‘The roots of education are bitter,’ said Aristotle, ‘but the fruit is sweet’. The great philosopher isn’t known for his intellectual limitations, but he understood that learning is hard work. Even the sharpest of scholars needs help with thorny subjects.
Allison Crisp, one of our family experts, explains how personal tutors will help children find their footing on the academic path.
Before the classroom
Even before children have been measured for their uniform, our family experts can get them ready for school. We work closely with Holland Park Tuition, which has a long record of preparing children for the Common Entrance exams used by schools such as Westminster, St Paul’s, Harrow, City of London School for Girls, Wycombe Abbey and Eton.
Allison says: ‘We’ve helped children study for scholarship exams at Eton and other schools across the UK. We work with tutors who have extensive experience of dealing with individual institutions and know what is required.’
Our tutors understand what schools such as Eton look for in their pupils, and also know what it’s like to attend them. This means they can use their insider knowledge to advise members on which school is right for their child, and help them get a place.
School days
SATs, GCSEs and A-levels require intense study, and we can help students understand – and even enjoy – the subjects they find taxing. Our tutors can cover a range of subjects, or hone in on specific exams in which children need high grades to meet university requirements.
Allison comments: ‘A member was looking for an A-level physical education tutor in Essex. They couldn’t find one anywhere, but we located someone through sheer perseverance. Whoever you’re looking for, let us do the legwork.’
It is, however, important to book tutors early: winter is the time to arrange tuition for forthcoming summer exams. ‘Good tutors get booked up swiftly in January, so let us know if you’ll need one come the summer,’ Allison says.
Higher education
University applications don’t merely rely on grades. It’s vital to have a personal statement that will stand out from the UCAS forms that flood top institutions each year. ‘While A-levels and GCSEs are important to prospective universities, the personal statement really tells them all about you, your interests, experiences and abilities,’ Allison explains.
It must illustrate why an applicant has chosen the course, provide evidence that they understand it and demonstrate how their current studies relate to it. The statement should also cover any relevant experience and other achievements. ‘Universities love well-rounded applicants, so try to choose a variety of interests, such as sports, drama and the choral society.’
We can also tackle applications for accommodation, student finances and the clearing process. Your lifestyle manager can send out our university factsheet, which is full of tips on how to fine-tune applications, or we can put you in touch with experts who will provide detailed guidance on specific universities, including Oxford and Cambridge.
Beyond the classroom
It isn't just academic subjects that we handle. One family wanted their children to learn modern Greek so that they could communicate with their relatives. We found a tutor, even when the Greek Embassy couldn’t.
We’ve also helped our members prepare for life in another country. Allison explains: ‘We can place tutors in the Middle East, Russia, Africa and anywhere else around the globe. If you’re moving to the UK, or moving abroad from the UK, we can find live-in tutors who will help your children – and other members of the family – learn the new language.’
And if you want to broaden your own intellectual horizons and study a subject you’ve always been interested in or complete a professional qualification, we can help with adult tuition too. Education needn’t stop at school. As Aristotle said, ‘The energy of the mind is the essence of life.’
How we can help:
- Find tutors, including specialists to go abroad with your family
- Put you in touch with the right consultant
- Send our advice on revision techniques and how to beat exam stress
- Provide full details on applying to university, from choosing a course to accommodation, finances and clearing. We’ll even help organise a gap year
