Where I can help

Here I list some of the situations typical of those under which I am asked to tutor a student:

• The student may have missed lessons due to illness and needs to catch up quickly.

• The student’s teacher may have been absent (e.g. due to illness), resulting in the subject being taught by series of cover and supply teachers. Students in Years 12 and 13 are usually expected to self-teach when the teacher is absent.

• The student may be caught in a negative cycle in which poor performance fuels a lack of confidence and low self-esteem. This is often the case in GCSE Chemistry, where the pupil made a weak start to the subject and therefore lacks the foundations necessary to cope with the material in Year 11. For many such pupils, private tuition can be transformative.

• The student simply does not respond well to the teaching style of particular teacher, resulting in poor progress.

• Disappointing performance in mock examinations. Typically, this occurs in Year 12 after the mock examinations. Students starting AS studies in September can quickly get out of their depth. This is largely because the science GCSEs provide a very poor basis for further study: not only do students lack a proper grounding in the key material, they are not accustomed to having to think ‘hard’ and in depth (too many of those ‘fun’ lessons at GCSE). Unfortunately, the science GCSE courses teach very little actual science; they are more concerned with instilling an awareness of ‘issues’ around science (GM food, the social and environmental impacts of limestone quarries and copper mines, the pros and cons of wind turbines, the ethics surrounding in vitro fertilisation, nuclear energy to name but a few). In my experience, the International GCSEs (IGCSEs) provide far better foundations for further study in the sciences.

  In this situation I am usually able to get the student back on track very quickly. I know exactly where the problems lie and have in place very effective strategies to address them. However, do not leave this too late: the sooner in the academic year tuition begins, on a regular basis (and without the immediate pressure of exams), the sooner the foundations can be laid. I do not do cramming and I do not teach-to-the-test.

For further information, please use the following links:

Return to Tuition Main Page