Hengoed Tutors and Hengoed Tuition

Personal Description:
I studied Korean studies at the University of Sheffield and lived in Korea for one year. I am half Greek and half British (Welsh) and am fluent in both languages and very advanced in Korean language. I can help you with any of those 3 languages if needed and if its not possible to visit me I may be willing to travel to you depending on the location or have a lesson via Skype. Please contact me for further details :)

Teaching Experience:
I was a teacher on an online school called Barons English for a year, teaching English as a foreign language to mainly Korean students and I also had a few private students while I was at university to help them pass the IELTS examination.

Tutoring Approach:
First of all according to the level of the student and what they need, we shall work on their progress through a text book or whatever they have been using thus far. For beginners in Greek or Korean I have some appropriate text books we could use.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I have over 20 years teaching experience, having taught at schools, colleges, and having lectured at Universities. I have been a private tutor for over 20 years and am familiar with the curriculum in the subjects of English and History, and I am also familiar with the many AS and A level courses and degree modules which are on offer in relation to these subjects. I am fully CRB checked and will provide an easy going one-to-one approach in my lessons. I have years of experience at assisting in dissertations and coursework projects - from proofreading to more creative and constructive assistance.

Teaching Experience:
I have over 20 years teaching experience in private tuition, schools, colleges and Universities. My wide range of experience enables me to adapt to the required needs of the students, and allows me flexibility in my teaching approach.

Tutoring Approach:
My approach to tutoring is relaxed and flexible, allowing the student to guide me in providing for their educational needs. I can be available at most times and have excellent references which can be submitted if needed.

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Personal Description:
I'm a Cambridge graduate and Fellow of the University of London, with fifteen years of experience tutoring Religious Studies and Philosophy. My students have a strong track record of A/A* grades. I tutor it full-time across OCR, AQA, Edexcel and other exam boards. I can offer hundreds of exemplar essays and resources.

Get in touch for a free 1-hour trial session!

Extracts from letters of recommendation (available in full on request):

"James is an extremely capable and sensitive tutor."
Mother of RS (OCR) A-Level student
Grade received: A

"My daughter got a D in her mock earlier this year ... for her to get an A really was at the top end of our expectations."
Father of A-Level RS (Edexcel) student
Grade received: A

"I cannot recommend James highly enough. He is punctual and thoughtful and I would not hesitate to hire him again in the future."
Mother of Religious Studies (Edexcel) student
Grade received: A

"James immediately established a very good working relationship with my daughter which encouraged her to really engage with the subject…I would highly recommend James as a tutor."
Mother of Religious Studies (OCR) student.
Grade received: A

"James was brilliant."
Mother of twin daughters taught in Religious Studies (OCR) and Philosophy (AQA).
Grades received: A

RATES
Free 1 hour initial lesson. If there is a results-based bonus I am happy to negotiate the hourly fee.

Teaching Experience:
I have thousands of hours of tuition experience built up over ten years of full-time tutoring. Some of the specific subjects I have taught include:

Cambridge Pre-U Theology & Philosophy
Philosophy A Level (AQA, OCR and Edexcel)
Religious Studies (OCR, AQA and Edexcel) GCSE, A Level
Government & Politics (Edexcel and OCR)
Theology and Religious Studies at degree level (I have helped six different students receive good grades for third year RS dissertations)
Oxbridge applications and interview practice

Tutoring Approach:
Receiving tuition can be a bit daunting at first, so I try to make sure my students feel I`m on their side and there to help them with anything they might not feel able to figure out at school.

My approach to tuition is to assess what specific needs a student has and then to organise the sessions around those needs. Some students need essay technique help and some have a specific set of topics they want to go over. Others might need an entire course taught to them as they have left school or are being home educated.

In my years of tuition, I have built up a cloud-based digital archive of hundreds of handouts which can help a student get back on track and achieve the highest possible grade.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am a qualified teacher, head of the department, and a senior examiner with more than 17 years of exam marking experience in all three subjects that I tutor.

I work with a range of students (students looking to improve their grades and others who are making sure they achieve their high grades). I work with students from the United Kingdom and overseas that are either preparing for exams or are going to study the subject for the first time or are being home tutored etc. I have my own study material - workbooks, quizzes, videos (youtube channel), etc.

I have tutored students from all top schools - Eton, Westminister, St Pauls, Notting Hill, Whitgift, Oxford High, Northampton High (I used to work there and they had their best ever results), Oundle, etc

As an individual, I have a jovial personality and I make good use of it during my sessions; it ignites the sessions and adds joy to learning; take my word for it! Also, I have bundles of patience because sometimes a theoretical concept may take more than once to be explained to a student for them to understand it. I do not get frustrated easily.

