PREP
SCHOOL
TUTOR
.
Latin
Subjects
Latin, Mandarin
Qualifications
PGCE Teacher Training, BA Classics, Mandarin Diploma
Experience
Parkside Prep (Head of Classics), Aldro School
George is all about instilling confidence and self-belief in his students. He started teaching 6 years ago and has been head of Classics and Mandarin Chinese at both of the schools he has worked at, Aldro and Parkside. George's main 'mission' was to create a curriculum that enabled all the students to undertake as a minimum the Common Entrance Latin exam, where as in previous years only a select few undertook it. George is a firm believer that learning should be balanced with time spent on the rigid structures of grammar but mixed with lots of activities and his specialty quizzes throughout the tutoring session!
George has been tutoring since his time at university where he gained a degree in Classics and then a Master's Diploma in Mandarin Chinese. His experiences range from introducing Classics to a newcomer all the way to working through GCSE and A Level set texts. In his 6 years, George has had the pleasure of preparing students for a breadth of schools ranging from Eton, Harrow and Charterhouse all the way to international schools in Dubai and Asia.
George's teaching style is all based on what benefits the student. He personalises his lessons according to each and every student and brings a calm and positive approach to the learning. George's clear passion for Classics is shown from his very first minute of each session and he believes this makes a huge difference in the learning for students.
George
Subjects
English, Latin, Verbal Reasoning, Interview Technique
Qualifications
PGCE Teacher Training, Oxford University
Experience
Farleigh School, Hampshire; Sherborne Preparatory School, Dorset; Canford School, Dorset; Alleyn’s School, Dulwich College; extensive private tuition
Sophie has 19 years experience teaching English and Latin at leading preparatory and public schools in the south of England. She has extensive knowledge of the transfer process at 13+, having held the role of prep school Director of Studies which involved liaising with senior schools and helping children prepare for interviews as well as overseeing their preparation for Common Entrance and Scholarship examinations in all subjects as well as teaching her own. Sophie has prepared scholarship candidates for Eton; Harrow; Winchester; Marlborough; Wellington; Charterhouse; St. Mary’s, Ascot; Cheltenham Ladies’ College and many other public schools. She also has extensive experience of teaching children with learning support needs and was Head of Learning Support at a prep school for five years.
Sophie is in high demand as a tutor. Her students have enjoyed significant successes in their exams this year and this looks set to continue. Parents have been known to return to Prep School Tutor to seek Sophie’s support for their children once they have moved on to senior school, such is the rapport she is able to build with her tutees and the benefit they gain from her tuition. Sophie specialises in unknotting the difficulties that can so easily occur when Latin is taught in larger classes, and then moving forward through the syllabus at a pace that suits the individual. As an English teacher, her methods for helping children to generate ideas and structure longer pieces of writing are, she has been told, used by her students even once they have moved on to university! She also specialises in teaching reading techniques that allow exam candidates to maintain the focus they need to perform well in comprehension papers, even when under the pressure of an exam situation. Sophie has a proven track record of obtaining excellent results for pupils in both her specialist subjects. She does this by breaking down the curriculum into manageable sections, smoothing out any problem areas and reminding pupils frequently of the progress that they have made to boost their confidence.
Sophie has been extensively involved in the preparation of candidates for interviews and selection days at academically demanding public schools, including most of the London day schools; she excels at preparing even the most anxious for interview. She has undertaken considerable research into the different approaches to selection taken by different schools and the sorts of questions they ask. Sophie’s method is to equip candidates with the strategies they need to be able to think calmly under pressure so they can answer taxing questions without becoming flustered. She also works hard to ensure that candidates feel they have plenty to talk about by drawing out their interests and enthusiasms in her encouraging preparatory sessions.
Sophie’s aim as a tutor is to prepare her pupils so well that they approach examinations or interviews fearlessly and embrace both as an opportunity to demonstrate who they are and what they know. She aims to give her tutees a love of learning - and even rigorous assessment - that will last for the rest of their lives.
When not teaching, Sophie enjoys spending time, preferably outdoors, with her husband, young son and their Border Terrier, Rosie. She loves food and growing and cooking her own vegetables. A good weekend away would include a city break (she lives very rurally) with a visit to a great restaurant and a trip to the theatre.
