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Richard

My Passion & How I Inspire

First I will ascertain the areas/topics/skills that a pupil is finding difficult/problematic, then build their confidence with a ‘can-do’ approach to problem solving. Working from what a student does understand establishes a firm base and then we move forwards to those areas where their understanding is less secure. I am non-judgmental and encouraging in approach, understanding that what is obvious to some may not always be so to others. I will praise achievement and seek to eradicate negative thinking or apathy where it occurs. Above all, I offer a passionate love of my subject and this helps me to share some of that enthusiasm with the student, who may at first be feeling less well-disposed towards English. A good tutor should help his/her pupils to achieve their potential and dreams – that is the prize we keep in mind at each session, even if the work is challenging at times for the student (and perhaps for me!).

My Experience

Teaching English since 1991 from Year 7 –GCSE - A-Level.

Experience in several top flight private schools including Repton and Mill Hill - I have been the Head of Department at the latter school for 15 years.

Tutoring individual pupils occasionally over a 20 year period

Former A-Level examiner in English Literature for OCR and EdExcel

Familiarity with the English specifications of all of the major examination boards (AQA, EdExcel and OCR) at A-Level and GCSE

Teaching on several ‘Easter Revision’ courses over twenty years

Freelance journalism: I have had articles published by the Daily Telegraph’, ‘Sunday Times’ as well as in the local press. I contribute occasionally to ‘The Reader’ (published by the English Department, University of Liverpool)

Subjects That I Teach

English
English - A-Level
English - GCSE
English - Common Entrance
English - Interview Preparation

My Qualifications

B.A. Honours in English Literature, University of Exeter

A-Levels in English Literature (A), History (A) and Economics and Politics (B)

S-Levels in English Literature and History (awarded merits)

My Reviews

‘Thank you so much for your wonderful teaching this year. Your enthusiasm has been truly inspiring and I’m going to really miss your lessons.’

‘I know I have been extremely lucky to learn from a teacher as skilled and as passionate about their subject as yourself.’

‘You did everything you could to show me the way and I achieved an A grade in my A-Level (English Literature student, Hampstead Easter School)

Fun fact

In amateur theatre I’ve always enjoyed playing minor roles in farce – Ian Ogilvy (who played Simon Templar in TV’s 1980s series ‘The Return of the Saint’) judged my performance as Polly in Derek Benfield’s ‘Off the Hook’ as ‘one of the finest cockney performances I have ever seen’! More recently I ‘starred’ in my school’s staff production of ‘Aladdin’!

Traditional Subjects

Languages

Accounting

GCSE

Law

Creative

A-Level

Medical

Aptitude Tests

IB

University

Digital

Higher Learning