Banbury Study Skills Tutors and Banbury Study Skills Tuition

Personal Description:
For over a decade now I have worked with a diverse range of students, engendering a passion for learning as well as producing tangible results. I prefer a flexible and dynamic approach crafted from an understanding that we are each upon a unique learning pathway according to our particular styles, aspirations, aptitudes and needs.

"Thank you very much for the great work you did with my daughter Sophie. She progressed from a 'C' grade to an 'A' grade in the space of 6 months and I would have no hesitation in recommending you to friends." - Billy, Bangor

Teaching Experience:
"The learning exercises were always set around my interest areas, making tuition both fun and effective. Following my sessions with Andrew, I have developed a more concise way of communicating. My writing now has more flow, which helps me say what I need to say." - Neil , Newtownabbey

I'm passionate about nurturing the potential of each student with whom I have the privilege to work. With over 8 years experience as a Learning Coach with countless individuals and groups, Diploma in Life Coaching as well as a successful university graduate (1st class hons in Philosophy) and additional Masters research degree in Developmental Psychology, I previously taught at Secondary school and most recently trained nursing professionals to pass their IELTS exams.

I am also a regular public speaker and workshop leader in the private health sector, delivering courses in areas from stress-management and communication skills, to self-care and personal development.

Tutoring Approach:
"Andrew was very professional in his approach to tutoring. My daughter gained confidence in her ability to understand her subject and to recall information using association techniques which proved very useful in her examinations."
Grainne, Randalstown

This coaching-based approach I take has proven highly successful. I approach each student and the sessions with an open mind to learn what I need to be of support.

Combining motivational coaching techniques, I offer a uniquely engaging, personally attuned service. The first lesson typically consists of a complimentary educational assessment (usually 30 minutes) to help identify key areas for improvement . All results can be shared with the parent/guardian. Based on this initial assessment, a 100% individual and tailored programme of learning is created. While encouraging the student to adopt high yet realistically achievable targets for their own education, I am also sensitive to the level of each student and what he or she is ready to adopt.

3 EXAMPLES OF HOW I HELP FOR LITERATURE-BASED TASKS:

1. Working from the question to the answer: appreciating and understanding key requirements of a question, and any relevant marking criteria.

2. How best to structure and qualify sentences so that the answer is complete and accurate.

3. Most effective study / revision / exam techniques such as mind-mapping, worked answers, memorising.


AREAS COVERED / WHAT TO EXPECT

My specialist subjects at all most levels are literature-based and the human sciences particularly philosophy, religion and ethics. Alongside these, I also specialise in 'study skills', offering a very personalised, tailored approach that incorporates motivational coaching on exam and essay skills, ensuring maximum value for investment of your time, money and effort.

**Upon request I am also able to provide emotional literacy around life skills such as: motivation, communication, self belief and concentration.

"I would like to take the opportunity to thank you for tutoring Philip this year; he adapted well with you as his new tutor and enjoyed your approach to teaching.
"I would have no hesitation in recommending Andrew as a tutor. I found him to be polite, courteous, reliable, and accommodating."
- Doreen, Ballyclare

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am a qualified Science teacher with over 10 years of classroom experience and 18+ years of tutoring expertise, specialising in KS3 and KS4. I have also successfully supported learners across KS1, KS2, KS5 and adult education. With a BSc (Hons) in Pharmacology and an MSc in Educational Leadership and Management, I deliver clear, engaging and results-focused lessons that build confidence and secure excellent progress. My scientific background enriches my teaching, enabling students to grasp complex concepts with ease and apply them effectively in exams.

Teaching Experience:
I am a former AQA GCSE examiner for Biology, Chemistry and Physics, with experience marking live examination papers and applying grade boundary criteria accurately and consistently.

I have over 8 years of classroom teaching experience, including 6 years in inner-city secondary schools and 2 years in a specialist SEN provision, where I successfully supported learners with dyslexia, autism and challenging behaviour. My expertise is strongly rooted in KS3 and KS4 Science, delivering both Combined Science and Triple Science pathways across Biology, Chemistry and Physics.

I have planned and delivered high-quality, curriculum-aligned lessons informed by QCA guidance at Key Stage 3, and have taught GCSE content across multiple examination boards, including AQA, Edexcel, WJEC and OCR. I have also written and adapted schemes of work, assessment materials and differentiated learning resources to ensure full compliance with the latest curriculum reforms and to support pupils in achieving strong outcomes.

Tutoring Approach:
My teaching philosophy is centred on identifying each learner's starting point, pinpointing areas for development, and transforming those weaknesses into strengths over time. I am a strong advocate of personalised learning, and I create bespoke resources-including concise educational videos, mind maps, and simplified flashcards-to make complex concepts accessible and memorable.

