Hayes Entrance Exams Tutors and Hayes Entrance Exams Tuition

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am an experienced tutor. I have studied modern languages, art and design and I also have qualifications in law. I have had a varied career encompassing language teaching, translation, publishing and work in the charity sector. My wide interests and enquiring nature are invaluable assets in my teaching.

Teaching Experience:
English as a Foreign Language teaching experience in the UK and abroad, including for large schools and within companies, and private tuition 1-to-1. Adults and young learners.

Providing corporate training in Polish to groups of adult learners and also private tutoring to individuals.
I have been learning and translating Polish for 20 years, and I have lived and worked extensively in Poland. I have Polish family links.

Coaching for 11+ grammar school entrance exams. I have also provided general teaching support up to GCSE level in English and French to private students.

Tutoring Approach:
Friendly, encouraging and approachable, but thorough and focussed on successful learning. Very adaptable, and able to tailor lessons to suit individual learning styles, abilities and preferences.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I have a degree in Modern Languages from Oxford University and have also trained to teach English as a Foreign Language. Having done a variety of jobs over the years I currently work part-time as a private tutor of Italian, French and English as a Foreign Language. I also offer entrance exam preparation in literacy, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning for children seeking entrance to selective secondary schools.

Teaching Experience:
I have taught English as a Foreign Language abroad and, more recently, at Keele University for 2 years.
I have taught Italian both at FE college and privately. I now focus on private lessons, offering Italian, French and EFL. I have supported a large number of students through a range of exams including GCSEs and IELTS.
I am also an experienced 11+ tutor, tailoring tuition both to the individual needs of students and the requirements of a range of local selective schools, including St Joseph's, Newcastle High, Newport Grammar, Adams Grammar and Denstone.

Tutoring Approach:
I am a friendly and enthusiastic tutor who aims to create a warm and supportive environment for students.
I usually begin with a discussion about the student's needs and aims, and then, if appropriate, carry out a diagnostic test. Tuition is then tailored to each student's requirements.
I usually ask students to buy at least one coursebook (for the 11+ there may be several), and I also provide homework between sessions.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I currently work as a QA Engineering Lead at Globacap. Before this I received a Double First Class in Mathematics.

I am 33, fully CRB checked, and a member of STEMnet (Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics network), as well as being An associate member of the IMA (Institute of Mathematics and its Applications).

Teaching Experience:
I have been tutoring around the West Midlands for over 5 years, Manchester for 2 years, and currently due to COVID, I've been teaching online for another year. All parents / tutees who I have supplied private tutoring to are happy to recommend / provide references should you wish to seek clarification, on the quality of tutoring I am able to provide.

All students I have tutored have seen an increase in grades over the time I have worked with them, with an average improvement of 1 and a half grades!

I am happy to also offer a free first half session in order to gauge a students requirements, as sometimes parents aren't aware of this.

N.E.W Academy - Cover Supervisor and Academic Coach
Years 2009/10 and 2010/11

Self Employed - Private Tutor
2012 till present

Tutoring Approach:
I will provide materials, course guides, and encourage young students to be creative in their methods of tackling problems. I have lots of experience with working with students from the E/U borderline-category all the way up to A/A* candidates.

From the Ages of 14 onwards (Year 9+) I teach all subjects from scratch, with a view to proving why concepts exist and introduce topics from first principles. This I believe will improve retention, help pupils understand concepts better, and also allow them to remember test questions better - It really does work!

Where parents request extra work, I can provide monthly progress sheets, homework tasks, and an extensive list of past papers. Pupils are also encouraged to not just tackle past papers, but to try and understand how papers are conceived, helping them prepare for the unexpected, should it arise in their relevant exams.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am a passionate and hard working primary school teacher. I have been tutoring children of a range of ages and abilities for seven years. Examples include Year 4 English, Year 1 Phonics and English, Year 2 Maths, Year 6 Maths and English. I often tutor children in preparation for the 11 Plus exams and I currently have a 100% pass rate. I will adapt my teaching to meet your child's needs and I always strive to build up a child's confidence. I am patient, caring and enjoy helping children to learn, develop and achieve their goals.

