Catford Philosophy / Critical Thinking Tutors and Catford Philosophy / Critical Thinking Tuition

Personal Description:
After leaving school, I studied at Nottingham University for a BA in Music, then for a MA in Theology from the London School of Theology. Having worked for a while at an inner-city secondary school, I went on to complete a research masters and a PhD in Biblical Studies, whilst working as a teaching affiliate at Nottingham University. I have since moved to Stourbridge to work in a local church whilst continuing academic research and writing. My own interests are principally in theology, philosophy and politics, but also the arts and culture. I am married, have five children, and am a keen football fan (Manchester United).

Teaching Experience:
I have taught at secondary school (Religious Studies) and at several Universities; I have also worked as a private tutor for over a decade with students of all abilities.

Tutoring Approach:
I'm happy to be flexible in my approach depending on the particular needs of each student. I'm happy to concentrate on what is needed to get good grades, but alse believe that education is about more than being able to pass exams! I have worked hard for my qualifications and belive in disciplined, productive study; however for some students getting the highest possible grade is not necessarily the most important thing. Each person is an individual with different strengths, weaknesses and aims, so I try to structure how I teach around individual needs and goals. When teaching I also believe that giving people self confidence, an ability to think critically and an enjoyment of the subject is an important part of helping them to improve.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am an Oxford Classics graduate with experience of teaching children and adults.

Teaching Experience:
I have seven years experience of teaching a range of ages up to 18, both private tutoring and school teaching.

Tutoring Approach:
Tutoring programme designed according to the student's needs and aims,

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am a successful elite tutor and lecturer, and have taught a variety of school, undergraduate, postgraduate and CPD students. I have worked with pupils in both private and state education, many of my A-level students have gone on to university including: UCL, St Andrews, Cambridge (Christ, Clare, Selwyn, Trinity College), Oxford (Balliol, Merton, Hertford), Princeton and L'Ecole normale supérieure, Paris.

I have studied a broad range of subjects during my Bachelor's degree (English and Classics, RHUL) and Master's (Comparative Art and Archaeology with Law, UCL) have captained sports (lacrosse, rugby, hockey) at national and regional level.

Please note the history tuition I offer is Ancient History, Classics, Archaeology and Classical Civilizations.

Teaching Experience:
I am an experienced tutor who can help students meet elite standards for university grades or entry, but am also enthutiastic and supportive; able to work with students seeking to consoldate on their current grade standards.

-English and Drama Tutor - Study Zone 2008
-English/Maths Teacher and Head of Year 11 Corona Theatre School 2011-2012 [Reference Available]
-Conference Speaker: Ethics of Archaeology (IOA, 2011) , Employment in the Arts (UCL, 2012), Monstrous Antiquities (2013), Iris Project (2014), MTS (2014)
-Seminar speaker: Ancient Worlds (UCL), Bloomsbury Summer School
-Private Tuition [References Available]:

A level English, Original Grade C, Final Grade A
A level English, Original Grade C, Final Grade A
A level Philosophy, Original Grade B, Final Grade A
A level English, Original Grade C, Final Grade A
A level English, Original Grade B, Final Grade: B
A level Classical Studies, Original Grade B, Final Grade: A


Film Studies BA, Original Grade C, Final Grade A
Classics BA, Original Grade 2:1, Final Grade 1

GCSE level English, Original Grade D, Final Grade A
GCSE level English, Original Grade B, Final Grade: A* / A*

Tutoring Approach:
Academic experience: I have worked in private tutoring, state and private schools, university departments and know how examiners mark and what they expect. I have worked for 2 prestigious Universities and am adept at entrance documents and applications. In addition, one needs to be constantly aware of the changing curricula, mark schemes, and student specifications, knowledge and understanding of which can guarantee a 95%+ grade.

Encouragement: As a sports captain and Global Citizenship Mentor (UCL) I realise the need for a pupil's confidence to be built up before they can achieve better. In my opinion a pupil is never failing, they can just achieve more.

Planning: It is essential for us to have an organised lesson plan, and plan for our future sessions so we can map where we should be heading and what we have achieved. Many students suffer from poor organisation which, if remedied, would immediately proffer far better results.

Education: During my past 10 years of college, undergraduate and graduate university I have been educated in a host of valuable disciplines that help interest and inspire any student.

Subjects

Personal Description:
Professionally qualified (DfES number RP 04/31188).

I am a musician, qualified primary teacher (QTS) with a Master's degree in Education, Pets As Therapy volunteer, founder and facilitator at Meta for learning CIC.

My interests in education are in Open Learning, Outdoor Learning, Animal Assisted interventions, Blended learning and helping learners build international links.


As part of a distance-learning Masters degree in association with FUNIBER and the Universidad de León, I carried out an ethnographic action research project using a democratic approach called Community Language Learning. In this approach there is no syllabus or textbook to follow. It is the learners themselves who determine the content by means of meaningful conversations.
It incorporates translation, transcription and recording techniques.

When I am not working I love volunteering, practising ice skating or track cycling with my daughter and also growing an edible garden !

Teaching Experience:
I was born in Madrid where I trained as a primary teacher and classical musician (cello and chamber music).

I worked in Escuelas de Musica in the outskirts of Madrid which are inclusive socially-minded music schools where I taught cello lessons and support the development of the String Department by assisting during orchestra rehearsals. Both adults and children of all ages are welcome to take lessons.

Shortly after moving to the UK I started a part time job teaching Music to 5-7 yo children at the Rowans Prep school in Wimbledon alongside studying a Mater's and working in Adult education- I carried out a 2-year ethnographic action research project at St Luke's centre in Islinghton.

