Kirkcudbright Tutors and Kirkcudbright Tuition

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


AREAS COVERED / WHAT TO EXPECT

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

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

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

Subjects

Personal Description:
I have taught to all levels from reception class at primary school through to secondary school, sixth form college and university level.
I am able to offer authentic French whilst still appreciating the difficulties from an English speaker's point of view. I am also qualified to teach Spanish to all levels and have years of experience in teaching the language.
I have a friendly approach and my lessons are very well organised with a sense of purpose. They are also individually tailored to meet the student's specific needs. I have worked as a GCSE examiner on numerous occasions and have coached and taught AS/A level groups.
Should you be interested in either extra exam tuition, starting a new language or brushing up on previous knowledge, please do not hesitate to contact me. If you are willing to put in the effort, I can guarantee results from my end!

Teaching Experience:
French, Spanish and English as a Second Language - 4 years at a sixth form college
English and History - 4 years at university level
French, Spanish, History and RE - 3 years in grammar schools
French and Spanish - 6 years in adult education
All subjects - 3 years in primary schools

Tutoring Approach:
Pleasant, friendly disposition with a great deal of understanding and patience!

Subjects

Personal Description:
'Talented', 'inspiring', 'fun', 'a wealth of knowledge'...Majority of people enjoyed my lessons and fell in love with Chinese language. I am a smart Mandarin video creator and have composed 9 Mandarin learning books.

I have been teaching and training since 2009 and gained excellent testimonials. I have taught and trained over a thousand people from all backgrounds, including Defence Academy of UK, BP Technology Centre, Logicalis, The Said Business School, The European School at Culham and much more.

My specialisation in the teaching of Mandarin is designing structured and logical material and various activities in order to make learning enjoyable and achievable. I have developed inspiring and motivational teaching strategies. Some learners could be able to grasp Mandarin skills in 30 hours.

I enjoy teaching all levels, including GCSE, A Level, IB, university level and business Chinese.

I have good communication, organisation, planning and management skills with a sense of humour.

Thank you and enjoy learning Mandarin.

Teaching Experience:
Career Summary

June 2011 to present
Managing Director at MOLAES (Modern Oriental Language, Academic and Enterprise Services)
Clients including BP, Logicalis, P2i, Academy of Defence of UK, LPA Channel Electric, Said Business School, The
Taylor & Francis Group, European School at Culham, St. Hugh's Prep School and St Edward School in Oxford etc.

February 2012 to Present
Part-time Mandarin Teacher The Downe House

February 2011 to August 2011
Temporary Part-time Mandarin Teacher St. Bartholomew's School, Newbury

September 2009 to present
Permanent Part time Language Tutor Oxfordshire Adult Learning, Oxfordshire

February 2010 to Present
Contract Part-time Mandarin Tutor St. George International Foreign Languages
Directors Languages, Buckinghamshire
Professional Language Solutions
Simon & Simon Language School

I have been delivering Mandarin course to all levels and ages. My specialisation is designing
structured and logical material and wide ranges of activities to making learning enjoyable and achievable.

Each of my courses is tailored to needs of the students, beginning with developing their Individual Learning Plan and defining their Personal Learning Style. I also encourage my student to provide feedback and assessment of each lesson so that I can monitor my teaching style as I am always looking for ways to improve.

My goal is always to deliver teaching in a style which engages my students and makes learning interesting and fun.

Tutoring Approach:
Various approaches to meet the different learning styles.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am london based accountant with 2 major accounting post graduate qualifications. I teach students on private basis in accounting, finance, business related subjects

Teaching Experience:
I have over 7 years Teaching Experience and helped more than 300+ students to date.

Tutoring Approach:
My approach to tutoring would to teach students in their homely environment where they are most comfortable, by understanding their needs, current status and then starting with day to day examples of life collaborating with accounting and business topics to make the subject and topics easier to understand.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I like to tutor targeting problem areas if any in order to get all areas on the same level. If my student is a beginner which ever style makes them comfortable and confident is my style.

Teaching Experience:
5 years tutoring in private households in Turkey, Students aged between 7-14

Tutoring Approach:
Patience is a virtue :) I enjoy end results so my approach is effort wins

Subjects

Personal Description:
Hi there!

