MAXIMISING POTENTIAL
One-to-one private tuition—more time and attention for your child
CUSTOMISED LESSONS
Bespoke tutoring to meet the pace, focus and goals of your child's needs
FLEXIBLE AND CONVENIENT
Tutoring when and where it suits you and your children—any time, any country
INCREASED CONFIDENCE
Working closely together allows students to express themselves without pressure from their peers
MAXIMISING POTENTIAL
One-to-one private tuition—more time and attention for your child
CUSTOMISED LESSONS
Bespoke tutoring to meet the pace, focus and goals of your child's needs
FLEXIBLE AND CONVENIENT
Tutoring when and where it suits you and your children—any time, any country
INCREASED CONFIDENCE
Working closely together allows students to express themselves without pressure from their peers
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What Help Can GSG Tutors Offer Me And My Children?
PRIVATE LESSONS
The tutor will come to your home or meet at a mutually convenient venue. Although tuition is usually one-on-one, pairs and small groups work too, creating both competition and cooperation between students.
RESIDENTIAL TUTORING
A tutor is available to you on a full-time basis, either staying with the family or in nearby accommodation. Previous clients in a dozen countries have required stays of up to 4 weeks, sometimes travelling with the family.
SKYPE TUTORIALS
This is usually a supplement to private lessons or residential tutoring. We do give some courses entirely by Skype, but this generally works best with older students and adults.
SEMINARS
From autumn 2019 we will be running seminars in Oxford two days a month. The syllabus will be designed for foreign students who lack the European cultural background of their peers.
See Seminar Programme >>SCHOOL PREPARATION
GSG will guide you through the admissions process, with tuition and advice on schools, pre-tests and entrance exams. We also provide background cultural enrichment, especially for non-British students.
SPECIFIC SUBJECTS
Specialist tutors are available for particular subjects from 11+ and 13+ up to GCSE, A-Level and equivalent exams for students planning to gain admission to university.
English As A Foreign Language (EFL)
Some students require extra English before they can tackle an English school syllabus. Also, during residential stays, the tutor sometimes works to improve the English of a younger sibling or a parent.
INTERVIEW TRAINING
The interview is a crucial part of gaining admission to the best schools. A small investment here can pay huge dividends when visiting Eton or Winchester. Interview practice with an unfamiliar tutor is particularly valuable since it takes the student out of their comfort zone.
WHO IS JONATHAN HOWE-JONES?
Educated at Winchester College and Oxford University, he spent 10 years as an Army officer before returning to Oxford to train as a teacher. After 15 years in the classroom he set up GSG Tutors, capitalising on his own experience and the expertise of former colleagues.
Jonathan has an unusually wide range of experience, spanning the school spectrum. He has taught in:
- Primary schools
- Middle schools
- Secondary schools
- Private and state schools
- Day and boarding
- Single-sex and co-educational
- UK and International schools
- German-, Turkish- and English-speaking
He has taught most of the major subjects and has excellent cross-curricular knowledge.
Ivan did get the guaranteed place at Winchester and we are all absolutely happy about it. Thanks for your help and encouragement throughout this process.
Lydia (Moscow)
[Their mother] asked me to write to you how much they are grateful for your presence in their house this summer and during their trip! You are the best teacher they have ever had. Thank you very much for your kind attention, for respecting the rules of the house, for the huge amount of knowledge that you've shared with the kids. All kids got really attached to you. [The youngest] was crying the day of your departure—he likes you very much. You are always welcome to be their teacher again, if will have the possibility. Please, leave some free days the next summer to come to their house again.
Yana (Moscow)
I can't tell you what a treat it was for them to have you around over those two days. A last minute nudge will hopefully work wonders!! Thank you again & see you on Sports day.
Fiona (London) (her son then won a place at Radley College)
Also, I have some thrilling news—Timur has been offered a place at Ludgrove!!!!! And this is mostly result of your hard work! The family is so grateful and happy! Thank you very much once again for your support. Would be most grateful for any recommendations—I fully trust you and I know if you offer something than it could not be better.
Elena (Moscow)
Just got a note from Eton that Ivan has satisfied Eton entrance requirements through his results at KS exams. Thanks you for helping him prepare in order to achieve these results. Thanks
Konstantin & Yulia (Moscow)
Jonathan is an inspirational teacher. His subject knowledge is both wide and deep, and he was a natural choice as form tutor for the brightest of the 10-year-olds. At his send-off the boys spontaneously rose and applauded him—an honour I haven’t seen bestowed on any other leaver—and they did the same when he returned six months later to deliver a lecture on Istanbul. He held them spellbound for an hour, and questions would have continued all night if I had let them.
Mr Duncan Bailey, Headmaster at Cothill House 2011 – present
Thank you so much for a very productive week—all three gained so much and are heading back to school in a positive state of mind.
Mrs H (Wales)
JHJ was an inspiring tutor to both my sons. In their own words, “We never once had a boring lesson with him!” He was a very amusing teacher. He was great with Prep school age boys and knew exactly how to handle them and bring out the best in them.
