Clackmannan Study Skills Tutors and Clackmannan Study Skills Tuition

Personal Description:
I am a mature lady (60yo) with a 1st Class Electrical/Electronic Engineering Degree (B.Sc) and a Postgraduate Management qualification from Cambridge University. My own 'A' Levels were Biology, Maths and Physics with a particular focus on electronics. At University I studied Maths at degree level.

After working as an Engineer I changed career in my late 20s and moved into the world of Therapy and Healing. I trained in hypnotherapy and craniosacral therapy as well as Human Design. I have worked with young people utilising various modalities to help them gain confidence and choose careers/subjects that bring out the best in them. I studied for a time in a Rudolph Steiner environment so I appreciate the value of alternative approaches and Artistic therapies to educating young people. I was also a member of the Steiner Academy Appeals panel for some time in Hereford.

From 2009 to 2012 I worked in an Admin capacity for OFSTED travelling around Schools and Colleges up and down the SW of England. My particular area of responsibility was the safeguarding and protection of children.

In 2011 I attended an Introduction to Autism training with the HANDLE organisation as I increasingly meet young people struggling on the Autism spectrum so this topic is of particular interest to me. I would be able to help refer any child who needed more specialised care. Related to this I have also been studying Human Design which is an invaluable tool for understanding how unique we all are.

I have a non-verbal family member who I am very close to and have devoted much of the last decade to working with her and bringing out her latent ability to communicate in novel ways.

I am friendly, empathic and good with younger people. I listen and watch and adapt to each situation I meet. I endeavour to help bring out the best in people on all levels. I am offering a broad ranging expertise. I would say the help I really bring is an encouragement for the person to express who they uniquely are and to feel empowered to meet life in new ways.

I can travel to people's homes but I am allergic to cats and dogs so it may work better to hire 3rd party premises.

Teaching Experience:
I have successfully tutored Maths and Physics to High School students whilst living abroad in Canada and in the UK.

I work with a variety of ages and people from all walks of life and my skills are oriented to sensitive listening and increasing a person's confidence in themselves.

I CAN tutor Maths and Physics and Electronics but its not my forte these days to focus on this as I have not kept up with the GCSE requirements......

Tutoring Approach:
I work outside of my home in non-pet and non-smoker environments only at this time.
I ask the student to bring all relevant texts with them for the lesson.
If you also have past exam papers please also bring those..

I have recently reduced my rates in recognition of the economic climate. I am negotiable to an extent in cases of hardship so please feel free to enquire.

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Personal Description:
Hi there,
I'm a qualified science teacher and Head of Science based in London, who currently teaches in a secondary school to students aged 11-18. I teach all sciences (Biology, Chemistry and Physics) to KS3 and GCSE (Edexcel and AQA specification), and teach A-Level Biology (OCR specification). I have worked within education for the past 10 years and really love working with young people to inspire them to achieve the best they can. I appreciate that it's not always possible to get the most out of every lesson and so some students may benefit from having a personal tutor to go over areas of difficulty and to fully grasp and understand the concepts to do better in school and in assessments.

Teaching Experience:
I have worked with thousands on children in the past 10 years working within education. I enjoy the process of working with parents and students to evaluate what students' strengths and weaknesses are, and set relevant goals and smart actions to ensure progress is made both short and long-term. My main aim has always been to inspire, motivate and make students feel more confident. I believe everyone has the right to an education and that learning should be fun and for the long-term.
In addition to this, I have experience teaching students with special educational needs (SEN) or a learning difficulty, such as Autism, Aspergers, Dyslexia, ADHD. Coming from a background of researching Autism during my degrees, I worked in a SEN school based in Bermondsey and have also worked with several families during the past decade. I've had wonderful success managing their behaviour when difficult, but also coming up with creative strategies to ensure the learning is achieved.
Lastly, I have tutored students privately up to A-Level. A teacher is much more than someone who teaches you a subject, I aim to make students love learning, grow their confidence, and also give them advice on things they're struggling with. Some of my students have gone to Russell Group universities.