I am an experienced online Maths, Physics, Chemistry tutor, founder of two internet startups, graduate of Chemical Physics for a Master's degree at the University of Edinburgh (Honours + Edinburgh Award). Besides the fact that I have got 100% in Maths, Physics and 98% in Chemistry exams, I have also received many awards in scientific competitions as well as a Silver medal in the International Science Olympiad. With more than 1700 hours experience in SQA, OCR, AQA, Edexcel GCSE, A-Level and National 5, enhanced DBS and PVG checks, I can provide modern, professional and flexible online tutoring.

In my experience, online tutoring is as effective as in person, with the added flexibility that your busy schedule demands. It allows you to access the best tutors in the field nationwide instead of relying on local supply. I offer personalised lessons, more than just tutoring. I assess student's needs, accordingly customise study resources, teach the student, provide homework and send feedback after each lesson.

Why don't we have a trial online lesson and we would see how it goes? Most of my students, who agree to try it, continue having online lessons and you can find their reviews on my profile. If you are interested in my tuition, do not hesitate to contact me and we will arrange a lesson at a time that is the most suitable for you.

Here is some more information about me:

When did you start tutoring?
I have started tutoring one of my classmates while I was still in secondary school. It was a rewarding experience and it is quite interesting to go back to those times and compare how much has changed over the years in my lessons.

Why do you tutor?
I was always passionate about explaining Maths and Science to my peers back in school but I could have never imagined that it would become such a core part of my life. Tutoring is not just a source of income for me, it's something that makes me feel valuable in society, it allows helping so many amazing students around the UK to proceed in their future studies and careers. And it was never just theory and exams that we cover during our lessons, my tutoring sessions inevitably involve critical thinking and applying the knowledge in real life, thus I can contribute to students' lives even more.

What is your biggest tutoring success story?
Creating my own professional database of exam-type questions (the aforementioned startup) proved to be a success in my tutoring career since it allowed to spend more time and energy on creating quality resources for students and reuse them during different lessons. It was hard to see the value of the questions initially, but I have noticed that some students started to appreciate them so much that they no longer want to use a textbook during our lessons and I can focus more on their solutions rather than creating questions on the spot. Fast forward two years, 97% of my lessons are delivered using this system!

What is your biggest tutoring failure?
I could not distinguish a particular biggest failure while tutoring but there have been several cases when I was able to assess my tutoring, communication, preparation for lessons and enhance them accordingly. Such cases are responsible for the current structure of my lessons, communication with students and their parents, software and hardware that I use for tutoring and messaging. It really seems that every new challenge creates an opportunity for my services to be improved.

What are the students you love and hate to teach?
To be honest, I have not had any students that I hated to teach, they all are just different. With some pupils we have to thoroughly go through every concept in a topic and revise them later to build the knowledge up. However, that is not always the case with students who are already successful and aim for excellence. They usually solve provided questions quite quickly and I am just left checking answers and correcting silly mistakes. Therefore, I love tutoring every student, regardless of their skills and knowledge.

Who are you as a person?
I love reading books, I try to live a healthy life and be a responsible consumer. For 10 years I was a professional performer of dancesport, I was a swimmer with fins, a solo singer and participant in various science olympiads. I like reading articles, listening to talks and podcasts about how science and technology can be applied in both our lives and solving environmental problems.

What's your teaching style?
Students might decide by themselves how they want to learn during tutoring sessions, but otherwise, I always personalise my lessons according to their level and aims. There is always an option to go through a past paper or questions that a student did not understand at school or we can cover some topics fully by using a textbook. However, if they just want to revise a broader part of a subject or to cover something that they have missed at school, we can solve thousands of exam-like questions that I have got covered.

Whats your favourite place to teach?
Online

Teaching Experience:
I have been tutoring for more than 1700 hours as online, 1 to 1, Gojimo and Tutor Doctor tutor.

Tutoring Approach:
In my tutoring sessions with students we go through the topics where they struggle, solve past exam papers, I remind them the theory of the subject, and help completing homework questions, if required. I tend to explain the basic principles firstly, later I am developing students' s ability to solve problems by themselves starting from easy questions and building knowledge to thinking required solutions.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am an energetic and ambitious final year university student with five years of experience in tutoring. Italian is my first language but I am also fluent in English (IELTS level C1).
I have been an exchange student in 2016/17 in England and I obtained my AS levels. The year after I went back to Italy to complete my studies and gain the Italian Diploma di Stato, in which I scored 82/100. I was then back in England to obtain the A-level qualifications and I am now studying at University.

Teaching Experience:
I have 5 years of experience with both children and adults, both face to face and online.
My lessons are very interactive and engaging, and they are all customized based on students' needs. Tutoring is a real passion for me, so I do my very best for each student to reach his or her full potential.

