Prudhoe Tutors and Prudhoe Tuition

Personal Description:
Over the past 12 years, I have enabled hundreds of students to maximise their potential in GCSE, AS/A-Level and IB examinations.

I completed my PhD in 2015 (University of London), which was about the philosophy of folly in Shakespeare's plays. Having worked as a school teacher, university lecturer and held fellowships at Kingston University and the University of Athens, I currently teach Shakespeare at the CEU and run my education company. I have published two books, one based on my PhD and one on social psychology, as well as numerous articles on literature and philosophy.

Whereas English Literature, Language and Philosophy are my primary disciplines, I have also taught German and History up to A-Level standard in schools in Britain. I believe education is not simply a means to an end; rather, it offers exciting and new ways of thinking about ourselves and the world around us. In my spare time, I enjoy writing and skiing.

Teaching Experience:
My teaching experience is fairly extensive and I have taught both in the UK and abroad. I have taught at schools (GCSE, IB and A-Levels) and universities in the UK, as well as leading Shakespeare workshops across Europe, when I worked for the British Council.

Tutoring Approach:
I believe the key to successful tuition is communication. I set clear goals for my students and ensure that they are always prepared and confident in their exams.

Depending on the students needs, I assist with academic writing and how best to fulfil the exam boards' specific Coursework Assessment Objectives or we focus on exam techniques to ensure the best possible outcome. Alongside my personal tuition, I provide my students with extensive digital resources, developed by my company, for free. I encourage discussion and debate and enjoy learning from my students. Over the past 12 years, I've found them to be consistently engaging and inspiring.

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Personal Description:
I studied Classics at King's College, Cambridge, graduating in 2009. I then trained as a teacher at Queens' College, Cambridge, graduating with a PGCE in 2010. I have been a private tutor since 2009, and have now clocked up thousands of hours' tutoring experience in Latin and Ancient Greek. I tutor both languages to degree-level standard in London, Cambridge and online. I love Classics, and my main aim is to make my lessons fun and inspirational.

Teaching Experience:
I have been tutoring Latin and Ancient Greek intensively for the past 7 years, with thousands of hours' teaching experience to date. I have taught towards all major public exams in both languages, such as Common Entrance, GCSE, AS, A2, SAT, Pre-U and even BA (i.e. University exams). I am familiar with the entrance processes for a number of independent and grammar schools, and have had a lot of experience teaching towards scholarship papers. I have tutored many students applying to Cambridge and Oxford, and can provide in-depth advice and support with choosing the right course and college, as well as getting to the necessary level for the language tests. I have also taught the languages to those who have decided to learn them purely for fun! In addition to my face-to-face teaching, I have taught extensively online (about 50% of my teaching is conducted on Skype), and have built up an array of handy techniques to get the most from the online format. I was Head of Latin at a school in Bury St Edmunds for two years (September 2011 to July 2013). Since October 2010, I have been supervising Cambridge undergraduates in Latin and Ancient Greek (colleges so far have included Pembroke, Downing, Homerton, Queens', King's, Murray Edwards, Newnham, Caius, Peterhouse, St John's, Emmanuel and Trinity). I also own and run a private tuition agency, Titanium Tutors, which I set up in 2011, managing a team of 8 staff members and over 1000 inspirational tutors.

Tutoring Approach:
My teaching style is structured and thorough. I start every lesson with a five minute recap of the key content of the previous session, checking how much the tutee remembers. A typical lesson will then consist of a translation, in which I ask the tutee to note down each unknown word as it is encountered and to devise a memory trick which will help them to recall the word in a five minute test at the end of the lesson. Together with the tutee, I will then pick a grammar point which stood out in the translation exercise as requiring the most immediate attention. We will spend five to ten minutes working on that, with the tutee's understanding tested with some reinforcement exercises. At the end of the lesson we will recap all the new vocabulary and grammar which was covered, and I will typically set a manageable 20 - 30 minute homework for the next session based on what was covered in the lesson. Every lesson is of course different, and tailored to the tutee's requirements, but I find this approach works in the vast majority of cases. I consider grammar to be crucially important, but treat it as a means to an end and always emphasise the ways in which it can be usefully applied to translation rather than learned in isolation. I believe that any tutee can excel in Latin and Greek with a little guidance and a decent amount of independent work. Above all, I strive to make my lessons fun and enjoyable. I love my subject and want all of my tutees to love it too.

