New Tredegar Entrance Exams Tutors and New Tredegar Entrance Exams Tuition

Personal Description:
I am a retired fully qualified English teacher with a good English degree and postgraduate qualifications, along with many years of experience.

I realised long ago that it isn't easy for some students to reach their potential in large classes where perhaps a natural lack of confidence, shyness, peer pressure or even less-than-ideal behaviour from others in the classroom can work against even their best efforts. That's where a good tutor can be transformative. I began teaching later in life, after a successful marketing career in the pharmaceutical industry. This unusual background for a teacher has been of great benefit to my teaching, giving me confidence gained from experiences of travelling the world. The large number of 4 and 5* references on this and other tuition websites provide worthwhile evidence for this.

As well as tutor, I have also been a writer and editor for some major educational publishers including the BBC, C4 and EduSites, writing and editing many revision guides for GCSE and A-level, as well as having been the BBC Bitesize English teacher for some years, responding to students' queries. I even appeared on Greg James's Radio 1 show, answering students' revision emails and 'Tweets' as well as discussing with him his favourite book, Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird".

I have taught and tutored English Language and English Literature (and also Media and Film Studies) to all levels right through to university for many years now; I have also successfully tutored many primary (KS2) students, helping them with their SATs and 11+ entrance exams. As well as enjoying literature, I am rather unusual in specialising in linguistics and grammar, and many of my A-level English Language teaching materials are used nationally. Before I retired from the classroom, I taught for many years at the county's leading comprehensive school, The Beauchamp College in Oadby, where year-on-year my classes achieved amongst the highest results in the school, and therefore amongst the highest in the county.

My business background helped me develop a confident-seeming personality, but I still remain a rather shy person underneath. It is this natural sensitivity, allied to unusually open and straightforward nature, that allows me to build confidence in students very quickly and very effectively. Schools can struggle to help quiet students but this is an area in which I can fairly say I excel.

Teaching Experience:
I taught at the leading school in the area, the Beauchamp College in Oadby, Leicester; whilst there I regularly achieved among the top pass rates in the department. I have written educational materials for national publishers and was, for several years, the BBC Bitesize English teacher, having appeared in that role on national radio (Radio 1); many of my teaching materials are used by teachers and students across the country. I also run my own English GCSE and A-level revision website called Englishbiz.

Tutoring Approach:
I take a no-nonsense and straightforward approach to my teaching - one that provides excellent value for money and exam results. Lessons and homework are supported with the highest quality teaching and learning materials many of which I write myself. My personal approach is to treat youngsters as equals, something they tell me is rare in teaching and which boosts their self-confidence greatly.

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Personal Description:
Hello there,

Thanks for taking a look.

I have been a tutor for over 15 years. Along the way, I have learnt a lot about the role and how significant it can be. For some students, I am a mentor for their whole educational experience whilst others see me as a specialist in one area.

Alongside tutoring, I am a professional actor (hence the posey photo!) and have recently worked at the National Theatre and onscreen. Acting has deepened my ability to connect with others on a personal level, fostering empathy and understanding - qualities that I bring directly into my tutoring. I believe this helps me create a supportive, engaging, and personalised learning experience for every student.

I specialise in tutoring English Language & Literature, Drama, Maths, 11+ Common Entrance exams, and general Primary school support. Beyond traditional subjects, I also work as a Communications Coach, where I've helped over a hundred clients improve their Public Speaking, Interview Techniques, and Accent Clarity.

Choosing the right tutor can be challenging, and I'm more than happy to answer any questions you may have. I look forward to helping you or your child thrive!

Nick

Teaching Experience:
I have been tutoring for over 15 years. This has included lots of online tuition as well as face-to-face. Here is a small selection of my clients:

IB English - I worked with Pietro online for over 7 years and saw him through his IB, in which he achieved grade 7 (highest grade).

A Level English Literature (AQA) - worked with Oliver (17) helping with coursework on The Great Gatsby and the poetry of Keats and Larkin. Oliver achieved an A grade.

AS Level Drama (AQA) - helped Yasmin to explore the analysis of texts of Lady Windermere's Fan and A View From The Bridge in preparation for exams, in which she achieved an A.

iGCSE English Literature / Language - I have been working online with Pietro (based in Rome). We have been working on both his school work as well as his wider approach to learning and English.

GCSE English Literature / Language - I worked with Joseph during his final year of GCSEs. Texts included Macbeth, Love & Relationships (Poetry), Jekyll and Hyde and An Inspector Calls.

11+ - I tutored Amaara through her 11+ exams on all papers (English, Maths, Verbal and Non-verbal Reasoning). Amaara gained entrance (including some academic scholarships) to City of London School for Girls, Putney High, Francis Holland and JAGS.

11+ - I worked with Olivia in preparation for her Common Entrance exams on all papers (English, Maths, Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning) as well as interview practice. Olivia is now attending North London Collegiate School (her first choice) but I also prepared her for entrance to Highgate School for Girls, City of London School for Girls and Queen's College.