I take a diagnostic and adaptive approach during the first week to determine which learning methods best suit the student. Based on these insights, I design a tailored progress plan that includes clear goals, appropriate pacing, and systematic progress tracking. My aim is not only to enhance subject knowledge but also to unlock confidence, resilience, and independent learning skills.

For students with limited time before an exam, I adapt this approach into a focused, accelerated programme that prioritises high-impact topics, targeted revision strategies, and exam-style practice, ensuring they make rapid, measurable progress and feel fully prepared within the time available.

Subjects

Personal Description:
My passion is to help develop confidence in young people both academically and their emotional wellbeing. As well as a qualified teacher I am an Accredited Practitioner Coach and work 1-1 with students to build confidence, self-esteem and reduce anxiety. I use these skills to support students in managing exam pressure and work load as well as helping them stay organised to reduce the overwhelm that comes with exams.

I love teaching and watching my students grow. I can create a comfortable and positive learning environment quickly so that the student feels at ease and ready to learn. My role as a teacher and a coach allows me the opportunity to inspire and empower students of all abilities to enjoy education and achieve their full potential.

Teaching Experience:
I have twenty years experience in education with outstanding success in adding value to students. I specialise in teaching Business Studies and ICT I have also ran my own business, so I can offer my students real-life examples of how businesses are run. I plan my lessons to identify gaps in knowledge and understanding. Once these gaps have been filled I move onto to building the students confidence in exam skills. I have taught all major exam boards.

Experienced in supporting students with the following courses -

Btec Business Level 2 and 3
Edexcel and AQA GCSE Business
Cambridge iGCSE in Business
Oxford AQA International GCSE
Edexcel International A Level in Business
Edexcel, AQA, Wjec and Eduqas A Level Business

Tutoring Approach:
I am a friendly and inspiring tutor. My philosophy is to make learning a pleasurable experience for the student. I teach with passion and authority. My friendly and approachable teaching style combines tried and tested teaching techniques and learning strategies.

I believe that education is the key to success for students of any age. As a tutor, I hope to motivate students in ascertaining their inner strength and abilities and discovering what truly inspires them. I aim to provide a stimulating learning environment that encourages students to trust their own opinions, while fostering confidence in order for students to realise their full potential.

Subjects

Personal Description:
Coupled with considerable experience of working in top business universities, as a Professor I presently hold a visiting professorship with Buckingham University. This integrates predominantly working with Masters and PhD students as a lecturer, tutor, assessor and mentor. This is supplemented with wide knowledge of awarding bodies through my role as a principal examiner with the CQI. My f/t role incorporates as Head of Continuous Improvement for the NPS. A highly qualified trainer/lecturer with a PGCE, assessor awards, post graduate diploma and advanced skills trainer status. I also possess a MBA and a PhD in Lean from Aston University. I am also a Master Blackbelt and possess senior project management qualifications./experience. I have held senior positions in education and industry within the field of Learning and Development with an excess of thirty years experience. My present part-time roles; namely a principal examiner for the "Chartered Quality Institute" - a global authority in this field - coupled with visiting lectureship with Buckingham University maintains my professional knowledge and skills. I am continuing my cutting edge research and professional development reflected to date by articles published in internationally renowned journals; invitations to present at thirteen international conferences as a key-note speaker and am working on my third book depicting an elevated degree of communicational expertise.

Teaching Experience:
• Head of Continuous Improvement; Probation Service
As "Head of Continuous Improvement" for the Probation Service, my role primarily involves managing the organisation towards a greater maturity level in continuous improvement. This includes supporting the change management teams to ensure resource is focussed in those areas requiring most backing to achieve the transformational vision. I run and maintain externally accredited programmes.
• Quality Assurance Manager; April 2005 - Present; NOMS Civil Service College - Rugby;
Chief scrutinizer of all learning packages to authorise their application within the Service; Internal verifier aiding areas towards awarding body accreditations, i.e., CMI, ILM and CIPD; Lecture on selective externally accredited programmes ranging from levels III to VII for staff
• Buckingham University
Visiting lectureship; co-supervisor for Doctoral students which includes advice and guidance on all aspects of their learning journey to completion. This integrates guiding them on choosing the appropriate theoretical frameworks, undertaking data capture aptly and offering advice on research modules which includes undertaking lecturing, tutoring; marking and consultancy work as and when appropriate. Main work involves dissertation at MBA and PhD thesis (ensuring literature reviews, methodologies, conceptual frameworks, analysis (as a Master Back belt) and having seen over eight candidates to completion at PhD, am fully familiar with the broad requirements. At MBA the modules I have worked with over 40 students on are: Managerial Economics, Marketing Management, Organisational Behaviour, Corporate Finance, Corporate Innovation and Intrapreneurship, Creating and sustaining value and Strategic management. The main work has involved supporting the MBA students with their dissertations.
• Chartered Quality Institute
Devise assessments, marking and moderation policies for under and post-graduate modules
• Staffordshire University Regional Federation - Stoke
Senior Management Lecturer and Advanced Skills Lecturer and Module Leader July 2000 - April 2005
Wrote, lectured and assessed programmes to under and post-graduate students
Dissertation tutor and managed college accreditation to CIMA, CMI and CIPS programmes
Senior NVQ assessor and internal verifier on management NVQs run by Stoke College
• Burton College 1997- 2000; P/t lecturer on management courses ranging from levels III to VII
• 2005 -2022 - Freelance Private tutor in spare time on areas identified; have tutored from GCSE to students undertaking PhD programmes. Specialise in helping MBA students too.

