Richard

I have recently retired from classroom practice, and am now directing my energies along three new, but not altogether unrelated, pathways: personal tuition, tour guiding, and writing 'that' book; my first novel and magnus opus! I am 57 years of age, and have spent the entirety of my professional career in education, apart from a spell when I qualified and practiced as a solicitor: however, missing my metier, it was not long before I was back - happier, reinvigorated and in possession of a new skillset following my foray into legal waters. I live in North Norfolk, and reconnect with London (where I taught in Hampstead for a dozen years), by travelling down to see my existing 1-2-1s every Saturday. I also tutor online, and connect both by Zoom and Google Meet. I have one daughter, Chloe, who is currently living and teaching in Tokyo, as well as a rescued Border Collie called Wulf, and you can often find me walking the cliffs, or golden sands and salt marshes, along our beautiful and very special coastline.

Tutoring Experience

Brought up within the independent education system myself (Beeston Hall and Marlborough College), I have spent thirty years in both boarding and day prep schools, throughout London, East Anglia and the South West. I have taught English and History to 11+, 13+ and GCSE, as well as Maths, Geography and R.S. I have accompanied countless trips to historical sites and cultural events, and have led residential skiing holidays abroad, as well as PGL. I have also led US high school tour groups around the British Isles. I am experienced both in stretching top sets in English and History, and supporting lower ability students in Mathematics, and it is my personal ethos to encourage and enable every student to find the very best in themselves. As well as my time as a classroom practitioner, I have correspondingly spent twenty-nine years as a personal tutor, and have achieved huge success in helping pupils achieve seats at their first choice of schools, including Grammars such as King Edward VI Chelmsford and Henrietta Barnett Hampstead, and multiple Independents including Eton, Westminster, St Pauls, Harrow, City, Highgate, UCS, Kings Canterbury, Mill Hill, Felstead, Greshams, Oundle, Sevenoaks, Sherborne, Millfield and Radley.

Tutoring Approach

I am extremely sensitive to the needs of my students, and once I have established their current abilities, I seek to build sequentially upon their existing knowledge base. I like to keep my approach fresh by mixing up the activities and exercises, and by introducing elements of fun into the process, such as word games and general knowledge quizzes. I am also aware that different individuals benefit in their learning journeys through different stimuli, and so am mindful to incorporate aural, visual and even kinaesthetic learning styles, as often as possible. I am a kind, caring and empathetic teacher, and always gear my lessons to adapt to the needs and requirements of the individuals I am guiding, no matter what the topic matter or task.