Kirkliston Tutors and Kirkliston Tuition

Personal Description:
I am a previous Head of Mathematics where I taught Years 5 - 9

Before this I was a Skills for Life maths coordinator for Cambridgeshire CC

I am passionate about the subject and believe that everyone can learn maths

I am also very enthusiastic and I am good at building up confidence and self-esteem

Teaching Experience:
Head of Mathematics - teaching Years 4 - 6

Middle school Mathematics teacher Years 5 - 9

Skills for Life Coordinator - maths - Post-16

Tutoring Approach:
I believe that everyone can learn maths !

I think maths should be fun - as if you enjoy something you want to do it!

I always try to instill confidence and boost self-esteem as these are vital components in learning

I subscribe to using an active learning approach with a variety of resources where possible to meet learners needs.

Subjects

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am a very cheerful and easy-going person. I love "meeting people", love "teaching", love "seeing students progress".

Teaching Experience:
Have taught at a public school near Hampstead. Currently teaching in companies, a university, and a secondary school as well as Foreign and commonwealth office. Preparation for new JLPT, GCSE and a lot of experience of private tutoring.

Tutoring Approach:
Lessons are tailor made for students' requirements.

Subjects

Personal Description:
Enthusiastic, dedicated, specialist English tutor with 30 years of teaching experience and strong results record at all levels.. Examiner for Sats, GCSE and A' Level. Head of Department and School Literacy Coordinator. Patient and focused on helping students to improve their skills, enjoy the subject and get the grades they deserve.

Teaching Experience:
During my teacher training year, I worked in a primary school, a grammar school and a boarding school where I taught English, Latin and Greek. My first teaching job was teaching English and English Literature to A' Level. Following the outstanding results of my A' Level classes, I was promoted to Head of A' Level English. I was also the Course Designer for all key stages, Assistant in Gifted and Talented and Line Manager of the Learning Resources Centre and the Integrated Learning Suite. I then became Head of Department and School Literacy Coordinator. The examination results of students dramatically improved under my leadership. I have worked for the examination boards Edexcel, AQA and CCEA , examining SATs, GCSE and A' Level papers. I also have recent experience teaching English as a Foreign Language.

Tutoring Approach:
I begin by getting to know the student and identifying their learning needs. Lessons are objective based to achieve desired learning outcomes, improve skills and achieve target grades or better. I aim to make lessons focused, enjoyable and interesting. I love teaching and there is nothing better for me than to see a student improve, gain in confidence and get the grades they deserve.

Subjects

Personal Description:
In all these years, I have tried to transfer my knowledge to everybody I had sat down to help with his/her economics and business exams (especially accounting and finance). I have provided, and still do when necessary, tuition to members of the family and friends.
Even in College, I have assisted friends in their maths and accounting courses, aiming at helping them understand the methodology that is behind numbers.
I have high confidence in myself that I can succeed in a private teaching/tutoring role. I have always admired young people's minds, and I believe that a teacher's responsibility is to help them both shape them and enrich them within the frame of each individual's personality.

Teaching Experience:
My current position is Lecturer in Finance in one of the leading private business schools in the UK. I am focusing in those areas that I have had a 17 year working experience. Working in the real business world for all these years is an asset for me, which will definitely help me transfer the knowledge I have gained, to younger people.
I have also been recently appointed by a secondary school, as Accounting tutor for a group of students to assist and prepare them for their A2 Accounting exams.

Tutoring Approach:
I have always believed that the best approach to tutoring is the pen and paper approach. That is, I find necessary for a student to practice as much as possible through exercises and problem solving. And as ancient Greeks once said: "Reviewing is the mother of knowledge".

