.

With my years of experience tutoring students from diverse backgrounds, I have developed strategies to simplify complex topics and make them accessible. Many of my students have significantly improved their grades and confidence, and I take pride in seeing their progress.

If you're looking for engaging and tailored tutoring, I'd be happy to help!

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