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Tom

Tom

Professional Keystone Tutor

Tom is a committed and experienced professional tutor whose practice is based on rigorous subject and educational knowledge, which has flourished through his work with over 160 Keystone families, since 2015. He offers stimulating, sympathetic and agile tutorials, with a particular emphasis on mentoring, motivation and confidence building.

Tom is a professional Keystone tutor. This means Tom:

  • ✔  Engages with Keystone's bespoke professional development programme
  • ✔  Works exclusively for Keystone on a fully employed basis
  • ✔  Is committed to tutoring as a career and profession

We believe these factors combine to make a unique difference to the level of commitment we can assure, as well as the quality of teaching that our professional tutors offer.

Tom teaches: 11+ English, 11+ Maths, 13+ English, 13+ History, 13+ Maths, 13+ Religious Studies, GCSE English, GCSE History, AS/A Level English, AS/A Level History, AS/A Level Politics, IB Global Politics, History Aptitude Test (HAT), Undergraduate & Graduate History, Undergraduate & Graduate Politics, Oxbridge Preparation

“Tom Perrin was simply outstanding. Passionate, engaged and very encouraging. Fantastic tutor and a very lovely person.”

Mother of GCSE Student

About Tom:

Experience

I have worked with Keystone since 2015 and I have experience of working with a wide variety of clients, online and in person, in the UK and internationally. My tutorials boost confidence and empower students to reach their goals through the development of high-quality academic skills and retained specialist knowledge.

More specifically, I work with clients on:

***11+ preparation for ISEB pre-tests, written entrance tests and interviews in English, Mathematics and Reasoning. I have successfully prepared candidates for entry to schools including St Paul’s Girls School, City of London School for Boys, Latymer Upper, Godolphin & Latymer, City of London School for Girls, Emanuel, Harrow, Eton, Westminster and Winchester.

***GCSE and IGCSE History preparation. I support students preparing for examinations offered by the AQA, Edexcel, OCR and CIE exam boards. I teach all the core topics and essay writing and source analysis skills. I am able to prepare students in the exam technique for each of the exam boards’ papers and also for coursework modules.

***GCSE and IGCSE English Language and English Literature preparation. I support students preparing for examinations offered by the AQA, Edexcel, OCR and CIE exam boards. I have experience of teaching a range of set texts. I am able to prepare students in the exam technique for each of the exam boards’ papers and also for coursework modules.

***A-Level History exam preparation. I support students preparing for examinations offered by the AQA, Edexcel, OCR and CIE exam boards. I teach most early modern and modern History topics. I am able to prepare students in the exam technique for each of the exam boards’ papers across the primary source, historical interpretations, breadth and depth essay question types and I also offer support for the coursework modules.

***A-Level Politics exam preparation. I support students preparing for examinations offered by both Edexcel and AQA. For AQA I teach all of the core topics: both UK and USA government and politics, comparative politics, the traditional ideologies and all of the other ideologies options. For Edexcel I teach UK politics and government, core ideologies, non-core ideologies, comparative politics and global politics. I am able to prepare students in the exam technique for each of the exam boards’ papers across the source, essay, ideas and short-answer questions.

***University admission support – with a particular focus on Oxbridge preparation for History and Politics. I support students applying to university to read History, Politics or related degree courses. I offer support with guided reading, personal statement, admissions tests, interview preparation and with their applications as a whole. I have particular experience of working with candidates applying to read History and History and Politics (which I read as an undergraduate) at both Oxford and Cambridge.

***Homeschooling – over the last ten years I have worked with a significant number of students who are educated through Keystone’s homeschooling programmes. I have particular experience of working with students who have left the school environment because of demanding personal circumstances and of supporting these students with sensitivity and energy to achieve their goals. I work on homeschooling across my subject areas but also work on homeschooling at the 13+ level offering enrichment courses in History and Politics.

Biography

I completed my secondary schooling with A-Levels in History, French, Politics and Spanish at the highly meritocratic and academically empowering The Manchester Grammar School. This educational experience inculcated a love of academic excellence, a competitive nature and a commitment to social mobility and diversity. As an undergraduate I read History and Politics at and was a scholar of Christ Church, Oxford. I have worked as a Professional Tutor at Keystone since 2015.

Approach to Tutoring

For each of my students I set, in conjunction with the parents and student, a clear, achievable and measurable job goal, offering a structured but adaptive plan for how we can best reach that goal together. Feedback on where we are at, relative to this goal, is consistently provided to both student and parent and I offer engaging, lively and well-structured tutorials, with a particular focus on confidence building and motivation.