Teaching Experience:
I have eight years teaching experience in primary schools and I have taught across the year groups from Reception to Year 6. I plan my lessons using objectives from the National Curriculum. I use visuals and hooks to engage children in the lesson. I then adapt the learning activity according to children's ability and needs. I ensure children have the opportunity to use their new knowledge and skills through challenge activities, where they will need to find a solution or answer to a challenging question independently. This builds children's confidence and problem-solving skills.

Tutoring Approach:
I will assess your child's needs and abilities in the first tutoring session. Going forward, I will use a range of teaching styles to support your child, including interactive lessons, focus activities, questioning and visual resources.

When I am tutoring a child for the 11 Plus, I will also use past test papers, which I will bring with me. I will also focus on areas that your child finds difficult and support him/her to complete activities in these areas.

Subjects

Personal Description:
🌟 SPACES NOW AVAILABLE FOR SUMMER/SEPTEMBER 2024 🌟 ONLINE SESSIONS ONLY

Hi there! 😄 My name is Shel and I'm a passionate English Tutor (UCL Graduate) with over 10 years of experience teaching English Language & Literature to a wide range of ages (GCSE, A-Level, University and Adult Learners) 🚀 I also teach English as a Foreign Language (TEFL / TESOL) and have taught abroad in Thailand.

I have in-depth knowledge of the UK National Curriculum and specialise in English Literature/Language (Additional subjects Media/Film Studies, History, Theatre). I also offer services in essay writing/proofreading, functional skills, 11+ exam practice, TEFL, and university applications.

🤔 Why Work With Me? 🤔

With me, you're not just getting a tutor, you're getting a mentor and a coach who will be dedicated to supporting you with your learning and helping you improve your confidence for success. I also make sure to tailor my lessons to your individual learning needs (SEN and Neurodiverse-friendly lessons).

I would love to be part of your academic journey and help you reach your goals as your English Tutor and Mentor! Don't hesitate to message me and I will get back to you as soon as possible.

I have a high pass-rate, and countless testimonials praising my engaging and tailored teaching style! I can offer a complimentary 30-min lesson so you can even see for yourself that you won't be disappointed! 🌟

Teaching Experience:
With over 10 years experience as a professional tutor, I am confident that I can help you or your child go from under-confident to thriving! Over the years, I have guided a number of struggling students to exceed their predicted grades; many of which went on to study at top universities.

I also have experience working with young people as a film & theatre workshop facilitator - creating engaging lesson plans is something I do best!

I Can Help You:

✅ Improve your Reading Comprehension Skills
✅ Master your Essay-Writing Fluency (incl. Dissertation Support and Proofreading Services)
✅ Strengthen your Creative Writing Skills
✅ Improve your Spelling, Punctuation, and Grammar
✅ SMASH those exams! (School/University Entrance Exams, GCSE, A-Level, University)

🤔 Why Learn with Me? 🤔

✅ Tailored to YOUR Individual Learning Style
️✅ Primary, Secondary, GCSE/IGCSE, A-Level, University
✅ AQA, Edexcel, OCR, Cambridge IGCSE, WJEC
✅ Flexible & Affordable Sessions
✅ SEN & Neurodiverse Friendly
✅ Very High Success/Pass rate - students have really gone from D grades to A* (see testimonials in my photos)
✅ An engaging and interactive teaching style

Tutoring Approach:
If you decide to work with me, you'll be getting more than just a tutor! I'm also a passionate Mindset Coach who loves to teach my students about the power of the brain and HOW to learn better. I believe that learning is a highly individual experience, and ensure to cater to my student's learning style. love to use visual stimuli and technology to aid learning but also value the more traditional tutoring approaches such as regular tests, setting homework tasks and detailed note-taking (I always tell my students that you are 40% more likely to achieve something if you write it down!)

