Oli R - Tutors - Keystone Tutors

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“Oli is a highly talented and consistently effective teacher who has added immeasurable value to the lives of the children he has taught. Thank you!”

Parent

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English classroom teacher @ Sherborne School, Dorset. Taught IGCSE, A Level and Oxbridge students and consulted on Oxbridge applicants for many years with the school.
English classroom teacher @ SIAL School, Holland Park, London. Taught students in years 6 and 7 on their English and 11/13+ curriculum. 11+ students in preparation for UK schools applications over multiple years.
Harrow Test and Eton List test. I have extensive experience in both tests and successfully work with applicants to both schools most years.
Top UK Schools applications. I have extensive experience with all of the most competitive UK schools including multiple successful applicants in most years to Eton, Harrow, Godolphin and Latymer, St Paul's Boys, St Paul's Girls, Westminster and Wycombe Abbey (as well as a large range of other highly competitive schools.)
Top US Schools applications. I have worked with successful applicants to Phillips Andover, Phillips Exeter and Milton Academy as well as some lesser known schools.
11+ English, Maths, Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning: ISEB, CAT4 Test and public-school exams, including pre-tests. I developed the Keystone resources for these online tests and teach them extensively.
13+ English, Maths, Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Geography, History, Theology: ISEB and public-school entrance exams
UKISET
I/GCSE English (OCR, WJEC, AQA, Edexcel, CIE)
A-Level English Literature (OCR, WJEC, AQA, Edexcel, CIE)
International Baccalaureate (I.B.) English Literature
Pre-U English
ELAT (English Literature Admission Test)
Oxbridge Applications, English specialist (15 out of 18 applicants were successful)
Oxbridge Applications, General Mock interview support, including HSPS, Land Economy, PPE.
University Dissertations (English/Drama)
GAT University admissions
General University Support (Time management/motivation/work flow planning/essay structuring support/mentorship)

When preparing pre-tests, I build up a thorough knowledge of the 11+ Maths and English syllabus with the student focussing on comprehension, grammar, mental arithmetic and word problems. We introduce the idea of time pressure and problem solving; key components of any Pre-Test.

I have very wide ranging experience of preparing school applicants at 11+, 13+ and 16+. I have successfully helped applicants and scholarship candidates to almost all of the top UK schools; boarding and day, single sex and co-educational. Examples include Eton, Harrow, Winchester, CLC, Wycombe Abbey, Westminster, St Paul's, St Paul's Girls, Latymer, Wellington, Oundle, Sevenoaks, Brighton College, Charterhouse, Ardingly, Malvern, City of London, King's Wimbledon, Dulwich, Benenden, Sherborne, Cranleigh and many more besides.

I have extensive experience working online having completed over 10,000 hours teaching over the internet. Many of my students are based abroad, in particular in Hong Kong, Singapore and mainland China.

I was a full-time English teacher at a public School in Dorset, teaching a full range of classes from 13-18. During this time I also marked Common Entrance and Scholarship papers for the school. I’ve been tutoring, or teaching English in schools, for over 12 years. I am also happy to teach Maths up to GCSE having received full marks in Maths A-Level.

I taught English in a private school in London working with students in years 6 and 7 on their English and 11/13+ curriculum.

I work very regularly with students on motivation, time management, organisational skills, revision technique and other hugely important and transferable "life skills."

I have considerable experience with dyslexic and SEN pupils, having myself overcome mild dyslexia and taught many of the lower sets whilst at Sherborne. I regularly teach students who have some form of Special Educational Need and I have team taught with Speech and Language Therapists and Educational Psychologists to provide a suite of learning support.

I have given talks and run workshops in Public Schools on dramatic texts in the GCSE and A Level English Syllabuses. I've run workshops and judged competitions for Public Speaking at places like Marlborough, Kingston University, St James Ashford and The Leys Cambridge.

I ran a weekly Saturday School for Westminster Refugee Consortium helping students from Years 9-11 overcome their diverse backgrounds to succeed at school.

