Zaynab

Hello, welcome to my profile.

Before contacting me for tutoring, please read my profile and then let me know in your first message that you have done so (this is to ensure that you are fully informed before contacting me to ask me so that you are not asking the same questions I have already answered on my profile). I will not be replying to those who do not do so as I am finding there are parents who aren't willing to read through my profile even after I point them to do so. I have provided a template at the bottom of the page for when you want to first contact me so that you can give all of the information required in the first message/questions you want to ask, so that by the time you read my reply you have your answer very quickly).

I have been a tutor for 13 years and a teacher for 9 years, specialising in teaching the sciences (including psychology/sociology) and English (all levels).

For the foreseeable future I am only tutoring via Skype. However, rest assured, I have found it to be more productive than in-person tutoring.

I teach the following:
Science
Psychology
Sociology
English language
English literature
11+

I also offer the following services:
Proofreading for GCSE @ £15 per piece if 8 pages or less OR £2 per page if more;
Proofreading for A-level @ £16 per piece if 8 pages less OR £3 per page if more;
Proofreading for personal statement @ £20 per piece if 8 pages or less OR £4 per page if more;
Proofreading for CVs/cover letters/other @ £25 per piece OR £5 per page if more;

Proofreading for undergraduate degree pieces @ £30 per piece OR £6 per page if more;
Proofreading for masters/other PG degree pieces @ £35 per piece OR £8 per page if more;
Proofreading for PhD pieces @ £40 per piece if 8 pages or less OR £10 per page if more.
Model answers for sociology/psychology 8/12/16 marker group @ £15 per pack;
Model answers for sociology larger questions @ £12 for 2 model answers;
Model answers for GCSE English (any selection of 5 questions) @ £15 per pack;

*Notes:
1. Proofreading can be requested by selecting English for the relevant education group (e.g. GCSE pieces can be requested by selecting GCSE and then messaging me with the information to let me know what you need).
2. Proofreading is done by me privately and is not in a lesson (hence the cheaper price). I do spend a lot of time on these pieces and I am very careful with them, paying attention to detail;
3. Text must strictly be font: Arial and size: 12 for measurement of pages;
4. I do not do any of the work for the student. This is cheating and against plagiarism rules at all education institutions. I point out mistakes/suggest the corrections and you must apply them. I also offer a lot of advice on the structure, writing and submission of the work.
5. If there are quite a lot of pages to your work (30 or more), please contact me for a quote specifically for the piece in question. I will offer a discount. This is only for UG degree level and above.

CONTACT TEMPLATE
Please use the template below to structure your message to me so that information is communicated more effectively

1. Introduce yourself and let me know you have read my profile.
2. Outline what you need help with, which subject and level it is at, the exam board and tier (foundation/higher) and who it is for.
3. Let me know the problem areas you/your child has in this subject and specifically whether you want me to help with the entire set of topics or whether it is specific topics (no need to tell me all of them at this point).
4. Let me know how many hours you need. Note that the minimum hours are 1.5 hrs for GCSE/2 hrs for Alevel
5. Outline your availability (days and times - please offer a range of all that you have) and when you want to begin/end tutoring.
6. Sign off with your name and a smiley! :)

Tutoring Experience

In addition to my degrees, I have excellent GCSE grades in the following subjects:
English Language, English Literature, Mathematics, Science, Additional Science, History, Religious Studies, ICT and Arabic.

My A-Level qualifications are also of a high standard, with four As and two A*s (respectively) in:
English Language, Biology, Sociology, History, Psychology and Chemistry.

My qualifications have been verified by First Tutors (see qualifications).

I have extensive knowledge of these examination boards (due to being an examiner) – especially when it comes to syllabus updates – which will ensure that you are getting the most recent syllabus taught to your child. This means I am able to help tutees realise what they should be doing to achieve the top grades in their exams. Please avoid questions/comments about my capability to teach based on this information. Teachers on this platform should be able to get your child to where they need to be (of course with both the child and parent's cooperation and keeping in mind any learning difficulties they may have).

Tutoring Approach

HOW I TEACH:
I use a well known calling app (Skype) and use the audio (please note that I do not teach using video calling), along with Google Docs where we can both see what the other is doing in real time, where applicable, which enables me to share a document for the lesson with the student, whilst I go through it and explain it to them – this works particularly well for GCSE and A-level students, as well as adult and degree learners. I also use Google Docs as my whiteboard. Students usually receive notes that I make for them for science, English, psychology and sociology.

Before beginning lessons I agree with the student / parent which topics we will cover and in which order (do not change once agreed as I have to prepare in advance).
- I then teach the content to the student, in depth. The level of this content is the highest it will go, so even if your child is aiming for a B, the content quality is A/A*. This allows the student to reach their highest potential.
- I will go through some questions with them providing them with model answer points verbally.
- I will then allow the student to try the question out in the lesson. I will mark this question with them.
- Questions that they carry out on their own initiative (see homework section) will be marked privately by me and they will be provided with in-depth feedback (please also see 'homework' for how much I accept as a submission per week).
- I also give students exams at the end of topics/ modules and mark those too.