Tutoring Approach:
For me, every student is an individual and no one learns in the exact same way. It's so important to be adaptable and honest with learning, so I focus on delivering lessons based on your learning style and personality, using a variety of exercises and methods. I am very hands on when teaching, I think energy and perseverance brings the best out of each student. I also put problems into context and make sure to be creative, but once an idea is understood, I think the key emphasis is to practice and repeat. I work with a lot of structure and am very organised which allows students to not feel overwhelmed with the amount of information, but to rather understand it in very easy applicable steps and for the long-term. I also think it's important to transfer these skills to the students I tutor so I will ensure I support them with their organisation and work ethic, by mentoring them.
I am very accessible, supportive, calm and patient. I make learning fun and enthusiastic while being still able to be strict and regimented. I am highly organised and always listen to feedback to better improve the student-teacher relationship.

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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.

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Personal Description:
I am a published academic author, educated to doctorate level, with twenty years' experience of teaching university students undertaking foundation, undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, including both UK and international students.

I have experience of working with students from a range of backgrounds, cultures and age groups, with differing interests and needs. I have worked with students with anxiety, mental health issues and learning difficulties, and understand the need to provide flexible learning to meet a range of access requirements.

I support both UK and international PhD students with every stage of the research journey, from designing research projects and conducting literature reviews, to developing writing skills, collecting and analysing data, and preparing for upgrades, vivas, or conference presentations.

Alongside teaching, I bring extensive expertise as a researcher, writer and editor. I have published academic work and proofread and edited reports, theses and assignments. This professional experience has provided me with a wealth of knowledge and skills to support not just students, but also academics with their publications.

For foundation and undergraduate students, I recognise that the variety of subjects, assignments and exams can feel overwhelming and overshadow the excitement of university life. My role is to help students build both their confidence and skills so that these challenges become manageable rather than daunting.

Each session is student-led, tailored to individual goals and needs. I provide support with planning assignments, structuring essays and exam answers, researching and conducting reviews of the literature, preparing for seminars and delivering presentations, as well as referencing and compiling bibliographies.

Teaching Experience:
My combined experience as a lecturer, private tutor, and researcher has led to a well-rounded approach to teaching and a deep understanding of academic expectations. Over the course of my career, I have refined my expertise through:

• Delivering lectures, seminars and tutorials across various social science subjects.

• Providing comprehensive feedback by marking essays, exams, dissertations and PhD theses. This has strengthened both my appreciation of academic expectations and insight into student needs.

• Supervising undergraduate and postgraduate dissertations and participating in PhD examination panels, guiding students whilst encouraging independent research.

• Developing a range of teaching materials for diverse courses. This has included a core Study Skills module, which equips students with essential academic skills, such as:

- Researching and note-taking
- Structuring academic work
- Developing writing styles
- Mastering referencing and bibliography construction
- Delivering presentations
- Preparing for exams
- Reflecting on learning

Designing this module enabled me to evaluate, refine and build a comprehensive suite of study skills resources that I continue to use and share with my students in their academic journeys.

My research and publication experience has also provided me with a strong understanding of academic standards and requirements, and I use this knowledge and experience to provide the most valuable support for students.

Tutoring Approach:
I create a supportive, friendly, and practical learning environment where students are always at the centre. Drawing on my experience with diverse learners and teaching approaches, I adapt my methods to each individual's needs. This flexible style supports students to discover the strategies that work best for them, building both confidence and independence.

My sessions are professional and informative, whilst also enjoyable and relaxed. This creates a positive learning experience that not only strengthens student confidence but also leads to academic success. I provide reassurance to students about what they are doing right, whilst offering clear, constructive guidance to help them refine their skills and achieve their full potential.

My approach consistently delivers results. Past students have demonstrated marked grade improvements, successful PhD upgrades, and strong viva performances. More importantly, they have developed lasting skills and self-confidence in their academic abilities.

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Personal Description:
I am a qualified teacher and Cambridge graduate with 15 years of experience tutoring both science and maths. I focus on improving confidence and fostering a deeper understanding of each topic. By relating theoretical concepts to everyday ideas, I help students find the common-sense structure hiding behind abstract numbers and theories. I also provide guidance on revision technique and intensive exam preparation.

Teaching Experience:
I grew up in Bedford, UK and attended Dame Alice Harpur School (now Bedford Girls' School) before moving to Cambridge to study Natural Sciences at Queens' College. In 2008, I started tutoring during the evenings and weekends. Upon the completion of my M.Sci, I relocated to Oxford to create science and maths teaching resources at a local publishing firm - all the while continuing to tutor in my spare time.