Sophie
Peter
Subjects
Latin
Qualifications
Cambridge University: Classics MA
Experience
Dragon School, St Paul's (Junior and Senior), Berkhamsted, Colfe's School, Sherborne, Portsmouth Grammar
Peter has extensive experience of teaching Classical subjects in both UK independent senior schools and prep schools. He teaches Latin, Ancient Greek, Classical Civilisation and Ancient History up to A-level and university entrance standard and has recent experience of preparing students for Common Entrance Latin and Greek - all levels - and scholarship papers to top UK schools including Eton, Winchester and Westminster.
Peter has taught at St Paul's - both senior and junior schools, Sherborne, The Dragon and Berkhamsted and was also a head of department in Western Australia. He has a particular passion for Continuing Professional Development and is currently studying for a Masters in Research in Classics and Ancient History.
Peter adopts a methodical and structured approach to the teaching of Latin grammar and syntax, building firm foundations before moving on to more advanced work. In particular, he encourages students to draw parallels between Latin vocabulary and English and uses the study of Classical languages to enhance and complement students' use of English. He is a firm believer in the usefulness of the study of both Latin and Greek not only for its own sake but as an aid to studying a number of other subjects. To quote a recent examiners' report on the Westminster Challenge, there is a noticeable correlation between candidates' performance on the Classical papers and the overall classification.
As well as teaching Latin and Greek to CE and senior school scholarship level, Peter is au fait with all the current GCSE, A-level and Pre-U specifications for Classical subjects and teaches all language and literature options, including translation from and into Latin and Greek. He is particularly adept at demonstrating to students how to work effectively on their own and incorporates study skills into every lesson.
Peter
Subjects
Latin
Qualifications
Cambridge University: Classics MA, PGCE Teacher Training
Experience
North London Collegiate School (London and S Korea), Malvern St James, Bristol Grammar School, Tanglin Trust School(Singapore)
Judy is a very experienced teacher who has taught in girls’, boys’ and co-educational schools, both in the UK and in Asia. This year, she moved from North London Collegiate School, Jeju (in South Korea) to the original NLCS girls’ school in London. Her favourite subject is Classics, including Latin, Greek and Classical Civilisation. She has taught these to students from Year 5 to Oxbridge entrance level and worked as a Principal Examiner for Classical Civilisation at A Level. She has specialised in working with high-achieving students, but also is proud of her success with students who have had to overcome a barrier such as dyslexia, low self-esteem or a tendency towards carelessness in order to excel at Latin.
Judy’s aim in tutoring is to ensure that students have a deep understanding of the subject at the required level. She often finds that uncovering and righting a misconception or gap in knowledge can lead to significant progress. This is easier to do in a one-one situation, since students often hide their uncertainties, even from themselves. Once a student has mastered the key grammatical concepts and knowledge, Judy supports them in gaining confidence in tackling longer translations and other examination questions. She also aims to foster a deep love of the subjects she teaches. Many of her students have continued Classics to university level and some have become Classics teachers themselves.
Judy divides her time between the Netherlands, where her husband works as a university guidance counsellor, and London, where she teaches part-time and enjoys cultural activities, including attending performances of music written by her son, a composer and lecturer in Classical Music composition, and science talks given by her daughter who is a writer and ecologist.
Judy is available from September 2019.
Judy
Subjects
English, French, Latin
Qualifications
Oxford University: BA (Hons), MA and PGCE Teacher Training
Experience
Knightsbridge School, King’s House School, Epsom College, Bedford High School for Girls, Cheadle Hulme College, Devonport High School for Girls
Liz is an immensely experienced teacher specialising in Latin, French and English. She has taught in Independent and Maintained schools, from years 5 to 13, and from Common Entrance through to Oxbridge Entrance.
Most recently Liz has been Head of Department in two London Prep schools, and on the Future Schools team, preparing pupils of all abilities for Common Entrance, CASE and Scholarship exams. Former pupils have gained scholarships to St Paul’s, Latymer Upper, King’s College Wimbledon and Hampton School, as well as places at schools including St Paul’s Girls’, Cheltenham Ladies’ College, Downe House, Eton, Winchester, Harrow, Dulwich, King’s Canterbury, Tunbridge and Sevenoaks.