Primary Help - Worked with brothers Teddy (7) and Alfie (10) mainly on English and Maths but across all subjects generally to improve knowledge, confidence, spelling and vocabulary.

7+ I worked with Inigo on in preparation for his 7+ exams in Maths and English. Inigo is now attending Dulwich College.

7+ Currently working with Ari (5) towards his 7+ exams.

English for Foreign Learners - Helped 8 year old Augustinos (Greek) with reading and homework to improve English, as well as taking him on educational trips around London.

Voice and Elocution - Helped Law Student Amar (20) with speechmaking and projection for use in debating.

SEN - worked with Dean (20), a law student with dyslexia, upon exam preparation and practice.

Communications Coaching - I am a trained communications coach and have worked with over 100 clients one-on-one from Public Speaking, Interview Technique, Accent Clarity and Communication Techniques.

Tutoring Approach:
I believe that the key to effective tutoring is strong communication. My approach is entirely student-focused: together, we'll figure out the most productive way to work and make the most of our time. While I always come prepared with a plan, I'm flexible and responsive - if something comes up, we can address it right away.

Above all, I aim to make our sessions enjoyable and something to look forward to. I ensure that lessons are practical and engaging. Even if we're tackling a subject you find daunting, I welcome the challenge of helping you discover a way to enjoy it.

If you have any questions or specific requests, please don't hesitate to reach out. I'm here to help!

I am happy to give a 10% discount to online tuition.

Subjects

Personal Description:
Friendly private tuition available from highly experienced PhD qualified, DBS certified tutor and examiner from the award winning top 3 private tutors in Oxford
Maths, further maths, science, engineering, statistics, computer, Economics, Business studies
Essay/thesis structuring and editing
FACE-to-FACE/ ONLINE tuition

For GCSE, igcse, A-levels, IB, HND, diploma, University and adult learners

Common entrance exams- GMAT, GRE, SAT, STEP, GAMSAT, UKCAT, BMAT,
psychometric test, interview preparation

Teaching Experience:
I have been teaching for more than ten years.

Do not provide academic essay writing services or services that allow people to hire others to take standardized tests for them.
Is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all to share this commitment.
Supports Pratham UK, a charity organization for children, which works to help make a difference through educating children.

Tutoring Approach:
I am very friendly and patient.

Service offered
Special attention to students with learning difficulties i.e. dyslexia
After school support/ homework help
Help in UCAS application
Entrance/ mock exam preparation
Interview preparation
Thesis writing and structuring
School/ University/ Course selection
Motivating students to be more focused and organised
Unique strategy for individual student based on their ability and requirments
Ready to travel to students place

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Personal Description:
Hello, and thank you so much for reading my tutoring profile. For busy parents, school leaders and occasional journalists, this opening section offers a quick summary of my professional highlights, with more details below if you'd like to know more. It would be lovely to hear from you :)

MY CAREER HIGHLIGHTS SO FAR

⦿ Award-winning teacher at my first school (Departmental Award for "Commitment to Cascading Teaching Excellence")

⦿ 20 years'+ experience in the UK's toughest Secondary and Further Education classrooms

⦿ Head of Department; Examiner Experience (Various Exam Boards); GCSE Resit Programme Manager; Advanced Teaching Practitioner; NEA Internal Verifier; Lead for Development of Departmental Higher Education Provision; Lead for Departmental UCAS Applications; Behaviour Management Coach; Learning Mentor for "Gifted and Talented" Programme; Teacher Training Mentor liaising with Ofsted

⦿ BA (Hons), MRes (Dist) and PGCE trained, with Qualified Teacher and Lecturer Status

⦿ Prize-winning postgraduate at University of Warwick for ground-breaking research that made: "a genuine contribution to the discipline of International Relations"

⦿ A leading tutor in the online space, with over 37,000+ tutor sessions delivered across 42 countries (including delivering education to children in Ukrainian and Sudanese warzones via Elon Musk's Starlink)

⦿ Expert in 7/11+ Entrance Exams/GCSE/A Level/Degree/Postgraduate/UCAS Applications/Academic Mentoring/Career Planning/Property Investment Masterclasses

⦿ Subject specialisms of English, Maths, Biology, History, International Relations and Entrance Exams

⦿ Proud to be rated 5 stars on leading review and social media platforms

⦿ Global educational consultant sought out for occasional media appearances (Radio 4, BBC)

⦿ A successful property entrepreneur and mentor to entrants into the industry, with a former property company managing £54 million of real estate nationally, developments totalling £16 million+ and fortunate enough to have built a personal portfolio of circa £3.1 million thus far

⦿ Currently researching my first educational book for sale via Amazon, exploring how to engage disenchanted learners

⦿ In my (few!) spare moments, I enjoy raising our two daughters with my wife, travelling in Tuscany, hiking in the Malvern Hills, and supporting Manchester United

⦿ As my record hopefully shows, I am a renowned tutor, with an outstanding track record of success both in the classroom, as well as in the property world

⦿ If you're looking to work with one of the leading global tutors in the industry with a proven track-record of commercial success too, then feel free to get in touch, and I'll always do my best to help

Please read on, if you'd like to know a little more about my educational and professional journey.