Whilst living in Oxford, I found I enjoyed being a tutor so much, that I chose to leave my day job and pursue tuition as a full-time career in December 2012. Two years later, I transferred to London to set up home with my now husband and continued to work as a tutor. However, I found that I had free time during the school day and I wanted to improve my teaching skills, and gain formal recognition for those I had already acquired. I embarked on a two-year part-time teacher training course - secondary school science with a specialism in physics.

I was offered a role at my training school, and took up a position at a local Academy as a teacher of both science and maths. During this period, I undertook extensive training regarding the change to the new (9 - 1) GCSEs and became familiar with the International Baccalaureate - both the diploma and the career-related programme.

In 2016, my husband and I returned to Bedford to start our family and I accepted a position at a local boys' school, teaching science from year 6 to A-level. Following the birth of our daughter 5 years ago, I decided to once again return to full-time tuition in order to spend more time with my growing family.

Tutoring Approach:
I tailor each lesson to suit the student's needs. The first few lessons usually focus on getting to know the student and their strengths and weaknesses. I identify areas for improvement and use subsequent lessons to work on these, as well as ensuring that the student is comfortable with the whole of the syllabus. Closer to the exam season, we will focus on improving question technique and creating links across the curriculum.

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Personal Description:
I currently work as an IT Specialist at an Investment Bank.

I am able to provide in person or online tutoring in Economics, Politics, Business and Geography. I have taken A Levels in Economics, Politics and Geography and obtained a First Class Bsc Business Management Degree at King's College London Business School in 2017. I achieved an A* in my A Level Economics with a score in the high nineties.

There is an additional charge if travel is required to the tutee.

Teaching Experience:
Past experience as a Private Tutor in A Level Economics, Business and Geography for 4 students.

Tutoring Approach:
I am a passionate tutor who has clear teaching techniques which help my students consolidate their knowledge and build their confidence in the subject matter so they are prepared for success. I have had tutoring experience with my students which have allowed them to achieve high marks.

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Personal Description:
I have a BA Honours Degree in English Studies from Aleppo University in Syria in 2000. I embarked on two Postgraduate Diplomas at Aleppo University one in Linguistics (2002); the other in Education and Qualification in 2003. In both of these Diplomas I was awarded a Distinction. In 2002, I was fortunate in gaining a scholarship to study in the UK and was nominated to study in the department of Language and Linguistics at the University of Essex. I found this course to be immensely useful to me as a TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) professional as I was able to observe a range of different EAP (English for Academic Purposes)classrooms; make academic presentations and really developed my love of scholarship which fired me with the enthusiasm to read for a PhD degree. I finished my doctorate in TESOL at the University of Ulster entitled "EAP Teachers Approaches to Giving Written Feedback on Academic Writing in British and Syrian ELT Centres". . I am extremely interested in teaching the language skills (as my recent doctorate shows). I am extremely hard working and sociable. I have good comparative knowledge of Western and Islamic societies which I could share with students where pertinent. I also have two qualifications from Ulster University in Peer Mentoring and Counselling.

I have strong interpersonal, communication, and classroom management skills and self-motivator. Apart from being an interesting experience in itself, tutoring is an ideal opportunity for me at this stage of my career as the area of this job is interesting to me and I have got the enthusiasm and motivation and energy to do it well and to develop things.I would like consider offering online tutorials (email writing tutorials for students who can not attend some classes).

Teaching Experience:
In the Diploma of Education and Qualification, I have been trained how to teach and how to deliver lectures in Arabic and English and also how to prepare lesson plan. I have experience of teaching university students in Syria as I was a lecturer at Aleppo University from 2002 to 2013. I enjoy teaching and lecturing and love my profession as I am particularly interested in communicating with individuals and groups. My colleagues and supervisors all say that I am a natural communicator and this, coupled with my knowledge of the field, leads me to think that I would make a good teacher. My mother tongue language is Arabic, yet my knowledge of written and spoken English is very good as well. I am also interested in materials design and curriculum development in ELT and could make useful contributions in these areas. I have also specialized in ESP, Materials and Methods in ELT, Language Teachers in Classrooms and Vocabulary and would be interested in teaching international students. My job in Syria was delivering pre-sessional programmes in academic English language to Syrian postgraduate students. Those students have to attend some EAP and ESP courses and pass the final exam which will enable them to pursue their high studies in Syria or in some English speaking countries like UK, USA and Canada. My teaching experience gives me a deeper insight and understanding of actual teaching/learning contexts. When I did my MA degree at Essex University, I taught some international students as part of the "Teaching Practice" module. I have been trained how to write a lesson plan for international students and how to use the PowerPoint for delivering lectures. Furthermore, I am very au fait with technology in the classroom.

