Surbiton Study Skills Tutors and Surbiton Study Skills Tuition

Personal Description:
Hello there,

Thanks for taking a look.

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

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

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

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

Nick

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Subjects

Personal Description:
About Me. I'm now taking on a small number of private students, as my university commitments have settled. I currently lecture at the University of Salford and have over 28 years of teaching experience. I'm a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, a Visiting Lecturer at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, and also teach in São Paulo, Brazil. I've worked extensively in higher education, including as an assessor for university teaching qualifications and an external examiner for several universities. Over the years, I've been nominated by my students for "Best Teacher" and "Best Postgraduate Supervisor" on multiple occasions - something I'm incredibly proud of. I completed my PhD in Rheumatology in 2009 and began private tutoring in 2008. I offer individual tuition in Biology, Science, PE, Study Skills, and other health and medical-related topics. I also love teaching science to children and helping students build confidence in their learning. Before moving into education, I worked as a Chartered Physiotherapist in the NHS for 13 years, including three years as Physiotherapist for the England Women's Football Team. It was a privilege to represent my country and work with such talented athletes both at home and overseas. I'm also an internationally published author, having written and edited nine textbooks, now translated into eleven languages, covering subjects such as anatomy and academic writing.
Please note:
I cannot tutor current University of Salford students due to a conflict of interest.
While I'll do my utmost to help every learner succeed, I cannot write assignments or guarantee grades.

Teaching Experience:
I have been tutoring privately for over a decade. I began teaching in a professional capacity whilst working in a hospital environment where I became a Clinical Educator for undergraduate Physiotherapy students from Universities in the region. This role involved teaching and training undergraduate students within hospitals. Eventually my enthusiasm for teaching overtook that of my day job and I began teaching at Salford University on a part time basis, becoming a full time member of staff within the School of Health Sciences in 1996. I am the longest serving member of staff in the department and enjoy my job, and the interaction with students, as much now as when I first began teaching. Please note that if you are a student at the University of Salford I will be unable to offer private tuition due to a conflict of interest. Also please note that if we commence tutoring that whilst I will do my absolute best to help students, I cannot write assignments for students or guarantee a specific score or grade.

Teaching at a university entails a range of teaching methods including lecturing to hundreds of students, small and large group seminar-based sessions and a mix of theory and practical skills. Since 1998 I have been the Year One tutor which involves a pastoral element as many students are having their first experience of independence away from friends and family.

As a private tutor both in my own home, I mainly focus on one-to-one tuition, which I find hugely rewarding as I am able to dedicate unwavering attention to the tutee and their chosen subjects. I have experience teaching students from diverse backgrounds and ranging in age from 14 years to 50 years.

In 2009 I won the first ever Teaching Excellence Award at Salford University, and the following year was nominated for the Times Educational Innovative Teacher Award - both nominated by my students, a fact of which I am extremely proud.

Tutoring Approach:
I have a friendly and informal approach to teaching, as I believe a relaxed environment is most conducive to learning, regardless of the subject or age. However, I am aware that private tuition is a serious commitment, and there must be a clear structure to the sessions. I am familiar with the syllabi for OCR, AQA, and Edexcel for GCSE, A-level, and degree courses. The first session will include an informal discussion with parents/tutee to gain an understanding of the tutee's requirements and to explain my role and how I can aid learning. The tutee largely dictates the structure of the sessions, including the subjects they wish to focus on and their preferred learning style, which can be discussed during the first session. As the student develops, the structure can be adapted accordingly.

Additional Information

I prefer to teach in my own home
Thanks very much for viewing my profile.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I have been a lecturer for the past 20 years at both college and university levels. Educated at the universities of London and Birmingham, I am an experienced tutor, teacher, lecturer and author of articles, reviews and a recent book. An historian by training, I am also interested in literature, politics and cultural studies.

My experience of education was incredible, but it might not have been were it not for the motivation and support that I received from a number of outstanding lecturers. It was their example that led me to start teaching and I have found that helping others to learn and achieve academic success gives enormous job satisfaction.

I believe every student has unrealised potential and that with the right approach, all can succeed. I am flexible and believe in helping my students to find a learning style which suits them and enables them to succeed. I have a lot of energy and enthusiasm and besides teaching and writing, my interests include keeping abreast of current affairs, playing cricket and listening to world music.

Teaching Experience:
I tutor a variety of subjects at a range of levels including GCSE, AS, A Level, and Degree in addition to adult learners requiring support. I have experience of teaching students from a variety of cultural backgrounds. I have mentored post-graduate students and proof-read theses and dissertations.

