The profile of Henry and their contact details have been verified by our experts
Henry
- Hourly rate £50
- Response Time 24h
£50/hr
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- English
- Essay Writing
Expert in engagement of Y10/11 students - specialist in essay-writing technique and all-round English Literature & Language GCSE preparation - online and at home in Montpelier, Bristol
Lesson location
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At Henry's house: Cotham
- Online
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Super Prof
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About Henry
- What kind of experience do you have?
Expert Teenage Mentor & Tutor in English & Maths GCSE
15+ years experience, over 300 students
Specialist in engagement, motivation & confidence building
Niche focus: Essay writing technique
Characterisation of sessions: empowering maturity and student-lead responsibility for studies
Boards: AQA, EdExcel, iGCSE, Eduqas
Updated DBS/CRB (11/18)
I have tutored mostly in London, Bristol & the South West, though also internationally in Geneva, the Italian Alps & the West coast of France (some years ago now) and increasingly, these past two years, online.
I initially taught all ages and all subjects in 2001 when I first started tutoring, through agencies like Bright Young Things and The Tutors Group, from teaching a 5 year old girl piano and reading, to teaching a Saudi Arabian property developer business and social vocabulary.
A few years in I naturally gravitated towards working with teenagers, specialising in GCSE English & Maths preparation for Years 10 & 11, especially finding a niche, and a vocation, for teaching essay writing technique. I have since developed a short 4-session introductory course for anyone who is challenged by this aspect of their course (which as far as I can tell is everyone!) and through this have clarified the essay writing process for countless students, enabling them to come up with their own clear ideas and argument and to deliver this in structured prose.
- Do you have an up-to-date DBS (Disclosure & Barring Service, formerly CRB) Certificate?
Yes (updated in October 2018).
- Do you belong to any professional organisations?
Yes, I am one of the founding members of a UK Independent Tutors Network and hold weekly online conferencing and training calls
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About the lesson
- Secondary
- GCSE
levels :
Secondary
GCSE
- English
All languages in which the lesson is available :
English
For almost all the English students I have ever taught, the highest impact I can have, and what is usually most sorely needed, is simple essay-writing technique: how to respond to an unseen question under pressure and create a solid plan and argument and execute the writing of it including all the elements the mark scheme most rewards. My 4-8 week course can bounce grades up in not time and I have taken many students from a 3 to a 5 or a 6 to an 8. Whatever the standard, I have never met a student that didn't need essay-writing technique and my 1-to-1, bespoke, private tuition is such an effective way to give them that platform, for all written exercises and long format questions, in all subjects.
LITERATURE - students first of all need to commit to reading all their set texts. If not, their enjoyment and capacity to do well will both be severely limited, so this might be our first challenge! They also need to hone their essay-writing technique and to build up a bank of 30-60 quotes for texts where it is a requirement that they justify their argument with evidence from outside the extract.
LANGUAGE - students need to know what each question's specific mark scheme rewards and then practice meeting this with each type of question, whether it be about structure, evaluating, analysing language, summarising etc . But most of all, they need to do well in the essay writing aspects, usually descriptive and persuasive. Often the marks for these essays comprise half of the entire paper 7 course! So again, an emphasis on essay-writing technique instruction perfectly covers the essential requirements for both Language and Literature.
BEFORE ANY ENGLISH IS EVEN POSSIBLE!
I place primary emphasis on the relationship with the student. If they like me and the way I teach, and they want help, then that's all we need to get the best results. I have all the expertise in teaching this core subject for all the major boards, all I need from them is the openness and willingness to learn, and to learn with me. This is what we establish in the first session, are we on or not?
Once we have both committed to proceeding (which basically all students do!) I focus on empowering the student to lead as much as they can on what is needed week-to-week; to help me devise the best and most responsive programme for them and to keep letting me know whenever they want to steer it in a new direction. No one knows, or can know, the needs of a student preparing for exams better than that student themselves, nor do you get anywhere near as good results if someone else is attempting to hold and achieve this overview for the student. They are the ones piecing together all of the teaching, tutoring and homework in the end, and pulling it all together themselves for the exam, so it's really essential that they are the ones in the driving seat.