Tutoring Approach:
It is the application of an integrating approach for the development of communicative skills in the lesson, in which the four skills in the acquisition of knowledge of a foreign language can be taught in a coherent way, and practiced together, with a distinction of the importance of one upon the other. One image for teaching English as a second or foreign language (ESL/EFL) is that of a tapestry. The tapestry is woven from many strands, such as the characteristics of the teacher, the learner, the setting, and the relevant languages (i.e., English and the native languages of the learners and the teacher). For the instructional loom to produce a large, strong, beautiful, colorful tapestry, all of these strands must be interwoven in positive ways. For example, the instructor's teaching style must address the learning style of the learner, the learner must be motivated, and the setting must provide resources and values that strongly support the teaching of the language. However, if the strands are not woven together effectively, the instructional loom is likely to produce something small, weak, ragged, and pale--not recognizable as a tapestry at all.

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Personal Description:
"After bachelor and masters in computer applications for 6 years, Since 2006, Servicing and advancing along with IT Industry. Being specialised more than a decade in Enterprise Software Architecture and BigData Technology Space, have been enjoying solving problems in BigData, such as streaming solutions Confluent Kafka, data design in NoSQL databases (HBase, Cassandra,..), search indexing solutions (Splunk, Solr..), data processing techniques using different frameworks Spark, Kafka, data visualisation presentations using Tableau, QlikView/QlikSense, Sisense, Banana, Kibana, BigData Security exposure and expertise in SSL and Data Protection, Cloud hosting and management solutions experience with AWS and Azure, Put solutions around VPC and integrating Cloud and On-premise clusters."

Teaching Experience:
5 years in tutoring and mentoring

Tutoring Approach:
Student frequency level to digesting subject.

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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.

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Personal Description:
Being fundamentally committed to good practise and innovation, I am always engaged in continuous learning in order to broaden my knowledge. Completing my Master's in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages with Greek as my native language I know the needs of a student who embarks on this journey of learning a foreign language.

Teaching Experience:
Having 12 years teaching experience both in Greece and in England in different settings (language schools, summer school, primary schools, secondary schools and colleges) I am fully aware of the different methodologies that are to be used with different students. I am an experienced, enthusiastic and focused English and Greek teacher committed to safeguarding and promoting the education and well-being of children and young people. The past 5 years my experience in the British schools as a supply teacher and a permanent TA in a Primary School have equipped me with the necessary skills to apply my knowledge in different contexts. Also, the past 3 years I have been teaching Academic English at Nottingham Trent International College and Nottingham University. My permanent job is English tutor at Derby Adult Learning Service.

Tutoring Approach:
Every lesson is personalised and carefully planned as the student's needs are taken into consideration. Different methods are utilised during the lesson with various activities making it interesting to each individual student.

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Personal Description:
I am a positive and highly motivated Teacher, who believes in providing support for pupils to gain the key skills necessary to reach their full potential and to be successful. I am knowledgeable and passionate about Psychology, Health & Social Care and Child Care and Early Years Education courses. With my knowledge on memory I have an excellent record of supporting students with revision and exams and enabling them to go onto their GCSE, A'Level, vocational level 2, 3 or 4 courses and desired university courses. I provide high quality support for students with coursework on vocational courses in order for them to achieve their potential and to go on and be successful in their chosen careers.