Tutoring Approach:
I have substantial experience of one - to- one teaching, coaching and mentoring students and managers in a work environment.
Most of my recent projects have concentrated on masters students and in particular MBAs. The end goal of the candidate is always paramount, i.e., if preparing them for an exam the subject knowledge and familiarity of past papers is imperative. My approach incorporates determining the learning style, ability and time available with the learner; this can range from a very methodical style, i.e., provide knowledge and then re-cap to a more fluid approach if favoured by the candidate.
The time spent with the candidates should be used effectively and leave home-work for periods between sessions ensuring learning is reinforced. Since 2005 I have substantive experience of Private tutoring in my spare time on areas identified; have tutored to a level of students ranging from GCSEs to those undertaking PhDs. Most of the work is done via Teams or Zoom to reduce the time commitments whilst aiding the flexibility levels.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am an experienced teacher, with subject specialisms in both Literacy & Numeracy. I have over 12 years experience of working in educational settings from Secondary to Higher Education. I have a PGCE teaching qualification with Qualified Teaching & Learning Status, a BA Hons degree in Social Science and a Master's degree in Multimedia & E-learning. I am a strong advocate of Lifelong Learning with a commitment to delivering high standards of teaching.

Teaching Experience:
I have over 12 years experience of teaching Literacy/English, Study Skills including research skills & academic writing skills for undergraduates and access students; Reading and Writing Skills for all ages and levels of ability, GCSE & Functional Maths and Sociology for both GCSE & A'Level. I have taught at a variety of educational establishments including York College & York St John University, as well as private training companies and individual tutoring.

Tutoring Approach:
I have a calm, patient and friendly approach to teaching and believe in the importance of individual learning styles and approaches. I am able to apply an adaptable approach to teaching, which enables learners to remain motivated whilst working towards success in their goals.

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:
Ben is a Fully Qualified Art and Design Teacher who works as a secondary Art and Photography teacher. He also teaches fine Art and Photography at A-Level. He is a Highly technically and artistically accomplished Artist and Photographer. Ben has been quoted by professors at a university as a master of studio photography and a technical wizz in both digital and traditional post-processing.
Ben aims to spend time chatting with you in advance so that your time with him can be tailored to your needs and is much more productive.

In 2019, Ben started developing his teaching skills and enrolled with Teach SouthEast, one of England's top teacher training schools, which also holds an Ofsted Outstanding rating. The school is known to have a very high reputation for academic rigour and is a research-led teaching school. All of Ben's Mentors and subject tutors have commended on his extensive subject knowledge, especially in photography. Ben Graduated with a Qualified Teacher Status in June 2020 and is Fully Enhanced DBS check. Ben is now employed as a Secondary Art and Photography Teacher and teacher KS3,4,& 5.

Please feel free to contact me, and I would be happy to tailor a teaching package to your needs; I am experienced in AQA, Pearson / Edexcel, Educas and OCR exam boards. Or if you are an adult learner or amature professional just looking to advance your knowledge and skills whether it be Beginner, Intermediate or Advanced, as i previously worked proffessionaly including business consutancy.

Ben was educated in Guildford and specialised in the expressive arts. During these years, his creative flare became more apparent.

Ben progressed onto doing a Foundation Degree in Action Photography at Truro College where he specialised in sports Extreme Sports, Natural History, Social Documentary and Events Photography following this he began to prepare for a more commercial direction. Ben still maintained his roots in expressive art during the foundation degree but also developed his technical skills thoroughly, and this has been commented on though out his professional and teaching life.

In 2009, he progressed on to Plymouth University to study for his BA Honours in Photography where he achieved a (2.1) During this course, he spent time intricately studying the history of art and photography, and Ben spent many hours mastering skills in studio large and medium format photography. He concluded the year specialising in colour film, Medium format studio photography and focusing mainly on portraiture, with a project called 'The Paradox of Perfect Beauty'.