►► MY STORY ◄◄

I am currently a grade-one "outstanding" teacher in my present school, and have been delivering KS3, GCSE and A Level English, Maths and History in the secondary and sixth-form sectors for the past 16 years, in which time my results have far surpassed national pass rates. Moreover, due to these outstanding results and innovative teaching methods, I have served as Assistant Head of Department; helping us to be awarded an internal grade 1 "outstanding" rating for the 6 years in which I held the post. Furthermore, I also have extensive experience as an "Advanced Practitioner"-tasked with turning around failing cohorts in some of the UK's toughest classrooms, as well as my time as an examiner for a variety of GCSE/A Level exam boards.

Moreover, due to this long history of being a stand-out professional in the education sector, my advice has been sought out for occasional media and radio appearances for discussions on educational policy, whilst also being head-hunted to tutor the children of prominent public figures including Premiership footballers, Olympic athletes, luminaries of the business world, and even the family of a Nobel Prize winner for a month-which was awesome!

Furthermore, in also being an accomplished property developer with my own UK real-estate portfolio and honorary co-founder of a former property company alongside my partner, I have acted as a business mentor to Year 11 students on entrepreneurship, and how to begin their own journey in property investment, which has seen me guide some of the UK's brightest new generation of business leaders.

In my remaining spare time, I am currently engaged in the pre-reading for the start of my future PHD in International Relations, during which I will be studying the geopolitics of any superpower conflict over Taiwan. Furthermore, I enjoy travelling extensively in our second home of Tuscany with my young family, supporting Manchester United, playing the drums, and playing the PlayStation (although not as much as I used to, these days!)

As my full and varied career has hopefully shown, I have a passion for English, maths, history, and the 11+ exams, taking great pride in providing the best academic and pastoral support I can, whilst hopefully being an outstanding role-model for all of my students, as I help them forge their way in the world.

►► QUALIFICATIONS ◄◄

PHD (Start Pending) in International Relations at London School of Economics-will analyse the geostrategic relationship between the USA and China in an era of rising multipolarity.

--MRes (Distinction) in International Security from University of Warwick-won academic award for writing an "outstanding and genuinely original dissertation" that represented: "an important contribution to existing literature in the field of International Security".

--PGCE (Distinction) in Secondary Education-ranked in the top 2 trainee teachers in my year's cohort, with outstanding feedback in academic and practical assessments

--BA (Hons) in English/History from University of Birmingham-received special award for achieving academic excellence despite coming from the bottom 5% of UK families in terms of socioeconomic poverty

--A Levels (A* in all subjects taken): prize winning student in my sixth form for most inspirational pupil, and was in the top 2% of the UK for my academic results, including 100% in key modules

Teaching Experience:
I have a broad range of experience turning around struggling students in some of the UK's toughest classrooms, as well as challenging high achieving learners in the pursuit of academic excellence. In my teaching and tutoring career thus far, I have taught across the curriculum age-ranges (7-18 years), as well as undergraduate and postgraduate level students, and specialise in teaching troubled learners lacking confidence, whilst pushing very bright pupils.

Since I began teaching at my institution, English pass-rates received a 25% upwards leap in the opening two years and my tutoring pass grades in my subjects of English, maths and history have been outstanding, so that the vast majority of my classes/tutees are now passing with strong academic grades, and attaining entry to prestigious preparatory schools and/or universities. During last academic year, my tutees enjoyed superb results in English, Maths, History and the 11+, with 96% reaching their target minimum grade, and 68% exceeding this mark, entering prestigious institutions such as the University of Durham, University of Heidelburg and Bromsgrove School, as well as world-class employers such as Rolls Royce. Therefore, over my career as a "super-tutor" so far, I am proud to have delivered over 37,000 lessons across 1000 students within 41 countries, from the UK to Hong Kong.

I also have considerable mentoring expertise, in having built my own UK property portfolio currently valued at £2.75 million from scratch, I have mentored many adult and teenage entrants into property investing, guiding their purchases and renovations to the overall value of £14 million, and counting. In addition to this, I have also been an informal mentor to UK gang members, tasked with persuading them to their back on lives of criminality, and embrace the transformative potential of education, which has been among the most rewarding roles of my career thus far.

►► PARENT FEEDBACK ◄◄

--"Jonathan is fantastic and my 15 years old have a big turn round about his
view of education. Now he can't wait for his lesson!"

--"I could not have wished for a better tutor for my son! I cannot praise Jon's
enthusiasm for his subject, motivational skills and professionalism enough."

--"The biggest testimonial comes from my son, who now looks forward to and
enjoys his weekly visit! praise indeed from a teenager!"

--"I have nothing but praise for Jonathan."

--"George is totally happy to see him which is a miracle at 3pm on a Saturday!"

--"Jon is a fantastic teacher best tutor I have ever had."

--"AMAZINGLY helpful, nice and very cooperative."

--"Thanks soooo much Jon, Ashleigh passed, she won't be doing retakes and is
feeling incredibly relieved."