I then applied to a position in Esadst London and started working for Children's language services teaching at several primary schools in Tower Hamlets. My roles were to deliver the MFL primary curriculum; coordinate the implementation of new initiatives in schools ie use of the European Portfolio for language Learning which was being developed between the Council and universities, provide class teachers with CPD training; undertake tasks such as EAL First Language assessments.

After taking maternative leave I trained to become an online tutor and worked part- time for Own Tutors, Clapham.

In 2019 I founded a learning community Metaforlearning Cic where I run Self-Manage Learning programmes for young people.

In my tutoring work I am reliable, flexible and experienced. I have been working in the UK, Ireland and Spain and have experience in exam preparation for the Spanish internationally recognised DELE junior and DELE for adults; Spanish GCSE, IGCSE, Spanish A-LEVELS with AQA, OCR and EDEXCEL exam boards; and IB ab initio and Language B international qualifications. In the past I have prepared young cellists for 1-8 ABRSM performance grades.

Tutoring Approach:
Students set their own learning goals and I assist them in order to map the neccesary learning to achieve them and also by working at the level that they feel comfortable with at each stage of the process.

With young learners I make use of VR, AR and gamification for enhancing engagement in language learning.

If your enquiry is regarding learning for either improving wellbeing, traveling or living in a Spanish speaking country then we will be looking at different learning objetives and skills than for example an enquiry regarding accessing an university of your choice.

I have wide experience supporting international students in understanding and preparing to access Universities in the UK.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I'm a former humanitarian worker with a keen interest in philosophy, politics, feminism, and political economy.

I love teaching 1-on-1 and take a holistic approach to helping students. That means that I can help you with both the technical academic things you are struggling with such as planning a research project, writing an essay or dissertation, or public speaking, as well as mental blocks like self-confidence, procrastination, anxiety, and mental health. Using a holistic approach means that we can discover the root cause of whatever is holding you back from being able to excel, develop strategies to overcome these obstacles, and help you become more a confident and independent student.

I have just completed my PhD thesis as part of a fully-funded doctoral candidate in Political Philosophy, during which time I was supervised in equal parts by FINO (The Northwestern Italian Philosophy Consortium, University of Turin) and the University of Vienna.

Teaching experience:

* In 2024 I was a Visiting Lecturer in Contemporary Political Philosophy, teaching first- and second-year BA philosophy students at the University of Hertfordshire.

* In 2022-23 I taught first- and second year BA students in the Government Department at the London School of Economics and Political Science. The course I teach is an Introduction to Political Theory (from Plato to Fanon).

* I have also given lectures to Master's students in Philosophy of Technology on algorithmic pricing.


My doctoral research project is a Normative Analysis of the Political Economy of Algorithmic Pricing.

Postgraduate studies:
PhD, Political Philosophy, 2020-2024

MSc, Merit in Political Theory from the London School of Economics and Political Science (2015).
Dissertation on the moral dilemmas related to Artificial Intelligence; received a Distinction.

Undergraduate studies:
BA(Hons), 2:1 in Middle Eastern Studies and Arabic from Cambridge University (2010). Included modules in history, politics, anthropology, literature, and religious studies, as well as Arabic language.
I speak the Levantine dialect (Syrian, Lebanese, Palestinian, Jordanian) as well as the Iraqi dialect, and have lived and worked in Syria, Jordan, Iraq, Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, and Iraqi Kurdistan Region.

Teaching Experience:
I have tutored undergraduate and Master's-level students who need help writing essays or dissertations in the following humanities subjects:

Anthropology
Political theory, Feminist theory
Political science
Political economy, History
International Relations, Conflict studies, Humanitarian studies
Sociology, Gender studies

Tutoring Approach:
I provide detailed editing to help you improve both your written style and content. I cover everything from grammar and citations to structure, methodology, and line of argument. I give you resources to continue improving your academic writing even after we finish working together. These will equip you to continue working on things we will cover, such as stylistic conventions both in academic English generally as well as those specific to different social science disciplines. I also coach you in how to plan your research, how to structure a paper, building a line of argument, effective use of primary and secondary sources, and how to write an engaging and compelling paper.

I start by writing detailed comments in Track Changes, then talk you through the issues so that you can not only improve your paper or dissertation, but also learn how to write in a clear, confident, and persuasive style. Ideally, if there's enough time before the deadline, I go over another draft once you've addressed the comments. This back-and-forth ensures the very best final product in your authentic voice, and that the process has been a valuable learning experience for you.

I will also give you the opportunity to discuss personal hang-ups that might be impeding your ability to work well. I am not a therapist, but I can discuss personal issues affecting your studies, and direct you to helpful resources to address underlying issues like anxiety, procrastination.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am an active independent-scholar and writer, living near St Andrews University. I have written numerous books and articles and am currently working on a new book as well as tutoring a handful of students. I am also a former Academic Advisor to students in the United States of America, and I have worked for two tutoring companies in Oxford since returning to the UK. I am therefore familiar with the needs of international students when it comes to navigating the English and Scottish University systems. I focus on technique over content with a particular emphasis on writing skills, though I also read all the books and articles my students are required to read, so that I can help them with content when required.

Teaching Experience:
Award winning teacher at the University of Georgia, 1999-2000
Academic Adviser to University Students from 2003-2007
Tutor Oxford International Study Centre, April 2013 - May 2014
Carfax Tutorial Establishment, November 2013 - May 2014
Freelance Tutor ongoing.

Tutoring Approach:
I adopt a holistic approach to tutoring, working with a student to address her or his individual academic needs. I am process-orientated, building on a student's strengths and eliminating weaknesses. I am also practical, constantly working towards the student's objectives. As a result, I focus very much on academic skills and developing the student's academic toolbox, so that they can gain confidence and become independent learners.

