Peter

Experience

I have taught at a wide variety of schools both state and independent,in the UK and abroad. For the last 16 years of my full-time career I was Head of English and a housemaster at Tudor Hall School Banbury. As well as assisting my pupils to high levels of academic achievement (85% grades A and B in the final 5 years of my stay) and success. Naturally I have prepared pupils for Oxbridge entry and for three years was asked to be a visiting interviewer by Rugby School for their potential Oxbridge candidates. I am currently an A Level examiner so am well qualified to know what is required to achieve highly at A Level Literature.

I also coach public speaking and debating teams. Tudor Hall School were English Speaking Union British Champions in 2000 and were presented with the award by H.R.H. Prince Philip at Buckingham Palace. Teams from this and three other schools at which I have taught also reached three national finals and numerous semi-finals of national competitions. I have judged both UK national and regional finals so recognise excellence and how to maximise performance and increase confidence?

I was asked to return to teaching by Rugby High School and Northampton High School since when the results of my classes remained very good. In my last year at Rugby High 95% of a large sixth form class in a non selective sixth form achieved A*/B grades.

I was also asked to run the school's English G.C.S.E revision programme. My A Level Literature pupils' work has been singled out for praise by the exam board and a GCSE candidate who achieved B grades in her 'mock' exams sought my help and was marked at A* for both Language and Literature. Her comments may be available.

I have recently completed lessons with students from 11 to 16 seeking entrance to excellent English independent schools as well as my usual examination preparation lessons.

I have enjoyed helping students who are seeking entry to established schools, such as St Mary’s Ascot, Eton and Westminster.

Biography

I was born in Colwyn Bay Conwy to a Welsh speaking mother but moved to London for my education.

I attended Selhurst Grammar School in Croydon and achieved good A Levels including Scholarship Level English Literature.I have taught in a wide variety of schools including four in the upper echelons of the A Level league tables and my classes consistently achieve grades considerably above average for schools of similar type. I led an outstanding department for 16 years. I have never received a grade of lower than 'outstanding' in any internal or external school assessment of my classroom practice and comments from Keystone clients have been equally kind. I just love teaching.

Personal Approach

I have been teaching successfully for many years and I would like to think that the reason I am still asked to teach by academic schools is because I get results and pupils seem to enjoy being taught by me. It was a personal approach from Will Orr-Ewing the founder of Keystone Tutors following personal recommendations from pupils that persuaded me to tutor for Keystone Tutors.

I find that tutoring, to be successful, must be an enjoyable experience both for the pupil and the teacher. It is of course a partnership but the tutor has a duty to awaken or sustain the interest of a pupil in his or her studies.

I also have frequently found that, often,it is a very small adjustment that needs to be made to alter a pupil's understanding and confidence.

What I do when I am not tutoring

As well as travelling widely I have been unable to refuse the variety of offers from local academic schools to return to teaching and util recently was working for Rugby High School, an outstanding girls' grammar school. I also visited schools on behalf of WJEC to ensure that Speaking and Listening criteria were being adhered to. I have been an A Level examiner for many years.

I still play cricket to a fairly high standard and have represented various institutions at five sports and captained several.

I am also editor of an annual whisky guide though not an expert myself.

Testimonials

'Peter has an infectious passion for English. His entertaining style of teaching brings even the most obscure poetry alive.What is truly unique about Peter is his wealth of knowledge across the literary genres and historical periods. He can quote Shakespeare Donne-even Chaucer- by heart. Our lively debates along with his sessions on essay technique have helped me achieve top marks in my essays and I look forward to his lessons every week

Keystone Client

Every time that I have watched you teach I have been conscious of watching a master at work.

Your erudition and enthusiasm are always evident and I know the students find your lessons inspiring.

Headteacher Rugby High School.

April 2016 yearly lesson obervation comment by school assessor and also Headteacher.

'Thank you so much for the lesson this afternoon. Charlotte (headteacher) and I both thought it was outstanding. Charlotte wished she could have recorded it'.

From Keystone IGCSE English and English Literature client.

Peter is a really good tutor who listened to the things I was concerned about and then based all the work we did around these concerns. The sessions were intensive but helpful and gave a good basis from which to work. One of the most helpful things Peter did was to help show signposts in English Literature and Language which enabled me to answer questions a lot more easily.

Keystone Client:

We thank you very much for your passion in teaching and being so thoughtful with the group. All of them mentioned that you are an amazing teacher.