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Personal Description:
I am a professional software engineer having more than 20 years of development experience in Web development using ASP.Net, C#, VB.Net, SQL Server etc.

Teaching Experience:
I have experience of teaching IT courses to different levels. I can teach from basic computing (Word, Excel, Access etc) to advanced level programming (ASP.Net, C# etc). I have teaching experience at different colleges as well as with individual students.

I enjoy teaching and it's more like a hobby for me instead of a job.

Tutoring Approach:
I can teach students either individually or in groups, and my approach to learning is to create a calm, safe and secure learning environment in which the learner is allowed to develop their skills at their pace. I believe in setting challenging yet achievable goals which the learner can strive towards, thus allowing them to demonstrate and use their skills with confidence.

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Personal Description:
I am a Dr. in Mechanical Engineering (PhD) and a chartered Engineer. I have lectured at University levels on Science and Engineering subjects. I have extensive knowledge including the patience, empathy and tenacity to delivering an outstanding knowledge transfer process for my students to assimilate and understand their respective subjects. I have tutored students at all levels including GCSE, A level, and University level and they have passed excellently well with remarkable outstanding results. I am an enthusiastic individual with excellent communication skills in teaching and always do my best to help my students come out in flying colours,

Teaching Experience:
I have tutored students in different subject areas and they have been successful in their subsequent examinations. I have also lectured at the University of Northumbria at Newcastle. My experience in lecturing and tutoring has enabled me to be efficient and consistent in delivering good and standard explanation in different subject areas.

Tutoring Approach:
I ask my students of any problem areas and i start my lessons from there. I teach them the fundamental basics of the subject to help them understand the easy approach to learning and being successful in the subject area.

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Personal Description:
I am from Brazil, however, I am able to teach both European Portuguese and Brazilian.

I am passionate about teaching and about languages in general.

I can teach people of all ages and levels.

I have got that essential quality any tutor should have; I am an extremely patient teacher and I do not give up on my students!

Seeing my students achieving their goa is a great joy to me! It's what motivates me to carry on with the same drive and enthusiasm I had when I started 25 years ago!

Teaching Experience:
I have worked as a Portuguese tutor for the past 25 years, both in Brazil and in the UK.

I have taught both European and Brazilian Portuguese, which can also be combined as I have successfully done with many of my pupils.

I have a vast experience in preparing pupils for their Portuguese GCSE exams.

I have also taught business Portuguese, to many executive business people.

Tutoring Approach:
Lessons are based on individual needs. They are fun and relaxing, as well as my approach...

My students usually tell me they enjoy my lessons and that I am a good teacher.

I have an enormous pleasure in teaching and, seeing my students achieving their goals is my delight!

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Personal Description:
An experienced Russian language teacher with an excellent rate of achievement. I am a native Russian speaker and I have a PhD from Durham University in Russian studies. I have been lecturing Russian in Durham and Newcastle for five years and have a professional teaching qualification obtained from Durham University.

Teaching Experience:
I have been teaching Russian language for five years across North East of England. I have been working at two Universities and teach students of different abilities, age, nationalities.

Tutoring Approach:
I prepared students for speaking, listening, reading and writing exams and often had a 100% exam pass rate. I always make sure that every student feels at home in my class.

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Personal Description:
My name is Graeme. I've been in charge of A level Chemistry at a Large Liverpool Academy for 10/11 years.

I have tutored many students that have gone on to complete medicine courses across the country.