Subjects

Personal Description:
My name is .Emmanuel, a Researcher in Law, University of Manchester. I have sound background in law, Law and Governance, Cybercrime law, Philosophy, Politics and Sociology and social work topics. I have spent most of my time iearning and studying while improving in my different fields of academic engagements I have great passion for learning , research and developing of human mind .I have impressive knowledge of my area of academic calling and subjects mentioned. I am ambitious, determined, focused and physiologically fit to pursue any academic work. Am very hopeful that one day l will become an International Diplomat where l will have the opportunity to discuss both national and international issues on how to bring peace and order in the International community. I am focused, patient, hard-working, intellectually inquisitive, committed, flexible, articulate and ethically grounded.
Besides academic enterprise, l have participated in community/voluntary services. l have served as a secretary of my community and a welfare officer during my undergraduate programme . I am a good time keeper, work well with a team and always willing to assist students. to actualize their academic dreams. I relate well with people from different cultural backgrounds. I was once the President of PIP( PhD in Progress For Postgraduate/PhD Students ) of the Postgraduate students at the University of Manchester. Currently l am doing extensive legal research and doing private tutorial with some undergraduate and postgraduate students of University of Manchester and Salford University. Outside academics l do socialise and like sports especially football.

Teaching Experience:
My teaching experience includes delivering lectures, tutorials, helping students develop themselves academically and assisting tutees acquire learning skills. I assist students on how to approach their course work, Long Essays, and how to participate effectively in their seminars. I render affordable services on dissertation writing/research work at undergraduate, masters and PhD level ( Proposals, Abstract, Structuring skills Literature Review, Methodology/Critical evaluations of any piece of work) I have achieved this experience as a result of long period of lecturing, research activities at the University level. I do monitor students academic progress.I have also helped in counselling and assisting students get on with academic problems. Due to my interest and passion for learning, l was given Graduate Fellowship Award in 2002 by University of Lagos Postgraduate School, Nigeria.My research experience with the University of Manchester and this has greatly prepared me to distinguish between Western ways of research and other types of research method. Currently I am a research person at the University of Sussex Brighton, UK. I have undertaken various dissertations and have prepared students to write good assignments, coursework and long essays . I have assisted postgraduates and PhD students get on with their dissertations and research work. ( Abstract, Introduction and the pros and cons of research work. If you are confused on how to start your work, pleases contact me as quickly as possible.
My background and my exposure to these areas of academic work have assisted me tremendously and helped me to improve myself further and to use my vast experience in academics to assist others. Area of Expertise: Law of Contract,Tort Law, Land/Corporate Law, International Law, Public Law, Maritime Law, Arbitration Law, Financial Law, Criminology, Sociology,( Sociology of Law,General /special sociology,Durkheim/Max Weber, Sorokin sociological perspectives, Ginsberg problems of sociology and Raymond Aron six schools of Sociology) Jurisprudence, Employment Law, Development Law, and Philosophy and Politics both at , GCSE, A/Level and at University Level. I give an affordable price and do understand the plights of students.

Tutoring Approach:
My Tutoring approach involves basic principles of learning, knowledge acquisition methods and Practical learning skills and imparting same to tutees. Seminar skills , dialogues and discussion groups. Adult learning methods and the public enlightenment methods . I usually like to have one to one discussion with Tutees to find out their areas of interest, and their difficulties. This gives me in-depth knowledge of what their problems are and how to structure my teaching to suit them. I also undertake on-line tutorials via Skype, emails and Sms format . I like to relate my teaching methods to practical life experiences and societal demands. I like sending off feedback and performance level of students with special emphasis on take home assignments. l try as much as not to overload students with coursework so as to give them time for their social activities and other personal issues. I also ensure that Tutees contributes during teaching sessions and l give them room to ask questions and answer questions. During exams l make sure that classwork and lecture notes are revised and likely exam questions treated in a more simple and clear language.

Subjects

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Subjects

Personal Description:
Are you looking for some extra help with your projects? If so, you don't need to search any further.

I currently work at a prestigious international law firm. I have an LLM in International Tax Law with a High Merit, an LLB Bachelor's in Law with a 2:1, and an LLM in International Maritime Law with a High Merit. I'm good at staying organized, always show up on time, and make sure to meet deadlines. I have a lot of experience in helping with all sorts of projects and tasks, like drafting essays, providing guidance, structuring coursework, and offering tutoring.

I've been a part of the European and Hellenic Youth Parliament, which has improved my communication skills in a professional setting. I've also represented Swansea University in various national law-related competitions, which has boosted my confidence and decision-making abilities. I'm resourceful and believe there's a solution to every problem.

Lastly, I've volunteered with UNICEF, which made me realize the importance of helping others in meaningful ways.

I'm flexible when it comes to working hours and would be happy to assist potential students. If you have any questions or need more information, please don't hesitate to reach out.

Teaching Experience:
-Teaching Assistant/Support Worker at Swansea University: Assisting students with learning difficulties to understand their subjects.
-Private tutor for more than 3 years.

Tutoring Approach:
-Resourceful
-Always willing to assist and explain things twice/thrice if needed.
-Supportive at all times.
-Straight to the point tutoring.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I have over 20 years' teaching experience. I am a retired A Level teacher but continue with private tuition. I teach both the OCR and AQA new specifications at A Level, in Philosophy, Ethics and Christianity, for Year 1 and Year 2. I have testimonials which show that most of my tutees go on to attain A grades. As a mother, I know well the anxieties which accompany these important school years. I aim for academic excellence, bringing out a student's confidence, alongside teaching important critical thinking skills and exam technique. If the student is willing to learn, higher grades are guaranteed.

