Meet The Team
All our tutors are qualified and experienced classroom teachers.
Tutors by subject
- Maths Tutors
- English Tutors
- Science Tutors
- Modern Languages Tutors
- History Tutors
- Psychology Tutors
- Computer Science
- Business Studies/Economics
Maths Tutors
CLAIRE MEADOWS-SMITH
Principal and Mathematics tutor; Mathematics & Further Maths -(Pre-GCSE, GCSE & A level)
Biography
BEd (Mathematics & Science, Oxford). Successfully teaching for 40 years, Claire is passionate about helping students of all abilities to regain their confidence and to achieve at or above their potential. She has experience of teaching in both the State and Independent sectors and was Head of Maths at St Albans Catholic School Ipswich. She now devotes her time and enthusiasm to running the Community Schools, which she founded 12 years ago, working alongside her daughter Wendy.
WENDY MEADOWS-SMITH
Director of Online Learning and Mathematics Tutor (GCSE & Pre-GCSE)
Biography
BSc (Sports Science with Management, Loughborough University), PGCE (Secondary Mathematics, University of Suffolk). Wendy has successfully taught mathematics for over 11 years. Having spent 4 years running a boarding house and teaching mathematics at Wycombe Abbey School, a leading private school, she has recently returned home to join an excellent mathematics department at a local secondary school. Wendy is passionate about supporting students to reach their full potential and feel more confident with their maths. She is delighted to be working collaboratively with her mother Claire and to lead the Online tutoring for the Community Schools.
BECKY MEADOWS-SMITH
TEFL Director: English as Foreign Language, IELTS, Cambridge, Aptis and Trinity preparation classes
Biography
Becky is a specialist in teaching English to Young Learners, with nearly ten years’ experience in the TEFL world. Having graduated from the University of Oxford Brookes with a degree in History in 2014, Becky´s love of teaching has taken her all over the world. Becky has experience in working in Vietnam, Peru, Sri-Lanka, Hong Kong, Spain and, of course, England. Becky has worked with all ages of students; her very youngest being just 2.5 years old. Becky´s specialties include; Early years basic English, School student proficiency, University entrance, Professional and technical English. BA Hons History, Oxford Brookes University, 2014 Trinity. Cert TESOL (Teaching English as a Second Language) 2012.
SALLY WOOLDRIDGE
Mathematics Tutor (GCSE & Pre-GCSE)
Biography
Successfully teaching for 13 years Sally started teaching at King Edward VI School in Bury. After this she taught at Suffolk New College in Ipswich, teaching GCSE resit, A level and adult evening classes. Sally then moved out of mainstream education and became the Assistant Education Centre Manager for Kumon Educational UK Ltd at their tuition centre in Norwich. Here, Sally oversaw tuition for students from the age of three to sixteen years. Sally found that she was missing the classroom and went to teach at Thurston Community College where she worked for four years teaching students in years seven to thirteen. Sally stepped back from full time teaching to bring up her daughter.
TONY GERMANY
Mathematics and Further Mathematics Tutor (Pre-GCSE& GCSE)
Biography
Tony emigrated from New Zealand in 2008 and has been teaching at Thurston Community College for 6 years. He currently teaches Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 GCSE Mathematics and GCSE Further Mathematics. Tony is also a Lead Practitioner at Thurston Community College, devoting time to develop current staff and trainee teachers from both the Cambridge PGCE and SNITT training routes.
BILLY ADAMSON
Maths - Pre-GCSE, GCSE & A Level
Biography
Successfully teaching for 24 years. Billy is Head of Mathematics at Thurston Community College.
ANNA KEATING-FEDDERS
Maths - Pre GCSE & GCSE
Biography
Anna has been teaching for the last 15 years. She is currently teaching at St Albans Catholic High School, where she has been for the last 5 years. Prior to that she has taught in Middle and Primary Schools.
CHRISTINA JOANNIDES
Mathematics and English Tutor (Pre-GCSE)
Biography
Qualified Teacher Status (ESL). Christina has taught across the primary age range for three years covering all year groups. Currently, she also teaches year 7 English through Community Schools. I am an English as a Secondary Language teacher teaching English to private students.