I tutor at home and can also travel to you

Teaching Experience:
Been a leader of A level chemistry for 8 years

I have tutored many students successfully

Tutoring Approach:
Exam focused tutor that delivers excellent lessons and exam practice

I offer group tutoring sessions which are cheaper and last 2 hours

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Personal Description:
I am a 45 year old successful tutor offering classes in Spanish language and culture, French and English as a foreign language (EFL). I hold full membership of the Chartered Institute of Linguists for both Spanish and French which is a mark of recognition for my advanced language skills and I also work in Secondary schools in South East Wales on a supply basis.
I have a first degree in Modern Languages (French and Spanish) from the University of the West of England Bristol and a CELTA TEFL certificate to teach English as a Foreign Language. As a freelance tutor I am very focused on helping students fulfil their potential and I am constantly aquiring new innovative materials, espcially online resources which I feel will be of use to my tutees.

Teaching Experience:
As well as having a postgraduate degree in translation and interpreting from Alicante University, I have lived and worked in France for two years and Spain for twenty years, where had diverse roles both in business and in language schools. In Spain in particular I worked for many years in two private English Language Schools, the "Centro de Estudios Europeos" in Cartagena (Murcia) and "Studio 3" in Alicante. Currently I am tutoring mainly beginners level adults in Spanish, although throughout the year I have GCSE and A level students, who are always pleased to have extra support out of school.

Tutoring Approach:
Do you need individual conversation classes for GCSE? Would you like to know how to communicate effectively in Spanish or French for your next holiday? Do you have a language component of an undergraduate degree which you find challenging? I am the solution to your problem! Not only do I go though the class materials with you, I also pay special attention to homework correction and help with vocabulary memorizing techniques.
As a freelance tutor I am very focused on helping students fulfil their potential and I am constantly aquiring new innovative and interactive materials for my tutees, including apps and games which reinforce knowledge.
My approach to tutoring, in a nutshell, is to mix fun exercises with detailed understanding of the fundamentals of the subject you wish to progress in. Please get in touch and we can talk about your specific needs!

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Personal Description:
I am a Wado Ryu karate black belt and I currently run a karate and kudo (Japanese MMA) club, teaching children from as young as Year 2, right through to adults.
I am passionate about the personal development aspects of karate training - the mindfulness and mental tenacity that it teaches the practitioner, as well as the obvious physical and self-defence benefits.

Teaching Experience:
I have over 25 years' experience of teaching sport and modern languages in secondary and prep schools. I am currently Head of Modern Languages, and also cricket, at a local school, and I am a mentor to trainee- and newly-qualified teachers (NQTs).
I started my teaching career, at just 15 years of age, as a violin teacher and have since worked as a one-to-one languages tutor (French and German), in addition to my work as a school teacher and martial arts instructor.

Tutoring Approach:
Above all else, I listen to my students.
I take on board their training goals - whether it be learning the basics of self-defence; going on the journey of self-discovery that is working to becoming a black belt, or simply developing fitness and self-confidence, whilst deepening their resilience and mental focus.
I then tailor my tuition to their individual needs and strengths, constantly adapting and adjusting, according to their feedback and progress.

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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.

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Personal Description:
My philosophy is embedded in valuing children to increase well-being and their intrinsic motivation to develop and learn. I support children in reading, writing and phonics from 3 years and throughout the primary phase through purposeful, engaging and interactive activities.
I hold a First-Class BA Hons degree in English and graduated as a mature student whilst raising three children and working part time. This achievement was celebrated by the Open University in their publications, in the local press and I was asked to speak on local radio. I went on to gain a Post Graduate Certificate of Education with Qualified Teacher Status and studied English as a special interest area; gaining an A grade pass at master's level for my research into promoting and developing children as readers. I also write children's poetry and have had several poems published.

Teaching Experience:
I am a raising attainment adviser for a local authority and have been involved in borough wide school improvement for several years. I have developed outstanding teaching practice and leadership skills throughout Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2. I am an experienced EYFS Leader and Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Coordinator and a Specialist Leader of Education for Early Years. As an Assistant Headteacher, I have supported other teachers and been a Newly Qualified Teacher mentor and performance appraiser. I have worked across EYFS, Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 as an English and Reading Leader and have introduced new curriculums with improved outcomes in phonics and reading and writing across key stages and in statutory assessments.

