Parent Testimonials

“We wanted to let you know how much Olivia has enjoyed her tuition. Amelia has been a great match for her. Olivia has improved a lot over the time Amelia has tutored her to the point where her teacher at school has commented. Also she has made a significant improvement in her end of year maths tests and has gone up a stanine.

We really hope that Olivia can continue her tutoring with Amelia next year.”

Olivia’s mother Kerry, November 2015
Year 7, Mathematics

“Hi Melanie 

The tutorial went extremely well. Douglas was quite apprehensive but totally clicked with Jackson and said the 90minutes went very quickly and Jackson helped enormously with the maths and chemistry he had been doing this week. 

Many Thanks, Catriona”

Douglas’ mother Catriona, February 2016
Year 11, Mathematics & Science​

"Melanie was great in squeezing Danielle in for just a couple of revision lessons at the end of the school year and after school internal exams. However just the confidence she achieved was brilliant on its own. Thank you Melanie."

Danielle’s mother Lisa, December 2009
Year 12, Level 2 Physics

“Samuel came away with excellence in both subjects. He may have achieved this by himself in maths, however I believe your tuition in Science made a big difference. This is one of the weaker faculty’s at Kaiapoi and the extra tuition meant all areas of the syllabus were covered."

Samuel’s mother Jasmine, January 2014
Year 11, Mathematics & Science

"Thanks Melanie. Hamish did a great job. Rosa got top of her class for maths and science, and Carlos has appreciated the help too. We will be in touch next year with Rosa."

Rosa’s and Carlos’ mother Jackie, November 2014
Year 10 & Year 13, Chemistry, Mathematics & Physics

“Josh moved from stats to calc, he had a lot of catching up to do.
The tutoring gave him a better chance at his exams, he seemed more confident about his ability.”

Josh’s father Russell, January 2016
Year 13, Calculus

“Tried Kip McGrath at intermediate age. 1 on 1 far better and with tutors who have recently completed NCEA. Age difference small which for a teenage boy meant good rapport with tutor.”

Jayden’s mother Lisa, January 2016
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

"Thanks so much for all your help with Grace. She has come a long way and is really enjoying maths and physics now as she is feeling so much more confident about her understanding and performance in these subjects. We were very proud for her with her physics result and I spoke with her calculus teacher at parent-teacher on Thursday night who was delighted that Grace is resitting calculus. Grace is now in a very different place thanks to your input."

Grace’s mother Suzanne, May 2013
Year 13, Calculus & Physics

"I believe that Alice's time with AHeadStart Tuition gave her a greater understanding of Physics than she was ever able to achieve at school. The one on one approach seems to really work, and Alice actually enjoyed completing the homework set for her. I'm hoping that this once a week session will mean that she has achieved all of her Year 12 Physics papers, which she was unable to do when studying the subject full time at school last year."

Alice’s mother Judy, December 2009
Year 13, Level 2 Physics

"Hi Chloe just thought I’d let you know Charlotte got 90% in her maths exam - top in the class! Thank you for all your help."

Charlotte’s mother Mel, November 2012
Year 9, English & Mathematics

“Melanie has given my daughter more confidence in her own abilities and she is more positive and engaged in her maths. I highly recommend this to anyone who feels their child needs a boost in a subject.”

Emma’s mother Karen, January 2016
Year 11, Mathematics & Science

“Ben is very happy with James.  James is teaching Ben stuff that Ben's teacher isn't teaching, which fills in the gaps for Ben. So we are all happy!”

Ben’s mother Sarah, March 2016
Year 12, Mathematics & Physics

“Molly said Jacob was great. He was knowledgeable and really clear when explaining things. She found the session very worthwhile.”

Molly’s mother Pip, June 2015
Year 13, Physics

“The one on one in a comfortable and familiar environment really helped as did getting to know the tutor and his style/interaction. Also, being able to ask questions and go at a pace that kept information front of mind assisted overall learning.
His English grades improved in essay writing (personal responses) from an achieved to a merit. Overall he received a merit endorsement for this subject when he was nervous at the beginning of the year he may not be successful or only just achieve. This has increased his confidence with this important subject!”

Oliver’s mother Louisa, January 2016
Year 12, English

"Scott seems quite happy with the exams so far. I am very appreciative of the skills and abilities of the tutors as Scott has certainly become more confident in the knowledge that he does know things. Both Helena and Kirsten have helped greatly in developing his skills and techniques in both subjects.

I don’t know how children get on who don’t get tutoring, especially when the lack of knowledge comes down to the teacher that the student currently has. I firmly believe that Scott would probably have struggled to get an achieved in both subjects if we hadn’t approached you.

Please pass on our thanks and best wishes to Helena and Kirsten."

Scott’s parents Susan & Bruce, November 2014
Year 11, English & Mathematics

"Logan had some good reports from his Science teacher yesterday, saying that the tutoring has made a huge difference, which is fantastic."

Logan’s mother Vanessa, April 2015
Year 10, Level 1 Mathematics & Science

“We wanted to let you know that Alice received her IB results this week, which included a very pleasing 6 out of a possible 7 for Physics, a subject that she was struggling with earlier in the course and which in Year 12 her teacher thought she might only achieve a 4 or possibly 5 in. Please would you forward this to Hamish as we promised to let him know how she got on.

Alice would be the first to say how much she owed to Hamish's support and guidance in their weekly sessions so thank you very much for finding such an excellent tutor for her, we are convinced it made the crucial difference in her understanding. If Hamish ever needs a testimonial from the parents' point of view we would be very happy to provide one.”

Alice’s mother Jane, January 2015
Year 13, IB Physics

"Not only has my Max found your Max very helpful with his maths learning, but he has also enjoyed his company, taken a tutorial at the University and been inspired to follow in Max’s footsteps and aim to do a degree in Computer Science! A direction was what Max needed most of all so now he has a reason to try to do well in his exams."

Max’s mother Caroline, October 2014
Year 12, Mathematics

“Maths and English were two topics she greatly struggled with. By the end of Level 1 and Level 2 she was achieving in ways that not only shocked us but also her teachers. The improvement was mind blowing.

In Maths it was all new work to her and she did not understand it at all, her tutor was honestly the best tutor we had ever met, he not only taught her skills to understand Maths but he got her from basic maths to achieving mainly merits throughout the two years. For English her first internal she went from getting achieved to suddenly getting excellences for every internal she ever did. And passed all of her exams.”

Mikayla’s mother Leeann, January 2016
Year 12, English & Mathematics

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank you SO much for all your help and support over the years – you have made an amazing difference to Alex and I know she would have struggled without you. I think it would be lovely to keep in touch – I know Alex will really like that.

Thank you again – for your fabulous help."

Alex’s mother Catherine, December 2012
Year 13, Level 3 Biology, Calculus, Chemistry & Physics

“I'd like to say a very big thank you to both Ashleigh and Hugh for the support that they have shown Megan through this year. They have been wonderful and a huge help.

It has been a very tough year for Megan, far worse than we could ever have imagined, but she seems to have pulled through.   They were both very understanding and accommodating to the way Te Kura set out their lessons etc.  Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!”

Megan’s mother Toni, November 2015
Year 13, Accounting, Economics, English & History