Degree-certified, triple A* GCSE & A Level Sociology tutoring for ambitious parents/students. Improve your grades FAST with my research-backed tutoring system.

Find out more about Sam

• 1) When did you develop an interest in your chosen field and in private tutoring?

  English and sociology are my two main subject areas. These two fields mean everything to me.
  
  On the one hand, they are both creative. You can express yourself through words in ways that you simply can't with numbers. They give you the opportunity to write essays that inspire, uplift and evoke strong emotions.
  
  Yet, both have rules underpinning them. To be a successful English writer or sociologist, you need to understand the mechanics of argument and reasoning.
  
  This is the reason I got into tutoring these two subjects: to teach students the formulas I have learned that make these seemingly abstract subjects far more tangible. I refined them myself through years of trial and error and have now been teaching them to students for more than three-and-a-half years.
  
  People believe they are either more number oriented or word oriented. However, I think that anyone can be both-so long as they've got the tools to succeed.

• 2) Tell us more about the subject you teach, the topics you like to discuss with students (and possibly those you like a little less).

  For English, I've always been a massive fan of poetry. Students dread it, but once you crack the hidden meanings underlying the words, it becomes a game of discovery and creative exploration-beats Shakespeare any day.
  
  Persuasive writing is my other favourite component of English. Everything in life involves persuasion, whether it's nailing a job interview or encouraging positive behaviour changes as a coach or consultant. It's therefore an excellent way to develop practical skills that will enhance opportunities in later life.
  
  For sociology, my passions are statistics and health. I actually blended the two for my dissertation (which was the best statistical dissertation in my entire year group) and explored the impact of diet on exam performance. Without going into too much detail, it appears that fruits and vegetables positively predict academic grades-an apple a day brings the top marks your way.
  
  To be honest, there aren't really many topics I dislike in sociology. The subject teaches you so much about human behaviour that everything from vision to the functions of the education system becomes interesting!

• 3) Did you have any role models; a teacher that inspired you?

  Academically, two of my biggest role models are Dr. James Allen-Robertson and Dr. Nick Allum, both of whom I studied under at university.
  
  James is exceptional. He goes above and beyond the call of duty for his students, ensuring to respond to them quickly and find time for them when they need it most. Moreover, he taught me so much about coding, taking me from an absolute novice to a somewhat competent user of Python, and is genuinely such a friendly and down-to-earth guy-a model tutor.
  
  In the same way that James taught me Python, Nick versed me in statistics. I never thought I'd ever have the skills to run and interpret regression analyses, learn to leverage SPSS syntax for analytical projects, and produce a detailed quantitative dissertation, but thanks to Nick I have surpassed my expectations and fallen in love with the scientific method. Nick is also a superb lecturer. He's not boring and finds ways to engage even the most quiet and introverted classes-the gold standard of a statistics teacher, and an equally inspiring intellectual.
  
  Aside from my lecturers, Eminem is perhaps my biggest role model. His story is one of pure resilience: overcoming drug addiction, domestic violence and poverty to become the best rapper of all time. I've listened to his music daily for 10+ years; he continues to innovate and dominate-an exemplar high performer, one I try to emulate in my tutoring by always learning and refining my approach.

• 4) What do you think are the qualities required to be a good tutor?

  To me, there are three ingredients to a top tutor.
  
  First, they need to be adaptable. All students learn differently. Some like short tasks; others prefer grinding through chunky paragraphs and flexing their writing skills. Some like to apply what they've learned alone under timed conditions; others prefer to be guided. This means that the tutor must tailor their lessons to the pupil whilst adhering to science-based learning principles, like active recall and spaced repetition.
  
  Second, they need to communicate with students and parents regularly. They shouldn't ever leave any parties in the dark and should be totally transparent about their methods and plans. Nobody wants to send a message only to receive a reply three days later. At the end of the day, tutoring is an investment and there is a significant degree of professionalism required.
  
  Third, and perhaps most importantly, the tutor needs to go beyond the hour or two they're paid for. For example, students who work with me receive:
  
  Tailored resources for every lesson (no cookie-cutter PowerPoints).
  A custom-made Revision Challenge to cement their understanding of content studied in the lesson.
  Personalised feedback for that Revision Challenge to clarify misunderstandings.
  Daily message support + accountability.
  A curriculum + lesson plan designed to provide direction so that students know exactly what is happening each week rather than turning up to random lessons with no clear path to top grades.
  A single hour per week is not enough to flourish. A tutor needs to give everything to their students if they want them to realise their true potential.

• 5) Provide a valuable anecdote related to your subject or your days at school.

  I was always predicted to underachieve as a student.
  
  In primary school, I was average at best, and for the first two years of secondary school, I was seemingly destined for mediocre grades.
  
  But things changed in year 9.
  