🧠 About Your Lessons 🧠

🎓 Taught by a UCL Graduate with OVER 10 years of Experience
🖥️ 1 Hour Online Sessions via Google Meet
🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Individual or Group Sessions Available
🖼️ Interactive Lessons with Visual Learning Materials
🧠 Confidence & Mindset Coaching
📈 Progress Tracking


SET TEXTS:

POETRY ANTHOLOGY & UNSEEN POETRY (AQA, Edexcel, OCR Poetry, Cambridge Poetry Anthology)

SHAKESPEARE

Romeo & Juliet, Macbeth, Othello, A Midsummer Night's Dream, King Lear, Hamlet, As You Like It, The Tempest, The Winter's Tale, Twelfth Night, Much Ado About Nothing, Julius Caesar, The Merchant of Venice, Troilus and Cressida

LITERATURE

Of Mice and Men, Jekyll & Hyde, Great Expectations, Jane Eyre, Pride & Prejudice, A Christmas Carol, Frankenstein, Lord of the Flies, Animal Farm, An Inspector Calls, A View from the Bridge, Things Fall Apart, To Kill a Mockingbird, Blood Brothers, Silas Marner, Woman in Black, I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings, The Empress, Whale Rider,

AND MANY MORE!

______________________________________________________

Only Online Sessions are Available.

Flexible Monday to Sunday Availability.

Don't hesitate to contact me for more information!

Subjects

Personal Description:
Since 1995, I have been teaching mathematics. About 3 years ago I moved from London to Canterbury and have been teaching at Canterbury Steiner School as well as Canterbury FE College. I have many years experience delivering the Mathematics GCSE and A-level courses. I consider it an integral part of the course that the students develop their exam techniques during the course.

Teaching Experience:
I have about 20 years experience teaching GCSE annd A level mathematics. I also have several years experience teaching maths to primary school children.

Tutoring Approach:
To engage my students I always aim to create an inspiring, supportive and dynamic teaching environment. This motivates the students to enjoy the course and to feel confident enough to express themselves during the lesson.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am a fully qualified secondary teacher, with over 15 years experience in teaching, and tutoring, within school and online. I also have over 12 years experience as a GCSE and A level Science examiner. I am a very patient, supportive, friendly, encouraging, reliable and hard working teacher/tutor.

I have always had alot of success tutoring science and maths online, with all pupils gaining the grades they were predicted or in most cases even higher.

I also offer lessons during all the school holidays times.

Teaching Experience:
I am a fully qualified secondary school teacher specialising in Science and Maths. I have extensive teaching and tutoring experience, in schools and online, in both mainstream teaching and special educational needs teaching. I have successfully taught and tutored pupils for 11 plus and 13 plus entrance exams, as well as for GCSE's in both Maths and all three Sciences, as well as Combined Science, and for A level Biology and Chemistry.

I have also 12 years GCSE and A level Science examiner marking experience, which allows me to support and explain to pupils what examiners are looking for within exam question answers.

Tutoring Approach:
I have a detailed knowledge of all current syllabus for GCSE Sciences, Maths, (as well as Maths and Science IGCSE, Functional Skills, and BTEC), and all current A level Chemistry and Biology syllabus's. I use a combination of theory, exam practice questions, past paper questions, and workbooks in the lessons, to improve pupil confidence with exam technique, and focus on exam skills.

In addition, I adapt my teaching methods to support the pupils learning needs and help to identify areas of study in which they need help to improve. I also look at revision methods and planning revision timetables with pupils to help them find the option which works best for their learning needs.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am a specialist English tutor. I am an expert in this subject, and have successfully taught up to Undergraduate level. I also teach Science up to GCSE level.

- Over 8000 hours experience
- Mentoring and tutoring for the last 10 years.
- 100% achievement record. All my students reach (or exceed) their targets.
- Successfully mentored students to gain 11+ scholarships.
- Track record of helping to improve by two or more grades.
- Successfully tutored students in the new syllabus to achieve Level 9.
- I have a wide range of highly specialist resources.
- Experienced in assisting students with SEN, including dyslexia and ASD.
- I am currently studying at the prestigious Institute of Education, London.
- I apply the Growth Mindset to unlock student potential.
- I use the latest research in pedagogy and child psychology to plan and deliver my lessons.
- I am mentored by world-class English teachers and have been graded Ofsted 'Outstanding'.

I help students engage with texts, learn how to extract meaning and improve their written communication. I work with students who are struggling to connect with the subject or just need an extra boost to reach their target.