Tutoring Approach:
My methodology is quite structured, but I easily adapt to students' styles and preferences.

99% of the students who come to me want to learn how to talk to people, so I am used to this request. I help them achieve this by ensuring that they know their grammar inside and out, and by supporting them with their speaking alongside it. The more we build on the grammar, the more we can build on the speaking, simultaneously. I have personally designed 4 levels of speaking, so the activities vary based on the level the student is in and build up smoothly.
For students who are interested in long-term tutoring, I often recommend a textbook to use along with my slides. I also make use of WhatsApp to send recordings if the student is struggling with pronunciation.

Most people appreciate the importance of knowing some basic grammar before they can practice speaking, and they are open to trusting me to fill in their knowledge gaps first. Once that's done (usually after 5-6 sessions if you start from zero), I introduce them to my "level 1" speaking practice, which is about describing a picture or something that they can visually see, in short, disconnected sentences. "Level 2" would be to try and get that speech to flow a little bit better by using pronouns and particles to avoid repetition. "Level 3" would be to add a bit of made-up background to that picture. For example, if they see that the table is laid but an object is missing, such as cutlery, they can try and think of why that could be (e.g. the man forgot to put the cutlery on the table). "Level 4" will involve describing procedures or things that they can partially visualize, or that are completely abstract, for example, describing every single action taken to make a cake, or talking about a past holiday. Lastly, "level 5" involves debating about current issues or picking a topic, establishing that we have two different opinions, and the student has to try to convince me of theirs.
These "levels" vary from person to person but it provides at least an idea of how the speech develops alongside the grammar, which is present in every session.

Subjects

Personal Description:
31 years experience - successful Head of Department and Assistant Headteacher with 2:1 Degree in English Language and Literature
I am married with a 17 year old daughter.
I enjoy cycling, watching the Manchester Storm Ice Hockey team, enjoy travelling and just spending time with my family.
I pride myself on the strong and effective relationships I have with students I teach at school and have a passion for teaching.
I am an experienced exam marker for a leading exam board for both English language and Literature and have experience of teaching Key Stage 3 to key Stage 5 over 26 years in the classroom.

Teaching Experience:
31 years across five schools.
I have experience as a teacher, subject leader, lead for Literacy and an Assistant Headteacher and have a successful record in helping learners achieve their expected grade.

Tutoring Approach:
Flexible, friendly and fun.
I'm obviously guided by the learning approach preferred by the tutee but would be well-planned, driven and keen to maximise the potential of any learner in my care.

Subjects

Personal Description:
Hi, I`m Laurence. I produce and DJ. I have been producing for 10 years and actively releasing music for the passed 5, having toured the UK, Europe and USA.

I graduated with a 2:1 Honors degree back in 2014 in Music Production at London Metropolitan University.

Teaching Experience:
I have 10+ years experience in music production and have been private tutoring for the passed year. I`m have extensive knowledge of Ableton Live and Logic Pro including mixing, recording, synthesis, arrangements, drum programming and more.

Tutoring Approach:
I offer a fun and practical approach to music production, tailoring each lessons to your own skill level and personal goals. Whether you are just beginning or have some previous experience, we will work together on building your technical knowledge and self confidence as music producer.
I will guide you through each step, from starting your song to drum programming, arrangement, synthesis and mixing techniques. I`m also happy to teach some basic piano/music theory knowledge to anyone who`s just starting out. Creativity and artistry is personal to ourselves, therefore I help and encourage my students to explore and develop their own creative ideas.
I teach from my recording studio in Hackney.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am an experienced science teacher available to tutor during evenings/weekends.

Teaching Experience:
I am in my eighth year of teaching Science up to GCSE level and I have a strong subject knowledge across all areas of Biology, Chemistry & Physics. I am very familiar with the new science specification (currently teaching AQA Trilogy) and the levels of knowledge required for KS3 and KS4.

Tutoring Approach:
My sessions can be adapted to specific needs and are planned to focus on areas of weakness identified. With KS3 (Years 7-8) I focus on working scientifically and key ideas in science, while I structure KS4 (Years 9-11) sessions around knowledge retrieval practice, linking scientific ideas and exam technique.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. I look forward to hearing from you.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I love sharing what I have learned, not only from University, but also from my life experiences. I believe that learning another language is not about grammar, but about understanding the culture that conveys its ideas throught that language.