This study challenges the ideologies of what is defined as beauty throughout art history, sculpture, and figurative representation. It critically analyses the standardised figures and body shape used in art as well as in modern-day commercial advertising, fashion and other types of portraiture.

Ben worked for 3.5 years at an Apple APR shop in Guildford so has a very in-depth knowledge of Apple technology and software and during this time taught people of all ages to use Apple computer something he still tutors to this day in.

I prefer to teach over a 2-hour basis, and this allows for focused study and practical time of guided activity further to this I will travel for a lesson but ask that travel expenses are paid.
Lastly, due to previous experiences, I ask that 50% of the total job is paid upfront as a non refundable deposits on acceptance of the agreed package. I ask this due to the fact I have to pay the tutoring site based on the agreed amount a fee.

Teaching Experience:
I have been tutoring photography from many years to all different ages and abilities from young kid's to University and Mature Learners, I started my teaching with teaching English in Thailand and working as an assistant youth worker and having to teach different subject and activities. I have furthered my experience with children running children Holiday camps over the School Holidays.

Further to this I am a fully qualified secondary and college Art and photography teacher with 6 years experience in bot2h state and private settings. This includes nearly 2 years in a specialised school for student with ECHP's and Autism, ADHD, ODDand PDA
All my student have gained high mark some have, with my tuition jumped 4-5 grades.
At gcse 1 student in February or year 11 was predicted a 2 and gain a high 8 , another who had failed all other subject including English at gcse gained a B in A-level photography including an essay even though many including her self had written tem off.

Tutoring Approach:
I have a relaxed approach to teaching, trying to view someone's work objectively but giving prods and direction where needed. I like for my students to discover the answer themselves as this embeds the knowledge and allows them to master their subject. Upon realising that they can achieve and have mastered the skills needed, the satisfaction you see from them is the best part of the job. Every achievement is praised, and every downfall is considered not a failure but part of the learning curve.

I encourage mistakes, as these are the things we learn from, and I have a vast bank of resources to use that come from my everyday life as a teacher.

But the main thing is this is not a school, and we have fun!

Subjects

Personal Description:
Law essay and dissertation writing support. I am a University of Cambridge law tutor who can help you write a first class grade law dissertation or essay. I have over 8 years of experience in legal practice and teaching law at undergraduate, postgraduate, and executive level. I was a law lecturer at the University of Reading and have learnt the best teaching techniques. I have completed over 300 hours of private law tuition and all my students successfully gained 1st class (70%) or high 2.1 grades (65 - 70%) as a minimum. I can help with law assignments, essay writing, law dissertations, and exam preparation.

Teaching Experience:
My legal career started soon after I graduated with a masters degree from the University of Cambridge in 2013. I have worked as an in-house lawyer for a successful company - International Probiotics Association. Teaching law has always been my passion and hence private tuition has been my supplementary job since June 2013. I have experience in teaching law for both students and legal professionals having worked at the University of Reading.

Tutoring Approach:
I teach all LLB and LLM subjects, including core/compulsory undergraduate subjects. I can also help to structure your law essay or dissertation and proofread it. I can also help with Cambridge and Oxford admissions interviews and A-level Law exam preparation.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am a native Arabic speaker, very passionate and knowledgeable Arabic teacher.
Teaching on a part-time basis at the moment.
Academically, I have two master degrees; one in conflict, governance and development at university of York in UK., and the second is an executive MBA from Dauphine University, France in cooperation with HIBA in Syrian and Saint Joseph in Lebanon. Further, my BA was in English Language and Literature.
Professionally, I'm a Certified Management Consultant (CMC) with 20 years experience in development sectors within public, private and international organizations in various countries.
I worked for more than 4 years with the North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Office in policy and delivering projects.

Teaching Experience:
I have more than 11 years experience delivering lessons focused on the interests and needs of student/ clients.
Knowledgeable of standard instruction principles, modern tools for teaching Arabic to Non-Arabic speakers (English, Turkish, Indians, Italians and Germans).
This experience has equipped me by fully require qualifications from planning the course, teaching theories and methods to communication.
Ability to handle both administrative and teaching duties with a high degree of professionalism.). Besides to solid English-to-Arabic translation abilities.

Tutoring Approach:
My approaches are SMART and holistic in nature, and take in my account the culture sensitivity for each student. I am friendly and responsive, authoritative vs. authoritarian. My teaching style is more customized to meet the defined objectives. Sometime could be formal or informal, especially for students under 18 years.

Subjects

Personal Description:
Hello and thank you for taking the time to read my profile. My name is Dr. Alisdair and I am a part time tutor with with eighteen years experience teaching psychology and research methods & statistics. I am currently the Head of Psychology at one of the top online schools. Developing and enhancing a student's learning experience is something I am passionate about. To achieve this, I employ a patient approach to tutoring, ensuring that students have an enjoyable, challenging and interesting experience. My teaching style relies on honesty, dedication and transparency. I aim to offer you a bespoke tutoring service that meets your requirements, be it face to face, or via online technology.

