Parent Testimonials

"Rachel became more and more confident after each lesson. The one-on-one tutoring helped her to build on the knowledge she had (or didn't have) and apply that to the exam questions."

Rachel’s mother Elizabeth, December 2009
Year 13, Level 3 Chemistry, Physics & Statistics

"FYI - we are very pleased with Sam's progress. Considering she was planning not to continue with statistics, with tutoring she has grown in confidence and achieving. It has been good that there was some degree of flexibility and we relied on Sam to work things out with the tutor. I think this has helped her take responsibility & make sure she was getting what she needed."

Sam’s mother Kathryn, October 2013
Year 13, Statistics

"Thanks so much for the input you guys had in getting Ben more prepared for his exams. He is adamant that it helped so fingers crossed for January exam result time!!!!"

Ben’s mother Seanne, December 2014
Year 13, Calculus & Chemistry

“Daniel did a great job with Will who came home quite positive. He had been quite apprehensive with the fact that he needed a Tutor at all. Daniel's NCEA results impressed Will and I think he now sees tutoring in a different light."

William’s father Kevin, October 2013
Year 11, Mathematics

"Rory was given a thorough assessment of the gaps he had in his NCEA subjects after our arrival from Australia in August. Tuition from AHeadStart allowed him to quickly catch up and give him the tools to do well in NCEA science and maths."

Rory’s mother Lee, December 2009
Year 11, Level 1 Science & Mathematics

"Thanks so much for your assistance and great tutoring!! Ben was advised today that he got a merit!! We're thrilled.

Thx again! We have appreciated your feedback along the way."

Ben’s father Simon, January 2014
Year 11, Mathematics & Science

“We have been very pleased with the effort Blake and Lethan have put in for Matt. Both he, Pete and I appreciate their efforts very much.”

Matt’s mother Cate, December 2015
Year 13, Level 3 English, Geography, History

"Thank you for sending Helena to us. She is an impressive young woman and has already helped Daisy so much. Daisy says she explains things clearly and has unravelled much confusion already. We are looking forward to seeing her every Sunday."

Daisy’s mother Lorelei, May 2014
Year 11, Chemistry, Mathematics & Physics

"Matthew is loving his time with Daniel and even told me last night that he now really enjoys maths!!! That is a huge compliment coming from Matthew. Met Daniel last week and he is a delight and a real credit to you."

Matthew’s mother Heather, February 2012
Year 11, Level 1 Mathematics

“I can't thank Joe enough for all he has done with George! We are happy to see that he has regained his confidence with Joe's help. I am sure it has not been easy to get a 9 year old to want to do an hour’s maths work after school but he has done an amazing job at making it fun and interesting. I am sure George will miss seeing him on Thursdays.”

George’s mother Gwynneth, September 2015
Year 4, Mathematics

“[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

"Mel continually provides excellent support. Often in a classroom some points can be missed, however the one on one with Mel has ensured that everything is covered, and learnt properly."

Kieran’s mother Marian, December 2009
Year 12, Level 2 Chemistry, Mathematics & Physics

“Thanks so much for the learning support and can you please give Jeremy a massive thumbs up from Josh and I? He is the perfect tutor – turns up on time, is polite, focused, friendly to Josh and does a great job of teaching. Josh mentioned they covered a few topics in the Physics exam that he would not have passed if he didn’t have Jeremy’s help. We have been super happy with Jeremy.”

Josh’s mother Carne, November 2015
Year 12, Physics

“We are very happy with [Henry’s tuition] so far. Henry is keen and seems to be completing the work that is set for him by Aaron with no fuss or extra reminders. This is HUGE for Henry.”

Henry’s mother Stephanie, August 2015
Year 11, English

“We found AHeadStart very approachable ,quick to respond to our emails and provided an excellent tutor who made our daughter feel comfortable to ask all those questions she needed to understand the subject and pass her subject with better than expected results. Claire.”

Georgia’s mother Claire, January 2016
Year 11, Accounting

“We were very pleased with Emma’s results as she gained Level 2 with Excellence. Excellence endorsement in Art design and Biology, Merit endorsement in Maths and passed Physics with 9 ex and 13 merits and Chemistry with 12 ex and 8 achieved. Jackson Roberts was an excellent tutor and Emma would be very keen to continue with him.”

Emma’s mother Catriona, January 2016
Year 12, Chemistry, Mathematics & Physics

"I think Supun has already let you know his results. He has been awarded Merit endorsement for Chemistry. I am happy with the other subjects as well. Finally he has achieved University entrance for Engineering which I dreamed. This is the path I wanted Supun to show to go ahead and to achieve. Your teaching, your efforts and encouragements was a huge factor Supun to gain this. So thank you very much and much appreciate this."

Supun’s father Rohana, January 2012
Year 13, Level 3 Calculus, Chemistry & Physics

“I contacted AHeadStart to get some extra support for my son about a month prior to NCEA exams. He is a capable student but finds some aspects of English difficult. In 4 or 5 sessions he worked alongside Paula and gained valuable knowledge about completing English exam papers. He was very pleased to get English endorsed with excellence and so were his parents!!.”

Isaac’s mother Jenny, January 2014
Year 11, English

"Melanie showed Martina and Amy that the results are achievable it’s just a matter of hard work and not being afraid to ask. They have learnt a valuable skill."

Amy & Martina’s father Rob, December 2009
Years 12 &13

“She has done exceptionally well this year in maths, gaining a school prize for maths in the year 12 cohort when she is a very young year 11! She has really enjoyed the tutorials and she and Jeremy seem to be a good fit.”

Lorna’s mother Jane, November 2015
Year 11, Level 2 Mathematics

"Wish Laura well for us. She has been a wonderful guide for the last two years with Joe. She’s extended him and backed his thinking; teaching him how to get his ideas down in a constructive, lucid way. All the best with AHeadStart it has certainly has been fantastic for our boys."

Joe’s mother Sally, December 2014
Year 13, English

"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