I’ve also worked for National Youth Theatre with highly challenging students ages 14-21 excluded from the school system.

I grew up in Surrey but my roots are in Suffolk where most of my family have now returned. I went to Cranleigh School (A Levels: English, Maths, Theatre Studies and a Music AS Level) and went on to read English at Corpus Christi, Cambridge graduating with a First-class degree. At university, I was heavily involved in Drama and the Footlights.

Returning to London in 2008 I founded a theatre company before teaching English and Drama at Sherborne School in Dorset. During my theatrical career I was associate director on the West End productions of Chariots of Fire, Ecstasy and Shakespeare in Love and directed shows all over London, the UK and North America. I returned to London to my teaching career in 2017 and worked at SIAL school, in Holland Park. I’ve been tutoring or teaching for over fifteen years and after thirteen years of work with Keystone I’m one of the longest serving tutors in the company.

“Oli has been an invaluable support to my son, helping him settle into his academic studies and working tirelessly to build his confidence. Oli has been instrumental in helping him with effective study strategies giving him the tools to plan and produce essays and revise for end of module exams. Oli relates so well to my son and and has offered patient and caring moral support as well as outstanding academic teaching. Oli is always on hand to help and is totally committed to my son's academic progress and wellbeing. We are delighted with the service which he has provided, not only my son but us, as parents.”

Parent

“He did himself proud at the Harrow Test. He said he couldn't have done it without you. We just wanted to say the biggest thank you to you for all your help. You have given him confidence and a spring in his step! You have been so excellent, thank you.”

Parent

“My son loves Oli’s lessons. Oli is an amazing tutor; kind, caring, discerning with an impeccable work ethic. Oli goes the extra mile to understand his students, customising lessons to keep students’ engaged and to optimise learning. We are grateful to Oli for believing in our son and helping him to reach his highest potential. Thank you for providing him with a safe and encouraging environment where his talents and passions are cherished and nurtured.”

Parent

“Oli is so much more than a teacher of English and he really does go the extra mile. I achieved a 45/45 in the IB program and was the world’s highest scorer in English literature’s drama paper, with a 25/25. I learned some brilliant revision strategies with him too. Oli is dependable and brilliant. There are no safer hands. Oli really made love English and for this I am forever in his debt. Thank you, Oli, so much for pushing me and truly unlocking the joy of studying.”

Parent

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My teaching style is heavily dictated by my student. My first lesson is all about discovering what type of learner they are. We’ll also talk about their interests and goals. This seemingly innocuous conversation often holds the key to motivating them towards success.

To my mind learning is always best done actively. I’ve personally never learned much by being talked at so that's not how I teach. I ask lots of questions and expect a good level of engagement during a session.

I also believe that at the heart of even the trickiest problems is a series of simple solutions. I aim to make those simple solutions clear and to help students to think clearly and effective for themselves.

Above all, learning doesn't happen very well if a student isn’t engaged. I’m good at helping my students become interested in what they're studying and, even if it takes a little while, it's more than worth it.

Over the years, I've realised that many of my students might seem to have an issue in one area, but that the root cause of that issue lies elsewhere. I'm a little like a detective, helping my students to uncover where they need to focus their energy and attention to solve the problem they are facing. While I'm a hugely experienced subject expert in the areas I teach, I often find that the key unblocking the subject is in what we teachers call "non-cognitive skills". It's what we used to call "Life skills", things like Resilience, Confidence or Independence. So I regularly work with students on these and other practical areas like time management, revision technique and organisational skills. These skills for life are often just as, if not even more, valuable than the subject we're mainly dealing with.

In my spare time, I make plays, films and write. I enjoy running and I am a big cricket fan. My wife and I love cooking and are always working on weird and wonderful ways to feed friends. My perfect Sunday is a day at the great British Seaside in the Summer, or a country walk and a roast dinner in Winter.