Studying and tutoring for many years has given me experience in realising the pressures that students face, and I'm able to use my awareness and knowledge to motivate learners. I have a real appreciation for how people learn and are able to adapt my teaching to different learning styles. I try to make lessons informative and fun, ensuring that the student takes an active part in the lesson. I feel my academic experience has given me the necessary skills to help students reach their full academic ability.

Teaching Experience:
One of my subjects of expertise is psychology. Having studied, researched and taught/tutored psychology to numerous students, I am well placed to help you with assignments, exams and general course content in all areas of the subject, including; cognitive, social, developmental, research methods and more. Whether you are studying for a degree or beginning your journey into psychology at GCSE or A-Level, I can help you to get to grips with this fascinating subject.

My other main area of expertise is in research methods/statistics. Since 2006 I have provided support to individuals from a range of backgrounds, including students studying social sciences, life sciences and humanities. My experience extends to helping employees with their data analysis. If you are struggling to interpret your analysis, or need help using SPSS, or if you want to understand more about statistics then please do get in touch.

If you would like support with learning English as a second language (ESL) then I can help you. Please do contact me if you would like to practise speaking or are having difficulty reading and writing in English. I can support you with vocabulary comprehension and word meanings for example.

I have experience in tutoring students with assisted learning needs, including; Asperger syndrome, dyslexia and dyspraxia. My one to one teaching experience extends to the supervision of final year undergraduates and Masters students, therefore I have coherently supported and guided students through empirical projects, improving skills such as literature search & review, analysis and scientific writing.

Qualifications:
My first degree was in psychology (BSc Hons). I then went on to complete a Masters (MRes) in psychological methods, followed by a PhD in psychology/cognitive neuroscience. I also obtained a 'Teach English as a foreign language' (TEFL) certificate.

Awards:
Excellence in Teaching - Awarded by Bournemouth University in 2013.

Feedback:
Below are some examples of student and parent feedback that I have received across various sites:

Lisa (Lily) 5/5
Alisdair was an amazing Tutor for my daughter. Her A Level tutor went on sick leave the term before her A Level exam, and after an initial couple of one to one meetings, we settled upon a series of Skype tutorials which were brilliant. Alisdair would send key exam questions for my daughter to do prior to the Skype tutorial, and she would send them back to him to mark before their tutorial. The system was so engaging and efficient that she went from a grade D in her mock A-Level to a grade A in her actual A-Level exam. Alisdair is flexible, personable and very effective. I would totally recommend his services.

Michelle (Sammy) 5/5
An excellent tutor - patient, kind, encouraging, and well organised with great resources. We used Alisdair`s services both for one to one sessions and online in the run-up to my daughter`s A-levels when she experienced a pre-exam confidence crisis. She found him to be an effective and empathetic tutor, with an obvious enthusiasm for his subject. We really appreciated Alisdair`s experience, which enabled him to work out how best to support my daughter and get her back on track. Alisdair was incredibly helpful, and very flexible in his scheduling of sessions. A`levels are now over, and I am sure that Alisdair`s help made a huge difference. Highly recommended!

Jeremy 5/5
Alisdair helped me with my final major project, both with the statistics, and academic writing. I was very happy to achieve a first for the project and I can`t thank him enough for his help. I learned a lot with his tutoring and improved my understanding of statistics and my academic writing. I now feel more confident going into my Msc next September. He was very fast at responding to my questions and emails and was always very positive and helpful.

Nicki 5/5
I've had the pleasure of knowing Alisdair for over a year, during which time he tutored me with my undergraduate psychology degree. Above all, he has excellent subject knowledge along with the ability to convey complex information in a simple and easy to understand manner. He made light work of SPSS and report writing as well as guiding me to a deeper understanding of psychological concepts. Alisdair's friendly personality immediately put me at ease and he knew the correct level of challenge to ensure that I gained a good grade for my dissertation. I cannot thank him enough! He is a truly talented tutor - smart, efficient, professional, and comes with my heartfelt recommendation.

Mark 5/5
Alisdair is an exceedingly knowledgeable, friendly and patient tutor who responds promptly and with amazing clarity on even the most complicated of SPSS issues. He has a great understanding of the planning and organisational problems associated with dyspraxia, and was of enormous help to my son during his MSc project, keeping him calm and giving advice where needed. I only wish we had discovered him earlier! My son has achieved a Distinction at Masters level, and without Alisdair's reassuring and friendly discussions I don't think he would have managed to even finish his project. I would recommend Alisdair highly as a tutor.

Maha 5/5
The best tutor ever, he makes everything so clear and he trying his best to make sure I understood what we had in the session and clearly he is so kind as person and tutor!

