Call us today: 021 156 9281

 

Melanie Coker small.jpg"Hi, I'm Melanie Coker, the  founder and director of AHeadStart Ltd. Tutoring from AHeadStart provides students with the tools to achieve their best, no matter what level they are at.

Starting from five tutors in 2009, AHeadStart now has more than 40 tutors in Christchurch. Over 4,000 students have so far benefitted from our tuition. So many have gone on to achieve degrees they would never have believed possible while at school. Tuition with AHeadStart has opened their minds to the possibilities, altered their dreams for the better and ultimately changed their lives.

I will personally guide each student through the start of their tutoring journey, and make sure they have the best tutor to suit their needs. I give you my personal guarantee."

 

Why AHeadStart Tuition?

  • Personalised one-on-one tutoring in Christchurch - one-on-one or in small groups
  • Convenient Christchurch locations - in person at a local library or in your own home
  • Tuition for all levels - primary (literacy and numeracy), secondary (NCEA, Cambridge and IB) and adult students
  • Expert tutors - high achieving, excellent communicators with a passion for learning
  • Multiple subjects - our tutors can assist students with several subjects within each tutorial
  • Choice of tuition plans - select your desired level of guidance, including progress reports
  • Online tutoring - available all across New Zealand
  • Great value - from $63 per hour for a one-on-one tutorial in person
  • Payment options - pay per tutorial, or in bulk for a 10% discount
  • No fixed term - choose how many tutorials you need to achieve your goals

Contact us for a FREE consultation

 

PERSONALISED ONE-ON-ONE TUITION

Individually customised tutorials match each student's own unique needs

Personalised


Our initial assessment and tailored lessons allows students to be taught more effectively, in a way that meets their own specific requirements.

One-on-one


Individual tuition benefits students as they focus better, increase their confidence and learn more.
 

Expert Tutors


We guide students in their studies and help them develop better study skills, so they perform their best in exams and assessments.

“Jedd is dyslexic and needed assistance with implementing and understanding what he was learning at school.
Jedd's school report was excellent and he achieved "above the standard" results in many of the assessed areas which was impressive for Jedd!”

Jedd’s mother, January 2016
Year 10, English

“Hi Melanie.

It was a pleasure to meet Brooke last evening and to discuss the plans for Angus' tuition. She is a very pleasant young woman and has a lovely energy for working with a quiet young man like Angus.

Many thanks for your quick and efficient organisation of this tuition for Angus.

Kind regards, Wendy.”

Angus’s mother Wendy, September 2016
Year 11, Biology & English

“Lucie was struggling with minimal help at school, and would have got achieved at best with chem, but after tutoring got merit.
Lucie had a huge amount of extracurricular responsibility, and missed a lot of class time. Caitlin was very clear on re capping and making sure Lucie was absolutely certain in her answers."

Lucie’s mother Deb, January 2014
Year 13, Chemistry

"Wow, that is really great! Jackson certainly seems to have the gift of being able to get the information across so that the pupil understands. It's all very well knowing something, but teaching it effectively to others is quite another thing.

Edie will be cross with me for telling you about the prize, but I thought that you'd both like to hear that your services were working very effectively!! For Edie physics has gone from being something of a mystery, to very interesting things which apply to all aspects of life and the world around her. She was accepted into Fine Arts at Canterbury yesterday, which she is thrilled about, as are we, as it sees her being in an environment where she will continue to grow and to learn, and to keep on loving learning! (And physics will be very useful applied to sculpture!)"

Edie’s mother Gretchen, November 2014
Year 13, Physics

“We have been very impressed with the tutorial service you are providing. Anna has been wonderful teacher of Physics.”

Emma’s mother Elizabeth, November 2015
Year 13, Physics

"We have just finished a lesson with Alexandria and I wanted to email to say how excellent she was with Flo. She explained concepts really carefully and in a language that Flo could understand, she checked in with Flo's understanding regularly, stretched Flo's understanding and gave lovely praise. 

I feel like we have won the lottery!

Thank you!"

Flo's mother Colette, August 2025
Year 7 English 

"Just by having 4 or 5 one to one sessions with Melanie, Jack's confidence and understanding of the subject was increased enormously. Jack has said he felt confident with his answers but would not have if he hadn't had the tuition. Thank you Melanie."

Jack’s mother Karen, December 2009
Year 11 Biology, Chemistry & Physics

“Tom is loving his tuition, Sean is great and Tom has said he has learnt more in the last two weeks than all of last term!”

Tom’s mother Jo, April 2015
Year 9, Mathematics & Science

“Ross found the [Calculus] exam very difficult and he said everyone felt the same. He flew through differentiation but he said the rest was very tough. Nonetheless he believes he has passed. Hope so!!

