Leighton S.

I have over 10 years of experience in Education, learning, and development, teaching in both Primary and Secondary Schools. I specialise in teaching 11+, Social Sciences and prepping for national exams. I love helping students bridge the gap between what they currently know and what they need to know, by building confidence and resilience in their subject knowledge and approach to learning, especially in areas which they find particularly daunting. Engagement in learning is key. All lessons must be interactive to encourage learning and development. I encourage engagement through quizzes, questions, games, opinions, matching & sorting activities and use of mixed media. I adapt to different learning styles by meeting children where they are at, finding out what they currently know and using that information as a foundation to make learning accessible for them. I use assessments to track progress and plug gaps in their knowledge. My passion is to create successful learners who are able to achieve and exceed the goals they set for themselves. At A-Level, I studied Sociology (Grade A), Psychology (Grade B) and ICT (Grade C) at Southwark College. I then completed my BSc in Sociology and Criminology at City University, achieving a 2:1. I also have a PGCE in Upper Primary which I completed at Goldsmiths College. Additionally, I have a CIPD Level 5 Associate Diploma in Learning and Development.

Levels and Subjects: Lower Level: Maths GCSE: Maths A-Level: Maths, Further Maths Exam Board Experience: Edexcel, AQA Languages: English (professional proficiency) Hindi (native proficiency) French (elementary proficiency) Preferred student age group: Primary/GCSE/A-level About me: Originally from India, I moved to the UK at the age of 10 and I am thus familiar with the education system in the UK from GCSEs and I can offer help on how to adjust to the changes from an international education system. Starting from a state school, I made my way up to a grammar school for sixth form and I am currently in my final year studying Aeronautical Engineering at Imperial College London. My hobbies include photography, dance, fitness, art and modelling. A-Levels: Maths (A*), Further Maths (A*), Physics (A*) and Economics (A) GCSEs (9-1): Maths (9), Physics (9), Biology (9), Chemistry (9), Computer Science (8), English Language (8), French (8), English Literature (7), Business Studies (7), Geography (7) and Citizenship (7).

I have worked as a lecturer at De Montfort University for over 15 years. I hold a PGCE in further Education, an MA in English Language Teaching, and a BA honours in English. I taught English for Academic Purposes at university. This enabled me to develop various teaching approaches at different levels of English usage. I have also taught KS3-KS5 in the UK and abroad during which I have been observed several times and demonstrated that I was outstanding. I have used various teaching aids ranging from pictures, flash cards, to a variety of IT techniques. I have also used peer interaction and assessment to develop learners. Teaching at university enabled me to teach presentation skills. This has enabled me to do the same during training, coaching and mentoring sessions with colleagues. I have mentored a number of tutors. In my experience as a university lecturer I have used a variety of online platforms to teach students during the Covid-19 pandemic. I began my journey into English in 2002 when I did a BA (hons) in English at Demontfort university. Following this I did an MA in Children’s Literature in 2005 due to my immense love of reading. However, it was only when I landed a job at a resources centre that I decided to specialize in teaching and so I did a PGCE in education and an MA in English language teaching both in 2007-2009. I absolutely love teaching since then - as cliche as it sounds it is truly my passion and the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done. I love my students and to see them excel truly makes me content. I’ve been told that I have a gift for building a rapport with learners and I to feel this is something that comes naturally to me because as a student I myself struggled with being misunderstood and branded as a ‘bad student’. I feel as a result I can relate to students and their struggles more easily. I’m also very patient and an excellent listener.

GCSE: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Computer Science, Maths, English A-Level: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Computer Science, Maths, English Scottish: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Computer Science, Maths, English National 5:Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Computer Science, Maths, English Higher:Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Computer Science, Maths, English Advanced Higher:Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Computer Science, Maths, English University Level: Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence Exam Board Experience: AQA, Edexcel, OCR, WJEC,SQA and private school exam entry Experience With: KS2, KS3, KS4, KS5 (A-Level), and 11+, National 1,2,3,4,5, Higher, and Advanced Higher Languages: English, Arabic SEND Experience: ADHD, Dyslexia, Autism, Exam Anxiety Preferred Student Age Group: Any I am a passionate and results-driven tutor with over 7 years of experience teaching science, maths, and computer science. I have helped hundreds of students prepare for GCSE, A-Level, and university exams, achieving excellent results through clear, structured, and engaging lessons. I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Artificial Intelligence from Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona and a TEFL/TESOL teaching certificate, which have equipped me with both strong scientific expertise and effective communication skills. My teaching approach emphasizes clarity, structure, and adaptability, ensuring that complex topics are presented in a manner that every student can comprehend. I have extensive experience supporting students with ADHD, dyslexia, autism, and exam anxiety, and I tailor my lessons to meet each learner’s unique needs. My goal is to help students build confidence, master exam techniques, and develop a deep understanding of their subjects while enjoying the learning process. Graduated from Artificial Intelligence woth honors at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Achieved A* in A-Level Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Maths, and Computer Science, building a strong academic foundation in science and technology so I can help through all that subjects.