Tutoring Approach:
Other services:
If you require help with developing your study skills, including; revision techniques, essay planning, critical thinking and more, then I can help you to hone your study skills set. In addition, feel free to contact me if you would like your work to be proofread. I will check your document to ensure the spelling and grammar is watertight. If you need me to, I can provide you with comments using track changes with suggestions/edits to improve the quality of the document, for example, the structure, scientific standard and whether you have answered the assignment question. Having published numerous scientific articles, I appreciate and understand the need for precision in the preparation of your work, therefore I'd be happy to help you with things such as APA formatting and preparing a manuscript for publication. Please take a look at the tasks I can help you with below.

Examples of tasks I can help you with:
Understanding concepts/theories/studies
GCSE/A-Level exam technique
GCSE/A-Level homework
Revision techniques
Critical thinking/reading/writing
Essay planning / editing
Report planning / editing / suggestions for improvement
Presentation planning
Dissertation/thesis planning/editing/suggestions for improvement
Preparing manuscripts for publication
Literature search/review
Help with systematic reviews/Meta analysis
Experimental design
Data analysis/selecting appropriate tests/interpretation/reporting analysis
Using SPSS/JASP
Figures and tables
Addressing Reviewer's and Editor's comments
Proofreading
APA formatting / referencing
ESL

Other details:
I also offer tuition via Skype, Zoom and e-mail for those students who do not want to meet in person, or live far away. Therefore I can fully explain any concepts, ideas or subject content that you need help with, and give verbal and written help with assignments and exam prep online.
A-Level exam boards I have tutored students on include; AQA, OCR and CIE. I have many resources, including; mind-maps, evaluation sheets, research study summaries, past exam papers, quizzes and more.
Please enquire directly to me about availability, do not go by tutoring website calendars.
Lessons cancelled less than 12 hours before the scheduled start time will incur a 50% charge, as will no-shows.
Student/parents will be asked to cover travel expenses/time for travel costs if lessons are to take place at the student's home or public place. It is £5 if you need me to travel up to 8 miles away, then 50p for any additional mile over that.
Group sessions (up to 3 students) can be arranged also, please enquire.

Subjects

Personal Description:
My name is Oladipo.
I completed a degree in electrical engineering at a leading UK University.
I love studying and this love for studying has made me want to give back in the form of teaching.
I am enthusiastic about teaching.
My students achieve their desired grades.
I have tutored university students to achieve high scores.
Studied Medicine at University of Buckingham

Teaching Experience:
I have taught many students online.
I have over 10 years of teaching experience.
I have plenty of experience in teaching the science subjects.

Tutoring Approach:
I help students understand the subject area that I will be teaching.
I assist with learning skills.
I am flexible with times of teaching.
I can tutor in person or via Skype.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am a foreign qualified Barrister and Solicitor with 2 years post call experience since graduating in the UK.I have practice experience within government public policy advisory, Corporate and commercial law as well as financial operations with a focus on pension fund investments.

Teaching Experience:
I have taught young students within Nigeria.

Tutoring Approach:
Friendly, engaging and challenging whilst also tailoring teaching methods to student capabilities.

Subjects

Personal Description:
Background:
• BA (hons) Fine Art,
• Master of Fine Art Photography
• Photography teacher with 20 + years experience.

Enhanced DBS (on update service)


Please contact me if you are struggling to access tutoring financially as I may be able to offer discounts.

Please Note: Any tutoring must be booked within 3 months of request

Teaching Experience:
Experience in Levels:
• GCSE, AS, A2, City & Guilds
• Outreach, youth work, Access (to degree)
• BA photography.
• MA / MFA photography

Subjects Offered:
• Digital photography
• Analogue film photography and alternative processes.
• Art and design
• Reading and writing

Key Skills:
• Adult Mental Health Aware (MHFA England)
• Safeguarding Essentials (CYLiX)
• Emergency First Aid in the Workplace (St. Johns' Ambulance)
• Adobe Suite
• Microsoft Office Suite


Work Place Experience:
• Tutor / technical instructor BA/MFA - University for creative arts (UCA Farnham)
• Photography teacher - The Royal School, Haslemere, Surrey.
• Photography teacher / outreach placements - Alton College, Alton, Hampshire
• Facilitator art-based workshops - community hubs in Surrey and Hampshire
• Outreach Youth Hubs - Hampshire Youth Service

Tutoring Approach:
With a strong foundation in teaching, creative practice, and hands-on support roles, I offer a compassionate, adaptable, and proactive approach to education.
I've worked across a wide range of settings, from secondary and further education to 1:1 tution, SEND, hub-based art and craft sessions developing excellent communication skills, emotional resilience, and the ability to manage complex responsibilities with empathy and professionalism.
Learning should be fun and relaxed, and as such my approach is very practice based.