--"We feel lucky to book a place with him early on as he seemed to be full
booked before December."

--"Never passed an English test before in my whole life then came to Jonathan
with very little time for my first GCSE exam and managed to get an A for
English literature and a B for creative writing. 10/10."

--"Jon has a unique ability to get students onboard in a short amount of time.
He is quick to establish a rapport, building on trust and confidence which
makes an ideal platform for focused learning".

--"He is heavily in demand which speaks volumes in terms of his reputation and
is super knowledgeable and prepared for all elements of the syllabus."

--"He went from a predicted a 4/5 to an 8 !!! We were extremely pleased and
put this down to Jons ability."

--"I wish we had found him earlier! We highly recommend him!"

--"He is helpful and gifted at tutoring kids so they understand exactly what they
need to change or improve on. We will be using Jon for all of our children."

Tutoring Approach:
Besides enjoying superb results, my pupils benefit from a relaxed yet challenging atmosphere, with high commitment being expected of them, and this is demonstrated in both their personal and academic growth, which is among the most rewarding aspects of tutoring for me. I'm very friendly with a great sense of humour (so I've been told!), and I use this to make the learning as enjoyable as I can, whilst strengthening self-esteem and exciting the minds of my students. Through this, it is more than tutoring to me, seeing our time together as equipping them with the vital skills they need to excel in later life.

In terms of lesson delivery, I always strive to be on the cutting-edge of education in use of educational technology, teaching resources and methods. Therefore, my approach to tutoring currently makes use of the techniques of "blended learning", and utilises the following:

⦿ Industry-standard video-conferencing and modern presentational packages such as Miro-used by global brands like Coca Cola and Nike to power collaborative learning

⦿ Powerful virtual learning environments, resourced by well-known educational companies such as Twinkl and Century Tech, to help every one of my learners maximise their potential.

⦿ Judicious use of AI powered apps and programmes, to help explore key educational concepts, mark schemes and model answers

⦿ Fully personalised lessons, tailored to topics, skills and levels being explored by the learner at school

⦿ Interlocking homework provided, to consolidate key concepts and themes explored within each lesson

⦿ Innovative approach to learning, from using computer games as inspirational stimulus for creative writing (which have been used as national exemplars by UK exam boards), to debating contemporary issues affecting all young people for speaking and listening tasks, such as: "How Will AI Change Humanity?"

⦿ A friendly and engaging approach to learning, seeking to make it fun, yet intellectually rigorous at all time

Thus, with 20 years+ experience now in the UK's most challenging classrooms, this has constantly honed my approach to teaching and tutoring, creatively using ed-tech to ensure no learner is left behind, as we cover the curriculum in an accessible and enjoyable way.

Needless to say, I am a passionate advocate of the transformational value of education, which is a joy, never a chore. In having been lucky enough to build a property brand and investment portfolio, I now tutor primarily for the sheer enjoyment of helping develop the next generation of learners. Education enabled me to escape a childhood of abject poverty, and with this in mind, I always do my best to ensure I give each and every one of my students the best start in life I can.

If you're looking to work with one of the leading tutors in the industry with a proven track-record of academic and commercial success, then I'm happy to help.

Thank you ever so much for reading :)

*Enhanced DBS certified

**Please kindly note: proposed rate will be dependent on level of study, length of tutoring period and demand.

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Personal Description:
I have lived and worked in Plymouth since I finished me degree in 2001. I started as a full time private tutor in 2009 and have been tutoring ever since. I absolutely love this work and am extremely enthusiastic about helping others enjoy and succeed at learning.

I am married and am a mum of two young boys. My hobbies include sports, walking, art, reading, writing and volunteer work with my church.

I am currently away on further training so can no longer do my usual face-to-face lessons, but I am looking at building up my online students.

Teaching Experience:
I have over a decade of experience of helping children, teenagers and adults with their maths and English learning. Whether it is to salvage a struggling student, to catch-up, to succeed in an exam or to excel beyond their current level, I am passionate about helping and unlocking a student's ability to understand and to enable them to enjoy learning.

I hold a BSc degree, 3 A-levels (grade B, including maths), 9 GCSEs (7 As - 2 Bs) and am a graduate of Study Technology. I have been tutoring since 2009 and specialise in the 11+.

Tutoring Approach:
My teaching style is to tailor all lessons and communication entirely to each student, as each student is unique in the barriers they encounter, and in their level of understanding of the subject. I direct the lessons at a pace, and with content, that the student can comfortably handle and make progress with. I also aim to ensure learning remains light and not too serious: I am friendly and ensure that my students are at ease in lessons so that they feel free to ask questions or to say if they don't understand something.

I aim to always make the lessons visual and interactive and set homework to reinforce what we cover in our lessons. I can post worksheets for the lesson/homework if needed.

I am happy to answer any questions you might have and I look forward to hearing from you.

