The Personal Academic Mentor works closely with the student over the whole of their UK school career

The Personal Academic Mentor:

• Acts as a ‘super-tutor’ for preparation to enter school in England, supporting the student, their family (in conjunction with an educational agent, when applicable) with applications to schools in England, either preparatory school or senior school, depending on the desired entry-point.

• Continues as the Personal Academic Mentor to the family once the student has gained and accepted the offer of a place at school in England.

The Personal Academic Mentor is a secondary-level academic teacher, with outstanding experience and academic credentials:

• who has taught at and has led private senior schools in the UK;

• who has exceptional experience and knowledge of education in UK, particularly of the private ('independent') sector; 

• who is qualified to take on the overall support of the student’s education, from schooldays at private school in the UK, to university in the English-speaking world (or elsewhere);

• is a person of deep, caring humanity who is dedicated to putting the student first, and to enabling each young person in their care to flourish happily at school;

• is dedicated to working closely with the student's family over a sustained period of time, as a highly trusted partner, a ‘professional friend’ to the parents of the student, and a specialist mentor to the student;

• is expert in cultivating the highest level of learning and achievement in the student;

• supports students in raising their advanced proficiency in the English language to the highest standard, so that students can match their potential as they settle to being students at UK private schools;

• takes an independent, expert ‘overview’ of the student’s whole educational journey, focusing on inspiring the student, and helping the student to develop and maintain independent study; 

• supports the student’s progress at each stage of the school journey by devising and providing supportive, stimulating educational material, building cultural awareness, critical thinking, independent learning and research skills;

• devises and delivers a personalised programme of learning to enhance and supplement the school experience at every stage, helping the student to build a wide cultural awareness and excellent general knowledge, so that students build up over time a sophisticated cultural awareness which will enable them to navigate the future world of work, in which professionals will work in combination with highly sophisticated AI and automation.

about James

James was educated at Glasgow University * (a Russell Group university, and the fourth oldest university in the English-speaking world, founded in 1451) where he took his honours degree in English and won awards for his work in English Literature. He then went on to Balliol College, Oxford University * with a fully-funded graduate scholarship to start academic research in English Literature. 

Deciding after a time that his career would be in school teaching rather than in academia, James left aside his research to establish a career in independent senior schools in England. He has experience as Head, Acting Head, Deputy Head, Head of English, and boarding Housemaster. He has additional experience in developing online education for an independent school group, as well as experience in education consultancy.

James has an English teaching qualification (a PGCE with QTS), for which he was awarded ‘outstanding’ in all ‘Q’ categories (teaching standards). He also has a Masters degree in educational leadership and a qualification in boarding education.

James lives in Folkestone, a town on the south coast of England, near to London. He is married to a teacher of maths, and his interests include music, literature and the arts in general, European culture including history and politics, nature, sustainable living, cooking, and keeping fit.  

James has worked with senior schools to develop curriculum and to enhance the student experience.  He also creates study-guide websites for students studying literary set-texts for GCSE and IGCSE; he writes occasional feature articles on European cultural topics for a leading UK magazine.   James is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts * (FRSA).

Families first discuss with James (directly online, or via the family's educational agent) their child’s needs and the planned educational pathway.  James then devises an initial, individual, bespoke programme of lessons.  This is usually a fixed sequence of ‘super-tutor’ live, online lessons to prepare the student for school interviews.  The lessons will typically combine practice in advanced English language skills with specific preparation for the interviews.

The amount of tutoring recommended at this first stage is a matter of discussion, and can be varied as required, but as a minimum, the student should see James for an individual online lesson each week for one hour in the period approaching the interviews with the UK preparatory school.

A sample programme, for families seeking a preparatory school (private primary school) place:

Before the school interviews

A sequence of live, one-on-one online lessons with the James to prepare a student for entry to a preparatory-school in England.

The lessons are recommended when:

• the student is at school outside the UK, and wishes to enter a UK preparatory-school (junior / primary school);

• the student needs his / her English language skills to be enhanced and for confidence to be built ahead of school interviews;

• the student needs specific preparation for the school visits, and to learn what to look for on those visits. The student will need interview practice; she / he will normally need some cultural introduction to the UK and the private school system.

The weekly lessons will provide preparation for visit(s) to the UK for the purpose of school interviews. The sequence of lessons runs up to the time of the school visits.

During the visit to UK to look at preparatory schools and / or to be interviewed by those preparatory schools

These lessons can be supplemented in the UK by face-to-face consultations with James in London, at which the family and student discuss the school visits.  James helps the family focus on how to make their choice of school (James is entirely independent, and is not paid to recommend particular schools, nor will he seek to influence the family’s decision in choosing a school).

Additionally, if requested, James (when available) can accompany the family on each school visit and / or devise a private, bespoke, free-time cultural excursion for the whole family.

After the school interviews, before starting at a preparatory school in the UK

Following a prep-school place being offered and accepted by the family, James will then continue working with the student, as Personal Academic Mentor to the family, to prepare the student for a successful start at school in the UK, and to support the student once they have started at school.

Work with James as the student's Personal Academic Mentor will consist of further, regular online lessons, typically focusing on:

• building confidence in advanced English;

• preparing new elements of the school curriculum ahead of starting school (for example, beginners’ Latin or French);

• and establishing a basic knowledge of  UK and European culture. 