I follow a tutoring model that I have developed with my partner and it is to assess the need of my students, as all of them are unique and start at different times of the year and at different stages; as time is of great essence, especially if a target grade is to be achieved.

Read my testimonials and you will get a fair idea. I believe that learning is to understand the theory and then apply it to the real world. I use case studies written by me and exam questions from past papers to make the tutorial session more relevant; I assess students' work during my sessions and then provide constructive feedback to allow them to improve.

If you have any questions, please message me.

Good Luck!

Teaching Experience:
I have more than 17 years of teaching and examining experience.

Tutoring Approach:
Relaxed and exam focused to meet the need of your child.

Subjects

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

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

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

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Personal Description:
I am very passionate about films, theatre, the media industry. I am currently in my second year of a BA Hons in Film Studies at Edge Hill University, living away from home during the week but always available on weekends. I am hardworking, dedicated to my studies and after my undergraduate degree I am hoping to continue my studies with a Masters degree.

I also love to learn languages, currently able to speak 4 fluently (English, Urdu, Punjabi, Hindi) and also learning Spanish in my free time.

Teaching Experience:
I have a younger sister who is following my path into Film Studies, not knowing a thing before starting her A Level in it she is now predicted an A*. I have held short after school lessons for her and other family members in this particular field and the outcome has always been satisfying.

I have also started my TEFL course (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) which helps me gain a qualification in teaching the English language.

Tutoring Approach:
The lessons will be about the student, and not the teacher. Therefore everything will be tailored to areas you wish to improve (spoken communication, written skills, reading, accent, listening)

I have a calm and relaxed approach to tutoring, understanding the problems and weaknesses in people and using those to bring out the best in them. If I can see passion within the student then I will do my personal best to bring out the potential in my students.

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Personal Description:
I am a French philosopher based in Paris and London. I have graduated from Sorbonne University in 2006. My approach to philosophy tries to blend the Continental and the Analytic Anglo-Saxon tradition. I have been teaching classes in General Philosophy, Metaphysics and Logic.

Teaching Experience:
I have been teaching in various contexts: in high school (A-Level) as a Teaching Assistant at Sorbonne University, on the Paris campus of Saint John`s University in New York. I have also been occasionally tutoring some students. I have also written many popularization articles.

Tutoring Approach:
My approach is based on an understanding of the needs of the tutored person with regards to the academic requirements in vigour and his own interest in the discipline. Depending on the context, I offer a approach based on the history of philosophy or on given philosophical problems, putting the emphasis either on culture or on the acquisition of an aptitude to sound reasoning or critical thinking.

Subjects

Personal Description:
Hello -
I am an Ivy League PhD in Astrophysics (did my postgraduate studies between Columbia University and Harvard), a former university researcher and university course teacher.
I offer STATISTICS and MATHS lessons and tutoring in London (zone 1-2) for adult learners, university students, finance professionals and high school students.
I'm originally from Italy, bilingual, fun, patient, with 10+ years of experience in tutoring and a very high rate of client success and satisfaction. I'm available for coursework review, exam and standard test preparation, help with statistical analysis for thesis or other projects. Professionals and adult learners that want to refresh their maths / statistics skills are very welcome. I have worked with students from Imperial College, London School of Economics, King's College, Birkbeck among the others. I have also been hired by some VIP clients and international students.
Topics I can help with include: basic and advanced statistics, stochastic analysis, probability, hypothesis testing, regression, non parametric methods, statistical analysis and tests, SPSS, modeling, calculus, differential equations, mechanics, algebra and linear algebra, geometry, trigonometry, GMAT, GRE, GCSE, A level examinations, Numerical Reasoning Tests, Econometrics
Please specify the topics you need help with in your reply. Samples of assignments/tests/problems and a syllabus are also helpful to assess if I'm the right tutor for your needs. Please note that I do not help people cheat on their tests or do their assignments.

I charge 50 pounds/ hour for lessons around King's College and London School of Economics (the Strand / Embankment/ Waterloo / SouthBank) and in Camden Town. I can travel to other places in zone 1 and zone 2, but I charge 65 pounds/hour.
DURING COVID CRISIS, I am offering ONLINE tuition at 45 pounds/hour for A-levels or advanced maths, and 40 pounds/hour for GCSE maths.
Flexible hours, but only committed students. 24 hours cancellation policy. Minimum booking: 2 hours. Feel free to drop a line for further details! MONEY BACK GUARANTEE if you don't enjoy your first hour of tutoring.