Teaching Experience:
I engaged in a number of student tutoring positions when I was doing my Bachelor's in Communication and Journalism. There, I helped my peers to improve their writing skills. You can be sure that I am way better than Duolingo.

Tutoring Approach:
You won't forget something that you love. By exploring your personal interests, we can find a way in which you start loving Spanish language.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I previously ran my own business for 12 years before I decided that I wanted to teach chemistry in a secondary school. This was one of the best decisions I ever made- I can honestly say I love my job! After training at Etone College in Nuneaton I began working at Rawlett School (Tamworth, Staffordshire) in September 2020

I'm married with two kids and I'm a big Leicester City fan!

Teaching Experience:
I'm currently working full time as an NQT at Rawlett School in Tamworth, Staffordshire where I feel very priviledged to work as part of a very strong science department. At Rawlett I teach KS3 and KS4 (11-16). My subject specialism is Chemistry which I teach predomminantly at KS4. I teach all 3 sciences at KS3 and have taught all sciences at KS4

I previously trainined through the SCITT training programme at Etone College and Hartshill School both in Nuneaton, Warwickshire.

I've managed to survive two lockdowns of online teaching and it has been a huge learning curve for myself. During these periods I taugh live lessons using google classroom both on an individual and classroom basis.

The organisation I work for (AET academies) is a national leader for integrating technology with classroom based learning and I have hugely benefited from working for AET in this regard.

During lockdown I particularly enjoyed the challenge of adapting to the needs of SEND pupils

Quotes from my recent work appraisal:

"Shaun has demonstrated great subject knowledge including subjects outside his specialism"

Shaun uses lesson time effectively.

Shaun has demonstrated a highly professional approach to teaching and his own conduct at all times. He has started to build/maintain excellent relationship with students in his care.

Shaun's attendance, reliability and punctuality are excellent"

Tutoring Approach:
My experience in online teaching is based around using google classroom systems but I'm more than happy to adapt to applications that my pupils are more comfortable using.
I normally tutor in hour sessions and do my best to work around the schedules of my customers

I favour modelling answers and working through questions with pupils by using a graphics tablet which I find immensely useful. The learning resources I use are the results of the hardwork of the experienced team I work with at the AET academy.

I'd describe my teaching style as being driven by my passion for science. I consider it crucial to establish a good working relationship with my pupils so they feel confident enough to express what it is they are struggling to understand. I believe a sense of humour is a very underated and important tool for achieving this as well as enabling pupils to enjoy the subject being taught.

Subjects

Personal Description:
Hi, I'm Johnette and I have a Bachelor's degree in Political Science and a post-graduate teaching qualification in Secondary Education. I have over ten years teaching experience in bilingual, state and international schools.

Teaching Experience:
I've been teaching KS2 - A levels History and Geography, Humanities and English as a Foreign Language in classroom and online settings (majority of my students are from Asia, the Middle East and Europe). I used to work in a secondary school in England and have a full DBS/ police check. I'm also a CIE History Assessment Specialist/ Assistant Examiner.

I'm offering tailored lessons to help you or your child learn History and/or Geography on all specifications (eg. CAIE, IB, Edexcel International, AP) as I have a thorough knowledge of the requirements for all of these. I can help you learn the content, give exam techniques or if you just want someone to chat with/ practice your oral English with! I'm available to mark exam papers for IGCSE- A levels History and Geography.

I have a proven track record including helping my students achieve the highest marks for Cambridge International Examinations IGCSE History in the whole of China (in June 2010 and June 2016 examinations).

Tutoring Approach:
I enjoy teaching students of different ability levels and cultural backgrounds and take pleasure in making the subject interesting for my students. When teaching, I aim to provide a stimulating and interactive learning environment. I plan my lessons with care to make sure that I've included appropriate activities and exercises for the students' level by using a variety of teaching strategies and methods to support the engagement of all learners (including making provisions for students with learning difficulties by differentiating activities that are suitable for the different learning styles). I also like to help students achieve their full academic potential and get them inspired about the world around them.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am studying MSc Psychology on campus at University of London. I have a vast experience of teaching A-Level/GCSE Maths, Physics, Chemistry and Biology having myself scored A grades in the aforementioned.

Teaching Experience:
I have 10 years of teaching experience of teaching Maths, Physics, Chemistry and Biology. I can also teach Urdu and English Language + Literature.

Tutoring Approach:
I start from topics the students are comfortable with and move gradually towards more complex areas as their confidence builds. I use questions and examples to check understanding continually. I don't lecture to students or ask them to memorise things. But I am very flexible.