I assess a student's strengths and weaknesses and create a bespoke tuition plan. We then work together to tackle their weakest areas and enable them to reach their goal. I have curated a wide range of engaging resources, and utilise different mediums to add interest to my lessons.

I strictly work with only a handful of families at a time, so I am able to give you focused support. Please contact me for availability.

If you have any questions, please get in touch.

Teaching Experience:
Testimonials

"Bushra is a devoted focused person who teaches with passion and great depth of knowledge. She cares about my son and really wants him to do well and achieve his full potential."

"You have opened my eyes."

"You are the best English tutor we have ever had."

"The lessons are over so quickly, I really enjoy English now."


Top Student Achievements 2016/2017

Student studying new GCSE syllabus achieved the highest grade possible, Level 9.

11+ student secured scholarship for London School for Boys and Merchant Taylor School.

Undergraduate student, after mentoring and tutoring, went from 3rd to 2.1

A-level student achieved grade `A` in coursework assignment after a few months mentoring.

GCSE student went from grade `D` to a final grade of `B` within 3 months.

Tutoring Approach:
I assess students strengths and areas for developments. I then create a bespoke tuition plan.

All lessons are tailored and resourced. I have an extensive range of resources, including model answers and examiner's guidance.

I believe in building students confidence and appreciation for the subject and coaching them to apply their knowledge effectively.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am a highly experienced and well-qualified tutor helping students prepare for the 11 plus, private school exams and Mathematics Key Stage 2 SATs. Exam techniques is one of my specialist skills.

My 11+ tuition courses have been designed to prepare children for all aspects of the 11+ in Buckinghamshire Grammar Schools, South West Herts Schools, and QE Boys entrance exams. They are relevant for children preparing for independent school entrance.

Understanding my pupils and devising a personalised programme of study lies at the core of my teaching practice. I have very small class sizes, typically 3 to 5 children in each. This means your child will have valuable one to one attention when they need it.

I can offer `1 to 1` and `2 to 1` tuition, please get in touch to discuss your requirements.

Your child will benefit from a modern and well-equipped classroom for optimal learning.

The working environment is friendly and stress-free. Pupils will have opportunities to build confidence as they interact with each other and socialise the learning of harder topics.

Teaching Experience:
I have helped students gain offers from one or more of these schools:

- Watford Grammar School for Girls
- Watford Grammar School for Boys
- St. Clement Danes
- Parmiters
- Merchant Taylors` Boys School
- Queen Elizabeth`s School
- St. Helens (Northwood)
- Northwood College for Girls
- Dr Challoner's Grammar School
- Dr Challoner's High School
- Rickmansworth
- St. Paul's (Boys)

I would be happy to put you in touch with parents for references.

- up-to-date Enhanced DBS Certificate
- academic background in science. I hold a B.Sc (Hons) degree in Physics

Tutoring Approach:
My approach is problem-based and diagnostic. This means that the student is actively engaged in solving problems for almost the entire lesson whilst I am responding to their answers by asking questions which reveal any underlying misconceptions.

I work on the basis that student difficulties usually arise from an insufficiently rich understanding of 'easy' topics. By investing time to revisit some of these easier areas and studying them in a more thorough and enriching way, students can subsequently make rapid progress whilst gaining an appreciation and enjoyment of their studies.

My teaching style is calm and informal. Although class discipline is always maintained I strive to make learning a fun process.

As parents have come to realise, it's essential for children to be able to successfully apply what they have learnt under the potentially stressful conditions of an exam or test. Additional support via exam techniques helps children take advantage of the knowledge they possess and have recently acquired.


Assessment and progress reports

Based on your child's initial assessment, we create a plan that sets their individual targets for verbal, non-verbal and numeric reasoning. All lessons throughout the course are designed to develop these areas. Tuition plans can be revised to ensure they meet the current needs and challenges of the student.

You will always have the same point of contact for progress updates thereby ensuring continuity of your child's preparation for the 11+ exams. Coupled with high levels of contact time with the tutor feedback will be regularly provided.I would be happy to put you in touch with parents for references.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am happy to offer you English, French, Spanish and Russian lessons tailored to your needs.

I am a qualified teacher with 13 years` experience in Moscow, Paris and London.
I graduated from Moscow Pedagogical State University and Pushkin Institute. I hold a Master of Education (distinction). Additionally, I passed the CELTA in Paris and acquired a further DELTA qualification.