HILARY DICKINSON
Mathematics Tutor, Pre GCSE and GCSE
Biography
Mathematics Tutor, Pre GCSE and GCSEHilary began teaching almost 16 years ago at West Suffolk College. She taught Key Skills / Functional Skills in English, Maths and ICT to a wide range of FE students in Bury St Edmunds, Ipswich and Colchester. She then taught adults in the community, including adults with learning disabilities and adults whose first language is not English. Hilary worked as a One to One tutor at Thetford Academy before moving to King Edward VI School in Bury St Edmunds over 7 years ago where she combines her roles as a maths teacher and specialist maths intervention tutor. She especially enjoys helping students who do not always find learning easy and has experience tutoring a wide range of students from the ages of 6 to 80.
TOM DECENT
Mathematics Tutor- Pre-GCSE and GCSE
Biography
Tom has enjoyed considerable recent success as a tutor supporting students in their preparations for GCSE or end of year assessments in mathematics. He has taught in primary, middle and private schools for over 15 years, and is an experienced tutor, working online and in a classroom setting. With over 10 year’s experience specialising in Mathematics and English, he also led the curriculum and teaching provision, for example, as a Head of Computing and as a Gifted and Talented Coordinator for key stages 1 – 3.
GORDON LEATHERS
Mathematics and English Tutor (Pre GCSE Maths & up to GCSE English)
Biography
BSc Hons anthropology and biology, MA Education, NASENCo, NPQH Gordon has 30 years experience in primary and secondary education. He has leadership experience across a range of subjects and has also been the Head of two primary schools. Gordon is now a secondary special needs teacher working within EOTAS (education other than at school). He really enjoys supporting students of all ages and abilities; he will always work hard to support both academic progress and confidence/self efficacy for learning.
SUE HARRISON
Mathematics Tutor- Key Stage 2, Pre GCSE and GCSE
Biography
Successfully teaching for 20 years. Sue graduated in 1976, working initially in industrial and academic scientific research within the U.K. She gained her teaching qualification in 2002 and has experience of teaching in Primary Schools across West Suffolk for 15 years. She was a Senior Teacher and SENCO for 4 years as well as subject leader for English and Science. For the past five years Sue has worked part time as a supply teacher, and more recently as a Maths and English Intervention teacher in a local primary school. She has also worked as a Maths Intervention teacher for GCSE students in a local Bury St Edmunds High school.
LAUREN WOOLLEY
Mathematics Tutor- Pre GCSE and GCSE
Biography
Lauren has been a qualified mathematics teacher for 5 years and has held the position of Lead Practitioner at her previous school. She has recently moved to be a second in Maths at a secondary school. Lauren is an enthusiastic and fun tutor, who is able to make the tutoring sessions an engaging learning environment for all students.
PATRICK JEANS-JACQUES
Mathematics Tutor- Pre GCSE and GCSE
Biography
MA (Education). B.Sc. (Hons) in Sport Sciences and Leisure Management. QTS (Qualified Teacher Status). Patrick has been teaching for 18 years. During this time, he taught predominantly Physical Education and Mathematics. He has taught mathematics to a wide range of ages and abilities at Key Stage 3 (Years 7, 8 and 9) and KS4/GCSE (Foundation and Higher). Patrick has taught in a range of middle and secondary schools across Suffolk and also taught Humanities (Geography, History and RE). His main interest and focus in education is teaching students how to understand how they can improve, by understanding how they learn. This is important in subjects like Maths where students need to know how to deconstruct what they hear and see so they can understand how things work in Maths. Patrick specialises in support lower and middle ability students.
GIL TURNER
Mathematics Tutor- Pre GCSE, GCSE and Further Maths GCSE
Biography
Successfully teaching for over 20 years. Gil Turner has been teaching mathematics to Middle School children for 18 years. She was Head of Mathematics at St Louis Middle School in Bury St Edmunds for 15 years until it closed in July 2016. She especially enjoys teaching the small groups at the Community School where personalised learning and individual attention means that students can achieve more.