- NOTE to tutoring agencies that keep contacting me for their clients: happy to collaborate if mutually beneficial, but please make sure to offer compensation in line with my fees. -

Teaching Experience:
Tutoring science subjects for more than 10 years.
University course teacher

Tutoring Approach:
Lessons tailored depending on needs.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am an experienced and now retired teacher who moved back to my home in Chichester a few years ago having spent the previous 11 years teaching in an IAPS school in Nairobi, Kenya. Before that I taught at Westbourne House Prep School for 9 years as a Year 2 class teacher. I am an enthusiastic, creative and dedicated teacher and I enjoy building up trust and loyalty with children so that they can be filled with confidence when learning. I enjoy adapting my teaching skills to suit their individual learning styles and I am particularly interested in all aspects of Literacy

Teaching Experience:
My roles have included Class teacher, Literacy Coordinator for Years 2, 3 and 4 as well as Year 3 Coordinator from 2011 - 2017. I have also taught children who speak English as a secondary, rather than their primary language. I make my maths teaching fun and I am able to help those who are having difficulty with any subject within the National curriculum as well as those who may need challenging.

Tutoring Approach:
I regard tutoring as an ideal way to encourage children to reach their potential, to help children enjoy learning so that they look forward to what they are going to learn next, to build up trust and friendship with each child and to work together with the child's parents encouraging confidence and self-esteem within the child.

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Personal Description:
Welcome to my profile!

I have obtained my Law Degree LLB (Hons) from Wolverhampton University. In addition, I have obtained a Certificate in Social Science from Brunel University West London. I completed the Bar Professional Training Course in Cyprus since 2012 and I am currently practising Law in Scotland as a European Union Lawyer. I have been working for one of the biggest international based law firms in Cyprus as a Senior Associate and Head of the Corporate Department.

In the interim while working as a lawyer, my thirst for knowledge and to better myself I studied Accounting and Book keeping - LCCI. I have completed the course with a Distinction grade in all of the levels (Elementary, Intermediate and Higher).

I can assure you that apart from my academic qualifications and eight years of experience as a lawyer, my interest in Law goes far beyond the material that I have been taught. I like exploring, being updated and learning new areas of law, cases and legislation.

Greek is my native language. Despite Cyprus being my country of origin, I have been living in the UK since 2007 and I am fluent in English.

Teaching Experience:
For the past eight years, I have been tutoring students of various ages.

I have worked with students by assisting them with their homework and their yearly exams. In addition, I have been teaching Greek to students who are interested to learn Greek from scratch.

Finally my experience in law is giving me the confidence to help any law student with their Assignments, Dissertations and re-sits.

Please contact me with a brief explanation of your requirements for an accurate quotation.

Tutoring Approach:
Teamwork is the key work of my approach to tutoring. We work together step-by-step in order to come in a successful outcome. I use my experience and knowledge in order to simplify the difficult areas of law in a simple way of understanding.

I can teach you any module of your choice. In addition, we can improve together your study and organisational skills. Furthermore, I can assist you with the structure of your Assignments and review your Assignment by making comments.

Some people are doing better because they do things differently and they do the right things right. Let's work together.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I have a PGCE in Secondary Art and Design, and have 8 years experience of working in education. I also have a degree in Theatre Design. I worked as a Visual Merchandiser for a couple of years after graduating, and then made the move into teaching.
I now work in pastoral roles within secondary schools - but actively keep up to date with the Art GCSE and A Level specs.

Teaching Experience:
I have worked as a Secondary Art teacher up to head of department level in London. Since moving up to Yorkshire 3 years ago I have worked in pastoral roles within 2 different schools, looking after years 7 and 8 and now 6th form.

Tutoring Approach:
Tutoring is not just filling in the gaps. I believe a Tutor should be a person of support through the difficult exam times, as well as a teacher. I work with young people to find out what their artistic style is and then help them use that to achieve their best possible result.
Creating artwork that ticks the right exam board boxes can be tricky - there is a lot of wok to do and it can seem unattainable to get everything done in time. I can help you streamline your work into the best pieces, and help you to show the links throughout your project in the most efficient ways.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am a French native speaker. I am DBS checked.
I am successful as a tutor of all ages as I am very enthusiastic, calm and encouraging. I also have high expectations of my students.

Teaching Experience:
KS3 AND KS4
I started teaching in Birmingham as a French Assistant in 1990 and completed my PGCE in 1995.
I have taught in 4 different schools and was Head of a Modern Languages Department for 7 years.
As a teacher in mainstream schools, I have come across a very wide range of abilities, and have always adapted to the needs of my classes. I know what is required at GCSE and the progression needed from KS3 to KS4.
TUTORING ADULTS
Tutoring is something I greatly enjoy.
I had given private lessons to adults in the past and also to secondary school students, but in January 2019 I decided to create my own tutoring business.
In this last year, I have had the joy of seeing adults with very little knowledge of French blossom into confident learners.