  I was in maths, last lesson of the day. The class I was in was filled with screaming teenagers and led by a teacher who could barely control the class.
  
  At the end of the lesson, she started discussing the homework we'd have to complete that week, although she was constantly interrupted by the troublesome kids in my class, the ones who definitely weren't going to do the homework.
  
  As she spoke, she took one step back. Then another.
  
  Then, without warning, she stumbled and fell into a wooden box containing whiteboards and textbooks.
  
  As the class erupted into laughter, I stood there, behind my chair and thought to myself what on earth I was doing in this class.
  
  I realised that if I didn't improve my grades, I would be stuck here for the rest of my secondary school days and bring the initial label of 'average student' to life.
  
  Things had to change.
  
  Since that day, I have gone on to destroy the predictions I was set:
  
  I left secondary school with a GCSE average of 7.5-one of the highest in my school (which was in special measures for two years).
  I left sixth form with three A* grades, meaning I could not have achieved any more than I did.
  I graduated university as the number one student in my whole department (400+ students), with a first-class degree.
  My story shows that no matter who you are, if you apply yourself to the behaviours and habits that move the needle towards whatever it is you want to achieve-better grades, getting into a top university, securing your dream job-and do so consistently, then you can achieve way more than you could ever expect.
  
  (Hard work + a hunger to improve) × relentless consistency = an unstoppable person.

• 6) What were the difficulties or challenges you faced or are still facing in your subject?

  The biggest hurdle I had to overcome as a student + teacher of English and sociology was writing concisely and clearly.
  
  Even whilst studying at university, the most frequent criticism I received was overcomplicating things, usually with overly ambitious words and sentences that were more about me showing off my writing skills than putting forward a powerful and focused argument.
  
  To resolve this issue, I've had to master the process of proofreading and answering the following question: "If my mum read this, would she understand what I am saying, or would she moan at me for being convoluted?"
  
  What you write is far less important than how you say it. Good writers in all fields, from tutors to essayists, convey their intended meanings and arguments in as few words as possible, whilst using language that is impressive and clear.

• 7) Do you have a particular passion? Is it teaching in general or an element of the subject or something completely different?

  Teaching and coaching are definitely passions of mine.
  
  There is nothing more rewarding than being confronted with a student with a problem that needs solving. You've got the solution and it's your mission to equip them with the skills and knowledge to overcome that problem and grow in confidence. It forces you to communicate well and offer constant support. Then, when they destroy all the barriers and the results come flooding in, you get to see the smile on their face when they realise that they've reached the next level of their development and no longer need you.
  
  My other passion is human health.
  
  I suffered badly from two eating disorders in my late teens (orthorexia + anorexia nervosa) and was told that if I did not make changes to my lifestyle, I would at best do permanent hormonal damage and at worst risk my own life.
  
  Thus, throughout university, I educated myself on the science of human health. I focused my dissertation on the relationship between nutrition and exam performance and am in the process of training to become a fully qualified nutritionist (I might do a Masters in 1-2 years). (I have also made a full recovery from both eating disorders.)
  
  Ultimately, your health is your foundation.
  
  Whether you want to achieve top grades, start your own business or ascend the career ladder, your performance is contingent on regular exercise (especially resistance training), a clean diet, high-quality sleep and positive relationships with friends and family.
  
  Neglecting your health in the name of success, productivity, etc. is like jamming a square peg into a round hole: it's the wrong answer.

• 8) What makes you a Superprof (besides answering these interview questions :-P) ?

  A Superprof is more than a tutor.
  
  They go beyond the call of duty and live and die by the success of their students.
  
  If they're paid for an hour, they put in four hours of work to make it the best hour possible, rather than turning up on the day without a plan.
  
  If they're asked a question by a student or parent, they respond to it as fast as possible, rather than postponing them to the next day.
  
  If a student doesn't understand something, they find another way to make it digestible, rather than forcing a one-size-fits-all solution on them.
  
  Based on these criteria, I would consider myself to be a Superprof.
  
  Because I know what it means to want success-the pain of not being where you want to be-I give everything to my students.
  
  For every hour I'm employed to teach a student, I easily put in 3-5 hours of prep work:
  
  Making lesson resources and Revision Challenges.
  Marking Revision Challenges from previous weeks.
  Messaging and speaking to students and parents throughout the week.
  Designing supplementary resources like curriculum plans, paragraph templates and revision guides.
  In addition, I'm always learning about how to become a better educator.
  
  I've taken body language courses, read countless books on communication and the science of learning, and work with students from a diverse array of backgrounds to understand the nuances of teaching.
  
  Simply put, I am obsessed with seeing my students progress. There is a reason I have achieved what I have achieved in my own studies, as well as on this platform.
  
  You will not find another English or sociology tutor who gives as much as me and focuses their resources, time and energy towards seeing their students grow.