Other, bespoke topics requested by the family, or suggested by James, can be incorporated into these preparatory lessons - for example, the history of music, general history of the UK and European countries, introduction to English Literature, etc.

Families discuss with James (directly online, or via the family's educational agent) their child’s needs and the planned educational pathway.  James then devises an initial, individual, bespoke programme of lessons.  This is usually a fixed sequence of ‘super-tutor’ live, online lessons to prepare the student for school interviews.  The lessons will usually combine practice in advanced English language skills with specific preparation for the interviews.

The amount of tutoring recommended at this stage is a matter of discussion and can be varied as required, but as a minimum, the student should see James for an individual online lesson every week for one hour in the period approaching the interviews with the UK senior school.

A sample programme, for families seeking a senior school (private secondary school) place:

Before the school interviews

A programme of live, one-on-one online lessons to prepare a student for entry to a senior school in England (at age 11 / year 7, or age 13 / year 9).

These lessons are recommended when:

• The student is at school outside the UK and wishes to enter a UK private senior (secondary) school.

• The student needs their advanced English-language skills to be enhanced, and confidence to be built ahead of school interviews. There will be practice of the school interviews.

• The student will need specific preparation for the school visits, and to learn what to look for on those visits. They will usually need some cultural introduction to the UK, and to the private school system.

Weekly lessons will prepare the student for visit(s) to the UK for the purpose of school interviews. The sequence of lessons runs up to the time of the school visits.

An extended course of lessons is recommended whenever possible, as a minimum provision for students wishing to enter a senior school in England. The approach aims to support students in being ready for the more difficult entrance interviews and other elements of the selection process. As with the lessons for prep-school entrance, these lessons will focus on preparation for education in the

unique culture of UK private senior schools.

During the visit to UK to look at senior schools and / to be interviewed by those senior schools

These lessons can be supplemented in England by consultations face-to-face with James in London at which the family and students discuss the school visits and during which James helps the family focus on how to choose the senior school (James is entirely independent and is not paid to recommend particular schools).

Additionally, James (when available) can accompany the family when in England to some or all of the school visits and / or provide a private, bespoke, free-time cultural excursion for the whole family.

After the school interviews, before starting at a senior school in the UK

Following a senior school place being offered and accepted by the family, James will take on the role of Personal Academic Mentor, providing bespoke, online, one-on-one lessons with the student to prepare her / him for a successful start at their senior school in the UK.

Work in these lessons typically focuses on -

• building further confidence in advanced English language skills, including academic essay-writing;

• preparing new elements of the curriculum ahead of starting school;

• building up a strong knowledge of general UK & European culture and history;

• focusing on specific preparation for life at a private senior school in the UK, including preparation to participate in new sports and other characteristic elements of senior school life.

Other, bespoke topics requested by the family can be incorporated into these preparatory lessons - for example, key aspects of UK and European culture, the history of the UK and European countries, introduction to English Literature, etc.

Once a student has settled at school in England, the Personal Academic Mentor provides specialist support in weekly, one-on-one online lessons.

For example:

the weekly lesson

reviews academic work and the overall co-curricular programme at school;

continues to work on building confidence with advanced English language skills;

provides any necessary general support;

develops independent study skills through supervised academic project work;

supports the student’s specialist interests - for example, if the student is aiming at medical school university study, the super tutor will provide leads to particular materials to support that ambition, in time leading to practice entrance testing and work experience;

delivers a bespoke programme of cultural topics - for example, topics could include -

• history of European art,

• the story of European classical music,

• general history and cultural background,

• cultural insights into English and wider European history and culture.

introduces the student to critical thinking, and to how to understand AI and how to use it

appropriately for senior school study.

Families may wish to book more than one lesson per week during school term-time: bespoke options can be explored with James.  James can normally continue online lessons over school holiday periods.

academic liaison with the school

In addition to the weekly online lesson, James can check in with the student’s school on a regular basis, on behalf of the family, as requested, as well as providing these services:

• attending timetabled parents meeting at the school;

• discussing the student’s progress with the school and report back to parents, liaising closely;

• meeting the student at the school on a regular basis if requested by the family, providing specialist support with selected specific areas of study.

Further bespoke, expert support once the student has been at school in the UK for a longer period

James can organise bespoke cultural / academic trips, for example to visit target universities and to explore options concerning university study.

James can provide specialist academic mentoring and support throughout the school years -

for example, for students at prep school

preparation,

advice,

and coaching for entrance to senior school, including interview practice, practice testing, etc.

for example, for students at senior school

• support with study-skills.

• support with choosing examination subjects: 

both GCSE and A level / IB Diploma involve students making choices of subjects, depending on their individual interests and their chosen university / career paths.

• support with preparation for important examinations (especially GCSEs, A Levels / IB Diploma Programme).

• preparation for university entrance, including detailed support with:

compiling a university shortlist,

making university visits, 

support with application processes, personal statements, specific subject testing (when applicable), etc.

indicative details of safeguarding principles:

All services are conducted in accordance with the principles of child protection and safeguarding, as required of all schools in England, and summarised in the document Keeping Children Safe in Education.*  

All services are conducted in line with the Department of Education’s Teacher Standards. *

In his school headship positions, James was responsible for whole-school safeguarding and safer recruitment of teaching staff.

James is certified with Qualified Tutor, which means that he has current, live, DBS certification in place.   His live electronic credential, certifying his current DBS status, may be viewed here. *