Qualifications: Teacher's Certificate, BA (Hons)
Teaching Experience: Qualified teacher since 1999 (49 years)
Role: Member (partner) of SDE (Tuition) LLP
After training in Dorset, I began teaching in London in 1978. I have significant experience of working with young people from diverse backgrounds across Key Stages One to Four, but particularly in Key Stage Two.
I have taught students in both the independent and the state sector, with literacy and numeracy skills often tending to be a key subject focus, thus aligning usefully with skills taught in the SDE courses.
Whilst most of my career has been in the profession, in one form or other, I have also experienced life outside the formal classroom. For a time, I undertook a role in youth work, where I was responsible for arranging a programme of extra-curricular activities. Such experience provided a useful perspective from which to view the needs of individual students. It has led me to value the personal approach; for example in getting to know my students as quickly as I can.
Throughout my years of work, I have also been a one to one tutor and as such, have supported many students who were preparing for entrance tests.
I first joined SDE in 2018, working with students from South West Hertfordshire, later taking on additional groups in Buckinghamshire.
Teaching at SDE is pleasurable and structured, with small groups of well-behaved and motivated learners. Such an environment keeps me stimulated and focussed too, but more than that, it is great to see how the children thrive as the Course progreses.
Meet our tutors, experienced and qualified individuals dedicated to helping your child reach their full potential.
CertEd
Gill has 50 years of primary education experience in both state and independent schools. She has comprehensive experience teaching Key Stages 1 and 2. She was head of a junior school before retiring from teaching in school. She now focuses on teaching of the 11+ for SDE in particular delivery of the Year 4 Foundation Course.
BA (Hons), PGCE, TEFL Certification
Caroline has 25 years of experience in primary age teaching having taught in the UK and France and in both the state and independent sectors. At SDE she teaches both the Year 4 and Year 5 11+ Courses.
BA (Hons), PGCE, NPQSL
Vina Sondh has 22 years of experience teaching having spent time teaching Years 1 to 6. In more recent years she has focusing exclusively on teaching Key Stage 2. As well as achieving her PGCE, Vina holds a BA in Psychosocial Studies. In school she has held the roles of Assistant Headteacher and Teaching and Learning Curriculum Design Coordinator. She teaches the SDE Year 4 11+ Foundation Course.
BEd
Phillipa has 40 years’ primary teaching experience including 15 years which have been almost exclusively devoted to preparing children for the 11+ tests, having joined SDE in 2009. Since 2014 Phillipa has successfully developed the SDE 11+ Tuition Centre (franchise) in SW Herts.
BA (Joint Hons), PGCE
Romina has nearly 20 years’ experience in primary teaching and is a specialist Maths subject teacher. She has been preparing SDE 11+ candidates for the GL Assessment 11+ tests in Bucks since 2019 and is now devoted exclusively to teaching the Year 5 Course.
BA (Hons), MA, CertEd
Caroline has over 18 years of teaching experience. She has a BA in History and English, as well as a Masters in ISM. She is an experienced teacher of English as a Second Language. For SDE, she teaches the 11+ Foundation Course on weeknights at SDE Amersham and the Year 5 Course on Sundays at SDE Bushey.