Thanks to Max for all his help and patience with Ross throughout this year. Ross really enjoyed working with Max.”

Ross’ mother Jeanie, November 2015
Year 13, Calculus

“[Mikayla] saw her Maths teacher yesterday and he was saying to her that he can’t believe how much more improved Mikayla is this year with her books of work that she is turning in. Even though James and Mikayla only meet 1 hour each week, James has just made such a difference to her in helping her understand but also helping her do different equations that she is learning with approaching them with easier ways that what her books are teaching her. I have even noticed at home she is working through her books so much faster because she is actually having more of an understanding of what she is doing.

I would like to also say a huge thankyou to you and James for really sticking with Mikayla and helping her have confidence in what she is trying to do as last year she struggled to try and catch up but James just seemed to the right person to have incredible patience with her, Mikayla said she laughs sometimes because she sees him taking a few headache pills before the odd lesson. Ha ha. But again thanks for the reports and for James great teaching skills, hopefully Mikayla can keep up and keep remembering the skills that James is teaching her.”

Mikayla’s mother Leeann, May 2015
Year 12, Mathematics

"We would just like to let you know that things went really well with Hannah’s first visit today. Lucy was really chuffed about how much she had learned and Hannah is a lovely girl and obviously very patient!

We are feeling very confident that this is the beginning of a huge improvement in Lucy’s understanding of maths and we are lucky to have someone like Hannah to help her."

Lucy’s mother Sarah, July 2012
Year 5, Mathematics

 “Hi Melanie,

Apologies for the delay in replying. It went really well with Amelia last week. Grace connected with her and was actually smiling about maths for the first time ever!

Thank you for the wonderful service you provide. 

Regards, Wendy”

Grace’s mother Wendy, July 2016
Year 11, Mathematics

"To Mel, Thank you so much for all your wonderful help. Best tutor ever! :D"

Jessie, November 2011
Year 12, Level 2 Mathematics & Physics

"Millie has really enjoyed having Michelle as her tutor and is feeling well prepared, thanks to the work that Michelle has done in going over questions/exam papers with her. Thanks again for organising her tutoring this year."

Millie’s mother Susan, October 2014
Year 11, Mathematics

“Thank you for all your assistance with Emma and her work in Maths. Her confidence has grown and I am sure it will show in her grades too.

I am sure Emma will be keen to continue with your support so will contact you in the New Year.”

Emma’s mother Karen, November 2015
Year 11, Mathematics & Science

"Just wanted to say a big thank you to Laura for all her help with Ashleigh. She has finished all her English assignments and achieved with Merit. Ashleigh is thrilled as she was convinced she would fail English this year."

Ashleigh’s mother Jacqui, September 2013
Year 12 English

"Thank you to Jennifer for being a great tutor. Tave really enjoyed her method of teaching and found her super helpful."

Tave's mother Renita, November 2024
Year 12, Biology & Chemistry

"We believe that the programme has allowed Saphron to gain confidence in Maths, she now feels she has the ability to solve problems and understand the breakdown involved in finding solutions. She is starting to excel in the Classroom environment whereas before she would normally sit back and become somewhat lost. Well done Melanie you have an ability to made Saphron comfortable, which has meant that she now has a desire to continue learning Maths."

Saphron’s father Mark, December 2008
Year 7, Mathematics

"Hi Melanie. It’s Nick. Just letting you know I got 63% for my maths test. Yes! A few silly mistake, so I could have done better but anyway 63 is better than a 0!"

Nick, June 2012
Level 100 Mathematics

“Having a tutor who was very close in age was great, she felt he really understood the topic and was easily able to explain it to her on her level, and that he knew exactly what she needed to do well in the exams.”

Gretchen’s mother Edie, January 2016
Year 13, Physics

"I just received an email congratulating me on being successful in my exam! SO I PASSED AND GOT ACCEPTED!!
Thank you so much for your time and effort. I will definitely refer people onto you that need help with their studies. My road to education don’t stop here so I may be coming to see you again. Once again thank you!"

Cole Davids, October 2009
Air New Zealand Entrance Test

"The boys actually really enjoyed it and really liked Finlay so off to a great start, thank you.
Kathryn"

Logan's and Mason's mother Kathryn, February 2025
Year 11, Mathematics

“Good evening Melanie,

Things went really well. He was very good at explaining things. It was a massive help. I will be putting the time in on study at my end now and hope it sticks. 

I will be in touch soon to arrange another session.

Kind regards, Dan”

Daniel, July 2016
Diploma in Electrical Engineering, Mathematics

“Kira is absolutely fantastic. She’s by far the most amazing maths tutor I’ve met.”