WENDY EVANS
Mathematics Tutor- Key Stage 2 and Pre GCSE
Biography
Bachelor of Education, QTS. Wendy started her teaching career in London and then moved to Suffolk to bring up her family. She missed teaching and moved back into the classroom, working in a variety of schools in the local area. Wendy aims to inspire a love of learning in her students and give them the confidence to be independent thinkers and learners.
ATY PILLAI
Mathematics and English Tutor- pre GCSE and GCSE
Biography
MA (English Language & Literature), PGCE, CELTA Teaching certificate with ESOL focus. Having acquired her PGCE followed by the QTS in the year 2000, Aty has had the privilege to work as a Lecturer and A Level Course Leader in a Sixth Form College and teach English and Maths at both Primary as well as at Secondary State Schools. This has enabled her to reach out to students diverse in age, culture and abilities: from supporting SEN students to challenging the high achieving Grammar School children. Besides mainstream teaching, Aty has enjoyed supporting children by means of after-school clubs and summer school clubs in Computing, Creative Writing, EAL and Maths.
English Tutors
SHONA CLAPSON
English Tutor (Pre GCSE, GCSE Language and Literature, AS and A Level English Literature)
Biography
BA Hons (English Studies), PGCE (Secondary English). After leaving university, Shona worked as a Press Officer for the NHS. It was here that she realised her passion for education and completed a qualification in teaching adults, leaving the NHS to teach literacy skills at a sixth-form college. Shona then went on to teach secondary school students at all levels up to sixth form. She has worked at St Alban's Catholic High School for six years, teaching all levels up to and including sixth form. Additionally, she works as an examiner and reviewer for A Level Literature. Shona enjoys teaching all ages and loves to see children succeed as confident, independent learners. Shona is an English Teacher at St. Alban's Catholic High School. After leaving university, Shona worked as a Press Officer for the NHS. It was here that she realised her passion for education and completed a qualification in teaching adults, leaving the NHS to teach literacy skills at a sixth form college. She then went on to teach secondary school students at all levels up to sixth form and works, additionally, as an examiner for A Level Literature. Shona enjoys teaching all ages and loves to see children succeed as confident, independent learners.
JULIET YAGER
English Tutor (English Language and English Literature, Key Stage 2, pre-GCSE and GCSE)
Biography
BA in English Language and Linguistics (University of Kent - first class), MSc (Applied Linguistics and Second Language Acquisition, University of Oxford), PGCE (Secondary English). Juliet has a broad range of teaching experience both inside and outside the UK, having taught in secondary schools in Ipswich and in Northumberland. She particularly enjoys seeing students embrace the challenges of English and increase in confidence. Her knowledge of English Language is extensive at all levels and she is currently teaching English Language GCSE resit at a further education college. Juliet has a positive track record of lifting students from a grade 3 and into higher grades such as 4,5 and 6. However, she also has a broad range of marking and standardisation experience, which means that she is aware of the skills that students need in order to aim for grades 7,8 and 9. Her aim when leading a tuition session is to enable all students to meet the session objectives but to also deliver the sessions in a nuturing manner, so all students leave feeling more confident about their English skillset.
SALLY BURTLE
Pre GCSE, GCSE, A Level English and English revision
Biography
Sally is an English teacher working at St Albans RC High School. She began tutoring English to local refugees whilst at University and this initially sparked her interest in pursuing a career in teaching. This led to her helping to develop and run a summer school in China for three months. Sally was accepted onto the Teach First Leadership Development graduate programme after finishing University. She began working at St Albans RC High School in September 2015. She thoroughly enjoys building positive and productive relationships with pupils, helping them to build in confidence and proficiency.
HELEN SMITH
English Tutor (Key Stage 2 English, Pre GCSE and GCSE English Language and Literature)
Biography
BEd (English Literature), PGCE Helen has been teaching English since she graduated in 1977. She worked in three secondary schools in London. Helen trained to become a Special Needs Coordinator and was a SENCO for 7 years. She worked in a further education college in Cambridge for eleven years as a Literacy tutor, where she also taught Functional Skills for two years. Recently she has worked part time as a Literacy Intervention teacher in two local Bury St Edmunds schools.