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Personal Description:
I am an Arabic linguistics PhD student at the Language and Linguistic Science Department of the University of York, UK. I hold a BA in English literature and linguistics as well as an MA in translation studies. My study makes me familiar with written Arabic and spoken Arabic in its different forms (dialects). This is why I am quite familiar with Egyptian, Syrian, Lebanese, Gulf and Sudanese Arabic. In addition, I am also a CELTA-trained teacher and an Assistant Fellow of the Higher Education Academy in the UK.

Teaching Experience:
I have taught English as a foreign language for 10 years at Minia University, Egypt. I also taught Arabic to adults as well as young people for 5 years in England. I teach face to face and online.

Tutoring Approach:
My teaching depends on immersing you in enjoyable daily-life situations so that you can easily imitate and, after not too much effort, read, write and speak Arabic/English like a native speaker. Culture cannot be separated from language. So, I also immerse you in the main cultural aspects of Arabic/English-speaking countries in general and offer a brief background to language as reflected in culture. Also, I try to compare Arabic and English (as a language) and the culture represented by it with other languages, including French and German (languages that I am familiar with).

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Personal Description:
My name is Ed. I am the Director of a private tuition company which has been providing impactful private teaching and tutoring services in a multitude of subjects across Common Entrance, GCSE, A-Level, IB and University.

We take pride in helping students to expand their minds, talents and skills, allowing them to reach their full potential. Our one-on-one tutoring brings a wealth of professional experience and expertise to those who strive to excel.

We offer personalised academic support, available in-person and online, to help students improve areas of difficulty and focus on exam techniques and preparation, helping them to succeed in attaining qualifications to their highest ability.

Please reach out and contact for further enquiries, look forward to hearing from you.

Teaching Experience:
Director, leading a team of tutors to support across a wide range of students including Common Entrance, GCSE, A-level, IB and University level - Present

Tutored a variety of subjects at different levels from primary schools, Common Entrance, GCSE, A-level, IB and University.

Offered service on giving academic advice as well as interview techniques for Oxford, Cambridge and other top schools and universities in the UK, US, Europe and Asia.

Tutoring Approach:
The approach is simple and effective. The general framework is to go through general concepts that are fundamental to student's understanding on the subject through the use of simple examples. I will then reinforce the message and encourage students to work on more specific and challenging problems.

Confidence is key and it is vital that my tutees are constantly motivated and encouraged in order to self-develop both at an academic and personal level.

We strive to make lessons as interactive as possible. We understand the different learning needs of different students. We will always be flexible with our teaching style and method and we are here to help you succeed.

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Personal Description:
I have master in Pharmacy from Kent University Greenwich and currently studying Medicine.
I provide excellent online tuition. I use a special program to present you with a whiteboard so I am able to incorporate diagrams and animation in my tuition. You can have a free trial to find out about the quality of my tuition.

Teaching Experience:
I have been teaching for the past 10 years teaching nurses, medical students, pharmacy students at all levels.

Tutoring Approach:
Online tuition
I use diagrams and animation in most of my lessons.

Subjects

Personal Description:
Over 15 years experience as a tutor of Economics and Maths

Working as a cover teacher of Maths

LSE graduate, BSc Government and Economics

Currently undertaking MSc Applied Econometrics

Teaching Experience:
Over 15 years experience as a tutor of Economics and Maths

Working as a cover teacher of Maths

LSE graduate, BSc Government and Economics

Currently undertaking MSc Applied Econometrics

Tutoring Approach:
1-1 or small groups, online and in-person.

I have studied Economics myself right the way through GCSE, A-Level, Undergraduate and Masters levels, and so I will know your material inside-out, and I explain it clearly and intelligibly to all students. I have taught AQA, Edexcel, Eduqas, and OCR syllabuses.

I'm also an adept tutor of Maths and work daytimes as a Maths cover supervisor.

Get in touch to discuss your study and whether I can help!

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 tutor all subjects. My specialisms are maths and the 11+ entrance exams (maths, English, verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning, interviews).

I have a First Class Masters of Engineering from Newcastle University and a PGCE (the teacher training qualification) from the University of Oxford in Mathematics.

I charge £50 an hour for one-on-one online lessons.

Teaching Experience:
I have been teaching for a year in Oxford secondary schools and taking private students online.
I have been tutoring since 2012 in London and Newcastle alongside my jobs and studies. I specialise in getting children into top private schools or to get scholarships and I teach the ages of 6-16, or adults looking to increase their maths skills for specific purposes e.g. GCSE maths.
I have experience teaching English abroad at Bukit Lawang Educational centre in Indonesia. I taught multiple classes every day, including Kindergarten, child, teenage, and adult classes.
I`ve delivered English lessons to a community in Nicaragua. I am TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) qualified.

Tutoring Approach:
Try to make it as specific as possible so that you get best value for money. With children I make the lessons as meaningfully engaging as possible. All activities I do are very thought-out to cater to each clients needs.

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Personal Description:
I am an enthusiastic qualified teacher with extensive classroom and private tutoring experience. I am currently not working in school full time as I am undertaking my Masters in Education at Reading University as well as caring for live my little boy, I am willing to teach online, travel to your home or a nearby suitable study space.