Teaching Experience:
27 years tutoring privately; 15 years teaching in Further Education; OCR and AQA A Level mostly. I'm very familiar with the specification.
I can supply many testimonials ftom students upon request.
The latest one is from a student who came to me at a low C and attained an A* at OCR A Level 2025 (available on request).

Tutoring Approach:
I tutor by ZOOM mostly these days, as it so successful. Many of my past tutees I have never even met yet they have gone on to achieve As and A*s, last year one going to Oxford, another two to Newcastle... testimonials are available. I work very closely with the specification, using resources for each topic which I attach for the student before the session. I give detailed feedback on essays I set, which most find extremely useful. With other essays asked for, there is a small charge. I keep individual progress records e.g. weak areas etc to build on. I am also only a phone call or email away for students in between tutorials as this is an important element in confidence-building, I feel. Here, you will find testimonials:
Helen
Durham
A levels Summer 2025
OCR Philosophy

At the end of lower sixth mock exam results were graded as a C grade . Essays during lower sixth regularly came back at approximately 17/40 despite effort. There was a feeling of frustration and despondency .

We found Louise through Superprof & First Tutors websites. We were attracted by the fabulous reviews , the extensive experience of the OCR paper /subject as well as the option of online or face to face tuition ( as we are local to Louise ) .

Online sessions were started in August 2024 with one hour a week . In September 2024 we increased to 2 separate hours a week and continued with those sessions until April 2025 .

These sessions were invaluable. They were well structured and helped to focus on knowledge as well as technique. Louise gave advice on essay structure and was happy to undertake additional marking as required .

As such confidence going into the exams was much higher /preparation was excellent .

Delighted to have increase by 3 grades ( during the time with Louise) and achieved A* in A level exams in 2025 . Actual essay marks (across the 3 papers ) were 306/360. Accepted into first choice of University .

Would highly recommend Louise to anyone looking for help in OCR Philosophy

Sent from my iPhone



Email testimonial from Umamah, Bristol:
I got AAA*, an A in RS which is a relief because even though I worked as hard as I could have, I was worried I didn't execute well on the day. Like I said before, thanks for everything, I know it's your job to help me - but I honestly I couldn't have gotten an A without your constant marking and introduction to content I hadn't come across before.
Kind regards,
Umamah
C
Caroline
Georgina's mother-- see below for Georgina herself:
Hi Louise
Yes I'm so very proud of her. An A is brilliant and in one of the papers (can't remember which one) she got 100/100!
She is heading to De-Montfort Uni, her first choice, to begin her degree course in Textile Design.Thank you once again for all your help. There is no way she would have achieved this without your help. Caroline
G
Georgina
Louise encouraged me to think more creatively and as a consequence my confidence grew. By the time I entered the exam period,I really enjoyed the subject, as Louise's continual repetition and empathetic approach helped me overcome the challenges of dyslexia. I'm delighted to say that I achieved an A in the end, as well as an A in my AS resit, and wouldn't have been able to do it without her :) :) I got 100% in my AS resit,and I think 88% in philosophy and 84% in Ethics, I was ecstatic!!!


Hi Louise,
I got an A in EP and an A in ethics and ABB overall which means that I am into my first choice university. Thank you so much for all of your help!! I couldn't have done it without you! I've found your tuition very helpful and detailed. Plus, the notes you've given me provided me with ideal revision material that I would not have had otherwise!
Z
Zena
I had just under 2 months before I had to sit my Ethics exam. I was predicted a D. Louise's warm approach allowed me to feel comfortable to ask her more questions. She would always ask what I thought of something, rather than telling me what I should say. It felt more like a discussion then somebody teaching me. I finally understood topics I had struggled with, with one of them even coming up in the exam! I really felt as if she believed in me, and I ended up getting a B thanks to Louise.


TESTIMONIAL from 2nd yr A Level student (Hannah, from Stanley, Durham) who is now going on to study LAW at Northumbria:
Hi Louise,
Here's my testimonial:
Louise helped tutor me for both my resits at AS Level and A2 Level in Religious Studies. Throughout this time, Louise helped to build my confidence and improve my essay writing skills. Louise provided me with extra knowledge around the subject in order to impress the examiners with the vast variety of information. Thanks to all the support I received and knowledge gained, I was able to achieve my desired grade of an A overall.

TESTIMONIAL from Georgia (Sussex), a PRE-U student who went on to get the second highest grading this new exam offers (for those who might not be familiar with it, the PRE-U is being offered as an alternative to A Levels and allows for an A** rather than an A*- as you will see from Georgia's words below, I had a lot of work to do on this as it was my first time teaching it!). Georgia will now go on to study Art History and Business at Warwick Univ.
Hi Louise,
Here is your testimonial:
Louise was very useful as regards supporting me through my Philosophy Pre-U course. It was quite challenging for both of us as we had both not studied this specific course before. However, I have found that Louise really went the extra mile as regards getting all the resources and material that would help me succeed in this tricky subject. She was very patient and clear when teaching, me along with being supportive. I am very grateful that she took on the challenge and I really do feel that her tutoring has helped me get me to get my desired grade. Thank you for being an excellent tutor Louise!
I hope that this is okay. Best wishes,
Georgia




Testimonial from Michael (Durham City) who achieved an B in Philosophy (coming from a D) and a B in Ethics (coming from a D) and an A in English Literature (coming from a D/E)
Although he does not state it here, Michael then went on to achieve a 2:1 in History at Lancaster Univ; he is presently (2015) in 2nd year of a Master's at York.
Michael M-Dogg Ward - If you're at school and finding it hard to communicate with teachers or peers, or even have a learning disability, bear in mind that I could have held myself back a whole academic year as some people with dyspraxia have done, but with Arete Tutoring I found ways to keep going, and it will inspire you to keep going when everything at school is left behind and it's just you vs the world.

