Robert L
Tutor in Walworth, South East London

My award-winning educational publications, which are designed to convey the most important concepts from my one-to-one teaching, are available from the rsleducational website.

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Please note that my schedule is full at the most popular times, but I am always happy to consider inquiries: sometimes it is possible to make another option work.

Please also be aware that my posted times are merely illustrative. For up-to-date availability, please contact me.

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I started working as a tutor in January 2007, shortly after leaving Oxford. Since then I have taught hundreds of people (aged from five to sixty), as a school teacher and as a tutor, in England, Italy and Hong Kong. I have extensive experience of teaching English, History and History of Art to A level, and have taught most school subjects, including Maths and the sciences, to GCSE. I currently teach a large number of 7+, 11+ and 13+ Maths and English candidates.

I work with pupils of all academic levels, including the gifted (my Oxbridge applicants, who in many cases had failed before, have been very successful) and those who struggle. I have taught many pupils with special educational needs. The great majority of my Common Entrance Maths and English pupils have gained places at their chosen school. Their offers have included St Paul's, Westminster, City of London, Sevenoaks, Christ's Hospital and Uppingham. I have prepared pupils for pre-tests at a range of schools, including Eton and St Paul's. When I lived in Hong Kong I helped many Chinese students with their applications for schools and universities in the UK and America.

I was a History teacher at Christ's Hospital from 2009-10.

I took a First in English at Oxford and gained five A grades at A level (including triple Maths) and nine A*s at GCSE.

These are some of my educational principles:
- I always praise achievement and I encourage my pupils whenever it is appropriate, but I am also honest. I have learnt that children have more respect for adults who are authentic than for those who are relentlessly chirpy.
- I often complete the same work as the student, working alongside them, so that they are able to see what they are aiming for.
- I maintain good-quality communication with parents, in person or by email, to ensure that we are working together. I reply to emails as quickly as possible.
- I try to establish clear long-term goals that are in the pupil's power (i.e. not relative to others' success).
- Once long-term goals are clear, I put them to one side and focus on the short term. My expectation is simply that each piece of work should be a little better than the previous one.
- I maintain a balance between focused study and review/overview, and I return to the most basic elements of a subject as often as is necessary.