ATY PILLAI
English and Mathematics Tutor (GCSE)
Biography
MA (English Language & Literature), PGCE, CELTA Teaching certificate with ESOL focus. Having acquired her PGCE followed by the QTS in the year 2000, Aty has had the privilege to work as a Lecturer and A Level Course Leader in a Sixth Form College and teach English and Maths at both Primary as well as at Secondary State Schools. This has enabled her to reach out to students diverse in age, culture and abilities: from supporting SEN students to challenging the high achieving Grammar School children. Besides mainstream teaching, Aty has enjoyed supporting children by means of after-school clubs and summer school clubs in Computing, Creative Writing, EAL and Maths.
STEPH ATKINS
English Tutor (GCSE & Pre-GCSE)
Biography
PGCE Secondary English and BA Hons degree in English Literature Steph has been teaching English for over 20 years in a range of settings including high schools, middle schools, primary schools and adult education (Functional Skills, GCSE and Creative Writing). She has a particular interest in teaching creative writing. Also, she recently passed an online TEFL course as she is currently working with some refugees in school and wanted to further her understanding of how best to help them. Steph is brilliant at inspiring students to find a love for the subject and is an outstanding tutor.
GORDON LEATHERS
English Tutor (GCSE & Pre-GCSE)
Biography
BSc Hons (anthropology and biology), MA Education, NASENCo, NPQH. Gordon has 30 years of experience in primary and secondary education, and has leadership experience across a range of subjects. He has also been the Headteacher of two primary schools. Gord is now a secondary special needs teacher working within EOTAS (education other than at school). He really enjoys supporting students of all ages and abilities and always work hard to support both academic progress and confidence / self efficacy for learning.
BEE WADE
English Tutor, A Level Language and Literature
Biography
MA Distinction in Modern Literature, BA Hons in Literature and Art History, PCGE in English Bee has over 20 years experience teaching A level English in Sixth Form Colleges. She has taught both AQA and OCR Course Specifications for English Literature, English Language and Combined English. Bee is passionate about supporting students to achieve their academic potential and personalise every session to an individual's needs.
Science Tutors
CHRISTINE COULDRIDGE
Chemistry Tutor (Key Stage 2, Pre GCSE and GCSE & Biology A level)
Biography
BSc (Biology, University of Manchester) and PGCSE (Secondary Science). After taking A levels in Biology, Chemistry and Geography, Christine took a Biology Degree at the University of Manchester. Following graduation, she worked in scientific research in a university setting and then for a biopharmaceutical company. About twenty years ago Christine moved into teaching, working in a community setting and in secondary schools. Christine works in a student-centred way so that the students benefit from tailored sessions, ensuring that they make excellent progress.
KATESHA HARRISON
Pre-GCSE Science, GCSE Physics and AS Applied Science
Biography
Katesha currently works at Thurston Community Centre as a teacher of science. She has been teaching science at Thurston for 3 years and has an 3 extra years of experience teaching in another school outside of the UK. Katesha is also an examiner for AQA GCSE Physics.
ROBYN BOOTH
Science Tutor (Biology GCSE and A Level)
Biography
BSc (Geography), PGCSE (Secondary ICT). Robyn has taught GCSE Science and A-Level Biology for 4 years at schools in Nottinghamshire and Suffolk. In addition to this, Robyn has worked closely with various exam boards, including Cambridge Assessments and OCR, in both marking and writing new exam specifications and examination questions for the GCSE Science exams.
GINNY TURNER
Science Tutor (Pre GCSE and GCSE Biology, Chemistry and Physics)
Biography
Ginny has taught for more than 20 years in schools in Suffolk. She has taught GCSE science and GCSE Physics, Chemistry and Biology. She has also taught AS Physics and A Level Chemistry.
SUE RYAN
Science Tutor (Pre GCSE and GCSE Science, A Level Chemistry)
Biography
Sue has been teaching science for 11 years, working in both state and independent secondary schools in Suffolk. Prior to becoming a teacher Sue worked for 20 years for BT at their research centre in Martlesham Heath as a Research Chemist and consultant in the optoelectronic division developing and fabricating optical fibres for use in the telecommunications industry.
