Charlie A - Tutors - Keystone Tutors

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“Charlie prepared my daughter for one of the top and most academic boarding schools in the UK. They were doing interview practice, verbal and non-verbal reasoning. All I can say is that Charlie is absolutely brilliant.”

Parent

11+ English/VR/NVR
13+ English
13+ History
GCSE History
GCSE English
GCSE Classical Civilisation

I taught in some of the country's top prep schools for 20 years. In that time, I was Head of History, Head of Humanities, English teacher, Activities Co-ordinator, Able Child Co-ordinator, Head of Boarding, Houseparent, tutor and a coach of various sports and teams.

Academically, I have taught children of a variety of abilities (from those with SEND to potential scholars). I taught 13+ English and History (including scholarship), helping hundreds of children gain a place at numerous independent senior schools, including: Eton, Radley, Bryanston, Harrow, Sherborne Boys, Sherborne Girls, Marlborough, Canford, Downe House, Wycombe Abbey, St Mary's Ascot and Cheltenham Ladies' College. I have a 97% success rate of my pupils passing English 13+ with A-C grade and a 95% success rate of my pupils passing History 13+ with A-C grade.

I also have 5 years' experience of teaching 11+ English. In my last school, I ran an 11+ Club to tutor pupils through the English, VR and NVR sections of the 11+ exam.

Furthermore, I have coached numerous pupils through the interview process for both 11+ and 13+ entry to many independent schools.

I was brought up in London and attended Sherborne School in Dorset, eventually gaining 4 A-Levels (in Politics, Ancient History, English and French). I then read Ancient History at Newcastle University and was awarded a 2:1. I then went out to Australia to teach English and History at Sydney Grammar School and Newington College after which I returned to go to Sandhurst and then spent 4 years in the Royal Artillery.

I then relented and became the teacher everyone said I was going to be.

I have since been teaching in some of the country's top prep schools for 20 years. I started off as a Humanities teacher at Sandroyd and then have been Head of History for 15 years at Ludgrove, Hazlegrove and Forres Sandle Manor, where I also taught English. In addition, I have also been a Head of Boarding, Able Child Co-ordinator, Activities Co-ordinator, sports coach and tutor.

To further my expertise, I took a sabbatical in 2016-17 to study for a Masters in Education at Bristol University, specialising in contemporary teaching and learning theory and practice, and was awarded a distinction. This degree equipped me with a superior knowledge and understanding about how children learn and how to teach them so they develop the confidence and ability to be independent learners and effect their own progress.

“I am grateful for Charlie's patience with my son. My son is quite content as he was guided with some rephrasing or good use of words with his critical essay, something that is ‘visible’. My son couldn’t make a lot of comments in detail, but I think he could use this kind of help from my perspective as if he was given some examples, he would know the ‘direction’ and to incorporate his own ideas and knowledge.”

Parent

“Charlie was a wonderful support for my son in the run up to his GCSE History and Classical Civilisation exams. He was patient, kind, and provided valuable advice on how my son could organise his studies effectively. He also went out of his way to provide extra support when requested. My son achieved top grades in both subjects, and I have no doubt that Charlie helped him to succeed. Highly recommend!”

Parent

“I'd like to express my deepest gratitude for everything Charlie has done for my son over the past four years. When he first started lessons, my son lacked confidence in his writing and reading analysis. Thanks to Charlie’s patience, encouragement, and exceptional teaching style, he not only mastered the syllabus but also developed a genuine appreciation for the language. Seeing his confidence grow month after month has been invaluable to us as parents. We were thrilled when our son was awarded grade 9 in both English Language and Literature, and also in History. This stellar result simply would not have been possible without Charlie’s continuous dedication, detailed feedback, and belief in his potential. We truly cannot thank him enough for being such an inspirational tutor and mentor.”

Parent

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Informed by contemporary educational theory and research, I believe that each pupil should have agency and ownership of their own learning and I achieve this through giving them choice, challenge and differentiation.

I see myself not as a teacher but as a learning instructor. Just as the expert driving instructor sits in the passenger seat and informs, guides and challenges the learner in the driving seat, so too I put my pupils in the driving seat of their own learning, guiding, supporting and challenging them to make their own progress.

Initially, I conduct diagnostic assessments to see where my pupils' strengths, weaknesses and gaps lie, and then provide guidance and encouragement to help them develop both subject skills and personal confidence.

In addition to tutoring, I am also a fly-fishing instructor, teaching people how to fish for trout and salmon and then take them fishing.

I also enjoy living the rural life with my family, whether walking the dogs, managing our small-holding or just 'being' in the countryside. My favourite passions are sport, travelling and salmon fishing.