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!'

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Speaking

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

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

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

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

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

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

Reading

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

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

Writing

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

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

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

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

Why study English?

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

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am a Specialist Dyslexia Tutor with over 10 years' experience of supporting students in secondary, further and higher education. I am a Professional Member of the British Dyslexia Association and Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

I am passionate about helping students achieve their potential. My experience has shown me just what a difference one-to-one tutoring and specialist intervention can make. Not only have I seen the improvement in my students' academic ability, but the difference to their self-esteem and confidence has been immeasurable.

Teaching Experience:
I am a fully qualified secondary school English teacher and have previously worked for three London universities as a Specialist Study Skills and Academic Writing Tutor. I currently work with students in the east of England.

I support students with all aspects of their academic work. I help my students to plan and write their essays with confidence, stay on track with their academic reading and most importantly - reach their academic potential. My knowledge and experience enable me to use a blend of specialist teaching strategies which help students to understand and work with, rather than against, their dyslexia.

My tuition also helps students develop strategies to learn effectively and successfully online.

I also regularly carry out full dyslexia screenings. This is a comprehensive test which is followed by a detailed feedback report.

Tutoring Approach:
When working with students my aim is to boost their confidence, and in turn their ability, through friendly, patient and creative tutoring. My lessons are tailored towards the individual strengths and talents of the learner and are designed to improve their writing and study skills, whilst also enabling them to become successful independent learners.

My tuition always begins with an assessment of needs. Prior to our first session, I will request any diagnostic assessment reports you may have. This will enable me to gain an understanding of your unique dyslexic profile.

Together, we will discuss what you would like to achieve during our sessions. We will consider your strengths and areas for development and subsequently identify your learning goals. Based on this discussion, we will create a learning plan with clear objectives and review dates. Learning goals will give our sessions a clear focus and allow us to jointly evaluate your progress.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am a compassionate and dedicated individual with a strong drive to support and empower young people, especially those facing educational challenges. My personality is warm, patient, and approachable, which helps me build rapport and trust with children and young adults alike. I pride myself on my creativity, always thinking outside the box to make learning engaging and relevant. I am flexible, proactive, and committed to going the extra mile to help my learners reach their full potential.

In my free time, I enjoy outdoor activities like gardening and caring for animals. I also love exploring creative pursuits such as cooking and crafting, which I often incorporate into my teaching to make learning practical and hands-on. Additionally, I have a passion for classic games like Upwords, Cribbage, and Sudoku, which challenge my mind and help me relax. Spending quality time with my family and my pets brings me great joy, and I find fulfilment in making a positive impact in my community.

Teaching Experience:
I approach my role with a high degree of flexibility and adaptability, understanding that each child or client has unique needs, preferences, and circumstances that can change over time. In working with young people, especially those with additional needs, I have found that being responsive and adaptable is key to creating a supportive and effective learning environment.

I tailor my approach to each individual, adjusting my teaching and mentoring methods based on their strengths, challenges, and moods. For example, with children who may become overwhelmed or anxious, I am prepared to adjust the pace or format of activities and introduce calming or sensory-friendly strategies. When working with children who have ADHD or other attention challenges, I incorporate active breaks or hands-on tasks to keep them engaged and focused.

In addition to adapting to the needs of the child, I also remain flexible with parents and clients, accommodating scheduling changes or shifts in focus as needed to best support the child's overall development. My ability to adapt has proven essential in supporting each young person as they progress, ensuring they have the stability, encouragement, and responsiveness they need to succeed.

Overall, my flexibility allows me to meet each child and client where they are, creating a responsive and personalized approach that promotes both comfort and growth.

I have extensive experience working with children who have a range of Special Educational Needs (SEN), including Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC), ADHD, dyslexia, Social, Emotional, and Mental Health (SEMH) challenges, and other complex needs. My approach is grounded in patience, empathy, and adaptability, allowing me to connect with each child in a way that respects their individual learning style and pace.

With children on the autism spectrum, I focus on creating a predictable and supportive environment that reduces anxiety and enhances engagement. I use visual aids, structured routines, and sensory-friendly strategies to help them feel comfortable and supported. For those with ADHD, I incorporate short, engaging tasks and active breaks to aid focus and reduce frustration. My goal is to make learning feel dynamic and manageable, fostering a sense of accomplishment and motivation.

When working with students with dyslexia, I employ multi-sensory approaches and tailored resources that help them process information more effectively, with a focus on building confidence in reading and writing. For children with SEMH needs, I prioritize creating a safe space where they feel heard, validated, and supported in managing their emotions. I incorporate therapeutic activities and life skills training to help them develop resilience, self-regulation, and positive coping strategies.