I like my students to turn up knowing what they want from me each week and I train this up gradually in the more passive students. Of course I have a never-ending supply of my own suggestions and lesson plans for them, but the best is being completely responsive to the student and having them lead on it and take responsibility for their own learning and development throughout the week. GCSEs are the first time, in fact, in a student's life when this is implicitly demanded of them, which is why they can be such a challenge to a student's maturity and such a hurdle in their development. This is what makes it such an ideal time for a new influence, a new role model, an expert mentor who can help them step up and grab the bull by the horns and go for it on their own terms and for their own sakes.
- Which subject(s) do you teach?
Essay writing technique, for all subjects, all boards and all levels.
English Language & Literature GCSE (WJEC, OCR, EdExcel, AQA, CIE, iGCSE)
Maths GCSE (WJEC, OCR, EdExcel, AQA, CIE, iGCSE)
- Tell me about your qualifications.
I have learned almost everything I know about how best to teach, on the job. I know what works, and what doesn't work, from teaching over 300 highly distinct and unique students since I first entered this profession, and draw on this expertise instinctively to provide flexible and customised support that inspires, motivates and builds confidence in my students so that they can achieve the best results possible, in school and in life.
- How much do you charge?
£50/hr for private students, with a free initial skype chat / consultation.
I also take groups of friends, from the same school and class, for a reduced fee per student (eg £30/hr/student for a group of 2, £25/hr/student for a group of 3).
- Where do you teach?
I teach online and in a beautiful, garden-facing private room in Montpelier, Bristol (UK).
- When are you available?
My current weekly, term time, after-school available slots are (GMT):
Tuesdays 4-6pm
Thursdays 5-6pm
I have odd hours free most days for students in European, Middle Eastern timezones
- Which ages and levels do you teach?
Predominantly 13-16 year olds, GCSE preparation for English & Maths
Years 9, 10 & 11 (UK)
- Describe your arrangements for online tutoring.
I use Zoom.
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Recommendations
Recommendations come from relatives, friends and acquaintances of the teacher
8
Maths is not my daughters forte - having failed her GCSE twice she was giving it a final go. Linking Henry with Serena was the best thing that could have happened to her. He was able to assess her potential and learning style almost immediately and provided effective and focused tutoring, in a 'calm and clear way' which enabled her to learn and retain knowledge. Suffice to say she passed her GCSE, which is a great confidence boost for her as well as good for future career prospects.
Result: CHenry tutored my son for his GCSE English Literature and Language in small group sessions. My son said his sessions were enjoyable and he always came back buzzed and inspired. Not only that, as a result he got As in both subjects!
Result: AsMany thanks Henry - Maia texted to me today to say, 'English Really good!!'
First time I've heard her say that - so thank you so much for supporting her. I feel a bit sad really that with your one to one support she has gained so much - things that she hadn't got from being at school... ... I'm grateful she had the opportunity to work with you
Result: AHenry worked with my daughter (who could be described as a recalcitrant* student) during her GCSEs. I feel it was his endless patience and skills as a teacher which enabled her to re-engage with her studies and go on to achieve her GCSEs.
*recalcitrant - 'having an obstinately uncooperative attitude towards authority or disciplineHenry was so nurturing, inspiring and fun, that it was a big contrast to the pressurizing teaching our son was experiencing at his school. He had lost a lot of confidence, and Henry was able to convince our son of his capabilities, and helped to make him feel genuinely special and valued
As in Maths & English, so happy :)
I just received my results and I am thrilled! Much to my surprise I got A's in both English Lit and Language and I wouldn't have been able to do it without you, I can't thank you enough. I really enjoyed our time working together
Henry was a fantastic teacher! He taught Maths and English to my brothers and I during our early teens. He helped us through our exam periods, teaching us exam techniques, and provided unique ways of learning maths in a friendly, engaging environment. I owe him for the best part of getting me through school examinations through his approach to teaching. He is a great mentor, teacher and friend. I highly recommend his services to both young and old
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Rates
Hourly rate
- £50
Pack prices
- 5h: £250
- 10h: £500
online
- £50/h
Henry's Video
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