I have over 20 years experience teaching and have taught in classrooms and universities in the United Kingdom and abroad. My students come from a wide range of different age groups and backgrounds and I pride myself on helping all of them to succeed. I am a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and a faculty member of the Foundation for International Education, London and the New College of the Humanities, London. My previous posts have included Programme Director at Birkbeck, University of London and Director of Academics at the Foundation for International Education, London.

Tutoring Approach:
One of my main aims in tutoring is to stimulate an interest in learning, by making the topic as relevant in contemporary terms as possible. Most of the subjects I tutor, from History to Religious Studies have current and on-going social consequences. I have found that making an otherwise dry topic of relevance to a student awakens an interest and desire to learn more. It is those inspirational moments when students become aware of the linkages between what they have read, and what is going on around them that makes tutoring particularly satisfying. This coupled with a growing ability to think critically, usually translates into enhanced coursework grades.

My approach to teaching is based on two fundamental bases. The first is that it is absolutely essential to find contentment in the learning process. This may not come through the actual material that needs to be learnt and it is up to the tutor to inspire in the student the self-assurance to succeed. As your tutor, I will lay down the learning structure and will cement this through detailed lesson plans. The second basis is that supervised practise testing is very important. This needs to be followed by a thorough assessment of the results, in order to understand where improvements need to be made, in both knowledge and approach.

At the younger end, I create a fun learning environment and aim to enhance originality, conscientiousness and self-assurance in the child's ability. In the longer term, I concentrate on problem areas which may have been skated over in class. For more senior students and adult learners, the same principles apply in terms of tailoring lessons to the individual. I mix core concepts with more general study skills and encourage each student to find their own way of independent learning. I am a patient, hard-working and open individual who strives to get the best out of each student and help them achieve their learning objectives. As your tutor I will be available outside of teaching time to answer questions by email and phone, there will be no extra cost for this service.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I hold a First Class Honours degree in English Language and Literature (University of St Andrews) and a Doctorate / PhD in English Literature (University of Leeds).

In the recent past I have worked as a University Professor in English and have published books and articles on English and Media. Some of these are standard set study texts. I have also served as an Examiner and as a University Admissions Tutor. I am qualified to teach under the PTLLS scheme.

Dr Ian is based in Birmingham / West Midlands and has been described as friendly, patient, sympathetic and approachable. Tuition is offered to improve exams and coursework for school, college, or University. Recent work has included AQA GCSE and A-level Engish Language and Literature.

I am also able to provide support if you are new to the UK and want academic editing and proof-reading for you MA, MSc or PhD.

Teaching Experience:
I have undertaken teaching and training in Schools (Primary and Secondary) and in the University Higher Education Sector (to Post Graduate level) over a period of twenty-five years.

During that period I have worked with very gifted students as well as children and adults who have needed special support in order to reach their full potential. Recently I have work with PhD students from India, Poland, Jordan, Iran, China, Pakistan, Japan, and the UK.
My specialist areas are English Language and Literature; Study, Exam and Revision Skills. Short, intensive 1-to1 courses are available for exam revision and exam technique. Reduced rates are available for longer contracts, or for students living in the locality.

Tutoring Approach:
ONLINE teaching only.

My teaching is always adapted to YOUR specific needs and is informed by critical and creative strategies that have a proven track record.

I work in partnership with YOU in order to identify YOUR most urgent needs and and the goals to be achieved. Together we address issues of motivation and the acquisition of key subject study skills. The process builds on creative strategies for self-improvement which leads to enhanced enjoyment and success.

Subjects

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 extensive 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.

Subjects

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

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

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

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am an experienced academic with many years' spent supervising and marking dissertations. In addition I have many years of experience of private consultancy research, interviewing, analysing results of the research and report writing.
University (UK) Senior Lecturer on undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, Course Leader, Dissertation Supervisor, Preparation of module and course materials, Dissertation Marker, Examiner of coursework, assignments, reports, dissertations, Examination board member.

100% pass mark to date for university level dissertation students who have used my Online Dissertation Tutor services -from start to completion.

