Hi there, my name is Jamie Smurthwaite. I have been tutoring full time since February 2013. I love my choice of career and believe I have a great aptitude for it.
I was a late starter as a child. I didn't speak much until I was 5 and didn't start reading and writing until I was 7 (later I woud find out this was because I have ASD, but that went undiagnosed for decades). So in Year 2 my father began to tutor me in maths and English, every day after school. It was never easy for me, but through a lot of hard work (and tears), I eventually progressed enough to pass my 11+ exam with flying colours. This gave my father the inspiration to become an 11+ private tutor. Skip to 12 years later and I have a degree in Linguistics with Psychology from the University of Hertfordshire.
Another 11 years later, after trying out various other jobs, I decided to give this tutoring thing a try and asked my father to train me.
Just six months after posting my first tuition advert, I was seeing nearly 20 students a week. Oh yes, pre-Covid there were a lot less tutors around to compete with! Now I have over 11 years of experience, and in that time have been able to help many students pass their own 11+ and KS2 exams.
I know what it's like to struggle in school. So now getting to help other children achieve their fullest academic potential feels like the career I was always meant for.