Testimonial from mother of a YEAR 6 KS 2. pupil of mine (Warrick, Chester le Street, Durham). This little boy in Year Six was moved from the bottom into the top set in school just at the beginning of Yr 6- after approx. 10 months tuition. A hearing defect combined with shyness had prevented him from speaking out in class when he did not hear or understand something and so he fell behind. Now, with individual attention, his confidence boost is amazing and he is flying ahead at top level 5! His mum:
"My son had really given up on Maths, it was a constant source of upset. Louise was wonderful at explaining and encouraging him. His progress was amazing, after 14 months he achieved 96% in his SATs. Maths is now his favourite subject and his teacher described his progress as "Outstanding". His school report now makes reference to his "excellent mathematical brain". We are delighted with the turnaround Louise's tuition has brought."
I have photographed the Maths section from his school report so you can see how amazed they were with his progress - I have probably read it twenty times!
Thank you once again.
Andrea
Testimonial from Freddie (Darlington) who achieved a B in Religious Studies: Philosophy & Ethics (coming from a U)
Freddie went from an overall U the previous year to the required B for entrance to his university of choice (Newcastle) where he has now embarked on a degree in Agri Business.
His own words: "I started undertaking tutorials in March 2014 with an overall D grade in my AQA religious studies a level (a U at A2). Whilst on my gap year and having not learnt any of the course content for well over a year I planned to re sit 2 of my poor performing modules in June 2014 in order to improve my overall grade for university entry. When I first met Louise I had little background knowledge, questionable exam technique and was also lacking in the depth needed to successfully achieve the top grades. After 4 months of 4 hour weekly sessions I managed to gain a real interest into a subject I previously thought I had little interest in. Louise provided me with the structure, skills and state of mind needed to turn my D grade into a B grade within such a short period of time.
I could not recommend or praise her enough, she is an outstanding tutor Thank you so pleased a U to a B still can't believe that A2 result" Freddie McBain, Darlington
And another, Melissa (from Durham School). Melissa is one of two AS Level students who came to me twice-weekly for six weeks only (a last minute panic) and whose grades initially sitting at B and C went to As.:
"Thank you so so much for the tutoring, I definitely wouldn't have passed without your help! I think Gina told you I got a B but I actually got a high A instead, so I am absolutely thrilled!. Here is my testimonial. Louise is a very friendly tutor with great subject knowledge and makes learning Philosophy much easier as I found it difficult without her. She teaches the course very thoroughly and makes sure we fully understand before moving on to another topic. Definitely could not have gotten an A without her! Thanks again!" Melissa Holmes, Durham.

Katie Hall - Testimonial

I started studying philosophy and ethics as a new subject for my AS levels this year. I found I enjoyed philosophy immensely but my weakness was the ethics aspect of the course, especially when it came to learning and applying theories. I took my mock AS examination in March and my overall grade was disappointing due to receiving an E grade in my ethics and a B grade in Philosophy. With a few months until my external examination, I sought help from Louise as I was beginning to despair with Ethics.
Louise showed great patience with me and took me through the ethical theories step by step encouraging and helping me to develop my understanding. She changed my whole approach when it came to applying the theories to competently answer the questions. Louise also increased my understanding in Philosophy encouraging me to develop my critical thinking and helping me to structure my essays to a higher standard. I am pleased to say I have just received my AS level results and I received a B grade for ethics side of the course, with only two marks off an A and a A grade for Philosophy. I will now go onto my A level in Philosophy and Ethics with a lot more confidence, understanding and reassurance that I now need to produce the same marks to gain a good overall grade. with the guidance of Louise I hope to achieve good marks.

Katie Hall, Durham
AS Philosophy & Ethics student


OLIVIA Manchester who achieved an A*
Louise,

I got an A* in RS!! I can't believe it, I looked at the grade boundaries and they were so high so thought I wouldn't have a chance haha! Thank you so much, I couldn't have done it without you!

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am a philosophy student at Roehampton University. I am from the South Downs in Hampshire, where I lived until I was 18. I have been studying here in London since September 2017. Back home I am the oldest of four, and this had enabled me to be able to understand how to make learning fun for a wide range of ages, as our ages vary from 8 to 20 years. My hobbies include playing football, listening to music, and reading. I was previously employed as an after school nanny so have a DBS check that is valid.

Teaching Experience:
Teaching assistant every Wednesday for an academic year at the infant school in my home town.
Shadowed History department at my secondary school the year after I left.
Working as a nanny I had to help the boys I looked after with their homework. They were 6 and 8 so was helping them learn very basic skills.

Tutoring Approach:
I have always been naturally able to write especially well, and am enthusiastic about the subjects I study. I have found it easy to pass on this enthusiasm for learning to younger people, and I especially am able to connect with younger kids on tasks they would usually struggle to find fun. I am basically happy to tutor any subject at GCSE level apart from maths, science (natural, computer, etc). Social sciences are my particular strength.

Subjects

Personal Description:
Hi I'm passionate about teaching and supporting students to learn

Teaching Experience:
I'm an experienced teacher who has worked in FE and HE . I have taught 11plus Sociology, Study Skills and Critical thinking. I have a PGCE and have taught ALevels and GCSE and in FE and HE

Tutoring Approach:
I'm very interested in listening and am very flexible but also can create a structure programme of support

Subjects

Personal Description:
I have over thirty years experience of teaching Latin, English, French and essay-writing skills, both in schools and as a private tutor. I specialise in helping students write their Personal Statements when applying to university or to postgraduate courses.