Teaching Experience:
I love teaching and believe that all children can excel. I have been teaching for over 15 years with a large proportion of my experience in years 5 and 6. I have been a SATs marker for over 10 years now so definitely know how to get the best out of children in preparation for success not only in their SATs but also secondary school. I work regularly with children who want to participate in the 11+ entrance exams and have experience in most Berkshire schools' entrance requirements.

Tutoring Approach:
My pupils often describe me as 'firm but fair' with lessons that are fun. I believe children are most productive when they are enjoying themselves whilst being challenged. Any child can learn if they are taught in a way that is engaging to them and ensures that their strengths and weaknesses are identified. With this in mind, I aim to make learning relevant to them and break everything down into manageable chunks. I believe that children should be in charge of their own learning and will therefore always ensure that their views are taken into consideration when teaching. I love helping children to learn and relish the challenge of helping them to meet their potential.

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Personal Description:
I`m an experienced, friendly, and professional tutor specializing in Entrance Exams, 11+, GCSE, and A-Level English and Maths, verified with an Enhanced DBS.

Proven Success:
My 11+ coaching consistently leads to offers from prestigious schools like Eton College, Wellington College, Reading Boys, Kendrick, Abingdon School, Magdalen College School, Reading Blue Coat School, Reddam House, and more. Covering all four skills and creative writing, I emphasize reasoning, boost confidence, and teach effective time management.

Academic Excellence:
In GCSE and A-Level education, my students secure exceptional grades and university placements. I nurture insightful reading and analysis in English and ensure comprehensive math understanding. Additionally, I assist them in developing effective revision techniques, test preparation strategies, and time management skills.

Your Child`s Progress:
Parental satisfaction and student progress are evident in their recommendations and feedback. With over 20 years of teaching experience, I provide personalized support, individualized lessons, and a friendly teaching style that fosters brain development and self-confidence.

Comprehensive Resources:
I maintain a vast archive of materials and standardized tests, allowing me to tailor teaching and facilitate effective progress assessment.

Trust and Success:
I take immense pride in the trust that families have consistently placed in my tutoring services. Over the years, this trust has enabled me to build a strong record of success. But don`t just take my word for it-scroll down to explore the feedback from other parents who have experienced the transformative impact of my teaching. Their testimonials provide valuable insights into the enriching journey your child can embark on with confidence in my guidance.

I offer both online and in-person lessons.

Teaching Experience:
With over 20 years of teaching and 10 years of tutoring expertise, I have a proven track record of helping students thrive. My approach instills confidence and yields consistent academic success.

Parents often express heartfelt appreciation for the progress and growth their children achieve under my guidance. I would be happy to share this glowing parent feedback with you.

It is my privilege to understand each student's needs and create customized plans to support their mastery and achievement. I build strong partnerships with students and parents to pave the way for growth, both in academics and life.

Please feel free to inquire about my background, approach and success stories. I look forward to potentially collaborating with you. Also: kindly be aware that the mentioned fees do not encompass charges associated with home visits.

Tutoring Approach:
• Provide personalized tutoring and coaching to Year 2-5 students preparing for 11+ exams and independent school entrance assessments.
• Boost confidence in areas where students feel unsure or need extra support.
• Build classroom readiness, study skills, and higher SATs achievement to gain placement in top maths, English, and science sets.
• Make learning engaging and enjoyable while developing lasting strategies for independent success.
• Offer tailored 1:1 attention to fill in gaps and complement mainstream schooling.
•Partner with parents to establish efficient home learning routines that set students up for achievement.
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••••• Feedback ••••• (a few of the 45 feedback I have received since 2014):

06/01/2023
5/5 Rating
Ben is an amazing tutor! Very professional, always finds a proper attitude to overcome challenges with tasks! I am amazed how much my son changed since we started working with Ben! Not only he motivated and supported my son throughout all this time, but also helped to overcome his personal resistance to working hard! We are very lucky to have an opportunity to work with Ben and grateful for all his support!

21/01/2022
5/5 Rating
Ben is very understanding teacher who not teach well but also understand child strong and weak points and then accordingly help them to improve and excel. I would highly recommend Ben.

08/09/2021
5/5 Rating
Ben has been tutoring my son for the last few months and has made great progress with him. He is friendly and builds a rapport quickly with both child and parents, so that he can understand what tutoring is required and where more work needs to be done. I would highly recommend Ben as a tutor.

10/07/2021
5/5 Rating
Ben has been tutoring my son for a few weeks now and I happy with the progress my son has made under Bens direction in preparation for his exams. Ben has been quite flexible in providing extra lessons as well and I wouldn`t hesitate to recommend him as a tutor.

09/06/2021
5/5 Rating
Ben is a fantastic teacher, very experienced and engaging. I like the openness in communication and idea sharing that benefits both the student and tutor. My daughter is honing the benefit on both techniques and discipline from Ben.