Subjects

Personal Description:
Hello, my name is Luke and I am currently studying Biomedical Sciences at the Russel Group University of York. I came out of school having achieved the following:
GCSE: All Sciences - 9s, Maths - 8
A-Level: Sciences - As, Maths - B
My goal is to inspire students who require additional help to cope with the high demand of school and also to push students to be able to reach the highest grades possible.

Teaching Experience:
The FameLab competition gave me a chance to inform large groups of people about my chosen scientific topic. I gave multiple talks within my school and also at the University of Hull in the Allam medical building.
During my education, I would often find myself clarifying points to my fellow students which they didn't grasp first time.
During my time working on NCS, a large part of my role was to get participants of all different backgrounds and interests involved and this is something which is heavily applicable to tutoring.

Tutoring Approach:
My experience with FameLab taught me charisma, which I believe is invaluable when teaching students. It allows me to convey all of the required information and skills, in a memorable and interactive way. Often, trying to learn all the facts at face value is a huge challenge for anyone, so I like to utilise various methods such as acronyms, to make difficult areas of the specification more memorable and more accessible.

Subjects

Personal Description:
A second year medic at the University of Edinburgh. I graduated with 44/45 in the IB.

I did not get where I am today by myself. I had help - friends, family, and teachers. I know how much impact a teacher can have, and I just want to help where I can.

Prior to Uni, I spent 2 years in the Army developing ,training and leading frontline soldiers. I have seen people from all walks of life and am committed to developing and teaching my students as well.

Teaching Experience:
Prior to Uni, I tutored final year IB students for a year. Prior to that, I did not have any formal teaching assignments, only teaching friends or some of my soldiers when I was serving. Despite that, I have been coaching for most of my life. Since I was 15 I have been mentoring my juniors in my extra curriculars at school, so I am well versed when it comes to different methods of mentoring.

Tutoring Approach:
I enjoy getting to know my students beyond their academic needs; building a connection and seeing that they are supported in any way that I can.

I also believe in understanding rather than memorizing, so I teach my students skills that will help them approach problems logically instead of just memorizing the textbook.

I am flexible and can tailor lesson times specific to the student.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am a highly qualified and experienced teacher and tutor of economics with a background in examining for two major exam boards. My tutoring approach is friendly, thorough, and professional, designed to help students feel supported and confident in their learning. I tailor each session to the specific needs and goals of the student, ensuring that every lesson is relevant, targeted, and effective. I strive to create an engaging learning environment where students can explore economics with curiosity and build a deep understanding of the subject. Whether focusing on key concepts, exam techniques, or real-world applications, I provide clear explanations and structured support. My aim is to help students achieve their academic goals while fostering a genuine interest in economics. I hold degrees in Economics, Politics and Philosophy (BA). MA in Education and MA in Philosophy.

Teaching Experience:
With extensive experience as the Head of Economics at a leading independent school, I bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to my tutoring services. As a highly effective and dedicated teacher of 25 years, I have a proven track record of guiding students to excel in their studies, fostering both academic success and a deep understanding of economics. In addition to teaching, I am an experienced examiner, giving me unique insight into what examiners look for and how students can maximise their marks. This experience allows me to tailor my tutoring approach to help students master not only the subject matter but also the critical exam techniques needed to achieve top grades.

Tutoring Approach:
I specialise in supporting students across all levels, whether they are aiming to build confidence in the basics or striving for excellence in advanced topics. My sessions are engaging, structured, and tailored to individual needs, ensuring students develop a solid foundation in economic theory and its real-world applications. If you are looking for personalised, expert guidance in economics, I am here to help you reach your academic goals with confidence.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I'm a Russell Group education student at the University of Manchester, working toward PGCE with QTS. I've completed 240+ hours of TEFL/TESOL training and have a strong academic background in, English, Web Design, etc. I'm patient, reliable, and passionate about helping students build confidence.

Teaching Experience:
I've tutored GCSE and A-Level students informally, helping them improve grades through structured practice and clear explanations. My TEFL/TESOL training gave me tools to break down complex ideas and adapt to different learning styles. I'm comfortable teaching ages 11-18 across core subjects.

Tutoring Approach:
Every student learns differently. I start by identifying gaps, then build from fundamentals with clear examples and lots of practice. I encourage questions and make sessions interactive, no lecturing. My goal is to make students feel confident enough to tackle problems independently.

Subjects