Teaching Experience:
Psychology Teacher AQA GCSE & A Level also OCR, ED EXCEL
Health and Social Care level 2 & 3, GCSE & A Level (vocational and academic)
Psychology Units on Foundation to Higher Education courses
Child Care levels 2 & 3 GCSE and Vocational level 3
Child Development and Early Years Education Level 3 with practicing knowledge of applications of outdoor learning
ACCESS to HE / Nursing/ Midwifery

Tutoring Approach:
My approach to tutoring for exams is to focus specificly on the paper that the student is sitting. The content, how to answer exam questions, memory techniques, revision tips, taking into account all learner styles.


I love Psychology, Health & Social Care and Childcare and Education and really enjoy teaching these subjects so my enthusiasm motivates my students. I typically teach within schools but tutor one to one and also small groups either face to face or electronically. My teaching methodology tends to focus upon the needs of the student/s but would always begin with gaining an understanding of the students current knowledge and any gaps in learning. This ensures they are completely up to date on their understanding of the subject. I work in line with the current specification of what the student is learning and revising for or creating coursework for. I set work for students each session to complete for the following session and give them feedback to ensure they are progressing each time. This is measurable and graded. I also look at tasks they have been set by their school/college and support them with planning so they fully understand the requirements that are needed to gain the best grades they can achieve. I ensure I am available throughout the week with some online support via email and can be contacted via skype also at an additional cost.

Study skills tutoring: I provide this as an agreed package where I am your child's 'exam buddy' for a period of time. This involves me supporting your child through a stressful time in their lives. I help them to plan their time and create revision timetables, plans, resources and so on. I would check in with them on agreed days/ times via skype to see how they are doing with their studies and revision on the lead up to exams and assessments and help to support them through this. I provide this for students working towards any assessments such as 11+, GCSE's A'Levels and any other level 2 or 3 courses. This is a holistic educational support service for a fixed period. My Pug 'Tiggy' often joins in with the skype for younger students which can support them in keeping it fun and interesting and help them to stay on target. I also include anti-stress resources, stress busting techniques, basic mindfulness skills, breaking down stress barriers worksheets, tips and discussions. The study skills/ exam buddy package is charged at a rate dependent upon requirements.

I provide face to face tutoring and skype tutoring with email support throughout the agreed period.

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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:
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:
My name is Kat, and I am a qualified nurse currently pursuing PhD study following working as a Practice Development Nurse at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford.

I live in the beautiful village of Brill, Buckinghamshire, with my 2 year old son, and my husband who splits his time between Brill and Germany. We enjoy being outside, music and eating good food.

I have a passion for people, seeing them realise their potential and exceed their goals. I was a tutor with UK Tutors during my nursing training in 2010-2012, and can't wait to meet new some new tutees.

Teaching Experience:
I have had a range of education / developmental / teaching roles throughout my career, and through delivering education in a variety of settings and through different media I have gained skills which allow me to really focus on the needs of my individual tutees, their current levels of understanding and their end goals.

Curriculum Support Assistant at King Edward VI High School, Morpeth, Northumberland
- 1-2-1 support for students with special educational needs working towards SATs / GCSEs / ALevels in mainstream education
- Through this role I also lead classes for Year 10 PHSE

Peer Support Educator with Sexpression charity
- Delivering sex and relationships education to a range of student groups, from puberty and basic reproduction to young pupils in schools, to contraception advice and sexual health to university students

Online mentor with Brightside charity
- Mentor to school-age students (1-2-1 and teams) with an interest in starting a career within the health and social care sector

Mentor / Practice Supervisor / Practice Assessor (Nursing)
- NMC qualified mentor (now known as Practice Assessor) for nursing/nursing associate students, supporting clinical skill development and achieving professional qualifications

Clinical Practice Educator at John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford
- Provision of practical skills sessions for registered and non-registered practitioners

Practice Development Nurse
- Overseeing staff training needs across Gynaecology, delivery of a range of teaching sessions, including clinical skills, anatomy and physiology, coaching/mentoring-type supervision, professional practice

Tutoring Approach:
I believe tutoring is a partnership, and not lead solely by the tutor. Encouraging tutees to take the lead ensures a truly personal education and ensures holistic learning. The tutee is the only person who knows what they really want to achieve and I work with people to firstly understand their goals, and then make realistic and attainable targets in order to reach those goals.

