We all differ in intelligence, but intelligence can be changed through sustained hard work. And great tutors motivate their students to work hard by way of their expert subject knowledge, careful preparation, high expectations, friendly rapport – and good measures of common sense and human kindness. My approach to tutoring begins with a candid assessment […]

I have a very friendly manner for teaching my students. As a father of five teenage and twenty something daughters I know what is needed to foster success in education. I find that encouragement can help build confidence that is so often absent in very capable students. Finding this avenue to foster achievement is what […]

I believe that the most important virtue in a tutor is the ability to empathise with a student’s cognitive position. When teaching I guide a student through the mental steps needed to accomplish the goal of the lesson. I typically spend much of a lesson in dialogue with the student. I break this up with […]

Whilst tutoring I would pay particular attention to the needs of each student, and tailor their tutoring sessions to best meet their needs and wishes. My approach to tutoring emphasises clarity, flexibility, and an enthusiasm for learning, within an informal and relaxed yet structured and interactive environment. I use a variety of methods and approaches […]

My teaching method takes seriously the merit of a slow and close reading, especially in a time when our environment has no shortage of ways with which to distract us. I find that focused attention, even on the most simple sentence, can yield a wealth of insight and help sharpen the minds of students. However, […]

Confidence and inquisitiveness are to my mind crucial in the learning process. Building confidence and inspiring inquisitiveness thus lie at the centre of all my teaching. I work with tutees to help them develop the skills needed to acquire and deploy knowledge in a given subject, as well as to know how to resolve an […]

My approach to tutoring is very similar to the way in which I study myself. I will follow the mark scheme and course content carefully for optimum success in exams. Second to this, I encourage wider reading and discussion to consolidate an understanding of the course content used in class. With exam revision I remind […]

Everyone is different, and so every tutoring session needs to be tailored to the requirements and personality of the student.  It is also important, of course, to have a clear sense of the structure of the course being studied and the expectations of assessors or examiners.  I aim to encourage students to be confident, to […]

I begin any tutoring with a clear translation of the syllabus to the student, presenting clearly the weighting of assessment criteria before evaluating and discussing how this might align with the student’s strengths, as well as addressing areas where they might be struggling or lack confidence. This stage involves the outline of goals, achievements, targets […]

I strongly hold that before any progress can be made, the tutee must realise that they are not alone. Getting to know my tutees – what drives and inspires them when they are at their most relaxed – is integral to enabling them to become motivated learners. It is my role to be there to […]