01/08/2020
5/5 Rating
We are very glad we found Ben . In a short period of time , Ben made a good assessment on my daughter`s status and have devised a plan suitable for her and started classes with her . With in few classes we have seen good progress in her.Ben is very patient with kids and teach them as per individual needs .My daughter totally enjoys his class .I would highly recommend Ben
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05/11/2019
5/5 Rating
Ben has been working with my boys for past 4 months now and I couldn`t happier with my choice. My boys are really happy to be tutored by Ben. They feel that their confidence has increased and look forward to working with him. As parents we feel Ben knows child`s ability and aptitude like the back of his hand. When Ben started working with my boys I was really happy with his systematic approach towards the subject depending on the ability of the kids. It is not one size fits all approach but it is customized. Though being twins they are different and Ben has identified this and understood their uniqueness from the first session. He is a firm, fair as well as fun teacher and the kids seem to like this mixed quality. I couldn't ask for more in a teacher and look forward to working with them. Thanks Ben.
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01/12/2018
5/5 Rating
Ben has taught my son for Eleven plus since September and I can see my kid doing his daily homework himself without expecting our help. We can see the way of reading has changed and now he looks for new words and try to find the meaning.

Most importantly, Ben develops the wrap over the kid and takes control of reading and writing completely, leaving us in the back seat to see he completes the daily homework. This is great, as we don`t want to study class 4,5 again or teach a different method than thought in school.

Individual approach, great advice, positive attitude.
Always on time, ready to help, very easy going, intelligent and kind. Thanks so much!
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14/09/2017
5/5 Rating
We have been impressed with Ben`s knowledge, experience and commitment. He is reliable and always turns up on time. Ben started tutoring our daughter only 4 months before the 11+ and he quickly identified her needs and developed a programme for her to follow and appropriate workbooks. Regardless of the outcome of the 11+, he has already helped our daughter feel more confident at school and set her up well for Year 6 and secondary school. Thanks Ben!
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17/10/2016
5/5 Rating
I was able to see tremendous improvement in my daughter for 11+ exam. He knows the tricks to get the best out of the student. My daughter did enjoy the sessions with him and as a teacher, he is really good. So I will definitely recommend.
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13/09/2016
5/5 Rating
Ben has excellent teaching skills and my daughter significantly improved in class from lower to top groups. I`ve seen him working really hard with my daughter while preparing her for 11+ and he knows the tricks to make the pupil understand the exam technique and how to improve academically. He teaches in a very systematic way and the child really enjoys while studying with him. He soon developed good rapport with us and I would say he`s definitely a recommended one!

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.

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Personal Description:
I am a passionate, hardworking, skilled, and outstanding teacher. I am fully qualified and experienced Primary School teacher specialising in all primary phase subjects. I am extremely professional, energetic, and up to date with the demands of the current Primary Curriculum and the requirements for Early Years Foundation Stage, Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2, preparation for SATs, SEN and learning support.

Teaching Experience:
Throughout my 15-year teaching career, I have gained extensive skills in teaching and working directly with children within the Primary Phase (4-11 years). I have an excellent proven track record of students achieving way above what they may have been predicted.

I have considerable experience in helping students who are on the SEND register and most recently I have worked as an Acting SENCO. This involved devising, delivering and monitoring the curriculum for students with moderate and severe learning difficulties as well as those with highly complex needs. I have recently attained the SENCO award qualification from Edge Hill University.

Tutoring Approach:
I am extremely positive, calm, and nurturing. I believe that every child can reach their goals in learning and I will help them to realise their true potential, improving academic performance and developing self-esteem to build a successful future.

After an initial assessment, I will create a personalised learning journey plan and I will ensure that I use motivational interests and strengths to work on areas of new learning and any misconceptions.

I aim to do much more than just increase grades, however I am to inspire, increase confidence and show that learning is something that everyone can do.

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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:
I am currently a Senior Research Associate at Manchester Metropolitan University, where I engage in cutting-edge research and innovation in Mechanical Engineering. My academic journey is marked by significant achievements, including completing a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Loughborough University in 2020 and an Erasmus Mundus Master's degree from KU Leuven (Belgium), Universidade do Minho (Portugal), and the University of Ljubljana (Slovenia). I also hold a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from UET Lahore, Pakistan.

My extensive experience in both academia and industry has equipped me with a deep understanding of the subject, allowing me to bridge theory with practical applications effectively. I am passionate about fostering a stimulating learning environment, guiding students through complex concepts, and helping them achieve academic excellence.

I am eager to share my expertise and contribute to your academic journey, providing personalized tutoring that supports your growth in Mechanical Engineering and related fields.

Teaching Experience:
Extensive Tutoring Experience Across Multiple Universities:

I have had the privilege of teaching over 60 students from more than 15 prestigious universities across the UK, primarily focusing on Engineering subjects. Each student's academic progress is documented on my personal website and FirstTutor profile, where you can view detailed feedback and reviews that reflect my commitment to their success.

Over 15 Years of University-Level Teaching:

My academic career spans more than 15 years at the University of Engineering and Technology (UET), Lahore, Pakistan-one of the most respected public sector universities in the region.

