Information About Rachel - Aylesbury tutor - (37 reviews)
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This is how 2 referees rated Rachel:
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Subjects Taught
English |
Hourly Rate |
Primary | £35.00 |
Secondary | £35.00 |
GCSE | £35.00 |
A-Level | £40.00 |
University | £50.00 |
Casual Learner | £35.00 |
Entrance Exams |
Hourly Rate |
11 Plus | £40.00 |
13 Plus | £40.00 |
Music |
Hourly Rate |
Primary | £40.00 |
Secondary | £40.00 |
GCSE | £40.00 |
A-Level | £40.00 |
University | £50.00 |
Casual Learner | £40.00 |
English (Foreign Language) |
Hourly Rate |
Primary | £30.00 |
Secondary | £30.00 |
GCSE | £30.00 |
A-Level | £30.00 |
Casual Learner | £30.00 |
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Personal Description:
Teaching has always been a central part of my life and it gives me great pleasure to help people of all ages and abilities to unlock their capabilities and develop a passion for learning.
I am a qualified secondary school Music and English teacher, having initially trained and taught in a selection of schools in the London Borough of Hounslow. This presented an array of both musical and teaching opportunities, furthered by my additional departmental responsibilities, such as subject teacher in charge of A-Level and Gifted and Talented Coordinator, before returning to my home town in Buckinghamshire to begin pursuing my dream of opening up an education centre of my own – an aspiration founded by my belief that one-to-one and personalised, small group tuition is the most successful, and enjoyable, method of education.
During the last five years I have worked as head of English at a small, independent college, where I devised and delivered our IGCSE English Language and Literature and A-Level English Literature (AQA Spec. A&B) courses. I have also been selected by AQA to examine their creative writing A-Level course, a brand new qualification which allows students to further explore creative writing and develop skills touched upon at GCSE level.
Presently, I predominantly teach from home, tutoring students in English, Maths and Music. I offer one-ton-one and small group supplementary tuition to compliment mainstream education, 11+ tuition (English, maths and non-verbal reasoning) and support with audition performances for university and drama school applications. During the daytime I work closely with students who study independently (home-educated or 'Y14') and offer support to families whose children are struggling to attend school. I tailor my lessons to the ends of my individual students, designing courses and creating resources in an accessible format.
In my free time I perform in an acapella choir, Aylesbury Consort of Voices, and enjoy walking my Labrador, Millie, in the surrounding countryside. I am a great fan of music and I believe that there is a strong link between being a successful creative writer and a musical performer.
Tutoring Experience:
Secondary school Music and English teacher (KS3-A Level): July 2007-2010
Private Music teacher (Grades 1-8): 2002-present.
English as a foreign language teacher (Conversational and Business English): June 2006-present.
Grammar School Entrance Examinations: October 2010-present.
Head of English: October 2010-February 2015.
AQA Examiner: February 2014-present.
Tutoring Approach:
Students travel to my house for lessons where they are greeted with a warm welcome from my Labrador. (She recognises who is who by their car engine and is often waiting by the door before students have arrived!) I teach from my study, a warm and bright room at the front of my house, which is an extension used exclusively for my teaching and, if you look around, you will see lots of little gifts kindly given to me by my past and present students.
With regards to English tuition, I provide texts, past exam papers and an exercise book. The latter operates as a record of what has been achieved in the lesson, homework set and targets. Importantly, I offer weekly constructive written and oral feedback and encourage parents to book appointments during the school holiday period to discuss their child's progress.
With regards to instrumental tuition, I do not insist that students work towards examinations, but rather that they learn to enjoy their instrument, developing a passion for their subject first and foremost. After this grounding has been established, working towards graded examinations is a natural progression for most students. I have a 100% success rate and most students pass with merit or distinction marks. Furthermore, I provide a diary which allows pupils to record their practice and facilitates teacher-parent dialogue. As far as possible I strive to lend pupils course materials.
Looking forward to meeting you!
*Lab will be shut away in the kitchen unless you feel comfortabe around animals.
Availability: Weekends / Weekdays (all times)
References Available: Yes (✔ On File)
Qualifications:
- Roehampton University (2007) - PGCE (PGCE) (✘ Not On File)
- Royal Holloway, University of London (2006) - BMus (Hons) (Bachelors) (✘ Not On File)
- Inter Language (2006) - TEFL (Other) (✘ Not On File)
- ABRSM (2002) - ABRSM Music Exams: Piano, Flute, Singing, Theory G1-8 (Other) (✘ Not On File)
Rachel's Feedback
Tutees Providing Feedback: | 37 |
Tutees Providing Positive Feedback: |
Best of luck with the rapildy approaching exams.