I am bilingual in English and Russian and fluent in French and Spanish, so I have always been a part of improving children's cognitive development and helped navigate three different worlds as a majority of my students have been more or less exposed to two or three cultures simultaneously.

I am a well-organised strong classroom performer who is able to effectively communicate with students from diverse backgrounds, varying degrees of ability and ages. Teaching groups and one to one teaching is equally rewarding. However, this is the latter one that gives you an amazing possibility to tailor the session towards the needs, level and capability of a student.

By using my enthusiasm felt by learners and readiness to experiment, I can maintain a positive climate where students can reach their full potential.
As an inspirational teacher with high personal standards, I am committed to the learning and development of my students. I have high expectations of both myself and my students, and show an interest in every student as an individual.

I feel that my greatest strengths are my ability to inspire love of languages in students, to motivate them in developing a lifelong enthusiasm for learning.


I work with students of different levels (Beginner, Elementary, Pre-intermediate, Intermediate, Upper-Intermediate, Advanced) and age groups (preschool children, schoolchildren, students, adults).

I also prepare students for Cambridge (Starters, Movers, Flyers, KET, PET, FCE, IELTS/TOEFL)
Oxford (SELT) exams,
TOEFL,
GESE (Trinity),
IELTS Academic, General training, Life skills
GCSE in French, Spanish and Russian,
TRKI in Russian.

Teaching Experience:
Welcome Language School - Moscow
ENGLISH & FRENCH TEACHER 2008-2010

PRIVATE ENGLISH, FRENCH, SPANISH & RUSSIAN TUTOR 2010 - present

Duties:
• Giving one-to-one tuition in English, French, Spanish and Russian and offering
personalised lessons, tailored to students' needs.
• Teaching Russian as a first and foreign language.
• Planning and teaching a high quality academic programme.
• Teaching different aspects of the language: vocabulary, phonetics,
grammar.
• Teaching students how to work with text as well as specifically reading,
writing, listening and speaking.
• Preparing handouts, presentations and other forms of material to help
students learn, remember and use vocabulary in speech correctly.
• Teaching grammar through conversation.
• Preparing students for examinations, such as GCSE in Russian, Spanish and French, TRKI in Russian, IELTS, TOEFL, GESE.

Lyceum "Arc-XXI" (private school) - Moscow
RUSSIAN & ENGLISH TEACHER 2010-2012
International English School (private school) - Moscow

ENGLISH & FRENCH TEACHER 2012-2016

Duties:
• Teaching Russian, English and French to mixed-level classes.
• Tailoring teaching methods to suit the needs of individual students.
• Teaching Listening, Writing, Speaking and Reading skills.
• Helping students to improve their conversational and vocabulary skills.
• Preparing and performing short plays during class-time.
• Preparing course material and creative handouts.
• Teaching with project-based learning.
• Marking students' work, giving appropriate feedback to students and
encouraging them to ask questions and express their difficulties.
• Arranging motivating homework for students.
• Devising and writing new curriculum materials.
• Taking schoolchildren on educational trips to London as a group leader.
• Organising school events for British Holidays.
• Jurying scientific conferences.
• Preparing students for examinations, such as SELT, Cambridge English:
Young Learners, KET,PET, FCE, IELTS, DELF/DALF, The Unified State
Exam (ЕГЭ, ОГЭ) and administrating examinations.
• Teaching students who have experienced difficulty with mainstream
education.

Frances King School of English - London
EFL TEACHER SUMMER TEENAGER PROGRAMME 2017, 2018

Regent London - London 2018

Speak Up London - London 2018 - present
EFL TEACHER

Duties:
• Planning and teaching a high quality academic programme.
• Providing students with an exciting and stimulating experience of
London, supervising students during activities in the afternoon.
• Teaching different age groups and making lessons as
alive and interesting as possible.

International House - London 2019 - present
RUSSIAN & FRENCH TEACHER

Duties:
• Teaching the languages to groups of adults.
• Arranging motivating and engaging activities for students.
• Teaching grammar through conversation.
• Teaching the languages through culture.
• Developing own syllabus.