Subjects

Personal Description:
I 've been teaching English as a Foreign Language (EFL) for the past 6 years, both as a Homestay Host and one-to-one lessons for individuals needing additional help in understanding the English that we speak I incorporate cultural awareness in my lessons and particularly enjoy helping with pronunciation and intonation. I believe how you say something is as important as what you say. You won't just be learning Grammar and the curriculum we follow will be set by your needs. I hold a B.Sc. in Education from Temple University, Phila, Pa USA and have been a UK resident for over 30 years. I also hold a Trinity College London (CertTESOL) diploma from Universal Language Training, Woking. Previously, I have worked for large multi-national companies (American Express, Owners Abroad ) and was an International Training Manager for Continental Airlines (now United Airlines) where I taught airline system management to classes of multi-national adults. I particularly enjoy one-to-one teaching whether in person or online(SKYPE), as the effort and energy involved produces real results in a relatively short time. I'm a 'people person' and enjoy sharing my knowledge of the English language and customs and making it fun to boot!

Teaching Experience:
Babel Languages & Cultural Consultants - language training services to Business clients in their office or home. All levels of both General and Business English.

Acorn English Homestay, Host tutoring in my own home. General and Business English, all levels. Currently self-employed with them.

Living Learning English (LLE), Host Tutoring in my own home. General and Business English, all levels. Currently self-employed with them.

InTuition Languages, Host Tutoring in my own home General and Business English, all levels. Currently self-employed with them.

Language Trainers/Listen & Learn, One-to-One Language training services to Business clients in their office or home All levels both General and Business English. Currently employed by them on a freelance basis.

EFLsoutheast - self-employed tutor teaching both General and Business English.

Embassy CES Language School, Brighton EFL Teacher for summer school programme for 3 seasons (2010-2013 inc) taught Pre-Int and Intermediate levels.

ISIS Education Ltd EFL Teacher - 2 week English/Mexican Olympics, Ardingly College, West Sussex.

Tutoring Approach:
One-to-One tutoring gives a real insight into both the English language that we speak and English culture. It is tailored specifically to the individual needs of the student rather than follow any particular textbook. We are free to concentrate on those areas where you may need the most help. Being able to spend time on pronunciation, stress and intonation are areas where one-to-one teaching really comes into its own as well as learning about the English that is actually spoken. Learning/perfecting a new language does not need to be a painful process. A professional, friendly approach in comfortable surroundings is what one-to-one teaching is all about!

Subjects

Personal Description:
A native Japanese from Tokyo with the Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching Japanese as a Foreign Language. Lived in the UK for over 25 years. Specifically trained to teach non-Japanese learners. Teaching full time as a profession. My background is in graphic design but I travelled around New Zealand and Australia before coming to the UK. Through my travel, I met people from many different countries and greatly enjoyed the experience. I live in Kings Norton which is in the south side of Birmingham.

Teaching Experience:
I taught my son Japanese singlehandedly from home without outside help and he got A* for both Japanese GCSE and A level. I take on both adults and students ranging from adults with Japanese connection in business, students who are studying for GCSE/JLPT. Young people who want to live and work in Japan in the future, people who want to watch Japanese anime without subtitles, people who want to visit Japan on holiday and much more. The level of my students range from complete beginners to upper-intermediate. I have also taught groups of children, and also a group of adults at a company. Both group types had some cultural sessions in which I received excellent feedback.
Number of people I teach weekly on one to one bases as of July 2022: over 30 people

Tutoring Approach:
I am friendly, enthusiastic and dedicated, and am happy to incorporate various aspects of Japan such as culture, anime, food etc. to add depth and insight in order to enrich your learning experience. I use Skype and online notepad for online lessons, and for both face-to-face and online, I normally issue 'no obligation' weekly homework unless you opt out, from over 30 textbooks and workbooks which I have accumulated over the years. Lessons normally continue throughout the year including school summer holidays and Christmas.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I graduated from the University of Nottingham in June 2012 with a degree in mathematics, with honours. I also attained A, A and B in my maths, further maths and physics A Levels, respectively.

Since graduating, I have worked in finance departments and technology, while tutoring part-time. Because my passion for helping others with their maths has grown, I have been tutoring full-time for over a year now.