ACADEMIC/PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
M.Sc. (ERSC Student Award)
B.A. (Hons) (Student of the year award for the degree)
Diploma of Higher Education (part of B.Ed. Degree)
T/D32/33 (Training and Development). NVQ Assessor level 4 and level 3.
Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute
Affiliate member R.I.B.A.
Current: -
Dissertation Private Tutor - 2011 - 2025 University level Tuition service

Teaching Experience:
UK University Senior Lecturer: - Dissertation Supervisor and Dissertation Marker-Undergraduate degrees and Post graduate Master's degrees.
UK University - External Marker of degree coursework and examinations - Virtual learning degrees for National and International students
Current: -
Dissertation Private Tutor - 2011 - 2025 University level Tuition service



Example of current and past dissertation tuition and dissertation guidanc, reviewing with feedback,proofreading
Example Methodologies- qualitative, quantitative, mixed methods, systematic literature review, discourse analysis.
Health Care,
Nursing
Paramedic
Sociology,
Social Work,
Environmental Subjects,
Built Environment Subject Areas,
Fashion,
Economics
Physiotherapy,
Marketing,
Human Resource Management,
Occupational Therapy,
Geography,
Education,
Journalism
Building Surveying Dissertation Tutor
Chartered Surveying Courses Dissertation Tutor
Construction and the built environment Dissertation Tutor
Construction Dissertation Tutor
Construction Management Dissertation Tutor
Construction project management Dissertation Tutor
Geography Society and environment Dissertation Tutor
Quantity Surveying Dissertation Tutor
Real Estate Dissertation Tutor Dissertation Tutor
Spatial planning and real estate environment Dissertation Tutor
Sustainability and planning the urban environment Dissertation Tutor
Town Planning Dissertation Tutor
Urban Planning Dissertation Tutor
Urban Redevelopment and Regeneration Dissertation Tutor

Tutoring Approach:
Question: - What are the tutoring procedures? Dissertation Online Tuition UK and worldwide

The Dissertation Tutoring Service is an hourly based service which includes:-
• Skype help in the way of face to face, one to one consultation about the dissertation
• Skype text
• Email communication
• Reviewing of the dissertation you are working on
• Noted feedback (written and/or verbal) of the dissertation you are working on
• There may be daily or weekly Reports and Reviews.
• Times for the next meeting and/or reviewing are arranged at the current meeting and confirmed by email.
Over 30 years of experience as dissertation marker and private tutor
Retired UK university senior Lecturer, course leader, dissertation supervisor, dissertation marker, corsework and examinations setter, examination board member

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:
I am a medical doctor graduating from St George's University of London with a Bachelor's in Biomedical Sciences (BSc) from Queen Mary University of London

As someone who used to struggle in school, I want to make a living from teaching the next generation of pupils and students and giving them an easier time as the curriculum continues to become more advanced.

I love using basketball and the gym to pass the time, as I believe being physically active is paramount to maintaining health of both the mind and body; as well as gaining transferrable skills for other aspects of life (for example, studying!)

Teaching Experience:
I have initially tutored many in my secondary school, as my "career" has progressed, more families in my area have been given recommendations and have contacted me to teach their kids, until I have eventually decided to make this more of a profession, and learn more about teaching. I used to work for Exact Tutor part-time in several branches in East and West London, and have received personal training from a former tutor from MedicMind - a very reputable tutor programme designed to prepare students applying for med school.

In more recent times, I have given broader talks to the public about various topics such as COVID, cancer, psychiatric disorders and advanced personalised medicine.

Tutoring Approach:
The most important rule is to focus on the student instead of how you teach them, or more generally, respond accordingly instead of preparing for a series of potential hypothetical situations.

My whole life, I found that most often, 'plans' or 'strategies' were entirely flawed in many cases. With the number of assumptions one would have to make, a single change in these conditions destroys your plan completely.

What I'm trying to say is that not all students are going to be the same, I for one, was a slow learner, whereas many other would pick up on a concept quickly.

So what is my point? I do not rely on ridiculous, repetitive algorithms for teaching students; I prefer to analyse my students learning capabilities as I teach them and prepare tasks based on their performance in mini-tests and recap sessions.

Subjects

Personal Description:
My career as a Teacher of Business Studies merges my three passions in life; Education, Business and People! Whether you are studying for a Phd, GCSE, A Level, learning to read or write, or you just simply want to learn how to study, I would like to help you to reach your academic goal.

My most recent qualification is an Education Doctorate. I have a BA (Hons) degree in Business Studies, a Higher National Diploma in Business & Finance as well as a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) in Business Education, which allows me to teach Business in Secondary as well as a Further Education teaching qualification.
I hold a current DBS.

I have achieved a Distinction/First Class grade at level 7/Postgraduate Certificate which I completed part-time. This grade was achieved as I employed effective study strategies; which I can deliver to those requiring study support.

Teaching Experience:
I have over 15 years experience teaching Business in schools and colleges in the Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham and Walsall area. I teach GCSE, A Level, BTEC levels 2 and 3 in Business. Also, Economics at GCSE. Ive also taught Travel & Tourism, Public Services, Enterprise and Retail Business, Maths and English

Tutoring Approach:
I will give you all the time you need to understand your subject, whatever the level and whatever your ability so that you are confident to ace that exam.