Tutoring Approach:
I tutor from a purpose built, dedicated learning environment which is fully equipped with high quality resources. The resources I use are tailored to your child's needs and learning style to make them feel motivated and encourage a 'can-do' attitude. There are also private waiting facilities adjacent to the room for parents or carers wishing to stay during tuition. I ensure that I thoroughly assess each child so that teaching and learning is bespoke to their next steps. This allows for maximum progress and the best results possible. I have a very positive attitude and my intention to make children feel like 'experts' encourages them to succeed. I have a real passion for English which comes through my teaching and learning and enjoyment and celebration within lessons are at the core of what I do.

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Personal Description:
I am a graduate of Birmingham University with a BSc and a PhD in Biochemistry and I also have an interest in IT. I have an intense interest in teaching younger people and this has enabled me to change the lives of my tutees.

Teaching Experience:
I have taught biology and chemistry to all levels of undergraduate students at the University of Essex for more than 30 years. Since retiring from the university I have concentrated on private tuition on a one to one basis for the last six years tutoring mainly GCSE and A-level students.

Tutoring Approach:
With one to one tutoring it is very important to adapt to the individual personality of the tutee and so my style of tuition varies depending on the personality of the student that I am teaching and on the academic level of the tuition..

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Personal Description:
Hi, my name is Harriet and I am 21 years old.
I have worked in primary schools as a 1:1 teaching assistant for three years and have been tutoring Maths after work during this time.
I am now fully focusing on tutoring Maths at Primary level.

I enjoy the outside and spend lots of time out on the water.

Teaching Experience:
I have worked in three primary schools as a 1:1 teaching assistant over three years and have been tutoring Maths to primary school students for the same amount of time.

Tutoring Approach:
I am a patient person who can spend time with your child explaining things clearly to make sure they understand the methods of mathematics, while also setting good expectations ensuring that they can achieve their full potential.


I aim to build your child's confidence and enthusiasm in maths which will aid their success.

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Personal Description:
I am an extremely well qualified and experienced teacher of modern languages. I worked in many schools in the UK and for the most part as head of MFL. I also worked in China and Germany teaching English. Since retiring from full time teaching I have been teaching private lessons. I have extensive knowledge of the GCSE and A level courses and I have been very successful with my students. On average their grades have improved by at least two from their mock exams.

Teaching Experience:
I started teaching after leaving university when I went to China and worked for a United Nations Development Project. I then worked for a private language school in Germany. I became a qualified teacher and worked in several schools in Essex. I quickly worked my way up the ranks and became Head of Modern Languages. My last full time position was as Head of MFL at Medina College on the Isle of Wight. Since then I have been successfully teaching private lessons to students aged 5 to adults.

Tutoring Approach:
I use a variety of techniques adapted to my student's needs. I like to make my lessons fun and interactive. I follow the syllabus closely in the case of exam students and make sure that students are confident in all four skills. I elicit information from the students rather than just teach them how something works. By using this method students are more likely to retain the knowledge. I am happy to teach students individually or in pairs or groups.

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Personal Description:
Paolo is an Italian songwriter, composer, and stage director based in London.

He has independently composed, produced, and released solo albums, as well as soundtracks for theatre productions and songs for other artists. Beginning his music career in 1992, Paolo is also an accomplished singer and guitarist who has performed across Europe and collaborated with numerous international artists.

His unique writing style has evolved over years of traveling, literary studies, and ongoing poetic exploration, which earned him first prize in poetry at the Pirandello Stable Festival in 2012.

Paolo's theatre and cinema career began in 1998. Alongside intensive drama school training, he spent seven years honing his acting and directing skills at the Teatro Regio di Torino, working under renowned directors Franco Zeffirelli, José Carlos Plaza, Ugo De Ana, Giuseppe Patroni Griffi, and John Cox.