I am the mother of five grown up children, three of whom went to Cambridge, one to KCL and one to Oxford, and I have also guided many other students into achieving offers from top universities, including many to Oxbridge.

After graduating from Cambridge with a degree in English and Classics, I taught for 2 years before going to Drama school, then moved to Granada TV as a researcher and presenter. The next 14 years were spent working for various TV companies, while also writing for national newspapers and magazines.

In 1992, I moved with my family to Salisbury and went back to teaching, first in a college of Further Education, then at a prep school, and subsequently in independent schools: nine years at St Mary's Calne from which I retired in 2015. I was then invited to , come out of retirement to teach at St Swithun's in Winchester and The Oratory School Oxford.

I no longer teach in the classroom, but continue to offer tutoring in Latin, English, French and Writing Skills. A particular speciality is Personal Statements - helping students with their applications to university. I have helped very many students (both pre-university and postgraduates) write successful personal statements for their chosen courses.

As well as the academic subjects mentioned above, I help with any writing task from an A level or IB essay (especially Theory of Knowledge) to university theses and dissertations. I specialise in Oxbridge help, including suggestions for reading, preparation for entrance tests and interview practice. So far I have helped over 20 students gain places at Oxbridge.

Teaching Experience:
Personal statements

I have helped very many students write their personal statements for application to university - both at undergraduate and postgraduate level. This does NOT mean writing the statement for the student - I do not have the breadth of knowledge to write about Astrophysics or Zoology, but it does mean helping the student clarify his or her thoughts, explain what has prompted the interest in the subject, how he or she has developed this interest, what extra-curricular choices have been made, and why, and how current A levels (or degree subjects) have prepared the student for this application.
For many students, the Personal Statement is the first time they have have to talk about themselves, and for many, it is bewildering knowing how to approach it and what to include and what to leave out.

I help the student by asking him/her to fill in a preliminary questionnaire, (Why this subject? What sparked the interest? Why it's important for the student and for society etc). Next, I ask for a first draft - it doesn't matter how bad or poorly expressed this is. Then, I work with the student - either at home or by Skype/Zoom, talking through the first draft and suggesting adjustments, improvements etc. Next the student writes a second draft, and the process continues until the students is totally happy that the statement says exactly what was intended, and show the student at his/her best.
I have many testimonials from happy students (including over twenty five to Oxbridge) which I would be happy to share on request.

Latin
I teach Latin at Latin Common Entrance, GCSE, A level, and university level. The great majority of my students achieve 9s at GCSE, and As and A*s at A level. Many have gone on to read Classics at university.

English
I teach English literature and language - both critical analysis of texts and and writing skills - from GCSE to university level and beyond. Many students whom I have helped with A level essays have come back to me for help with their university dissertations, applications for Masters, or covering letters for postgraduate job applications.

Essay writing
As well as helping with A level essays in all the humanities (RS, Philosophy, Psychology, History etc) I am an experienced tutor for IB Theory of Knowledge and Extended Essays. I have also advised and guided many students with their EPQs.

French
I teach French to A level and

I teach Classical Greek to GCSE.

Tutoring Approach:
1. My first priority is to let the student know that they are not alone - I am here to help. Just being told this can be immediately reassuring, especially if the student has been worrying for about a subject or project for a long time.

2. The next step is to establish exactly how much the student already knows. Nothing surprises or shocks me, but I have come across students seeking help who haven't got a copy of the relevant book or haven't read beyond the title page. I understand this - life is busy.So I am never critical or judgmental, I am always on the student's side. If necessary, I will provide a copy (years of teaching and a large family mean I usually have several).

3. The next step is to encourage the student into thinking of the subject as interesting. This may mean overcoming any resistance, by chatting, discovering how much they already know (always more than they think - another source of encouragement) and relating it to other areas of interest. One ideas have started to flow the student will begin to realise that not only might this subject/essay not be as bad as feared, it's possible they might find something enjoyable about it.

4. Now we look at the project and ways of approaching it. The key here is structure. Quite often the student's lack of confidence has led to panic and accompanying lack of organisation. So I help sort out files, help put notes in order, and encourage the student recognise which bits of paper are/aren't relevant to their work. This is mental housekeeping - and once order has been established, the student is in a better frame of mind for doing the work.

5. The next step varies according the to the subject.

LATIN.
I ask the student translate until he meets a problem. I then explain the topic- taking care to base it only on what the student already knows and feels confident about. If there are big gaps in knowledge, I start filling them, teaching vocabulary, grammar and syntax in an orderly way and asking the student to record what we have covered in his own written file.We then continue the translation, making sure the student has understood everything we have covered so far. This process is designed to lift the fog and give the student the tools needed to translate confidently

WRITING.
If it's an essay, I encourage the student to look at the title and think about (a) what is it really asking and (b) what ideas can he or she think of in response? These can be written down in any order - at this stage it's a question of getting the thought processes going.
We then discuss how to organise the student's thoughts into a coherent whole. This can be painstaking process - it involves teaching essay structure, and and sometimes even working backwards - going from conclusion back to introduction - but we always finish by knowing exactly what direction the essay is taking.
The final step is to ask the student to write something for next time. It doesn't matter if it's short or badly-expressed, and I always make it relevant to school work. The reason I ask for a piece of writing is
a) the act of writing enables a student to know what he/she wants to say
(b) seeing a student's writing shows me how to approach the next lesson. I can see what element of the writing need work, and plan my lesson accordingly.