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 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.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am PhD student at Harper Adams University, working on my final stages on my thesis. While I always enjoyed sharing my knowledge, I found lot of satisfaction from my students and there successes. It is really refreshing to work with young students, and that's why I am engaged in private tuition.

Also, I am Greek, but I am living and working 5 years in UK. I try to learn German, and I love DYI projects and crafts.

My professional life is mainly in the Vertical Farming sector, where my day job involves a combination of business and science tasks. Feel free to check my LinkedIn profile (Katia Zacharaki) for my background.

I have also a young daughter (9 years old), who has to have me as her tutor :).

Teaching Experience:
I have teaching experience in further and higher education, see below:
º Delivery of HE courses in Agriculture and Countryside Management
º Module leader for Strategic and Farm Business Management, Marketing, Environmental Sustainability, Global Food Security, Precision Agriculture and Dissertation for Level 4-6.
º Supervisor for Industrial Projects (Level 5) and Dissertations (Level 6)
º Engage with teaching, research and subject specific training
º Delivery of FE courses in Agriculture (Level 3) and modules as: Plant and Soil Science, Grassland Management, Business Planning and Investigative Projects (2017)
º Adult training on Agriculture, Countryside Management and Business subjects

Tutoring Approach:
My goal is to cover the necessary content with the most effective, efficient and quickest possible way. I never forget to add some fun :) .
I have already created lesson plants, which help me with the distribution of the content throughout the year/term.
I regularly assess student's progress with questions during the lesson, but also incorporating in the tests Mock tests. Mock tests help the student to familiarise with the process and reduce stress levels for all (student, parents and tutor). Mock tests include past papers (example GCSE/ A levels).
When relevant, we might use demonstrative lectures for science subjects.

Subjects

Personal Description:
Hello, thank you for taking the time to read my profile. My name is Mairead (pronounced ma-raid, an Irish name meaning Margaret). I am a 26 year old living in Feltham, I work full time as a Disability Advisor and Autism Specialist Mentor supporting higher education students to access reasonable adjustments, provide pastoral support and advice. I also co-run workshops and events for the university I work for. In my spare time, I enjoy reading, baking, spending time with my family, going to the gym, long walks and nature trails, swimming and arts and crafts. I am also a big fan of the cinema and watching the new films out. I graduated from Royal Holloway, University of London in 2018, with a first class honours degree in Criminology and Sociology BSc. After graduation I became a support worker supporting those with mental health issues before my current role. I have recently completed a specialist mentoring qualification. I am content working full time currently, but may do a Masters or further study in future.

Please be aware for KS1 and younger tutoring my rates are £15 per session rather than per hour, to reflect that younger children may benefit from shorter sessions, but that their sessions will still need planning and admin work.

Teaching Experience:
I have created and delivered workshops for classes of up to 90 pupils from primary school aged to university level on a range of creative and academic topics. I also have experience tutoring 1-to-1 for primary school aged students who have disabilities/ special educational needs.

Tutoring Approach:
My approach to tutoring is thoughtful and considered, I am a disciplined teacher who will set expectations for her students, but am also fair. I enjoy utilising technology for tutoring sessions as organisational tools and will set weekly goals that will be reviewed. in our first session, I find it is important to discuss learning outcomes and to monitor progress as we go through our tutoring journey.

Subjects

Personal Description:
My name is Salvia and I am a native English speaker with a deep committment to teaching. Languages are my special interest - I enjoy learning them as much as I enjoy teaching them! I have an enthusiastic and playful approach to teaching, with a focus on facilitating your growth and improving your confidence.

Teaching Experience:
I have over 20 years of experience teaching and tutoring in a variety of situations - in primary and secondary schools, universities, after school programs, and online. I have held many different positions with the schools and educational companies I have worked for, including head of department, senior teacher trainer, private personal tutor, and classroom teacher. I have taught all ages and ability levels. I am experienced in ESOL and well as teaching native speakers.

My students get consistently high results on their exams: GCSE, A-level, IELTS, TOEFL, and more.

I have taught and tutored several languages as well as music, although my speciality and focus nowadays is English language and literature, reading and writing skills, and helping students learn how to study effectively.

Tutoring Approach:
My approach is entirely student centred. Our first session is a FREE 20 minute meeting in which I explore your linguistic needs and determine how best to support you. I will then develop a personalised, adaptable curriculum, just for you. Each student is different and has different needs and best ways of learning. I will meet you where you are and create a programme personally designed to support you in your language goals.

