Toby Hawkins

My teaching methods are completely individualistic and tailored to each student entirely based on the way they personally learn. I offer an initial free session, the primary goals of which are to get to know the student and gain an understanding of how they learn and how best to tutor them.

Throughout my time in the education system, I found that by-the-book teaching, standardised tasks and boring worksheets made what should be an engaging subject inconceivably dull. As all students know, dull just doesn't work. The limits placed on creativity and passion for English by the academic system are extremely suffocating for any pupil. Because of this, I strive to ensure creativity is nurtured in my sessions and the individual personalities of my students are always allowed to shine through in their work. I don't want to see any more talented creative minds slip away due to the pressures and limitations of the education system.

This does not mean my students aren't taught what they need to know for exam success and grade achievement, as academic progress can be vitally important for budding writers and English students just as much as creativity. Exam structure, assessment objectives and essay planning will all be implemented into our sessions. The focus in these regards, however, will be making sure the teaching is tailored to the student and executed in a way that they connect with and understand.

I wholeheartedly believe that personal tutoring shaped and moulded for the individual needs of each and every student, with creativity and inspiration at its core, is the best way for any young person to learn English.