OTHER IDEAS FOR READING ETC
I often recommend extra-curricular ideas to make the subject more engaging - films, YouTube extracts, magazines, even books - the student doesn't have to read a whole book - even dipping in and out is helpful and there is nothing more deadening to the love of books than being told you HAVE to read them.

STUDENTS WHO ARE STRUGGLING.
. I do not only help academic high-flyers. I am also offer warm and sympathetic help to students who - for whatever reason - find academic study challenging. I help develop study skills, suggest organisational strategies (for student and parent) and above all, restore lost confidence by showing the student that he really can tackle - and overcome - any problem - just by taking it slowly and making sure he or she understands each step before going on to the next.

WELCOME TO MY HOUSE.
, I'm a great believer in the comforting powers of a cup of tea and a chocolate biscuit, as well as the presence of my 2 cats (who, despite being to every lesson I've given, are still rubbish at Latin). For allergic pupils, however, the cats are banished to the garden.

Subjects

Personal Description:
Hi guys, to start off with my academic background: I studied at Winchester College and Cambridge University.

I was generally a straight A* student at Winchester, and in my final exams I received some of the highest Cambridge Pre-U grades in the UK for my subjects of Philosophy & Theology, Russian and French (these were D1, D1, D2 - which translates in A-Level terms to A**, A**, A*). At Cambridge I studied a mix of Theology and Philosophy, with a focus on philosophy (ethics and metaphysics), history and literature papers.

In terms of my personal background: I was born in London and have lived in Islington most of my life. I've travelled a great deal, and in my gap year I spent stretches of time living in and travelling around America, Italy, Malta, Russia, Jordan and Pakistan.

In my free time I like classic cinema (Hitchcock especially) and novels (Tolstoy, Dostoevsky and Dickens are my favourites) but I'm curious about everything really, and I read books of any kind whenever I have the time - especially those relating to History (classical and modern), Philosophy, Theology, Politics, and Literary Analysis.

For most of my professional life so far I've worked as a salesman, lawyer and corporate strategist. I like theatre and stand-up and sketch comedy - Dylan Moran and John Cleese are my favourite comedians - and at Cambridge I performed in a couple of sketch comedy shows alongside members of the Footlights.

I'm friendly, good-humoured, energetic and I love teaching more than anything else!

Teaching Experience:
I've received excellent feedback on my tutoring so far. Here are some quotes I've received from former students who've been kind enough to supply written references for me (I can provide these and their contact details to you on request) :

- "the best teacher I have ever had the pleasure of learning from"

- [different student] "I can say without any doubt that he is the best tutor I have ever had."

- "thanks to Jasper, my school results became much better."

- "I can talk endlessly about how much I loved having meetings with Jasper"

- "His ability to convey complex historical concepts with clarity and engagement is a superpower."

- "Jasper's professionalism is also worth highlighting. He is highly organised, punctual, and dependable. He never came to a session unprepared, his teaching materials were always well-structured and insightful."

- "I must give a massive word of praise"

- " I truly hope he will have more students to teach, as he is very talented and truly deserves to be recognised. I wish everyone had a chance to have such a wonderful and supportive tutor."

Please note: The website format unfortunately limits the numbers of subjects I can list; I shall therefore add three more here. In addition to Philosophy, Theology, English, History, Russian and French I am also capable of tutoring up to and including GCSE Latin, basic (ab initio) German, and Debating.

More generally, I am also happy to advise on academic interview performance for elite boarding school or Oxbridge admissions.

Tutoring Approach:
1. So first of all we'll have an introductory session to determine what your interests, strengths/weaknesses and ultimate aims are. If you like me then we can have another session!

At the end of this I'll set an assignment for you to work on before our next session. The assignment may be easy, it may be tricky, it may be normal, it may be quite unusual! It will depend on what your aims and interests are and what I can come up with etcetera.

I'll also try to recommend some valuable learning resources and techniques for you to work with as you prepare that assignment.


2. In our second session we'll go through and discuss the assignment and your answers to it, focusing on different ways of looking at the issue and thinking around it, or effective ways to internalise that knowledge. This will take the form of a dialogue and a conversation that I hope you'll find stimulating and rewarding.

Note: You are welcome to stop sessions with me at anytime; it's entirely up to you and I won't be offended at all. But if you let me, I truly hope to teach you as much as I can.


- In summary the fundamental idea is to make the ideas as fun as possible, to assist you in learning them effortlessly and wanting to learn more. Education is always self-motored; the trick is helping you to fall in love with it. It is also to expose you to a wide array of alternative perspectives to broaden your bank of wisdom. Finally, I can recommend books and podcasts and resources to you that can have enduring value for you far beyond our own sessions, perhaps even for your entire lifetime.

I believe in sparking creativity and helping students make the ideas their own. My aim is to ignite imagination and enthusiasm as I put your intellect to the test, because only then will you really enjoy learning, and only then will you truly do well. Therefore I'll do my very best to generate an enthusiastic but rigorous atmosphere.

My enthusiasm can be pretty infectious... I promise you our conversations will be the opposite of boring!

At the same time, many of you will have real goals : to get better grades on your essays, to pass a crucial academic interview, or to smash your final exams. I believe utterly in studying carefully how to do that, and devising a strategy, so you can work "smart", not just "hard", and achieve your goals. I did this with great success for my own exams, and for many former students. I'm a former corporate strategist at an industry-dominating company! This is a real passion of mine.

Finally I also promise you that I'll also prepare carefully in advance of every session you have with me, to ensure you get the most out of me that you can. I have immense respect for my responsibility to you and your development.

Feel free to try a preliminary session with me!