My aim is always to get the student to think critically and learn the topics thoroughly, whilst inspiring them to want to learn more about the fascinating world of mathematics.

I am available for both online and in-person tutoring.

Since lock-down in March, all the students I was tutoring face-to-face switched over to tutoring online. I used Zoom for video chat and bitpaper.io for an online whiteboard. This was successful for me and my students.

Teaching Experience:
I was tutoring mathematics part-time after leaving university in 2012 and due to positive feedback, I have been tutoring full-time since last year. I tutor students from KS3 through to A Level including Further maths A Level. I am very up-to-date with all syllabuses, exam techniques and requirements.

Tutoring Approach:
Everyone learns at a different pace and in different ways. My primary goal is to listen and communicate well with each student, so that I can really understand their needs and cater for them; in turn, they get the most out of each lesson. Furthermore, I actively engage each student with what they need (or want) to learn, as opposed to them taking a back seat. I encourage students to ask lots of questions because it gives an opportunity to discuss and challenge what they know.

I motivate students to want to learn and to do well. One thing I do differently from others is I explain how what they are learning is relevant to the real world. I have found that this makes it more exciting, interesting and enjoyable for the student, and they tend to engage more in the lessons. I try and strike a balance between motivating students, but not stressing them out too much.

Working through many examples from the syllabus is important and reinforces what the student has learned. I ensure this aspect of learning is both challenging and productive, ultimately getting the student closer towards their goal of achieving a high grade in their exams.

I am efficient with time management so that each student gets the most out of each lesson. I strongly encourage them to spend time outside of the session learning, including setting them homework, because this is where they will make their biggest strides forward.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I love Maths. I am having studied Mathematics and Mechanics. I have built up an understanding of what it takes to succeed in a challenging area. I much enjoy being able to build people`s confidence in these areas and the opportunity to share my enjoyment. I am a PhD Student in Mathematics and have an MSc in Mathematical Modelling and Scientific Simulation, MSc in Applied Mathematics.
I provide tuition in Maths and Mechanics, with a professional and very friendly manner aimed at making the student thoroughly at ease and confident with the work in hand. I also integrate practice with teaching and give practical examples to understand the theory better.

Teaching Experience:
I am experienced in tutoring Maths, and Mechanics to GCSEs and A level undergraduate, postgraduate students.
I have international experience in a different country and therefore, can easily relate to people of different culture and race.
I can work as a problem solver, helping students build an understanding of areas they are currently studying and guide them through challenging aspects. This is particularly useful in Maths and mechanics as a large part of studying these subjects is done by solving problems.

Tutoring Approach:
I provide tuition in Maths and Mechanics, with a professional and very friendly manner aimed at making the student thoroughly at ease and confident with the work in hand. I also integrate practice with teaching and give practical examples to understand the theory better.

Subjects

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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A-level results, August 2024:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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A-level results, August/September 2022:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

*

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 there,

My name is Dilafruz (Dilya) and I am originally from Tajikistan. My mother tongue is Persian Tajik and also, Russian.
Before I moved to London, I was learning English at university and graduated in Economics and Finance. My passion has always been to live in a city where I could practice and perfect my English.

8 years later, I have three young children (ages 2-7 years) and a baking business. I speak English fluently, have picked up Turkish through TV series and now learning Arabic online! I would like to share my passion for languages and Maths by teaching other children and assist them with their school work / studies.

Teaching Experience:
Not only do I tutor my own children and help them with their school work, but I teach my family friends children too.
In Tajikistan, I used to do babysitting part time which involved having study sessions with the kids after dinner. This involved tutoring and aiding them with their day-to-day homework in various subjects such as: Russian, Maths, History and Art.

