About Groups

How can my child join one of your groups?
Email me in the first instance to see if there is a group running within travelling distance of you, which has a place available. If not, then you would need to find others who wanted to form a group. The best time to start to prepare for a September start is about April.
 
I want to have a group meeting at my home for my child? How do I arrange this?
Most groups form because a parent knows of other local home educated children who are interested in group tuition. If you have a few children ready for the same level of tuition in the same subject, let me know and I will see which time slots I have available in my week and we can start from there.
 
What if I only have 3 or 4 children wanting to form a group?
Let me know, as I may know of others who may be waiting for a space in a group. Or, I have a scale of fees for smaller groups.
 
I don’t know if my child is ready for exam preparation yet. How can I tell?
Take a look at the syllabus and some previous exam papers at the exam board’s website. If you think that your child would be ready to tackle those sorts of exam papers, with some instruction, then they are all set for a one-academic year course! If not, perhaps they need some tuition at KS3 level first.
 
Do you teach at KS3 Level?
Yes, I teach both English and General Humanities at pre-IGCSE level, in order to support the development of the skills which are necessary during an exam-preparation course.
 
Can my child start exam courses and sit IGCSEs before their school-educated peers?
If they are ready to, of course! If your child has the pre-requisite skills and commitment to learning at exam-level, then they are welcome to join group study. However, if they aren’t ready, then they are likely to struggle to keep up. Remember, group study is not the same as private tuition, where everything can be tailored to the needs of an individual.
 
My child has Dyslexia or ASD. Can they still be part of a group?
Many of my groups include children with a condition such as these, but I do need to know in advance of them starting, to make sure that they are joining a group which would work best for them. NB: If your child has Dyslexia, it is not going to be a good idea for them to attempt English IGCSE early. My advice is to leave it until last, in order for them to have the best possible chance of doing well.
 
In what circumstances would you turn a child away from a group?
Occasionally, a child is not really suited to group tuition because they don’t enjoy it. Perhaps they feel uncomfortable learning alongside others or, in rare cases, their behaviour is disruptive to the smooth running of the group. Also, if a child is struggling so much to keep up that private tuition would seem a better option, then I would suggest to the parents that the group was not the best place for them to learn.
 
How far are you willing to travel to tutor a group?
Usually about 30-40 minutes’ drive from Oxford for a 2-hour session. However, if I have more than one group in a particular direction, or am in an area for a whole day, I am happy to travel further afield. It’s always worth asking.
 
Child Safety
I require another adult (parent) to be present in the house at all times, in case of an emergency. Usually, this will be the parent in whose home we are meeting. If the group is in my own home in Oxford, parents need to form a rota so that one is always around during the sessions.
 
About Fees

How much are your fees?
In a group of 6-8 students, my fees are currently working out at between £8 - £12 per student per 2 hour session. The exact cost depends on the number of students and where the group is. There is also a £10 per term Resources Fee to help cover the costs of printing. Fees are not payable until the second session of the first term. They are payable termly in advance.
 
What if my child can’t make it to a group session. Is there a refund?
I’m afraid not. My costs will be the same, whether there are 6 or 7 people at a given session, so no refunds for missed sessions. However, if I have to miss a session for any reason, I will either try to reschedule or refund the cost for that session.

What if my child decides on the 3rd week of a term that they don’t want to continue?
Then I’m afraid that, after the fee has been paid on the second session, it would not be appropriate to offer a refund, as the group has been formed on the basis of that number of children, which included your child.
 
About Exams
 
Do your fees include the cost of the exam entry?
No, parents need to contact an exam centre of their choosing, arrange the entry themselves and payment to the exam centre is their responsibility. However, I know of several good local exam centres, some which offer discounts for groups of candidates and so I will give information and advice about this when the time comes.
 
Where can I find out more about sitting exams as a Private Candidate?
The HE-Exams Wiki is a fount of information, representing the collaborative efforts of many experienced home educating parents.