John

There is nothing more reassuring to know that your child is receiving the highest levels of tuition from someone with extensive experience, who is passionate about learning, is goal-orientated, but will also invest in the family fully to ensure that all guidance and support is provided and highest levels of achievement are obtained.

- Currently Head of Sociology and Director of Studies at top independent school in Oxford
- Currently teach Sociology at the London School of Economics on their Choice programme

I can offer 3 key areas of specialism:

1. SOCIOLOGY - All levels, all exam boards (21 years experience)
2. 11+ EXAMS and COMMON ENTRANCE EXAMS - Oxon/Bucks/Herts/London (21 years experience)
3. KEY STAGE 2 and 3 MATHS/ENGLISH (21 years experience, all levels)

SOCIOLOGY
I am considered one of the leading teachers in sociology, I have over 18 years of experience with exceptional results. My current results are in the top 8% in the country. I am a dynamic, inspirational tutor and I have extensive subject knowledge of all areas of the AQA and OCR specifications and use this knowledge, combined with my expertise on how to plan, structure and answer questions to the highest levels. My resources are innovative and are highly popular, being used by many students across the country. Whether you require a one or two-year programme, or whether you need last minute revision support, I can design a tuition programme that will target your needs, ensuring you are successful.

11+ EXAM / COMMON ENTRANCE / KS2/3 MATHS
I am a specialist in preparing for the 11+ Exam (Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxford, London), Common Entrance Exam and also KS2/3 Maths with 21 years experience. My success has been incredible with the vast majority of students achieving the school of their choice. I devise extremely effective programmes of study that not only teach the core fundamentals of Maths, English, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning but also stretch their ability too. In addition, my tuition will also develop essential skills such as time management, in-exam decision making and checking answer skills. My approach builds a solid foundation for producing outstanding results, but also impacts on their everyday schooling whereby their levels will increase as a consequence of the detail that I put into our sessions.
Whilst preparing for the 11+ exams can be a stressful time for students, it can also be an anxious time for parents too. As part of my tuition service, I provide parents with the opportunity to continually ask for advice regarding schools, suitability, the exam format and also the application process. My belief is that I am a `tutor for the family` - providing the highest quality tuition for your child, but also providing all the specialist guidance for the family throughout the process.

Nominated National Teacher of the Year on 4 separate occasions is a reward for the effort that I place on the importance of making progress in each individual and also for the passion that I convey whilst teaching. I am an extremely fun, approachable and light-hearted tutor who instils extremely high standards in everything that I do. Learning can be fun, it can lead to incredible progress and it can lead to the highest of achievements. These are the core principles with my approach to tutoring.

I am a firm believer that outstanding tuition starts from understanding the needs of the learner. My teaching at every level is tailored towards the needs of the learner and every step is taken to support the progress of the learner. This philosophy, combined with my charismatic personality, ensures that all of my students not only have a great time learning, but they also make exceptional progress. Many parents over my 21 years of tuition explain that their child`s learning needs are not being met, they are not being stretched enough, or they are not inspired too often, they haven`t developed the skills to learn independently. However, after a programme of tuition with me, all of them have been amazed what impact 1-to-1 tuition can have on these areas, but also on their confidence.

If you have any questions, please just get in touch!

Availability: Evenings/Weekends
All holiday periods

Willing to travel: 50 miles

Experience: FROM THE START...
Having qualified with a 2:1 in Sociology from Staffordshire University in 2000, I then trained as a teacher under the expert guidance of Tony Lawson (ATSS, Sociology Review) from the University of Leicester. Along with achieving outstanding references during my PGCE, a range of my GCSE and A-Level worksheets were published to illustrate best practice.

SOCIOLOGY, RESPONSIBILITIES AND EXPERIENCE
I started my teaching career in 2001 in Borehamwood and in my first year I was nominated for Teacher of the Year award, which demonstrated the commitment I put into my teaching and also the students I teach. From this point on, I have worked as Head of Sixth Form in a school in Berkhamsted and then spent 8 years in one of the most challenging Secondary Schools in inner-city London. I am currently working as Head of Sociology and Director of Studies at an Independent College in Oxford, ranked in the top 40 schools nationally.