Tutoring Approach:
For me, learning grammar and especially tenses is crucial if you want to become successful language learners.
I also have my own method for teaching pronunciation and this produces great improvements.
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I have recently suscribed to an online teaching platform which enables me to use video conferencing, upload resources, listening tasks, PowerPoints to make my lessons truly interactive. This platform makes the lessons accessible on tablets, computers and even mobile phones.

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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.

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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.'

*

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.'

*

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:
Hi.
Experienced secondary school teacher. Currently on maternity leave.

Teaching Experience:
I have taught in secondary schools for 7 years.

My expertise is in achieving band 9's, the highest awarded grade. However, I also pride myself in my ability to support and help students reach their own personal targets.

For dyslexic students I have created resources to support them in written exams, particularly in drama.

I have taught GCSE drama (edexcel exam board) for 6 years and GCSE sociology (aqa exam board for 2 years.

Many of my students have achieved band 9s in both of these subjects.

I trained as a drama teacher originally but extended my skills set to also be able to teach GCSE sociology.

I am also qualified to teach a level drama although I have not taught this in a few years.

Tutoring Approach:
Student led. I will adapt my teaching style to suit the students learning style.

Subjects

Personal Description:
Research Technician working in R&D of hydroponic systems. Background in molecular biology having studied BSc Genetics at the University of Leeds.

Teaching Experience:
2+ years tutoring A-Level Biology. Student attainment grades A and A*.

Tutoring Approach:
Failing my A-Levels then achieving resit grades AAA (Chemistry, Biology, Maths) was the perfect opportunity for me to gain an insight into effective teaching strategies. I like to follow a dialectical method; helping students to critically examine their own reasoning is the best form of teaching.

Subjects

Personal Description:
Hi, my name is Iman. I am Egyptian and a native Arabic speaker with 16 years of experience in teaching Arabic. I teach both Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) and Egyptian dialect, and I also have experience in setting and marking exams for both.
I tailor my lessons according to the students' needs so that they can get the best results.
Usually, I begin my teaching by assessing the students and discussing their objectives. From there, I discuss with them my tailored course plan.

I believe that teaching language and culture are inseparable. I include the cultural background of the Arabic language during my teaching as it helps the student connect more with the language and helps them master it in a logical way. It also raises a lot of interesting discussions including about the equivalents of certain cultural phrases in English.

Teaching Experience:
Currently, I am a freelance Arabic and Egyptian dialect teacher. I have been teaching since 2007 and I have taught students of all ages ranging from 5 to adults. I have also taught all levels, from complete beginners to advanced.

When teaching children, I like to make the lesson as engaging and interactive as possible, using games, songs, flashcards, coloring pictures and roleplays.

For adult students, I rely mostly on authentic materials from a wide range of media such as songs, talk shows, and news outlets, as well as materials that I have created myself.

I have experience in teaching at all skill levels and adjusting my materials according to the student's specific requirements:
Reading: range from basic words to articles
Writing: ranges from texts to emails and essays
Listening: ranges from basic children's stories to news reports and documentaries
Speaking: ranges from basic general day-to-day conversation to discussing any preferred topic and debate and job interviews in Modern Standard Arabic or dialect whilst always practicing pronunciation.

Tutoring Approach:
I am flexible, and keen to help the students to achieve their goals in learning the language. all my lessons are tailored according to the student's needs.

Subjects

Personal Description:
Hello! I am passionate in teaching, and helping people improve whilst feeling more confident in their studies. Having recently completed my higher exams I hope to help people get through the challenging material with the freshest strategies and tips possible. I'd like to label myself as patient, chillaxed, reliable and friendly. Equally, I love to learn and challenge myself, something I hope I can project to whoever I'm teaching.

First lesson will be 50% off, of course, so you can see whether I am the right tutor for you.

Teaching Experience:
I have tutored twice before, once in nat 5 maths bringing their prelim score of C to an A, and also in higher maths taking them from a fail in the prelim to a B.
I also help do paired reading with the younger students in my school as well as being the Maths Ambassador where I'm helping hold study supports for higher and national 5s as well as aiding students in classes.

Tutoring Approach:
Although I have strategies and methods to many different question types in either maths or chemistry, everybody has a specific way they like learning so I aim to be adaptable and inquisivitive to see how I can tailor the lessons for whoever I'm helping so they can learn best. There's no benefits in being overbearing or strict or expecting the world from someone, rather I prefer to be encouraging, patient and understanding to how hard some sub-sections are of each subject and working at a comfortable pace for the tutee. I'll also of course be happy to make regular reports or tell the tutee's guardian of their progress!

Subjects