"Our son was at risk of not being allowed to sit Nat.5 in S4. Thanks to Alan's dedication he not only scored an A in Nat.5 at the end of S4 but also an A in Higher English at the end of S5 and English is not even our main language at home! So don't hesitate! If your child needs help, this man is a legend!"
- Magdelana Nartonowicz, Kilmarnock
THE TUTOR
Dear Parent / Carer,
While choosing to invest in your child's education is an easy decision, selecting a tutor to make a real and lasting difference is not. Understandably, you want to be sure that a tutor will develop understanding, improve skills and return confidence. You want to know that they will be empathetic but have high expectations, keep you informed and updated, and work as hard as they are asking your child to work in order to achieve our shared goals. Combining a background in primary education with degree-level specialism and a decade of tutoring experience, I believe I do that.
Whatever the problem, there's a solution. Rarely are challenges or issues not the result of factors external to your child and beyond their control, but too often they have blamed themselves, eroding their self-belief and confidence in a subject that should be as natural as talking and listening, reading and writing. I see my job simply as making those skills natural once more.
If your child is at all anxious about the idea of tuition or has had an 'allergic reaction' to the word "tutor", feel free to share the letter below. Addressed to prospective tutees, it seeks to start putting their mind at ease, normalise the tuition process and humanise me.
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I appreciate your time. Thanks for your consideration.
Alan Nicholson
Alan D. Nicholson
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Qualifications
BA [Hons.] English Studies (1st class)
University of Stirling
PGDE [Primary] (distinction)
University of Strathclyde
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Background
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After completing my BA I taught English Studies for several years at the University of Stirling as a Teaching Assistant. My teaching focused on modern poetry, drama and critical theory. I left Stirling to complete my PGDE in Primary Education at the University of Strathclyde before working full time as a primary teacher in Glasgow and Ayrshire.
I worked as an associate lecturer in the School of Education at the University of the West of Scotland where I taught on both Educational Theory and Curricular units. I have contributed to the Times Educational Supplement (Scotland) and have reviewed monographs for a number of academic journals. I have spoken at national and international conferences on both English literature and Education. I am a member of the General Teaching Council of Scotland and disclosed through the PVG scheme.*
* Qualifications and PVG registration will be available during the consultation visit.
Creative Writing
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Indulgently, a couple of poems by way of example ... The Onthank Tree was written after witnessing a Christmas tree in early November on the Kilmarnock estate. Darling Unsaid was written following the death of my great-aunt, who was always immaculately put together.