SUE WHITFIELD TUTORING
About Sue Whitfield
I am a highly-experienced primary teacher, who has recently left the classroom in order to achieve a better work-life balance. I am, you might say, fresh from “the sharp end” of teaching and so have an in-depth knowledge of the Upper Key Stage 2 curriculum and how best to teach it.
I have been a primary teacher for nearly 20 years, having previously worked in various jobs in publishing and as a broadcast journalist for the BBC. After A levels in English, History and Maths, my first degree was in History from The University of Warwick and I gained my teaching qualification (PGCE) from Roehampton University (many years later!)
I am an English specialist, having been English Lead at my last teaching job (St Lawrence C of E Junior School in East Molesey) for the past 12 years. I have an in-depth knowledge of effective strategies for teaching both Reading and Writing and pride myself on making lessons fun and interactive. I have also been a Lead Writing Moderator for Surrey and so have an excellent understanding of the Writing expectations for the end of Key Stage 2 and how best to achieve them.
My knowledge of the Maths curriculum is equally as comprehensive and I have a wealth of “tips and tricks” to help children successfully navigate their way through the mathematical landscape.
I have tutored many children through 11+ exams - including my own (now adult!) children who attended Tiffin and Kingston Grammar Schools - and I have a 100% record for getting children into either state selective or private schools. As an individual tutor, working with only small groups of children face-to-face, I am able to adapt the sessions to take account of children’s individual strengths and weaknesses.
As well as tutoring, I am also employed as a lecturer in the Department of Education at Kingston University, with my main role being to mentor BA and PGCE teaching students when they are on school placement. This enables me to keep abreast of good practice in the classroom and the latest research in effective teaching methods.
I have an enhanced DBS and the company has full public liability insurance.
About our tutoring courses
My tutoring courses are aimed at children in Years 5 and 6, with the 11+ sessions also covering Year 4. All courses are designed to both supplement and complement the school curriculum for either Maths and English, embedding key concepts whilst giving children the confidence to succeed in more challenging topics.
All sessions are face-to-face and in small groups, with the weekly Accelerate courses capped at a maximum of six children to one experienced tutor. All courses are held in the East Molesey area, conveniently close to local primary schools. Please go the “Our Courses” section for details of content, dates, venues and costs.
What are the benefits of small-group tutoring?
A personalised experience: Small group tutoring offers a more personalised experience and a learning programme individualised to a child’s learning needs. This approach includes the one-to-one support needed to achieve students’ learning goals, as well as time for the student to work independently on tasks and build confidence. It also enables targeted provision for those who need to stretch their learning, as well as those who require support to address gaps in their learning.
Social aspect: Small group tutoring means students aren’t learning in isolation. Having other students in your class could be a motivating factor for many children as they may enjoy the social aspect of learning alongside others they get on with, which can help to build confidence and a sense of belonging.
Learning from peers: A benefit of having a few peers is the opportunity to learn from each other and do group tasks. Students can gain much from admiring a classmate’s ingenious approach to a question, as well as from their mistakes. There is an opportunity for peer collaboration in tasks as well as personal, friendly competition – something which is not possible in one-to-one tutoring.
Cost: Small group classes tend to be considerably cheaper than 1:1 lessons. This may allow some students to have lessons on a more regular basis, and this continuity and regularity of support is of immense importance when it comes to student progress.