KATHRYN GERRY
Pre GCSE and GCSE Science, A Level Chemistry, Science revision
Biography
Kathryn has 23 years of experience teaching all aspects of Science GCSE at St Alban’s RC High School Ipswich. In addition she has taught AS and A level Chemistry since 1998.
JULIE CHARTRON
Science Tutor (pre-GCSE and GCSE)
Biography
BSc (Applied Science; Microbiology and Genetics), MSc (Immunology), PGCE (Secondary Science) Julie has been a classroom teacher since 2002 and has taught all three sciences to GCSE as well as Biology to A level and Physics to AS level. She has also worked as an examiner for Edexcel and OCR. Julie loves classroom teaching from KS3 all the way up to A level but particularly enjoys tutoring as it’s so rewarding to be able to help students overcome difficulties and grow in confidence.
ALISON WALKER
Science Tutor (GCSE & Pre-GCSE)
Biography
MA (Natural Sciences), PGCE (Secondary Science) After starting her career in medical research, Alison completed a PGCE when her children were older. She has 16 years of experience teaching science and maths in middle and upper schools. Alison loves sharing her enthusiasm for these subjects with students, encouraging them to believe in their abilities.
KELLY CLAYDEN
Science Tutor (Pre-GCSE & GCSE)
Biography
BSc (Science), PGCE Energetic, enthusiastic, and driven individual, passionate about the education and fitness industries. Kelly has been working within the fitness industry (10+ years) and education sector (10 years) simultaneously. She has taught biology, chemistry, physics and physical education from ages 8-18 as well as Sports Science for ages 16-18. Kelly enjoys working with a range of students, and treats everyone as an individual. She feels it is really important to instil a love and desire to learn in each student; this makes even the trickiest concepts enjoyable to teach and learn.
CHIDI JUWE
Science Tutor- Pre GCSE, GCSE and Alevel Biology
Biography
BSc Environmental Science and a Qualified Teacher. Chidi has enjoyed working with children of all ages especially helping them understand the world around them. This led her to teach Science in a Secondary setting where she has made a whole world of positive impact. Chidi enjoys reading, spending time with her children and singing.
Modern Languages Tutors
CHARLOTTE ALEXANDER
French and German Tutor- Pre GCSE, GCSE, A Level
MICHELLE JARRETT
French and Spanish Tutor, Pre GCSE, GCSE and A level Spanish
Biography
BA Hons European Studies, PGCE Spanish, MA Education Michelle has taught a wide range of learners both in London and Suffolk schools age 11-19 over the past 20 years. She currently works in a Secondary Independent school and has been a Head of Department.
History Tutors
DAN CONNOR
History Tutor- GCSE and A Level
Biography
History MA, History BA (Hons) and PGCE Dan has worked in Further Education for many years as a lecturer and has taught a range of subjects including Level 3 history and GCSE history. At university, he studied both a history degree and masters and continues to love the subject.
Computer Science
DAN PIPE
Key Stage 3 Computing and ICT, GCSE Computer Science, Cambridge Nationals ICT and IT, and A Level Computer Science
Biography
Dan Pipe is currently the Head of Computing and ICT Dept. at a highly successful Suffolk High School. He has been a teacher for approx.18 years and has worked in a number of different schools. At all times Dan strives to ensure that students receive good quality teaching and learning to equip them with the skills, tools and knowledge to realise their potential. Current interests include Python programming and DofE Awards Programme.
Business Studies/Economics
PENNY QUINTERO-HUNT
Business Studies and Economics Tutor (GCSE and A Level)
Biography
Penny is passionate about helping students to achieve their goals. She started teaching Business and Economics at St. Marylebone school, Westminster then spent almost seven years in South America, teaching and working on development projects. She returned to the UK and since 2006 she has been teaching KS4 and KS5 students in Suffolk - 14 years at King Edward VI and, for the last two, specialising in A Level at One Sixth Form College.