The common thread to my tutoring is that it is individual-based; it is geared around a recognition that ability, circumstances and character differ from student to student. The methodology and pace may sometimes vary, but the constant in my tutoring is a sympathetic, calm but challenging manner. My tutoring aims to instil confidence, both in the subject I am working on with a student, but also in their general educational and personal development. The aim of my approach is not just to tick boxes on a syllabus or repair specific faults, though both are often necessary components of my work: I set out to not so much teach my students, as to work with them.

The Oxford tutorial system in particular, but also my relationships with some teachers at school, formed a significant role in my own personal development. I developed a rapport with my teachers and tutors, and this helped me to progress educationally, cultivate various skills and map out my future. It is with a similar temperament that I approach one-to-one professional tutoring.

I also offer an approach that is family-based: that is, I work with multiple siblings in many families.

When not tutoring

Besides tutoring, I am the owner of an indie publishing company and also work as a consultant editor on a small number of highly commercial, bestselling books with a leading international publishing house. I am also particularly interested in social mobility in education projects and participate in a number of Keystone pro-bono initiatives including our university programme, which I have worked on since its initiation, and The Bridge 11+ support programme. I am also a trustee of an international family foundation dedicated to improving social mobility.

What clients say about Tom:

''I am unbelievably pleased to tell you I got an offer from Harris Manchester College. They sent me off to the old people! So, so happy, I’m in tears. Thanks again for your help, I literally walked into the interviews with your voice in my head saying ‘make sure you answer the question’!''

Oxford History University Applicant

''Thank you so much for helping me prepare for my mocks because I don't think I would have achieved that grade without your help. I now feel slightly more confident for the finals, and I think that in the finals I want to try an aim for a level 7 overall.''

IB History Student

“My son is very excited about starting at Cambridge. He and I are mindful of your contribution to his success, so thank you very much!”

Mother of Cambridge university student

“My son did the scholarship exam for Westminster School, everything went well. Tom Perrin has been with us for about two years and has been an exceptional tutor both in history and English, I could not praise him enough.”

Mother of 13+ scholarship (Westminster) student

''Tom really made a connection with my son. He remarked that Tom is a wonderful teacher and he enjoyed every single one of his lessons. So much so that he would like to continue having weekly sessions with Tom.''

Mother of 13+ Scholarship Student

''We could not be happier with Tom. He thinks beyond the subjects he teaches (English and Maths) and proposes work plans that educate my son in the broader sense. For example, Tom has suggested he picks a topic he is interested in and the English lessons will then focus around this topic. This holistic approach to teaching is great and my son continues to thoroughly enjoy the lessons. We’re very lucky to have Tom as a tutor.''

Mother of 11+ student

“Thank you so much for all your help. You were so patient and encouraging to my son and you taught him brilliantly how to approach those source and essay questions. It was just what he needed to give him the confidence in his exam!”

Mother of CE History/English student

“You are energetic, sensitive, caring, organised, stimulating and inspiring - you have become a vital part of our lives. Thank you for everything that you have done for our family.”

Mother of Keystone student

''My daughter has found Tom’s sessions invaluable. She has really valued his guidance and has gained a huge amount of confidence in her abilities and in her understanding how to approach the HAT itself and more generally towards Oxford admissions.''

Father of HAT Applicant

''Thank you for your miraculous work with my son over the last year. I can't tell you enough how grateful we are for your calm approach, your encouragement and your diligence. For my son to be accepted by St Paul's is wonderful for him, a relief for us and 100% testament to your sessions with him.''

Mother of Student

''I do want to say that I think Tom has been a 'gift' - aside from his obvious ability as a tutor, his real skill likes in his ability to understand the whole child and to have a holistic view of the task at hand within the overall context of family values and life's day-to-day challenges. We are very much enjoying having Tom work with our son.''

Mother of year 5 student

''Tom is a great tutor and my son is working really well with him. We are all very thankful. My son says he is the best tutor he has ever had and enjoys very much working with him. They spend the whole day together. He is also helping my daughter to prepare her SCAT test. Again thank you. We hope to be able to have Tom again in the coming months.''

Mother of Previous Residential Position

''My daughter thinks that Tom is very helpful and encouraging of the work she completes. He explains everything clearly and is patient when she is unable to understand anything. Her self-confidence has increased greatly.''

Mother of A Level Student

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