Liz has run enrichment and Scholarship classes after school, as well as extensive one-to-one tutoring, and has given much individual support to pupils at moments of need. Her friendly, common sense and encouraging approach enables students to achieve far beyond what they may think themselves capable of.
Liz is skilled at breaking material down into manageable chunks and simplifying concepts in a memorable way. Parents and former pupils have commented on how well prepared and confident they felt for their entrance exams and what an excellent grounding they received for their Senior School studies, as a result of Liz’s experience in teaching study skills as well as the subject matter for exams.
Liz has recently resumed working in a Senior school setting, working intensively with Special Needs students, especially those with autism and processing difficulties, as they approach their GCSE exams.
Liz
Subjects
Latin, Spanish
Qualifications
MA Education, BA Hons Degree Classics, teacher training
Experience
Cambridge International School, Cambridge Centre for 6th Form, Instituto Cervantes, extensive private tutoring
Energetic and inspiring, María teaches Latin and Spanish in preparation for 13+ Common Entrance Examinations, GCSE, iGCSE and A-level. She has quality experience with both the Cambridge board and Edexcel. Maria can fast track anyone feeling on the back foot, particularly in Latin, and ensure any gaps are filled. Maria is fully versed in the Common Entrance requirements and has had great success with 13+ Scholarship preparation to major public schools. Maria has an infectious enthusiasm for her subject and is naturally encouraging in her style. She does her utmost to ensure success for her students, always willing to go the extra mile with a combination of a vibrant learning, focus and a great sense of humour.
María is teacher trained and has BA Hons degree in Classics. Having found that her own love for the Classical World had a dramatic impact on her literacy and general language awareness, she is keen to stimulate curiosity and interest in the Classics, increase word-power for her students and give them the basis for future language learning.
As well as Latin and Greek, María specialises in teaching Spanish, through to A-level and even beyond! She is determined to enable her students to communicate and express their ideas and thoughts in the target language, developing their communicative competence to equip them to handle any situation in the future both in an exam environment and as social agents.
Maria
Subjects
English, French, Latin, History, Religious Studies
Qualifications
PGCE teacher training
Experience
King's Ely, St. Paul’s Cathedral Choir School, Notting Hill Prep, Qatar International School, Gulf English School
Diane has a wealth of experience in education having taught English Language and English Literature from 13+ through to A-Level. She is also qualified to teach History, French and R.E. to 13+ and GCSE as well as Latin to 13+ in readiness for Common Entrance.
Diane has taught at, amongst others, St. Paul’s Cathedral Choir School and Notting Hill Prep in London, where she was Head of English. She is well versed in expectations for entrance to both London independent schools and to other major UK public schools. Diane has successfully helped many students, some hopping a couple of grades higher than their predicted levels, to reach their target schools with confidence.
With regard to her teaching style, Diane suggests that some students feed from straightforward information and learning facts, devices and techniques. Others need a different approach, perhaps via examples (WAGOLL), via one-to-one help, highlighting text, discussions/reminders of techniques they must use. Diane produces her own resources based on need so that every individual can excel. Her lessons are carefully planned and include varied learning activities to maintain focus and energy.
Diane is positive and encouraging, whilst maintaining a highly academic approach, with a developed general knowledge, which supports and enhances her subject knowledge. She is a respected teacher who gives respect in turn to her students. She is particularly proud of the progress she made with a group of Year 9 students where motivation for learning was very low. Over the course of three terms, Diane managed them and they now are some of the brightest, most motivated and respectful students that she has taught. Diane says that this was a task comparable to turning the Titanic. However, unlike the Titanic, her class did not at all sink! They are enthused for learning and have a positive work ethos.
In the wider context of teaching, Diane is well aware of safeguarding. She is interested in the tenets of mindfulness: its worth and practice in education and, coupled with this Diane is also interested in the recent focus on emotional literacy and emotional intelligence. Diane feels that, as teachers, we must help to build the whole student, a well-rounded one, who can face the challenges of the modern world with a sense of strength, independence and confidence.
Diane
Angela is an expert in pre-test preparation to highly competitive UK private schools. She has an excellent knowledge of the entrance exam requirements for British public schools, including Eton, Westminster, Wycombe Abbey and Sevenoaks. She has also worked to prepare children in Maths and Science, through 13+ ...
Featured Tutor: Angela
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