Since 2002, he has written and directed numerous plays, including The Bald Soprano by Ionesco, The Trojan Women by Euripides, and A Doll's House by Ibsen, staged in various UK venues.

Throughout his career, Paolo has taught Italian Literature, Humanities, Music, and Geography in primary and secondary schools and academies. He holds an MA in Humanities and Arts from the University of Turin, a Diploma in Classical Guitar from Trinity College London, an MA in Archaeology from UCL, and is currently pursuing PhD research at Cardiff University.

He is the founder of a website dedicated to his archaeological research, and, a video-audio production company.

Paolo recently published the book for beginner guitarist and a collection of his poems; both books are available on Amazon.

Teaching Experience:
I qualified to teach:

- Italian Language and Literature, Archaeology, and Humanities (Geography, History, and Religious Studies up to GCSE Level).
- Classical, Acoustic and Electric guitar lessons up to Grade 8 and DIplomas (Trinity College, ABRSM, RockSchool).
- Piano, Bass guitar and Singing lessons up to Grade 6 (Trinity College and ABRSM).
- Music technology, sound design and audio editing tuitions and workshop on Cubase (v. 7 to 11) and Logic Pro X .
- Music theory, songwriting classes, and private tutoring for GCSE students who need extra help are also available.
- Adobe Premiere and Photoshop for video and photo editing (beginner and intermediate).
- Italian grammar and literature up to A-Level and for adult learner.

Tutoring Approach:
I believe anyone can achieve excellence with the right motivation. While exam success is important, I emphasize the joy of learning itself, sparking curiosity and passion in my students. My teaching approach blends exam preparation with fostering creativity and confidence in a supportive environment, where students feel free to explore and grow.

Since starting my teaching journey in 1998, I've taught Literature, Humanities, Music, and Drama in Italy, and since 2015, I've been teaching music in UK schools. I offer personalized lessons in guitar (up to Grade 8 and Diplomas), piano, bass, singing (up to Grade 6), and music technology, including Cubase and Logic Pro. Whether it`s music theory, songwriting, or GCSE/A-Level tutoring, I tailor my teaching to each student`s unique style, always ensuring a fun and engaging atmosphere for optimal learning.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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A-level results, August 2024:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

*

A-level results, August/September 2022:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

*

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

*

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

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

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

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

Speaking

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

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

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

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

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

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

Reading

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

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

Writing

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

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

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

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

Why study English?

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

Subjects

Personal Description:
Electrical Engineer with 15+ years of experience in Electrical Design, Engineering, Project Management

Teaching Experience:
Have tutored professional Engineers for more than 5 years

Tutoring Approach:
Interactive
Feedback

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am a qualified teacher (PGCE) and for the past 25 years I have taught 'A' level Accounting to international students at an independent school in the UK. I have an excellent track record of results where most of my students have achieved A*/A/B grades.

Teaching Experience:
In my previous school, I was head of Accounting for sixteen years. We were listed in The Good Schools Guide for the best results in A level Accounting achieved by girls. More recently I have been teaching many students online. I am very familiar with the AQA exam board, where I have attended Inset training days so I am very up to date with the changes on the specification.

Tutoring Approach:
I enjoy tutoring students that struggle with the subject and providing them with academic support. I remember one student who said I can't do Accounting after failing an internal exam, and it was clear his confidence in the subject was at rock bottom. After giving him 1:1 tutoring, I was able to apply different teaching strategies to simplify and explain the concepts in such a way that the student could understand, giving him lots of practice on exam styled questions to build his confidence. This student went on to study Accounting and Finance at university. This is just one of many students that have gone on to top universities like Warwick, LSE, Bristol and Nottingham. My lessons are very interactive and I think it is extremely important to keep checking that the student understands so I will always check learning as we progress with tasks to complete. However, in order for students to progress in Accounting it is crucial they follow my instructions and guidance and that will include reviewing the lesson material during the week in between lessons, this is crucial so that they retain the information taught.

Subjects