Throughout this time, I have held many management responsibilities including: Assistant Head of Year, Head of Year, Director of Studies, SMSC Co-ordinator, Head of Social Sciences Department, Head of Humanities Faculty, Associate Senior Leadership Team member, and also Head of Sixth Form.

Throughout my teaching career, the key foci have been:
1. Intervene in underperforming subjects, departments and also Sixth Forms and turn them into outstanding in a short period of time.
2. To train and support teachers to become outstanding practitioners.
3. To achieve exceptional exam results.

My current Sociology results for 2016/17 are in the top 8% in the country.


SOCIOLOGY AT THE LSE
I am also a lecturer at the London School of Economics, teaching Sociology to the most able A-Level students in London on the `CHOICE` programme. Amongst the topics I taught were: the impact of London Gangs, Nike and Globalisation, Consumption and Changing Identities in contemporary society.

11+ EXAMS
Although I would like to teach every student possible, my career has been in secondary education. However, I have always had a keen interest in the 11+ Exams as I believe that every student should be given an equal chance to achieve the secondary school of their choice. This has been my main area of tuition over the past 18 years, and alongside, I have built a significant client base in the Hertfordshire area. Students respond well to my direct approaches to learning new formulae in maths or understanding patterns within verbal reasoning. I have extensive experience in preparing students for Entrance Exams to secondary schools (11+ exams), with exceptional success in students achieving the school of their choice based on their Maths, Verbal Reasoning and English scores.

After an initial consultation with the family to assess the needs and length of programme, tuition usually starts by teaching the foundation formulae and skills of maths. These are essential for problem-solving and developing the confidence to respond to contextualised scenarios, which are often absent in Primary School learning. As a start, I focus on: area of shapes (square, rectangle, parallelogram, triangle, circles, compound shapes), volume, percentages, ratio, time, long multiplication/division, decimals, fractions, algebra and angles. When these are secure, we practise them using past exam papers. I then move to verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning and English, focusing on the key skills and exam techniques.

11+: Watford / Buckinghamshire / Harrow / Oxfordshire and Hertfordshire Independent Schools
I am currently leading on a variety 11+ Exam initiatives in the South-Herts consortium area, preparing students for the Watford 11+ Entrance Exams. I also have a wealth of experiencing in preparing students within the areas of Buckinghamshire (for Aylesbury Grammar), Barnet (especially QE Boys/Girls), Harrow and also Independent Schools in Hertfordshire, such as Berkhamsted School, Merchant Taylors, St Columba`s, Haberdasher Aske`s and St Albans Boys School. For students wishing to apply for independent schools, I can prepare students for their written statement and also their interview technique.

I can offer Maths, Verbal Reasoning, non-Verbal Reasoning and English in both standard and multiple choice, across NFER, GL and CEM exam formats.


UNIVERSITY PERSONAL STATEMENTS
I have had over 18 years (4 years as Head of Sixth Form and 4 years as a Director of Studies) of working with students UCAS applications, Personal Statements and also University choices. Although schools tend to work to a generic formula, the key aim of the personal statement is to make it as personally reflective as possible. My sessions focus on discussing connections between the student and their prospective area of study and then build a personal statement from these roots. Modelling paragraphs, re-phrasing and marking drafts make up the rest of the process with the aim to create a statement that you are not only happy with, but will also provide you with excellent offers. In the past 8 years 100% of students have achieved a place to read the subject of their choice at University.

I can offer the following sessions:
One-off tutoring sessions, a number of sessions over a period of time following a detailed scheme of work, intensive one-week exam-focused sessions, exam practice, a complete GCSE or A-Level course, University Personal Statement support/writing technique/feedback.