Throughout my work with SEN children, I adapt my teaching and mentoring approaches to meet each child's specific requirements, helping them build not only academic skills but also essential life skills. I am passionate about supporting these young people to reach their full potential, whatever their starting point or challenges.

Tutoring Approach:
I believe that building and maintaining effective working relationships is essential for creating a supportive and collaborative environment, whether with colleagues, children, clients, or parents.

In my work, I prioritise open communication, empathy, and mutual respect. With colleagues, I strive to be a reliable team player who values others' insights and expertise. I actively contribute to shared goals and offer support whenever needed, recognizing that each team member brings unique skills and perspectives. Collaboration allows us to create a more cohesive approach to supporting children, especially those with complex needs, where consistency is key.

When working with children, I focus on building trust and rapport by being approachable, patient, and respectful of each child's unique personality and needs. I create a safe space where they feel valued and supported, which helps them engage more openly and confidently. This foundation of trust not only enhances learning but also fosters their emotional growth.

With clients, I aim to establish strong professional relationships grounded in transparency and reliability. I communicate openly about goals, challenges, and progress to ensure we are aligned in supporting the child's development. This includes sharing insights and receiving feedback, so we can work together toward meaningful outcomes.

For relationships with parents, I recognize the importance of collaboration and trust. I am open and communicative, keeping them informed of their child's progress and any challenges, while also being receptive to their input and concerns. This partnership allows us to work as a team, ensuring the child's needs are met both at home and during sessions.

In all my interactions, I am committed to fostering positive relationships that promote collaboration, growth, and well-being for the children and families I support.

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Personal Description:
I am patient, positive and empathetic. ENGLISH teaching is my success, I guarantee results and improvement. I am enthusiastic with a can-do approach. This enables my students to feel comfortable and to develop confidence I believe that making errors are part of learning. I create excellent rapport with parents and carers. I am sensitive to multicultral and multilingual groups.

Teaching Experience:
I have taught secondary English in South Africa. I have taught key stage 2 and 3 in the United Kingdom. I have been a Montessori teacher in Spain, and learned alternative holistic teaching approaches. I have taught corporate executives in Ireland (one to one and groups), I have been a key stage 2 English examiner for SATS exams, and an English Junior Certificate examiner with the Dublin Education Board. I have a wealth of experience across all age ranges and teaching is my passion.

Tutoring Approach:
learner centred, focus on learner needs, less teacher talk, more learner talk. I will provide balanced feedback and encourage my learners. i will create a positive and comfortable atmosphere.

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Personal Description:
I'm an art & craft design tutor with a passion for keeping traditional techniques alive while blending them with contemporary creativity. With 9 years of experience in textiles and craftsmanship, I specialize in Indian handwork such as chikankari, zardosi, aari embroidery, kalamkari, bobbin lace, carpets, and rugs.

As a tutor, my goal is to share skills, inspire creativity, and encourage hands-on learning. Whether it's teaching intricate stitches, design concepts, or craft-based storytelling, I love guiding learners of all levels to explore their artistic potential.

For me, art and craft are not just skills - they're a journey of patience, culture, and self-expression.

Teaching Experience:
Over the years, I have had the privilege of teaching art, craft, and textile design to learners from different age groups and backgrounds. With 9 years of professional experience in textiles and craftsmanship, I bring both practical industry knowledge and hands-on artisan skills into my teaching.

I have conducted workshops, training sessions, and one-on-one mentorships that focus on:
• Traditional Indian crafts like chikankari, zardosi, aari work, kalamkari, and bobbin lace
• Textile techniques including carpet weaving and rug design
• Creative design development, material exploration, and storytelling through craft

My teaching style is interactive, patient, and process-oriented. I believe every student should not only learn a technique but also understand its cultural heritage, design value, and potential for innovation.

What excites me most about teaching is watching learners gain confidence, skill, and creative freedom while connecting deeply with handmade traditions.

Tutoring Approach:
As a tutor, my focus is on creating a balanced learning experience that combines technical skill, creative freedom, and cultural understanding.

✨ Hands-on learning - I believe the best way to learn crafts and design is by doing. Every session includes practical exploration with materials, tools, and techniques.

✨ Personalized guidance - Each learner has a unique pace and style. I adapt my teaching to individual strengths, encouraging both beginners and advanced learners to grow with confidence.

✨ Connecting tradition & innovation - I emphasize the heritage of crafts like chikankari, zardosi, aari, kalamkari, and weaving, while also showing how these techniques can be reimagined for modern design.

✨ Process over perfection - Craft is a journey of patience and practice. I guide students to enjoy the process, experiment fearlessly, and develop their own artistic voice.

✨ Creative mindset - Beyond skills, I nurture curiosity, problem-solving, and storytelling through design - helping learners see craft as both an art form and a career path.

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