Subjects

Personal Description:
PLEASE SEE 'TUTORING EXPERIENCE' BELOW FOR THE MOST IMPORTANT PARTS OF THIS PAGE, THE RESULTS AND FEEDBACK

I am an Oxford graduate (English language and literature, first class), as well as a qualified English teacher, and have been tutoring since 2013. My specialism is A-level English literature.

Please get in touch for online English tuition, particularly if you are or your child is

• Preparing to take A-levels in 2026/27
• Doing coursework
• Working on the basis of continuous assessment, mocks, etc.
• Or planning to do / doing an English degree

I graduated from the University of Oxford with a double first in English language and literature, winning the prize for the best performance in English finals at Mansfield College, and the college essay prize. At school, I was awarded eleven GCSEs at A-star and three A-levels at A.

As well as tutoring, I have worked as a researcher, a copywriter, and a proofreader. I have also completed a PGCE in secondary English at the UCL Institute of Education, the highest-ranking college of education in the world ('QS World University Rankings'), during which I taught all age groups at two west London secondary schools, and received A's for my master's-level assignments. I am currently pursuing a PhD in English literature at the University of Buckingham.

As well as English tuition at any level, I can help you or your child with the following:

• Oxbridge entrance (the admissions process, practice interviews, the ELAT, etc.)
• Essay surgery - how to structure and write an essay
• How to revise - note-taking, organisation, making connections, committing to memory
• Grammar, punctuation, and style (a.k.a. 'usage and abusage')
• Speech-writing and public speaking
• Proofreading and redrafting essays
• Suggested reading and resources, including access to my library of 'TES' resources
• Creative writing
• How to annotate, analyse (and enjoy) English literature - sometimes known as 'close reading' or 'practical criticism'
• If you'd specifically like written feedback on your writing - more like a correspondence course - then I can also provide that.

In my spare time I enjoy cycling, writing, and photography.

Teaching Experience:
I have been tutoring since 2013, teaching English at all levels (including degree level), as well as A-level religious studies and classical civilisation. I have taught AQA, Edexcel, OCR, WJEC/Eduqas, and CAIE (Cambridge International), and am constantly familiarising myself with the new texts that my students are studying. I have experience helping students who have autism and ADHD. And I am interested in the role of generative AI and large language models in education, not to write students' essays for them, but as research assistants for students and teachers alike. It is of course important that students do not get the likes of ChatGPT to write their essays for them, among other reasons because they will not be able to do so in the exams. Tutoring is well placed to discourage this, since it has always been my practice to ask my students many questions about every essay they write.

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A student, June 2025: 'thank you very much for all the sessions! It has not only boosted my confidence in English literature but they really reminded me of how much I love the subject. It's always a pleasure to discuss nuance readings of the texts, and it has been a great help leading up to my exams.'

Charlotte, a parent, June 2025: 'Thank you so much for all your help and support for [L.]. We are so grateful for everything you have done with him and wish you all the best.'

Ann, a parent, June 2025: '[Z.] has thoroughly enjoyed her lessons with you and has gained so much from your guidance. We're very grateful for all the support you've given her.'

A parent, May 2025: 'Thank you so much again for everything you've done to help [G.] prepare for these exams - he has really enjoyed his sessions with you and he and we really appreciate your support'.

A parent, May 2025: '[N.] just received the below. It's an A* if the grade boundaries is same as last year. She couldn't have done it without your help. We really appreciate it.'

A parent, February 2025: '[S.] is really enjoying studying with you and has gained a lot of confidence in English. I truly appreciate the effort and dedication you put into teaching.'

A student, January 2025: 'thank you ever so much for your kindness and creative encouragement the past months. What is very special about you as a tutor is that you have never told me "what to write". Instead, you have asked me questions about my work that have led me to discover what I truly wish to write'.

Kate, a parent, December 2024: 'We're so pleased [G.] is enjoying his sessions and seems to be really motivated to read widely in between sessions, is making useful structured notes (which he didn't do before) and his confidence and awareness of what he needs to do when essay writing is really building. Thank you!!!'

Eleni, a parent, December 2024: 'I just wanted to let you know that [D.] received an offer […] today! She is super happy! […] I wanted to thank you again as [D.] found your sessions incredibly helpful and inceased her confidence during the exams process.'