I so look forward to talking with you,

All the very best,

Jasp

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am a qualified solicitor in Greece, having completed my Bachelor and Master Degrees in UK. I am currently working on my PHD thesis on the philosophy of UK Criminal law. I am really enthusiastic to pass the knowledge I have acquired all these years studying and practicing law to aspiring new students and at the same time, learn from them, their ideas and enquiries.

Teaching Experience:
I have given private tutorials, online or in person since 2014 and 9 of my students are studying law in Universities in UK, all of them achieving at least 1:2. My specialization is to work mainly with Greek and Cypriot students who want to study law, either graduate or post-graduate, in UK.

Tutoring Approach:
My approach is to be as straightforward as possible, believing that law is a quite straightforward matter if you can have a deep and thorough understanding of it. I love philosophy and try to follow Socrates' and Plato's way of teaching, through dialogue and permanent questioning.

I believe that studying law is the most exciting thing there is, the philosophy of law is the foundation that every social science is build upon and I feel glad that I can pass this passion for learning to my students.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I'm a Music Graduate, and will soon be a Philosophy Graduate [Edinburgh Napier University and University of Wales TSD, respectively]. I work in the third sector covering off humanitarian needs in Africa, Animal welfare in Asia and the care environment/Homelessness in the UK.

At the moment I manage volunteering contracts with Goldman Sachs, National Grid, Moorhouse Consulting, Visa and Prysmian Group.

I'm quite relaxed about most things, I do some consulting with small charities and I play a lot of music!

Teaching Experience:
I have been teaching music and English language periodically for around 20 years. I have taught privately, at Music Workshop Bath and Bath City College. I taught English language at a number of summer schools in Edinburgh, Bournemouth and at Cardonald College in Glasgow.

Tutoring Approach:
My style prioritises the needs of the student. Sometimes this is in relation to their immediate curriculum and is supplemented with a view to future study, if there is expectation that future study is probable. Sometimes, if the focus is solely on lifting a grade or working on soft skills around the subject - research/focus etc. then I make that the priority. All in agreement with the student.

In short - student focused.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am Dr. Muhammad, a London-based educator holding a PhD in Education and over six years' experience as a university tutor and visiting lecturer. I specialise in adult literacy-particularly reading and writing-bringing a rigorously evidence-based approach drawn from my published research and advanced training in specific learning needs (including dyslexia, developmental coordination disorder, and social-emotional support). I design bespoke programmes underpinned by robust qualitative and quantitative methodologies (SPSS, NVivo) and UCL-accredited practices, ensuring each session is tailored to your goals and learning style. Whether we meet face-to-face or transition online, my commitment is to clear progress benchmarks, detailed feedback, and building your confidence so you achieve measurable improvement in every lesson.

Teaching Experience:
I have over a decade of hands‐on teaching and leadership experience. For the past ten years I served as Principal of Jannah Education Complex in Pakistan, where I designed, managed and delivered the full KS1-KS3 curriculum-coaching students extensively in reading, writing, mathematics and science, leading a staff of 12 teachers, and implementing data-driven assessment strategies to boost outcomes. From August 2018 to February 2023, I was a Resource Person & Tutor at Allama Iqbal Open University, conducting courses in Assessment & Evaluation, Educational Psychology and Philosophy of Education and providing individualized learning plans with formative and summative feedback ​
. Concurrently (Jan 2019-Dec 2022), I served as a Visiting Lecturer in the Department of Education at Sargodha University, teaching Foundations of Education, Comparative Education and Research Methods-integrating innovative, learner-centred approaches and overseeing curriculum updates to align with academic standards ​

Tutoring Approach:
My tutoring philosophy is grounded in a student-centred, evidence-based framework: I begin each partnership with a diagnostic assessment to identify strengths, gaps and preferred learning styles, then co-construct clear, measurable goals. Sessions are structured around bite-sized objectives-whether delving into phonics and comprehension for KS1-KS3 learners or honing advanced reading and writing strategies for adult students-and built on interactive, scaffolded activities that promote critical thinking and metacognition. I employ regular formative checks and use data-driven feedback (leveraging tools like SPSS and NVivo) to adjust content and pace in real time, ensuring every lesson moves you closer to your targets. Whether face-to-face or online, my aim is to foster a supportive, confidence-building environment where progress is transparent, sustainable and genuinely transformative.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am a Philosophy and English language teacher from Southampton, England, currently residing in Stapleton, Bristol.

I hold a First Class Honours degree in Philosophy from Cardiff University (2017-2020) and a Master of Research in International Development from the University of Bath, awarded with Merit (2020-2021). Additionally I have a TEFL diploma.

Teaching Experience:
My teaching journey began in Granada, Spain, where I worked at ITACA Centro de Formación, instructing students across various proficiency levels (A1-C1) and preparing them for IELTS and Cambridge examinations. I developed engaging lesson plans tailored to students' educational needs and provided targeted interventions to enhance learning outcomes. Upon returning to the UK, I began to work as a Philosophy tutor adapting lessons to individual learning styles and supporting students in improving their communication skills. This diverse experience has honed my ability to teach complex subjects effectively to a wide range of learners.

Tutoring Approach:
In my philosophy tutoring, I emphasize a personalized and student-centred approach. I believe in adapting my teaching methods to meet the unique needs and learning styles of each student, fostering a supportive and engaging learning environment. My focus is on developing critical thinking and analytical skills essential for success in philosophy. I am well-versed in the AQA A-level Philosophy specification, which offers a comprehensive curriculum designed to develop students' interest and knowledge in the subject, as well as their analytical and critical thinking skills. Additionally, I am knowledgeable about the Edexcel Religious Studies A-level.. My goal is to equip students with the skills and confidence needed to excel in their examinations and to cultivate a deep understanding and appreciation of philosophical inquiry.

Subjects