Tutoring Approach:
I'm confident in taking lessons online as long as it's through video. My teaching approach is very interactive and only through facial expressions, can I truly see if my tutees are understanding the topics / subjects I'm covering.
My prior experience in babysitting and also having three children has taught me not only patience, but compassion and understanding. I maintain a positive and encouraging attitude at all times, so that my tutees also feel confident and are able to ask me questions without feeling intimidated. I'm also very organised and will come prepared for each lesson to ensure I make the most of the time I have with my tutee.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I'm French, my family lives in Paris as well as the South of France and I've been living in UK 10 years.
I have a degree in Modern Languages and I enjoy travelling and discovering new cultures.

Teaching Experience:
I have been tutoring French and Spanish to all levels from primary pupils to university students as well as Adults for the last 6 years.

Tutoring Approach:
I tailor lessons to my students' needs in a relaxed session. We will work together towards goals we set together.
I aim to help students over the long term by also discussing revision strategies and memory aids to ensure that topics covered in sessions will remain fresh and exam ready.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am a highly experienced and qualified teacher of English as a foreign/second language with 25 years of teaching groups and individuals from beginners to advanced, children to adults, in universities, languages schools and online all around the world. I aim to improve fluency and my classes are interesting and fun because they focus on you, your interests and your environment. For this reason I prefer you to have an intermediate level at the very least so that we can converse and enjoy ourselves!

Teaching Experience:
I have taught all ages and levels in universities and language schools in the U.K.,France and Spain. I taught in a post A-Level business school in Montpellier, France. In Reims, France I was a teacher of English at the faculty of Technology and Science.
I specialised in Business and Advanced English in a Spanish language school and was a Cambridge examiner for 13 years.
I taught management and staff English for the Hotel Industry in a 5-star resort in Laos.
I taught English to children and teenagers at a summer Sailing and English course at a sailing club in Barcelona.
I now teach online and have students from countries as diverse as Brazil, Turkey, Poland and Taiwan. I use Skype as a platform. Classes are 55 minutes.
I teach adults but also adolescents (£10 for half-hour sessions)
I offer a 15-minute free class to see if we can work happily together.

Tutoring Approach:
The class is as open and free as you or I make it. Conversation can turn to literature, film, music or discussions about our lives. There is great respect and kindness on my part. I am curious to get to know you as a person, your culture and likes and dislikes. I am sociable and likeable. I am always in a good mood, bubbly and smiling. I correct your grammar and write all new vocabulary and expressions in the chat so you can look over it after the class. I only revise or teach grammar points if I feel it's necessary or you ask for it. Most people have studied grammar but now need to use it by speaking! This is a fluency class and I aim to make you fluent! I guarantee you will enjoy yourself and time will fly by!

Subjects

Personal Description:
Hi, I'm Pedro. I was born in Portugal but have lived in England since I was 9. I'm currently studying BSc in Psychology at Bournemouth University and I really enjoy my degree. I am particularly interested in clinical psychology and as a result since April 2022 I've been volunteering at 'Hammersley Homes', a charity which focuses on helping adults with mental illness. A few hours a week I visit someone who finds himself adjusting back into society, he has autism and bipolar. We speak, go on walks, cycle or listen to music together. I have learnt a lot about how difficult certain people find life. This experience has really helped me to be more empathetic, caring and positive.
I also really enjoy surfing, jogging and cooking.

Teaching Experience:
I took up a role as 'PAL' leader at my university where I was given a classroom of 20 first year psychology students. Although the role involved me 'facilitating' instead of 'teaching'. I spoke to my 'students' every week on what content they were struggling with, since I had done the same content the year prior, I compiled and summarised content which I had been taught and created power point slides to give them direction and a better understanding on the content. I also emphasised taking care of mental health and getting involved with the community.

I was nervous at first, worried about speaking too fast or having awkward silences but after a few sessions I found myself loving it. I received really good feedback from students and supervisor who suggested I should be a teacher because I made the sessions really engaging.

