Simon is the Area Advisor for Home-School Tutoring Croydon. He started running this area at the beginning of the year and is building an excellent register of local and qualified tutors.
We asked him to tell us a bit more about himself, as we know tutors and clients are always interested to know more their Area Advisor and their background in education.
What were you doing before taking on Home-School Tutoring Croydon?
I worked in education management and had been teaching for more than 15 years before I joined Home-School Tutoring. I’ve worked in secondary, further and higher education settings, teaching a range of subjects; more recently I have specialised in Business Studies. In the past I taught English, working in the UK, Europe and Asia.
You are passionate about learning and education? Why and what drives you towards this?
I have always been driven to ensure that all the learners I am responsible for achieve at the highest level possible ; to enable them to attain their personal or career goal or to progress onto the next level of their education. I have often taught students who, for many different reasons, have had significant barriers to learning. Working with these learners, seeing them overcome their barriers to succeed is very motivating.
Have you tutored as well and, if so, how did you find the experience?
I have tutored a great deal over the years. Working with learners one to one, personalising their learning and focusing on the areas they really need to improve is a very effective way of teaching. Being able to help and encourage learners and watching them grow in confidence, is very rewarding.
What drew you to this role of becoming an Associate Business of Home-School Tutoring UK and to becoming the Area Advisor for Croydon?
I had been thinking of starting a tutoring business for several years and considered a number of tutoring opportunities. Meeting and discussing with Margaret and the team, I became convinced that Home-School Tutoring was the best fit for me. Home-School Tutoring provides a network of caring, dedicated educational professionals with similar values; treating learners as individuals, focused on building confidence and improving outcomes through personalised tutoring. Croydon is a vibrant, diverse and thriving area.
What makes Home-School Tutoring Croydon different to other tutoring agencies?
Home-School Tutoring Croydon is different because we take time to understand the individual needs of our learners; finding out why they require tutoring, what they want to achieve through tutoring and what difficulties they may have experienced up to now. Through these discussions we establish the learner’s need. We are then able to match the skills, knowledge and personality of our tutors carefully with these needs and requirements. The tutors we select are caring professionals who are fully vetted. We support them by offering guidance and encouragement and clearly explain the standards that are expected of them.
What do you hope to offer?
We are and hope to offer expert advice and guidance to assist parents in making the best choices when deciding on tutoring for their children. We hope to offer a personalised and tailored service that can make evident the learner’s increased confidence and improved attainment over time. Looking ahead we hope to be the number one choice for tutoring in the Croydon and surrounding areas.
What do you look for in a tutor?
We look for tutors who are passionate and have excellent knowledge of their subject. They must care about the progress and outcome of their learners. Being patient and having the ability to build confidence in learners are also essential qualities that our tutors must possess.
If you live in the Croydon area and are considering tuition for your child or you are a qualified tutor, passionate about learning and education, please do get in touch with Simon today:
Simon Thompson MBA PGCE
T: 0800 464 7665
M: 07918 757732
E: simon.thompson@homeschooltutoring.co.uk
Home-School Tutoring requires all tutors to complete an enhanced DBS check before they can be accepted onto its register, and Simon will check all certificates and references.