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A-level results, August 2024:

'I wanted to write to say a huge thank you to you for all the help, support and inspiration you have given [E.] over the past year. You have not only given her the technical advice and support to help her make the most of her essays and exams, but more importantly you have helped her keep the love of the subject alive. I know a big part of the reason she is so excited to study English at university is because of how much she has enjoyed your conversations, and how you have helped her to consider texts in a way that the rather narrower scope of teaching at school does not allow. I am so very grateful to you and I really appreciate all the time and effort you put into her sessions - thank you so very much. […] You've been so great, and any other student/parent would be lucky to have access to your teaching.'

'I have just opened my results and am happy to confirm that I am off to Bristol this September with an A* in English! I just want to thank you again for making this possible.'

'I got an A in English, and will be going to Exeter, so mission accomplished. I wanted to thank you for all your help, not only for helping me to get what I needed, but for giving me back my confidence and enjoyment of the subject in the process.'

'Just to let you know [I.] got her results this morning and achieved an 'A' in English. We are over the moon […] Thank you again for all your help with the English, it's much appreciated.'

'thanks for your help this past academic year! Got two A*s in English and Philosophy'.

'I got a B and I was accepted into my firm university (Durham) which I am very happy! Thank you for all your help and support.'

'I was really happy to receive […] A in English Literature […] I secured a placed at my firm university. I will be studying English Literature at Durham University this September and I am very excited! Thank you so much for all of your support, I really appreciate it!'

'i got into Warwick with […] an A* in English!!!!! I am very happy :) Thank you for all your hard work, wisdom and wit over the last year or two'.

'Thank you so much for all your coaching and advice that you shared with [L.], it made such a difference to his confidence leading up to his exams. He is (as are we) delighted with his English result.'

'an A awarded in English […] so she is off to her first choice of Edinburgh University to study History of Art and English Literature.'

'Results day went well and I'm going to the university of Kent. Thank you so much again for all the time spent helping me to prepare for my exams it means a lot I'm very excited to continue my English literature journey.'

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A student, June 2024: 'Thank you so much for being the most amazing English teacher! It has been an immensely rewarding and interesting journey exploring so many books […] I have learnt so much from GCSEs to continuing with more amazing literatures in A-levels'

A student, June 2024: 'I […] wanted to say thank you for the tremendous help you have provided with the English content throughout the A level period. The resources that you provided for me were quite helpful in refining my knowledge in many areas of the syllabus so thank you very much.'

A student, May 2024: 'I've just received the results for my english coursework and wanted to thank you for all the help and feedback!!'

A parent, February 2024: 'your help has kept her love of the subject and her enthusiasm alive and I can't thank you enough for that.'

A parent, February 2024: 'You were such a huge help to [S.], we will always be very grateful to you.'

Kath, a parent, February 2024: 'We would both like to thank you for all your invaluable help, especially all the helpful feedback on the coursework essay. [S.] has definitely learnt a lot and grown in confidence, especially in her knowledge of Twelfth Night.'

A student, January 2024: 'I just wanted to let you know that I got an offer from Oxford! Thank you so much for checking over my personal statement and all the help that you have given me since GCSEs. I really enjoy our sessions every week, the discussions keep me constantly creative and thinking.'

A parent, January 2024: 'Thank you as always for all your continued help and support for [E.]. I know she gets a tremendous amount from your sessions and I'm very grateful.'

A student, January 2024: 'Just emailing to let you know I did get an offer from […] Cambridge yesterday so thank you so much for all your help! It is really appreciated and I'm really looking forward to starting my degree in October!'

A student, December 2023: 'So thank you so much again for all your help; your insights have been very useful and I have really enjoyed talking about literature with you.'

Tara, a parent, November 2023: 'you are really helping [R.], he is becoming much more confident. Thank you so much'.

Paula, a parent, November 2023: '[M.] is always delighted with your teaching. You are asking questions no one else does. My husband and I see her grow academically after every session with you.'

Liz, a parent, October 2023: 'Thank you so much for all the work you have done with, and the kindness you have shown, [E.] to date. She really enjoys her sessions with you, and you've helped keep her enthusiasm for English very much alive. I'm so grateful.'

Kim, a parent, August 2023: 'I cannot tell you how happy we all were and your help was clearly instrumental in that. Not sure if he told you but he got 12 points above an A* and it was his best A level result!'