Tutoring Approach:
I see tutoring as an amazing opportunity to help motivate students and help them engage in their learning, so that they gain confidence, a better understanding, and better results. I understand every student is different so finding the best way the student engages with the work, is vital so that they enjoy the process of learning and succeeding. I like spreading positivity and joy, since I believe it's the best learning environment.

I know a lot of hard work goes into studying each exam board to make sure I'm giving accurate support and working hard to find questions which fit the skill of student.

Subjects

Personal Description:
Hey! I'm Elena, a native Russian speaker living in the South-East of England with my family. I've been deeply passionate about teaching English and Russian since 1996 when I started my own language school in Russia. The joy of running my school led me to explore languages and cultures.

After moving to the UK, I continued teaching English. When my daughter was born, I faced the challenge of teaching her Russian in an English-speaking environment where even Russian kids speak English. Determined to make it work, I dove into innovative techniques for teaching Russian as a foreign language. For the last 12 years, I've been successfully teaching Russian to school-age children and adults. I'd love to help you on your language-learning journey!

Teaching Experience:
Over the years, I seamlessly integrated teaching into various jobs I had, catering to diverse age groups-from school-age children to adult learners.

I've enriched the educational journeys of thousands of students throughout my career, a source of immense pride. Thanks to my guidance, students have not only excelled in school exams but have triumphed in entrance exams to prestigious Russian and Russel Group Universities. Many have propelled their professional journeys to new heights. Notably, some of my students have mastered English to such a degree that they secured admission to the Academy of Foreign Intelligence-a feat known for its formidable challenges.

I have over 25 years of experience in teaching English as a foreign language and 12 years of experience in teaching Russian as a foreign language. I offer the following tutoring:

- Teaching English as a foreign language to school-age and adult learners on a 1-2-1 basis and in small groups
- Teaching Russian as a foreign language to school-age and adult learners on a 1-2-1 basis
- Preparation for GCSE - Russian
- Deliver tailored courses for businesses e.g. Business English
- Preparation for TOEFL and IELTS
- Preparation for the Life in the UK Citizenship test

Tutoring Approach:
As a dynamic and performance-focused tutor, I provide engaging lessons that are tailored to the individual's goals and needs. My priority is to teach students how to speak and understand the language, ensuring significant progress within just one month.

My comprehensive language tutoring includes the development of speaking, listening, writing, and reading skills. Additionally, I offer insights into the culture and traditions of the country, providing students with a holistic understanding of the language. I use modern techniques and a wide range of resources to ensure the steady progress of all my students.

I am pleased to offer both one-to-one lessons and small group sessions online.

Subjects

Personal Description:
With over 20 years of teaching experience, I bring a proactive, supportive, and results-driven approach to every learning session. My teaching style is patient yet highly focused on identifying and prioritizing areas for growth, ensuring we address what matters most to your development. I specialize in helping students improve their English language skills for various purposes, from academic success to specific business needs, and I offer targeted support for BA/MA work as well.

Currently, I manage large-scale global social media communities for the U.S. State Department and direct my own summer camp in Italy, experiences that give me unique insights into effective communication, cultural nuance, and tailored content creation. Through my sessions, I aim to make language learning accessible, impactful, and directly applicable to your real-world goals. Whether you're aiming to refine your academic English, advance in business communication, or achieve specific language goals, I'm here to support you every step of the way.

Teaching Experience:
Experienced Educator: Over 20 years in teaching and curriculum development across diverse settings, from rural areas to international programs.

Broad International Background:
Worked in the Middle East, Europe, Asia, Africa and the U.S..
Diverse experience from teaching ESL to university students at Columbia University to directing large-scale English programs at EF and St. Giles in New York City.
Directed summer English programs in Italy and New York, managing staff, curriculum, and daily operations for large-scale programs, ran EF's Academic Department in Tarrytown, New York, training teachers, coordinating schedules for 1,000+ students, and fostering collaborative learning environments.

Student Advancement:
Assisted students in obtaining scholarships and advancing their academic careers.
Helped university students with their BA/MA dissertations, providing guidance on research, structure, and writing.

