Ted

Ted was fortunate to grow up in a grammar school county, attending the super-selective Skinners’ School which was a mere two minutes’ run from home (over the back fence when running late). There he gained the usual academic clutch of A-Levels in English Literature, Religious Studies and History, and an AS-Level in French. He won the school prize for Religious Education, and some of his A Level scripts, in which he scored full-marks, were used as teaching aids in subsequent years.

Ted's first degree was a BA (Hons) in Philosophy and Theology from the University of London. His college, Heythrop, was dedicated purely to these two subjects and offered a one-to-one tutorial for every essay. There is nothing like defending your thoughts against a subject expert who seems to be thinking eleven moves ahead!

While leading a large team as Marketing Manager for 18 newspapers across the South East, Ted studied part-time for the Graduate Diploma in Law at BPP Law School, later topping this up to a full LLB (Hons) in Law by completing further research modules on company and family law.

Adopting education as a profession, Ted qualified as a teacher with a PGCE at Oxford University. After that his first post was teaching Religion, Politics and History at The Duke of York’s Royal Military School, a prestigious state boarding school perched atop the white cliffs of Dover. There he was Highly Commended in the Kent Teacher of the Year Awards. Two years later Ted married and moved to Berkhamsted School, where he spent five years teaching Religion, Philosophy and History at this leading independent school in Hertfordshire. He served the last three years there as Second in Department for Religion and Philosophy before becoming a full-time professional tutor.

While working in school, Ted returned to Oxford for an MSc in Learning and Teaching, awarded with Distinction. The final research dissertation, “The Virtuous Reader: How Can a Character-Led Intervention Enhance Extended Reading in A-Level Religious Studies?”, now shapes the way his students are coached to sustain deep reading and high-level essay writing.

Alongside Ted's early work and education he also served fairly uselessly as a Territorial Army soldier. He learned useful transferable skills such as shaving in icy water, driving off-road at night with no headlights, and standing perfectly still next to London landmarks.

Ted's teaching practice is strongly grounded in academic research, supported by an MSc in Learning and Teaching from Oxford University. He is dedicated to using evidence-based methods such as interleaving, spaced repetition, clear modelling, guided practice, and maintaining enthusiasm through high rates of success. Students know him for encouraging memory tricks including mnemonics, dual coding and (sometimes) real props!

Lessons take place in Zoom, which has an excellent interactive whiteboard and document sharing in one space, so participants can talk, write, and work through learning activities together in real time. Ted allocates each student their own board making it much easier to revisit and revise from previous lessons.

When Ted intervenes for revision, his students regularly progress at least a grade higher. One recent parent commented, ''You took a boy in absolute despair over his ability, and with very little interest in the subject, and turned him around completely. '' Emerge from Ted's sessions with well-grounded confidence.

Ted's passion is painting with oils. He recently completed the foundation course at London Fine Art Studios whilst being delighted with the occasional sale at local exhibitions.

Ted remains a commissioned officer in the Combined Cadet Force, running intense field exercises that develop young people's leadership and resilience.