A student, August 2023: 'I really enjoyed our lessons and think it has really helped prepare me for the Oxford style tutorials.'

A student, August 2023: 'wanted to let you know I ended up getting an A* in English, thanks so much for all the help!'

Mark, a parent, June 2023: 'Many thanks josh for your help this year. [E.] has said to me it has really helped, you started assisting her at a time when she felt behind her class mates for the whole of the first year, having switched to English half way through term one.'

Melanie, a parent, June 2023: 'Thank you so much for all your time and effort with [T.]'s English literature. She really enjoyed your sessions together and it really boosted her confidence and inspired her to think more deeply and critically about the texts. It also confirmed that she is happy and excited to study a literature based course at degree level.'

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A-level results, August/September 2022:

'[L.] came home from university yesterday to attend her school prize giving ceremony, and this morning as she was leaving she asked me to let you know that she won a special prize in English […] Until last night, she wasn't aware of any of her awards, apart from her scholarship, so it was all a lovely surprise. Furthermore, the essays she wrote in her A level English exams have somehow found their way into her teachers' hands; they told her, with beams of pride , that the three marks dropped overall were actually in her *non exam* assessment, so 30/30 in all questions across all papers under exam conditions, something she had never achieved before. She had admitted to me in the aftermath of the exams that when she was writing her English papers she had really enjoyed the process, her thoughts flowing pretty effortlessly on to the paper. But she had also worried this stream of ideas might not be fit with the mark schemes. […] she […] wanted you to know about her prize, as she thought you'd be pleased, and she also wanted to say thanks one last time for your inspirational teaching that led to it.'

'I got AAA* for my results much higher than my predicted! particularly for english'.

'[G.] got an A star in English. And is off to Oxford. […] Thanks so much for everything - you were honestly amazing and really helped her get there'.

'[L.] got 3 a stars and an A star as well in her EPQ. Her highest marks were in English Literature ( 197/200)'.

'I achieved 4A*s in my Alevels - one being in English Literature. My teachers also let me know that I got full marks in both the exam papers'.

'[T.] smashed English Literature, A* […] she is absolutely over the moon . Thank you so much for all the work you put in with her !'

'I got a D[distinction]2!!! […] I got full marks on my PI!'

'I got an A* in English!!! Thank you so much for all of your help I wouldn't have been able to do it without you!'

*

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Speaking

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

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

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

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

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

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

Reading

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

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

Writing

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

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

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

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

Why study English?

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

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Personal Description:
I have a PhD in chemistry and have published a book on Study Smarter: a lecture's inside guide to boost your grades.

With over 15 years as an academic, I have published extensively in peer-reviewed academic publications. My passion and outstanding commitment to teaching were recognised by the Royal Society of Chemistry in 2016 with a Higher Education Teaching Award. In 2017, I was awarded a prestigious National Teaching Fellowship in the UK.

Teaching Experience:
I have tutored A-level students and taught undergraduate and postgraduate students in my academic work.

Tutoring Approach:
Most students are wasting time with the study habits they use. This may seem like a crazy thing to say, isn't working hard the foundation to good results?
Research shows that at least 6 out of every 10 students are using suboptimal study strategies.
I've met this a lot in my own work. I have created a Study Smarter Audit to help identify where study habits can be improved. This can be over 2 sessions or longer depending on what you want to achieve. I work online and create a personalised plan to target effective study strategies and evaluate the changes.

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Personal Description:
I have been teaching the Humanities subjects since 2005 and specialise in History and Geography. I have taught in secondary schools, colleges and online (small groups and 1-1). I love helping students to get to grips with all the different aspects of the Humanities subjects and consider it a real bonus for my students to, not only succeed in exams, but also to learn to love the subject. I take a collaborative approach to teaching and think it is vital that the student and I work together to get the best out of the sessions. I live by the coast and spend my free time hiking and reading.

Teaching Experience:
Qualified 18 years ago.
Worked in secondary and FE as a History and Geography teacher.
Experience as a Head of department.
15 years experience as an examiner and moderator, 13 at a senior level.
Registered examiner with Edexcel, AQA, OCR and CIE

Tutoring Approach:
A personalised approach, working together to find the best path forward to success

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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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