Our initial tuition sessions went well and I still have a handful of remaining slots for the end of August, should you like to make any further booking.
Never expected to go down the tutor route but glad we did.
Our eldest son, now at University, who had extreme difficulties with English as a subject for GCSE started attending Rachels English one-to one classes in his final year of GCSE. His school prediction was that he would be unable to achieve a pass C grade at GCSE. With Rachel's tutoring and positive encouragement he managed to achieve a grade B beyond our expectations. He was therefore able to get a place in sixth form to do his A levels and has now successfully moved on to get a place at University.
Our second son, now in his final year of GSCE, has had some natural ability for English but lacked concentration and maturity in his writing skills. With the benefit of Rachel's tutoring and with her ever positive encouragement he has developed a positive approach to studying and he has received surprisingly good result with positive feedback of improvement at school. W e are now confident hat he will obtain a good pass grade at GCSE and possibly continue to study English as an A level subject at sixth form.
With our youngest son, now at year six of primary, we have noticed the most dramatic improvement in his English writing and grammar skills in a very short period of time with the help of Rachel's tutoring.
Rachel has a wonderful rapport with people of all ages, especially children. Her ability to connect with her students and her talent at teaching simple concepts, as well as more advanced topics, are both truly superior. She also has excellent written and verbal communication skills with both parents and teachers.
To Rachel we are ever grateful.
A. Zaman
Thank you so much for taking the time to write such detailed, and thoughtful, feedback. It's been an absolute privilege to support your boys with their study of English and to be part of their academic journey from KS2, with the hope of progressing on to A-Level.
Some of the most enjoyable aspects of my job are getting to know an entire family and from a young age, watching them grown physically, and in maturity, as they become more confident and independent learners. Each week I ask Musa to stop growing, as he is now towering above me!
Your boys are hard-working, enthusiastic and committed and they are a pleasure to spend time with.
My son is dyslexic and has never enjoyed english, but he actually came out with the comment the other day that he was enjoying creative writing, which is lovely as he has a great imagination, but has always thought he couldn't write it down. Thank you Rachel
I always look forward to welcoming the boys on a Tuesday and they are a positive influence on each other.
Many thanks,
Rachel
Under Rachel's supervision, I a very confident that my son will be prepared for these forthcoming exams, and will achieve good grades.
Many Thanks.
Mrs V Sklar
Thank you for such wonderful feedback. Josh is continuing to astound me with his hard-working approach and mature attitude toward the enormous amount of work he is currently facing. He is rising to the challenge of balancing A-Level coursework, examinations and resits whilst applying for university places - accepting auditions and completing sample essays for his future professors.
A fantastic young man, whom I feel very priviledged to have met.
Rachel
Her admin is efficient and clear which helps me, and she clearly has a genuine interest in her students and a desire to help them achieve their full potential, whatever that might be.
I would strongly recommend her.
Firstly, thank you for such heart-warming feedback. Secondly, I thoroughly enjoyed supporting you with your A2 studies and I always looked forward to reading your essays. I am confident you will receive some well-deserved news in August and I hope you are now spending ample time relaxing :)
Please let me know how you get on.
Warm wishes,
Rachel
Thank you so much for tutoring Josh, he really looks forward to his sessions with you and I feel that he is progressing well. He is thinking about his English more and is putting in more effort, which shows that he is enjoying your teaching. I am also really pleased with how you are broadening his horizons and improving his confidence, as he always leaves his lesson buzzing with enthusiasm for study and for life, it's great! I only wish all his teachers at school were like you!
Thank you!
Best wishes,
Ann
Thank you so much for your heart-felt words. It's such a pleasure to support Joshua and it's wonderful to know that he's happy to brace the cold, winter weather, late on a Friday evening, for a tuition session! He is growing from strength to strength and it is exciting to imagine where his recent enjoyment for English will take him.
We have only been with you a few months but Grace's progress and confidence has vastly improved.
Thank you
I liked your site because you looked friendly, I was interested in your experience in the area that Will needed help with.
You were not this years graduate who would find something else to do before the year had finished.
Carol
Would recommend