Tutoring Approach:
I prefer teaching language through culture, teaching with project-based learning. The most important duties are those of
✓helping students to improve their conversational and vocabulary skills,
✓arranging interesting homework for students,
✓teaching grammar through conversation,
✓giving appropriate feedback
✓encouraging them to ask questions and to express their difficulties,
✓preparing students for external examinations,
✓keeping up to date with development in the world of teaching.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am a long-time teacher, lecturer, examiner and professional tutor with a patient and supportive approach.

I passed my PhD in English at the University of Leicester. I also hold a Masters with Distinction from Oxford Brookes University and a First Class undergraduate degree from Loughborough University.

Teaching Experience:
I have successfully taught at over ten schools, four major universities and tutored several hundred private students.

In addition to weekly supplementary tutoring, I also offer a homeschool tutoring programme and am happy to take full responsibility for the independent delivery of the curriculum.

I hold qualifications in educational psychology and in supporting adult dyslexia.

At home, I live in Oxfordshire with my wife Kate and two stepsons. I enjoy music festivals, running and long walks with our dog Maple.

Tutoring Approach:
My approach is friendly, gentle and supportive but extremely professional. I aim to combine creative and emotionally engaging teaching with expert subject knowledge.

At the heart of my tutoring is how important it is that a student believes in their own ability to learn and to progress. If there is one word I hear my students kindly use to describe my qualities it would be 'patience'. Yet I never feel like my patience is tested - I love the challenge of finding new, innovative ways to help them understand their subject.

Subjects

Personal Description:
Stop Struggling... Relieve Anxiety...Start Achieving...

I can help you improve your grades and increase your interest in the subject.

I am a full-time tutor. I have been tutoring since 1994, have got 25 years of tutoring experience. This adds to more than 60,000 hours of tutoring. A lot of my students are now also tutors!

I offer customized lessons, suitable for each student as per his or her needs.

I provide complete notes + question bank to practice more questions + a lot of past papers practice.

Teaching Experience:
I am a full-time tutor. I have been tutoring since 1994, have got 2 years of tutoring experience. This adds to more than 60,000 hours of tutoring. A lot of my students are now also tutors!

Following is the list of few of the schools/colleges and universities, whose students I have taught.

Harrow College
Cardiff Sixth form College
Hamptons School
Dulwich College
St Aloysius' School
Wetherby Senior School
Queen Elizabeth`s School
David Game College
St. Benedict's School
University College School
Westminster School
Aiglon College
Gems World Academy
Wellington International School
Raffles World Academy
Jumeirah College
London Business School
LSE
SOAS
Kings College
Queen Mary
University of Manchester
City Business School London
Middlesex University
University of Leeds
The University of Wollongong in Dubai
University of Toronto
University of British Columbia
UCL
The University of Leeds... and many more

Tutoring Approach:
I usually start with the current topics that student is studying in the school and explain to the student that topic and related background knowledge. As I teach one to one, my pace is faster than school and we usually finish the topic in one or sometimes two classes. And then we do previous topics and I explain doubts on those topics. I usually do not teach students that they already know, instead, start topic wise past papers of the topics students feel he or she knows well.

I explain to students how to write the answer to the questions asked,... not what they know... in a very concise and complete manner and relate the answers to the mark schemes of the past papers... and there is a lot of similar things that I explain...

Subjects

Personal Description:
I have a BA Hons (2.1) in English Literature, a PGCE in Primary Education, and a Masters (Distinction) in Creative Writing. I have a current DBS.

I have some availability during the week both after school and evenings. I am also able to tutor home educated children during the day.

I am also be available during the day for home-schooled children.

I can travel to you, or tutor in my home - you are welcome to sit in on the session, sit in my living room, or pop to the shops while I work with your child.

Teaching Experience:
I have over twenty years experience teaching children in primary schools, as well as experience delivering one to one tuition.

I have been tutoring for a number of years now, and really enjoy working one to one with children; I am able to offer exactly what each child needs to make sure they make progress and feel proud and confident in their learning. In some instances I have tutored the same child over several years. I have also begun by tutoring one child in a family, and then been asked to tutor siblings as well.