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Personal Description:
Hello! I´m Matt, a qualified Spanish teacher from Belfast. I hold a Master's degree in Teaching Spanish as a Foreign Language and a PGCE in Modern Foreign Languages. Over the past decade, I have gained extensive teaching experience in both the UK and abroad, including five years in Spain. My experience spans teaching students from primary school through to adult learners, both in classroom settings and online environments. I have also collaborated with academic institutions such as Queen's University Belfast, leading workshops for PGCE students. In addition to my teaching qualifications, I have managed curriculum development, welfare, and safeguarding responsibilities for summer programmes, demonstrating strong leadership skills. I am currently focusing on providing high-quality tutoring services online, while also exploring ways to grow my educational business.

Teaching Experience:
I am a native English speaker and CELTA-qualified teacher with extensive experience teaching both English and Spanish. I hold a PGCE in Modern Foreign Languages (MFL) with Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), and I recently completed a Master's in Teaching and Linguistics. Additionally, I am a degree holder in Spanish with a certificate from the Instituto Cervantes, showcasing my deep understanding of the language and its pedagogy.

Throughout my career, I have worked in various educational settings, including language academies in both Spain and the UK, as well as extensive online teaching experience. I have also served as a GCSE and A-Level examiner, which has given me invaluable insight into the examination process and what students need to succeed.

Beyond teaching, I have held roles as a Safeguarding Manager, where I ensured the safety and well-being of students in educational programmes. I have also developed learning resources, worked with academic institutions such as Queen's University Belfast, and led workshops for trainee teachers.

With my diverse background and dedication to language education, I offer a well-rounded, professional, and personalised approach to help students achieve their goals. Whether it's exam preparation, improving conversational skills, or mastering grammar, I am fully equipped to guide students every step of the way.

Tutoring Approach:
I have extensive experience teaching online, and it's been one of the most rewarding parts of my career. Over the years, I've worked with students from all over the world, helping them achieve their language goals from the comfort of their own homes. My approach is highly interactive and engaging, ensuring that each lesson is tailored specifically to the student's needs, whether they're preparing for exams, improving their conversational skills, or building confidence in grammar and vocabulary.

What sets me apart is my ability to create a structured, yet flexible, learning environment that combines professional expertise with a personal touch. My students appreciate the in-depth feedback I provide after each session, the custom-made homework assignments that reinforce what we've covered, and the clear progress they can see after every class. With a PGCE in Modern Foreign Languages, a Master's in Teaching and Linguistics, and years of online teaching experience, I know how to use technology to its fullest to make lessons as impactful as possible.

I'm not just delivering lessons - I'm crafting an immersive experience that makes learning a new language enjoyable and highly effective. Whether it's through screen sharing, interactive exercises, or real-time language practice, I ensure that every session leaves my students more confident and equipped to reach their goals.

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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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Personal Description:
Dr Nicky is an Academic Tutor and Coach for university students, specialising in supporting those undertaking Master's degree programmes in the United Kingdom. A former Professor of Law at Cardiff University with over two decades of teaching and research experience at leading UK universities, and now the Coach and Tutor at Master's Degree Expert, she brings both intellectual depth and genuine care to her work.

Drawing upon her background as a scholar and educator, Nicky helps students build confidence, achieve clarity, and reach their full potential in academic writing, research, and critical thinking. Across her university career and private tutoring practice, she has supported many thousands of students to succeed in their studies - spanning fields such as economics, philosophy, law, politics, business studies, sports science, social sciences, nursing, and communication studies.

Teaching Experience:
With more than twenty years in higher education, Nicky has taught and mentored students at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. She has led countless modules and entire postgraduate programmes, as well as overseeing curriculum development and postgraduate education at school level.

Her teaching has always been interactive, friendly, and student-focused, creating motivating learning environments where students feel supported and inspired to achieve their best. Her particular expertise lies in working with Master's students and adult learners, guiding hundreds through the process of planning and completing dissertations. Under her mentorship, students learn how to develop sophisticated arguments, communicate complex ideas clearly, and take pride in their academic achievements - with many going on to earn distinctions and present or publish their work.

Tutoring Approach:
As an Academic Tutor and Coach, Nicky's approach is grounded in encouragement, clarity, and empowerment. She believes that great tutoring is about unlocking each student's potential - helping them to feel capable, confident, and genuinely engaged with their subject.

Her sessions are highly personalised and goal-oriented, focusing on the skills that matter most for success at Master's level: strong academic writing, critical thinking, and effective research design. Nicky combines the insight of an experienced educator with the warmth of a supportive mentor, ensuring that every student not only meets academic expectations but exceeds them.

Her aim is to make learning feel purposeful and fulfilling - to help students see their progress, take ownership of their ideas, and produce work that truly reflects their capabilities.

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