Digital Content Creation:
Designed webinars, educational videos, and interactive content for the U.S. Department of State, engaging a global audience.
Grew the American English for Educators Facebook page by 300,000+ followers, bringing resources to teachers worldwide.

Tutoring Approach:
I take a collaborative and student-centered approach to tutoring. I am patient, proactive, and dedicated to creating inclusive learning experiences that prioritize each student's unique needs and interests.

Subjects

Personal Description:
Hi! I'm David and I'm a year 13 student having just graduated from St Paul's School London and finished A levels and looking to go on to study Mathematics at either the University of Cambridge or Imperial College London next year, with 4 A* predicted and 9s in 11/11 subjects at GCSE. I really love Maths and Physics and so I naturally have spent lots of time trying to understand the entire A level syllabus, to the point where I'm now confident I could teach it and anything below that to absolutely anybody, and would love to be able to help those who want to improve their grades. I have had the most wonderful teachers during my time at school and so I am now confident that I can transmit any concepts and ideas lucidly to any of my tutees.

Teaching Experience:
I've tutored previously in St Mary's Ukrainian School for a period of 6 months, where I tutored GCSE Maths and brought up three peoples' grades from a 7 to a 9, a 6 to an 8 and a 6 to a 9 respectively. Although I had to stop the tutoring due to other commitments the students that I tutored said that they would absolutely have continued if I had had the availability, and it heped me understand more where people struggle and how to best help them with their studies.

Tutoring Approach:
Of course I think the question volume is important but beneath all of that I think that you need to have a comprehensive understanding of the subject in order to build confidence for the actual exam so I might use various questions as examples (which I'm very well versed in having just finished A levels) but if it's clear that there's a fundamental gap in understanding I'll address that first before teaching them how to do the questions.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am a graduate in Physics from University College London (UCL) and am currently pursuing a Master's degree in Clinical Science (Medical Physics) at King's College London (KCL) as part of the Scientist Training Programme. With a deep passion for mathematics, I am eager to share my enthusiasm for the subject through tutoring, helping students appreciate its beauty and complexity.

As an approachable, engaging, and supportive tutor, I have consistently achieved A grades in both my GCSEs and A-Levels, and I am committed to helping my students reach the same level of excellence. I specialise in tutoring Mathematics and Physics, both of which are second nature to me, and I am confident in my ability to teach these subjects to a high standard.

Maths is often a challenging subject for many, and I can relate to those struggles. Initially, I found myself more drawn to literature and the humanities, but with the support of exceptional tutors and teachers, I uncovered a genuine passion for mathematics. It is this transformative experience that I hope to replicate for my students, guiding them to find their own connection with the subject.

I believe in a personalised, one-on-one approach to tutoring, recognizing that each student is unique. I strive to tailor my teaching methods to meet individual needs, ensuring that every student receives the support required to succeed.

Teaching Experience:
5 years experience
Tutored online for 4 years and tutored with Explore Learning for 1 year in person and online both. I tutored GCSE to a level maths and Physics.

Tutoring Approach:
Initial lesson for mathematics involves an assessment - this can be through a past exam paper. This allows me to determine what level the student is working at currently and also what topics need to be focused on more than others. From this I pick a topic to base the next lesson on. The lesson compromises of exam questions and taught material.

For physics I ask the student which exam board they are studying and which topic to focus on for the first session. I then plan a lesson on the topic by doing a question-answer session (It will be like recapping then topic with the student through questions used to prompt their memory). Normally questions are in flash card form. Then for the second half of the session I do exam questions from the exam board the student told me. These are topic based so each lesson will have questions focused on what was covered on the day. I send the notes from the lessons to the student as pdf files too. I write reports after I complete a lesson so parents know what the lesson covered and what to expect for upcoming sessions too. The more fluent a student becomes in answering questions- that shows progress is being made.

Subjects