I am currently teaching part time which means I can keep in touch with changes in the primary curriculum.

Tutoring Approach:
I offer English and maths tuition for children in the Foundation Stage (4-5 years old), Key Stage One (5-7 years old) and Key Stage Two (7-11 years old).

There are lots of reasons parents may want their child to have one to one tuition. Perhaps your child needs a bit of extra help with a few key concepts, or is lacking confidence in a class situation, or is falling behind their peers. If your child is worried about the Year 6 SATs some extra tuition can make all the difference.I also offer 11 plus preparation.

I offer calm, patient and fun sessions, tailored to address your child`s individual needs. I use a range of techniques, with plenty of practical explanations to ensure your child grasps what they are learning. I have lots of experience working with young children, which means I understand the small steps each child needs to take to ensure their learning is embedded. I aim to make each child feel confident and proud of the progress they are making. Each session also includes ways you can support your child at home, as well as some short feedback so you know what we have been working on.

Contact me and we can discuss your child`s needs further.

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Personal Description:
I am an enthusiastic and responsible tutor with several years' experience in privately teaching English/creative writing/maths/reasoning for the 11+ entrance examinations. I am a conscientious, methodical teacher with a desire to help mentor and tutor children through the early academic years of their education. With confident personal, inter-personal and pupil-focused skills at all levels, I am keen to ensure my tutees receive the highest standard of teaching across every area of their curriculum. The 11+ student base is an area in which I am looking to further my experience and impart my knowledge.

Teaching Experience:
- Over thirteen years' experience in private tutoring, including 11+ Entrance exams and KS2/3
- Working as a teacher with The Southover Partnership school across various age groups: 7 to 17 for over 8 years.
- Subject range includes: maths, English, creative writing and verbal reasoning

Tutoring Approach:
- Tailored 1:1 teaching to promote the best results from each individual
- To cover and consolidate each topic thoroughly through a balance of teaching, examination and homework
- To teach with a reassuring and supportive approach

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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.'

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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:
Hi there,
My name is Kassam and I have completed my Masters and PhD at Aston University and now I work as a Development Chemist. Throughout my studies I had a passion for sharing my knowledge to others in various formats, such as, home tutoring students for 11+ entrance exams, online tutoring GCSE and A-level Maths and Chemistry, tutoring several modules for BEng Chemical Engineering and Chemistry at Aston University as well as lecturing modules over the years.
I cannot wait to meet some of you and share this passion that will encourage you to reach your potential and provide a strong foundation for further education and onward.

Teaching Experience:
Provide 10 years experience with the following age groups and subjects, with expertise in standardised test preparation:
11+ entrance exams
GCSE Maths and Chemistry
A-level Maths and Chemistry
BEng Chemical Engineering
BSc Chemistry

Tutoring Approach:
I have a modern tutoring setup that will provide Tutees with an authentic tutoring experience.
Accessible approach with proficiency in using Skype, Zoom or Teams for effective communication and visual aid.

Subjects

Personal Description:
Hi! I'm a friendly and enthusiastic tutor who would love to help you understand subjects better. I currently study Biomedical Science at the University of Oxford.
I received A*AA in my A-levels, with a 90 and 92 in maths paper 1 and 2. I also took 12 GCSEs, achieving eight 9s in total, including in Maths, triple sciences and English literature.

Teaching Experience:
I have tutored the 11+ for four years, and am familiar with all common exam boards (GL, CEM, CSSE). Last year, I tutored 3 students for the 11+ with weekly sessions starting from early June, and some more sessions towards the end. Two received offers from Ilford and Woodford county, their first choice grammar school, while the other passed the exam for other grammar schools in the borough.

For GCSE's, I have professional experience tutoring GCSEs and KS3 english, maths and science at an Ofsted-registered tuition centre. I strongly believe with the right support and revision methods, anyone can pass their key subjects, even go on to get grades 2/3 levels higher than their predicted if they revise strategically. I would love to share my tips and tricks for maths, English and the sciences that helped me and many others attain A*s/9s.

Tutoring Approach:
I love Maths and Biology and would love to help you understand them aswell. I will personalise my lessons for each student, taking tests to see where you are weak and then we can improve on those topics.

Subjects