Parent Testimonials

"Thanks once again. Tom found the tutorials from Daniel very helpful. Tom was very impressed with Daniel. He says he was really engaging. Just a fantastic teacher. Wow, really high praise from my son. I think you run a great business.”

Tom’s mother Leanne, December 2014
Year 13, Chemistry & Economics

“The tuition was excellent and believe it really helped my son to achieve the best level he could. Dion's results did improve thru the year with tuition. I think he would have struggled without it. I'd like to say thanks!”

Dion’s mother Andrea, January 2016
Year 13, Calculus & Chemistry

“You provided fantastic tutoring for my daughters Holly, from St Andrews College, and Sorren, who was working hard to improve her SAT maths score for admission to a USA university scholarship (incidentally she is in her 3rd year now!).”

Holly’s & Sorren’s mother Erica, October 2015

“The tuition helped Ellen pass all the Chemistry Papers at Level 3 that she sat. She learnt to understand the chemistry concepts that were proving difficult for her. [She enjoyed the] one on one time to fully understand the chemistry that she wasn't grasping in a full classroom situation and the opportunity to have her questions answered in a manner that she understood. She improved her results from the mock exams until the final exams.”

Ellen’s mother, January 2016
Year 13, Chemistry

“I would like to thank our tutor profusely as Anna has had a fantastic relationship with her .Both Melanie and I have observed a great step forward with regard to Anna's learning skills and overall progress. In the past Anna often floundered and did not know how to move forward as there was always something new coming up. Very frustrating for her which ate away at her confidence. Now Anna appears to enjoy her subjects and doesn't cry shy of them or skirt round them. Her tutor has helped her so much to devise a plan, system, strategy that has made a massive difference in how she approaches things and tackled the question. Hopefully this year ( 2016) we can build on this together.
I am so proud of Anna and I thank Melanie sincerely.”

Anna’s mother, January 2016
Year 12, Biology & Mathematics

“Ethan LOVES his lessons! Joe has completely lit a spark in him, it’s great to see J

Also – we just got Tom’s mid year reports and he got the highest scores possible in Maths and Science and is now top of the class in Maths! Way to go Sean!”

Ethan’s and Tom’s mother Jo, June 2015
Year 5 & Year 9, Mathematics & Science

“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

“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

“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

“Hi Melanie. Just to let you know it went really well with Josh earlier this evening. Both Molly and Pippa said he knew what he was talking about (unlike their teacher!!0 and was really helpful.”

Molly’s mother Pip, September 2014
Year 12, Mathematics

"Issey has found her time with Jackson really valuable. He has been a superb tutor for her and they have managed to cover a lot of ground. We hope to use AHeadStart again next year."

Issey’s mother Robyn, November 2014
Year 11, English, Science & Mathematics

"Thank Ryan for me please. He has been a great teacher & William has enjoyed the way he relates to working out problems that he has trouble with."

William’s mother Sue, May 2013
Year 12, Mathematics

"Bernadette got excellence on the recent tables and graphs formative and like Holly the tuition is invaluable for confidence. We are really pleased overall. We believe that tuition is essential because there seems to be big holes in the learning at school."

Holly’s and Bernadette’s mother Mary, July 2013
Year 11 & Year 12, Mathematics & Science

"Thanks for everything - exams went well and just await results in January. Jackson was delightful and has the makings of a great teacher / communicator of science - a young man going places!"

Josie’s mother Juliet, November 2014
Year 12, Chemistry & Physics

"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

“Thanks Melanie, Jedd has done very well with English this year and has enjoyed his tutoring with Blake and English at school - which is a huge achievement!

We are keen for Jedd to have English tutoring again next year so please put him on your list of students who want tutoring.”

Jedd’s mother Stephanie, November 2015
Year 10, English

“Hi Melanie,
Ben really enjoyed the lesson - learnt heaps he said ! Very upbeat about it, and really liked Sean. Many thanks and best wishes, Susie.”

Ben’s mother Susie, March 2016
Year 7, Mathematics

“Tuition with Hamish was fantastic - thank you. Sophia said he explained things really well and was able to answer her questions. She even came back enthusiastic and explained to us how you calculate the charge of elements in the periodic table! We would like to keep the Monday sessions with him.”

Sophia’s father Greg, October 2015
Year 11, Science

"Just thought I would let you and Daniel know, Daniel passed NCEA he got a total of 124 credits out of 124.

He was flunking Algebra at the beginning of the year, Daniel helped him in Algebra and Daniel got a Merit in NCEA!

Some of the sciences Daniel was weak in and he passed all of them with some Merits. The most important Physics with merit which is the science he is doing next year.

As I said the tutoring he had with Daniel made a huge difference and encouraged our Daniel to try and do better."

Daniel’s mother Kerrie, January 2012
Year 11, Level 1 Mathematics & Science

“My daughter's confidence, self-esteem and knowledge have all improved significantly. Clare had been considered 'at risk' of not passing NCEA by her school. However she ended up earning 102 credits which she was very excited about.
She doesn't find tutoring boring and is always happy to go. [She enjoys] Jackson's warm, kind and patient manner as well as his ability to explain things in different ways until she understood - he didn't make her feel stupid for asking for more detail.
Highly recommend AHeadStart.”

Clare’s mother, January 2016
Year 11, English & Science

"[My son] found going over the specific areas that he didn't understand [helpful]...again the ability to personalise teaching to his specific learning needs."

Mother of student December 2009
Year 12, Level 2 Chemistry

“It was a great help to Grace. It gave her more confidence with exams and she passed her MCAT which she had been concerned previously that she may not. There were particular aspects also of the curriculum that were specifically letting her down in exams and she was able to get a greater understanding of these areas.”

Grace’s mother Pam, January 2016
Year 11, Mathematics

"Thanks heaps for all the great work you have done with Bryony over the last 3 years. She has really enjoyed working with you, and you can certainly take credit for her results so far. I think you have a great way of relating to her, and getting the best from her in a non-threatening way. I wish you well for the future."

Bryony’s mother Paula, December 2012
Year 13, Level 3 Chemistry, Physics & Statistics