Jason, August 2016
Entrance Test, Mathematics

"Olivia is happy with her English tutorials and very happy with her “merit” Speech internal result, as she has usually had “achieved” for speeches before now."

Olivia’s mother Sue, May 2015
Year 11, Level 1 English

TUITION FOR ALL LEVELS

Tutorials are available for primary, secondary and adult students

PRIMARY STUDENTS

Your child may require help to catch up in reading, writing or maths, gain confidence and build a strong foundation.

Or they may want extension in their favourite subject, or one not covered much at primary school, such as science or coding.

Whatever your child's goals, our primary school tutors will guide your child through every tutorial through regular assessment and lots of encouragement!

More About Primary Tuition >

SECONDARY STUDENTS

Secondary school can be a stressful time for students, especially with regular NCEA assessments throughout the year. Fitting study in around sports and other extracurricular activities can also be challenging.

Whether a student wants to gain enough credits to pass the year, or is aiming for a Merit or Excellence endorsement, our tutors can assist to make that goal a reality. And of course we can also help with Cambridge and International Baccalaureate.
 

 
More About Secondary Tuition >

ADULT STUDENTS

As an adult student it can often be difficult getting back into study, as it may have been years since you opened a text book. You may also be tacking an unfamiliar subject such as mathematics or science.

On top of this you may be studying part time or extramurally, so it may a challenge to fit study around your daily life. Our tutors can help you streamline the learning process, so you can get through your studies with confidence!
 

More About Adult Tuition >

MULTIPLE SUBJECTS

Our tutors can assist students with many subjects in each tutorial

  1. AHeadStart can assist students with 30 different subjects - Maths, English, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Science and Accounting tutoring, are just a small selection.
  2. Most AHeadStart tutors have strengths in multiple NCEA, Cambridge and International Baccalaureate® (IB) subjects, even including subjects as diverse as English, Mathematics & Science!
  3. Flexibility of tutorial structure means students can choose which subjects the cover in a lesson. This means tutors can prepare students as best as possible before each school assessment.
  4. Students benefit by having one tutor to cover several subjects and make the most out of every tutorial.

 

 

Accounting

Secondary & Adult Tuition

English

Primary, Secondary & Adult Tuition

Mathematics

Primary, Secondary & Adult Tuition

Science

Primary, Secondary & Adult Tuition

OUR NUMBERS SAY IT ALL

Students

3,659+

 

Students have chosen AHeadStart

Tutors

40+

 

AHeadStart tutors to choose

Hours

60,702+

 

Hours of tuition provided

EXPERT TUTORS

Students choose their own tutor from a selection to match their specific needs

  1. Our team of Christchurch tutors are high achievers, excellent communicators and passionate about sharing their knowledge.
  2. Every tutor has personal experience of NCEA, Cambridge or IB at secondary school, and know what it takes to achieve success. Many tutors were Dux or Proxime Accessit, or involved in leadership positions such as Head Boy or Head Girl.
  3. Our tutors are selected via a very thorough interview process. All tutors are screened by the NZ Police prior to being placed with students.

 

TUITION PLANS

Students select a tuition plan to match their goals and level of motivation

ONE-ON-ONE TUITION

PLATINUM PLAN

For students who lack motivation and need guidance with their studies. Includes weekly homework and progress reports every 5 tutorials.

More Details

GOLD PLAN

For self-motivated students who take charge of their own learning and have questions about their school work.
 

More Details

GROUP TUITION

SILVER PLAN

For self-motivated students wanting personalised tuition in pairs.

Students need to have a sibling or friend they would like to have tuition with before choosing this plan.

More Details

GROUP PLAN

For self-motivated students who would like tuition in a small group.

Students need to have two siblings or friends they would like to have tuition with before choosing this plan.

More Details

TUITION FREQUENCY

Students choose how often they would like to see their tutor to match their needs

WEEKLY
 

  • Students have a regular weekly tutorial (or more) during the school terms.
  • Suits students who want consistent help throughout the year to stay on top of their schoolwork.

 

CASUAL
 

  • Students schedule tutorials as required, with no ongoing commitment.
  • Suits students who need help for a short period to catch up on missed work or assistance before assessments.
     

 

 

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION

Tuition at a local library or in your own home

Libraries

15+

Libraries where
AHeadStart has tutorials

Suburbs

70+

Suburbs where students
can be tutored at home

CONVENIENT LOCATIONS

A range of locations to suit your needs

  

City Libraries


Christchurch Public Libraries and the University of Canterbury provide a studious environment and inspire students to use these spaces in their own learning time.

We Can Come To You


Home tuition is available in Christchurch for those with busy schedules and offers a familiar, safe environment for the student to learn.