I have held various teaching positions:
Associate Professor (2022 - 2024): Leading advanced engineering courses, supervising research projects, and mentoring junior faculty members. My role involves shaping the curriculum and contributing to the academic policies of the department.
Assistant Professor (2012 - 2022): Developing and delivering undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Mechanical Engineering, guiding thesis work, and engaging in collaborative research projects with industry partners.
Lecturer (2009 - 2012): Introducing foundational engineering concepts to first-year students, designing course materials, and establishing a strong educational foundation for students as they began their academic journeys.

Proven Expertise in One-to-One and Group Tutoring:

Since 2005, I have been dedicated to offering personalized one-to-one and small group tutoring sessions. This experience has honed my ability to tailor my teaching strategies to meet the individual needs of each student, ensuring that they not only grasp complex concepts but also develop confidence in their abilities.

Experienced in Online Tutoring:

Since joining the FirstTutor platform in 2016, I have successfully transitioned many of my teaching practices to an online format. My experience with remote learning technologies allows me to deliver engaging and effective tutoring sessions, ensuring that students receive the same high-quality education online as they would in person.

A-Level and GCSE Tutoring Expertise:

Beyond university-level education, I have substantial experience tutoring A-Level and GCSE students in Mathematics, Chemistry, and Physics. My approach focuses on building a strong foundation in these subjects, critical for excelling in exams and preparing for higher education.
For Mathematics, I cover all levels and years, helping students navigate the complexities of the subject with ease and precision, ensuring they are well-prepared for their exams and future studies.

Positive Feedback and Student Success:

My teaching philosophy is rooted in the belief that every student has the potential to excel with the right guidance and support. I am dedicated to providing a learning environment that is both challenging and nurturing, where students are encouraged to explore, ask questions, and achieve their academic goals.
I have received consistently positive feedback from students and parents alike, highlighting my ability to make complex topics accessible and engaging. I invite you to visit my FirstTutor profile and personal webpage to read more about the experiences of past students.

Tutoring Approach:
Student-Centered and Flexible Learning:

I am a firm believer in the inherent talent and potential within every student, which, with the right guidance and approach, can be fully realized. My tutoring philosophy is centered on creating a flexible and adaptive learning environment where each student's unique needs and learning styles are not only recognized but embraced.
I dedicate specific time to each student, ensuring that their individual learning objectives are met. Whether it's last-minute preparation for exams or ongoing support throughout the academic year, I offer full flexibility in scheduling to accommodate the student's needs. My goal is to be available when they need me most, providing targeted assistance that helps them reach their milestones effectively.

Outcome-Based Learning with Peer-Like Support:

My teaching approach is grounded in outcome-based learning, where the focus is not only on mastering the subject matter but also on achieving specific academic goals. I work closely with students to set clear objectives and create a structured plan that guides them toward success.
I believe that learning should be a collaborative journey, where the tutor and student work together as peers. By fostering a peer-learning environment, I encourage students to engage actively in the learning process, asking questions freely without hesitation. This method ensures that students feel comfortable and supported, making it easier for them to grasp complex concepts and develop the confidence to apply their knowledge.

Comprehensive Guidance and Autonomous Learning:

I aim to equip students not just with knowledge, but with the critical thinking and problem-solving skills they need to tackle academic challenges independently. By guiding them through the learning process, I help them develop the ability to explore and discover solutions on their own, which is essential for long-term academic success.
My approach is designed to instill a deep understanding of the subject matter, ensuring that students are not just prepared for their exams, but also confident in their ability to excel in their future studies and professional endeavors.

Strategic Preparation for Exams and Assessments:

I understand the pressures that students face, especially as exams approach. Therefore, I provide strategic, last-minute preparation sessions tailored to help students maximize their performance. This includes focused review sessions, practice exams, and targeted feedback on areas that need improvement.
My methodical approach to exam preparation is designed to build the student's confidence and reduce anxiety, enabling them to enter the exam room fully prepared and assured of their abilities.

Commitment to Student Success:

My ultimate goal is to help each student reach their full potential. I am committed to their success and go the extra mile to ensure they are well-prepared, confident, and ready to excel. The learning environment I create is one where students feel empowered to take control of their education, supported by a tutor who is as invested in their success as they are.

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Personal Description:
As well as being a full-time private tutor for nearly 15 years, I have a background in comedy, writing and performance. I've published three humour books and continue to write for theatre companies and private events. I also love art and illustration, and try incorporate this into my teaching where possible - for all ages! I currently live in South-West London with my husband and two young children.

Teaching Experience:
Since 2010 I have taught hundreds of students aged 3 to adult, including high-profile clients, international placements, EFL pupils & students with complex learning needs. I have also worked as an Assistant Course Director at Pilgrims Language School and a Shakespeare Expert at ICES University in France.

Tutoring Approach:
At the heart of my teaching is the firm belief that students should truly enjoy whatever they are learning. With this in mind, my chief aim is to create a comfortable and fun environment that inspires genuine engagement. My degree also involved the study of the psychology of education, which has given me a keen understanding of the unique requirements of each pupil. I have found my approach to consistently generate outstanding results!

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