Timothy

I am 70 years old, married with two adult children. I was born in the UK and spent my childhood in a Surrey village, where my mother was a GP. I was educated at prep, private and grammar schools in the South East (Epsom College/Dorking Grammar School). After leaving school I went to Bangor University for a year where I studied English/History/Classical Studies. I left to devote myself to creative writing and traveled widely, working in different jobs. I spent 2 years working with chiIdren in need of special care. I completed a BA(Hons) degree in Peace Studies because I wanted to become a mediator working in Conflict Resolution. I then trained as a Speech and Voice coach for 4 years before training as a professional actor at The Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art in London. After working as an actor and voice-over, I completed a PGCE in English/Drama and Media Studies. I am very well read and have many interests which include writing and theatre. I am also very interested in History (especially of Mediterranean peoples), Music, Art, Gardening and Cooking.

Tutoring Experience

I have had 30 years of secondary teaching experience. I have taught in grammar, comprehensive and independent Schools in the UK and Canada. I have mainly taught in co-educational schools but have also taught for 5 years in an all girls private school. My main subject areas are English, Drama and History. I have also taught a lot of RS and Philosophy. I have a track record of excellent exam outcomes at GCSE and A Level, the great majority of pupils I have taught achieving A*-B. Most of the A Level pupils I have taught have won places at Russell group universities, including Oxbridge.

Tutoring Approach

Most people require a tutor to support exam course study. First and foremost, I seek to ensure that a pupil achieves this aim by targeting the exam mark band criteria. However, a focus on exam course criteria can be very mechanistic and destroy real interest in the subject. We all learn in unique ways and so I try to respond to the particular needs of each pupil and build skills from whatever point and in whatever area support may be needed. I believe as far as possible that learning should be enjoyable and result in a definite growth in confidence and self-belief. I use humor a lot when I teach and I am also very imaginative in the methods I use. I hope that my enthusiasm for my subjects is infectious and that it is transferred to pupils. I believe in clarity, consistency and challenge.