Alison

I am a very experienced qualified teacher and tutor, with a bank of experience in a range of teaching roles. My experience ranges across all key stages, from primary to secondary. I founded an achievement raising organisation for school aged children in1999 and I now run it part time. I teach primary aged children part time - and also teach English at secondary level to students in the London Borough of Redbridge.I have worked with Redbridge County Council, Birmingham City Council, IBM and Aston Villa Football Club as Chief Executive of The Stepladder Foundation, leading seminar sessions for 14-16 year-olds in a variety of subjects from time management and revision skills to poetry analysis and gospel singing. This work with Stepladder has been very successful, as each year the students’ attainment levels and school attendance rises, and the students begin to look forward to their further education. .

Tutoring Experience

I have been teaching and tutoring for about 20 years, so I have lots of very good experience.I can tutor students at a range of levels in exam techniques, 11 plus, entrance exams including Common Entrance and GCSE English, focussing on a variety of topics including grammar, spelling, essay technique and revision strategy. I can also offer English as a foreign and second language.

I am currently tutoring in English at Key Stages two,three and four part-time, and I am particularly dedicated to raising literacy levels in 11-16 year-olds. I have a great belief in cross-curricular activities as a way of improving students' confidence and literacy skills, as it helps them to see the importance of English Literature, Language and Drama as a fundamental part of their future success. I also promote the importance of extra-curricular activities to my students to raise confidence and life skills. I have produced school plays and presentations and have run primary and secondary choirs and orchestras.

As the leader of The Stepladder Foundation, as a tutor and mentor, I have worked with hundreds of students aged 13-16 in Redbridge and Birmingham to stimulate them into striving for their academic and personal goals. This has enabled me to design and lead seminars on a variety of subjects, from Gospel singing to poetry analysis to revision skills. As leader of Stepladder I convey my enthusiasm not only for my subject, but also for attending school, enjoying extracurricular opportunities and the social aspects of education. A highlight of our programmes has been taking the students on residential activity weeks, which not only encourage teamwork and build confidence, but for many students are their first experiences of the British countryside.

I also teach music theory and am experienced at all levels, including grade 5 theory and above. I can teach singing to children from age 5 to age 13.

Tutoring Approach

My approach is 'fun' but 'hard work.' Having been brought up in a family of teachers and also remembering some absolutely inspirational teachers when I was at school myself, I am particularly aware of the importance of treating every young person as an individual right from the word go! So my tutees really do achieve well, but they also enjoy learning. I tailor-make programmes for each individual young person, to ensure success.

Through tutoring I am able to top-up students' relationship with and understanding of their teachers, whilst also ensuring that their achievement levels and confidence in the classroom are raised. I also always aim to pass on my determination and enthusiasm for achieving my best to every student that I meet. I do this by developing a sense of approachability between myself and the students, as I see communication as key in providing a supportive learning environment.

Most of my tutees have one or two hour sessions once or twice a week during term time, with some attending sporadically during holiday periods for one and a half or two hours to keep their skills sharp.