Sarah, Cothill House parent
My wife and I hired Mr Howe-Jones to tutor our son before his Common Entrance [to Radley College]. I can say, without hesitation, that hiring him was the turning point in my son’s confidence and his results reflecting his knowledge and ability! We were overcome with repeated comments about the miraculous performance and general change in our son's confidence and ability to constructively contribute to class work.
Viscount D.
Maks has a place at Winchester. Thank you very much for being with us for several years, helping Maks to achieve his goal. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
Olena (Kiev)
Thank you so much for your help. I feel sad about the fact you could not have lessons with Seva anymore. You helped Seva a lot and he appreciates you as a teacher telling that you are number one. His creative writing work was the best in his class at school. It was middle school examination. I like your your way of teaching, structured and consistent, and of course it has paid dividends. I feel upset that you could not give lessons anymore. Seva will be a border starting from next term and I thought we could suggest to organise some holiday lessons. Sorry, I don’t want other tutors as we already have two English tutors. They are good but not good as you. If you still have time and keen to help, please send me your possible dates .
Anna (Ascot)
All that hard work paid off handsomely. He has been offered a place at Radley on the Warden's List… The headmaster told him that he had never seen such a huge single stride/jump forward in exam results by any individual before… He is increasing velocity and definitely moving in the right direction, thanks in no small part to all your hard work.
Harry (Oxford)
I am thankful for the lessons you had with Erika this summer, and for the report. To be honest I am pleased with the results of her both CAT tests which I find quite good as she did it for the first time with you and wasn't familiar with that before.
Zere (Moscow)
Thank you for all your help and effort that you gave to Anastasia, we really appreciate it… Thank you anyway for being so calm and patient with Anastasia… Thank you for brilliant ideas you sent about the educational problem.
Anna (Moscow)
We are glad to inform you that Nikita has been offered a guaranteed place in Winchester College. We are grateful for your participation in his preparation. His success is also your merit. Only with your help he could reach this result. Thank you a lot.
Oksana and Peter (Moscow)
I drove back to Sherborne with a turbo charged son. He barely drew breath as he relayed how his morning with you had gone, and commented in particular on how much he liked the fact that you didn't just test him but also taught him. In addition to which he commented "he's a really nice guy, Mum". Thank you so, so much. He has been a little subdued recently and you revived him. Tom and I are delighted and irrespective of the 'Greek Question' would like to proceed. [He then won a place at Eton College] We are still enormously grateful to you for your inspiration and tutoring. He is in the top sets for History and Divinity (both of which he loves) and I really don't think he would have secured this footing without you.
Suzannah (London)
D has been able to secure his place [at Winchester]. Thank you for your professional help to achieve it. We need to celebrate it!
Aigul (Almaty)
As a parent, I am truly grateful for what Jonathan has done for both of my boys. He taught them for several years and was their form master for a year each. Their educational experience was greatly enriched by their time with him, both in school and on trips to Berlin. I had no hesitation in entrusting my sons to him for foreign travel, and they would both jump at the chance if another opportunity arose.
Mr Neil Brooks, Headmaster at Cothill House 2001 – 2011
Alex mentioned you the other day. I was asking him which teacher he felt had the biggest influence on him and he said you! We never really say thank you and I wanted to thank you for instilling in him a curious, critical and focused approach to learning. He seems to really enjoy it as well! He has worked really hard and has just done brilliantly in his GCSE's. So thank you !!
Heather, Cothill House parent
I am delighted with the tutoring provided by Mr Jonathan Howe-Jones. My son was preparing for about two years to sit entrance exams at Harrow. During this time we tried to work with several English teachers from London and Oxford and preferred to work with Jonathan in fine. No doubts he is the best tutor for English. My son was very happy to be tutored by Jonathan. He was interested and engaged in the lessons and is grateful for his huge progress in English. I strongly recommend Jonathan to other parents.
Dr M (Almaty)
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What Is “Tutoring, The Oxford Way”?
At Oxford University students meet their tutor weekly, usually one-to-one, to discuss their essay, defend their ideas and explore new ones. Data from lectures, seminars and independent research evolve into knowledge during the tutorial.
General Studies Giraffe, the legendary second-in-department at Cothill House School. No association is implied with the Good Schools Guide, though we admire their work.
That depends on what you need, for how long, when and where. If you’d like to complete an enquiry form we would be delighted to quote you a price.
GSG Tutors is based in West London. Home visits beyond London and Oxford are feasible, but less easy to arrange. For those requiring a residential tutor, whether in the UK or overseas, location is no issue.
How far ahead can I book?
We take bookings up to a year in advance. However, a deposit will be required to secure the booking and in case of cancellation will not be repaid unless another client fills the gap. School holidays tend to be booked 4 – 6 months in advance.
Is a residential stay really worth it?
In five years of residential visits, the rebooking rate has been 100%—no client has ever failed to ask for a second visit, and some have had half a dozen.