HOMEWORK:
I do not give students homework. However, I do provide them with the means to submit questions every week based on their own choice/parental encouragement to do so. I do not give homework weekly as it creates a lot of pressure for students. If the student/parent wants to have a piece submitted they can most certainly do so at their own discretion. Please note I have placed a limitation on how many pieces can be submitted per week as I was finding parents who only have one hour of tuition for example, were trying to submit large number of past papers to me in a week and expecting me to turn around marking within a few days. I have laid out my terms regarding this below. If you do not agree please do not ask me to carry out marking:
1. Please firstly note that I am doing this in my very small amount of free time FREE OF CHARGE. Most tutors will not mark unless it takes place during the lesson.
2. Each student gets 1 submission of work to be marked per session they have each week: for science that is 1 past paper and for all other subjects consists of 1 large question or a group of 3 smaller questions. If you have 2 sessions per week this means you can submit 2 past papers for science or 2 sets of the 1 large question or 3 smaller questions for other subjects.
3. Please allow up to a week from submission for it to be marked and returned.
4. During peak periods: mock weeks, exam periods, holidays please allow longer for returns (this still won't be too long).
5. If I advise the student that I may take longer due to personal circumstances/sickness/large work load at school during exam or mock periods then please be understanding of this without complaining as I am, again, doing this from my own time without charge.
5. I will give your child a deadline and a marking slot. If they miss the deadline I will not mark it that week as the marking slot has been set purely because I have very little time on my hands. The piece will be marked the following week and they will not be able to submit another piece in that week. Please stick to this without giving me problems - thank you.

PAYMENTS
*I only accept bank transfer and lessons must be paid for on a lesson-by-lesson basis (prior). You may also pay fortnightly or monthly (I can also do termly payments). I do not accept cash or any other platform, as bank transferring is the safest method (and there is also proof of payment).
*Furthermore, I do not accept payments in arrears (because teaching for four weeks and then not getting paid is not very pleasant!).
*I expect payments to be made 2 days before the lesson, or the lesson booking for that week will be given to the next person on the list. I do not prepare for a lesson until it has been booked for that week so please do keep that in mind.

Please find an outline of the terms for tuition below. I must stress that if any of these are not agreed to, I cannot proceed, as they are my terms of service. If you are contacting me for tutoring, please let me know that you agree to these terms below.

1. CANCELLATION POLICY
   *You can absolutely cancel the lesson up until 24 hours before the class (e.g. if the lesson is Saturday at 4pm, then it should be cancelled strictly by 4pm on Friday). This goes for any reason. I have changed this from accepting circumstances as I found that there was lying and false excuses being made. Please respect my time.
   *If the lesson is cancelled less than 24 hours before the class you will be charged for the lesson. Additionally, if you want to change the lesson less than 24 hours before the lesson time you may, but will not receive a refund for the session cancelled and will have to pay for a new lesson. I must stress that you can cancel if it is outside of the limited time. If you cancel or ask to change before this time period you will not be charged and are welcome to do this. This applies to all reasoning for the absence (especially because as of late absences are frequently being put down to reasons that are not true / cannot be validated). I have been generous with this, as most tutors require 48 hours.
   *Additionally, if the student is more than 10 minutes late to the lesson or is a no-show, this is an automatic cancellation and you will be charged for this lesson. I will not make this lesson up. Parents who create a fuss after being informed fully of these terms before agreeing to tutoring will be asked to find another tutor.

2. RULES DURING TUTORING
   *Fixed times must not be changed, except for when agreed by the tutor.
   *Students must use headphones (1. to ensure the lesson is taking place between myself and the student only and 2. to ensure there is no interference/feedback/echoing, which make it difficult for me to talk or hear).
   *The area that tuition is taking place in should be calm - there shouldn’t be disturbances or too much noise. *Please do not include other people in the lessons, unless agreed to with the tutor beforehand.
   *If you are a sibling (or other relative) or friend of another student I tutor, please do not try to switch lessons with them, as I will not accommodate this.
   *Consistent non-payment of lessons on time and not adhering to my cancellation policy will lead to termination of tuition. The limit is 3 times in the space of 3 months. If you have issues with a payment, you can always contact me and discuss what is happening - I am quite understanding!
   *Lessons will not be prepared or booked until the booking invoice has been fulfilled.

3. IMPORTANT POINTS
   *At the time of writing (September 2023) and onwards, please refrain from requesting tuition with me only to get a reference. I cannot provide references for university or college students for their exams/UCAS as I have to be working with you at an official institution and must know you for several months, as well as having much evidence of your achievements. In this instance we are working as private tutors with our students. I have had people return months later asking (and demanding) references and marked work as evidence. Please take note that I cannot partake in these as a tutor as you are not working with me at a school or education institute.
   *Please be absolutely certain that you want to proceed before contacting me, so that you do not waste your own time or mine.
   *I do NOT partake in trial lessons.
   *Please don’t ask for me to teach more than one subject if you’re only having an hour per week with me. I strictly operate with 1.5 (for GCSE) or 2 hours (for Alevel) per week, per subject. This applies once tutoring starts too (no subject switching please!).
   *Do not discuss subjects that the enquiry is not related to. If you open a request about English, please do not ask me to teach your child ICT etc. This is especially pointless if I am not advertising this subject. During tuition you may ask for other subjects and I will find out if I can do this/find another means for you to have tutoring in that subject
   *Additionally, students I work with must be weekly commitments, not monthly, fortnightly or any other arrangement.
   *Finally, as a teacher, I require working with students who are flexible with my schedule. This means that, there may be occasions where I need to move the lesson to another day. On the other hand, I cannot have students moving their lessons around a lot as I have a very tight schedule.

4. I prefer to work with polite, friendly and easy going parents who do not nit-pick at myself /the child in relation to the lesson (progress takes time!) or expect too much for the small amount of hours they give me to work in with their child. Communicating positively is extremely important for the sake of their progress.

If you are okay with these arrangements, then I will be happy to proceed with tuition. By reading my profile and accepting tuition services, you are agreeing to this wholly. For those who agree but then do not comply with this, I will no longer offer my services. I am a teacher who needs to keep a system going in order to run services smoothly and so, I must ensure these rules are kept in place. If they are, it is a very enjoyable experience! :)