FAQs

Yes, we accept both GCSE and A-Level students. Please contact us further to discuss your options.

Greene’s is able to provide tuition in most A-Level subjects, including niche and minority subjects. We offer a limited range of GCSE courses, available upon request. Please contact us to discuss how Greene’s can help you to achieve your educational goals.

All of our tuition programmes are tailored to your personal interests, so tuition fees will vary from person to person. However, our fees page here can provide an indicator of approximate annual fees.

Greene’s accepts students at any time of the year, all year round. Fees are pro-rated accordingly. To discuss a start date, please click here. 

Our subjects can be taught with the syllabuses of, and the intention of undertaking examinations with, most of the major examination boards, including OCR, AQA, Edexcel, and CAIE. Please contact us further to discuss specific subjects and their boards.

All full-time students (including A level retake students) receive direction, support, and constant review from our Director of Studies with their university applications, including associated aptitude tests. As with our tuition, we offer guidance to each student, helping them to achieve their personal educational goals, whether they are looking to apply to the University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, another of the G5 universities, Russell Group, or an international university or college. This is achieved practically through personal statement workshops and one-to-one sessions with the Director of Studies.

Not necessarily. The majority of our programmes can be taught fully online. Hybrid options are also available upon request.

With the tutorial method of learning, there is an emphasis on independent study. During the tutorial, you will be expected to think critically and engage in probing discussions with your tutor about your A level studies. You will need to plan ahead for tutorials. Your tutor will provide you with reading lists, specific essay questions problems to solve, etc. which you should complete in advance of the tutorial. This then forms the basis for debate and discussion, providing the opportunity to demonstrate how much you have learned – and also giving you an appreciation of what you have not really understood. You will find that it is the debate and discussion that takes place during the tutorial which consolidates your learning and understanding.

To get the best out of your tutor and your tutorial be well prepared. You should expect to complete about three hours of independent A level study for each hour of tuition. Work creatively, investigate and discuss your work and ideas with your colleagues. Spend time thinking about what you want to cover during the tutorial and send any completed homework to your tutor beforehand. The tutorial method of learning works best when the learning and understanding of A level topics are consolidated by probing discussion with the tutor. The more prepared you are the more you will get out of your tutorial. Tutors at Greene’s very much appreciate and enjoy students who arrive with a barrage of questions!

Between tutorials, you are preparing for upcoming tutorials. Working on your A level studies by reading, researching ideas, writing essays, working through problems, taking notes, working with colleagues, and going to guest lectures are all some of the things that you will be doing between tutorials.

Your tutors will be setting homework as part of this process but you should also be studying ahead without always being prompted by your tutor. Remember the more prepared you are for each tutorial the more you will benefit from the tutorial.

Whilst you will have an individual academic programme, your tutorials may not all be individual. Although groups will be small it is important that you have opportunities for collaborative work and can exchange ideas with your colleagues. As your programme at Greene’s is specific to you your tutoring arrangements are also tailored to meet your individual A level study requirements with a mix and variety of tutorial options.

Small group work is often collaborative, involves presentation work and can be more participatory. We find that collaborative group work will develop your skills to work with others and your ability to listen and contribute effectively in discussion.

Greene’s has an active social scene, the lynchpin of which is the weekly Student Social Committee. The Committee organises fundraising events for charity, student clubs (including Book Club, Philosophy Club, and Wellbeing Club), and a number of exciting events throughout the year such as our Halloween, Christmas, and Summer parties. Students are regularly invited to attend local museums, theatres, and libraries under the supervision of a member of staff. The Oxford Union offers students the chance to listen and interact with world-renowned individuals such as Morgan Freeman and Sir Ian McKellen.

Although Greene’s does not have boarding facilities on-site, we have closely with a number of trusted partners who offer host-family and independent living solutions for our students. Please click here to learn more.

Retaking is not suitable for everyone and making rushed decisions after disappointing results is unwise. An initial discussion with someone at Greene’s may give a clearer understanding of A level results. It will also clarify the choices available to you and your son/daughter. You can find out more about the A Level retake choices available for your son/daughter here.

Generally, our approach begins with the student, identifying their educational goals, the nature of their previous studies, and how we can help them to improve. Like our tuition, the entire process is individual and does not adhere to a one-size-fits-all mentality.

The practical structure of our approach resembles the following steps of action:

1. We will analyse the reasons for the previous performance and will suggest a programme of study to improve both subject knowledge and study skills.
2. Next, we will spend time with your son/daughter to co-ordinate their university application. They will have a Personal Tutor to discuss the progress of their studies and university application on a weekly basis. We will decide with you and your son/daughter, and their previous school or college, the responsible member for their university application. We will ensure that we liaise with the appropriate person, providing support and advice.

Yes, Greene’s accepts private candidates looking to undertake examinations with one of the constituents of Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ), which includes AQA, Edexcel, OCR, SQA, and WJEC, or the Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE) board. Please complete the application form here and a member of our Examinations team will be able to help you with your enquiry.

Please visit our examination fees page, available here. Certificates and post-results services are not included in the fee for an examination and must be accounted for separately.

Greene’s offers special access arrangements upon request. Please contact the Examinations Officer to discuss your arrangements: examsofficer@greenes.org.uk.

A personalised timetable, containing information on location, timing, and what to bring with you, will be sent to the e-mail address that you used to fill in the examinations application form. Please bring a legal photo identification document to verify your identity. Most of our examinations take place at 97a St. Aldates Street. Please plan your journey so that you arrive 20-30 minutes before your examination.

Unfortunately, Greene’s does not have a car park. Due to the nature of the city infrastructure, parking in Oxford’s city centre is unfortunately limited. The nearest car park to Greene’s is Westgate Oxford, a major shopping centre, which is only a five-minute walk away.

An e-mail containing your son or daughter’s examination results will be sent to the e-mail that was used to register for your examinations (on the online application form).  You should receive your results by midday at the latest. If you have not received your results after this time (12 p.m. GMT), please contact the Examinations Officer: examsofficer@greenes.org.uk.

Greene’s receives certificates three to four months after you receive your results via e-mail. All certificates are sent directly to Greene’s. If you would like to receive your certificate, you have three options:

• Collect your certificates from Greene’s;
• Send a pre-stamped envelope for Greene’s to return to you containing your certificates;
• Request for your certificates to be sent to you (£25.00 for U.K. addresses and £40.00 for international addresses).

Please contact the Examinations Officer: examsofficer@greenes.org.uk.

Yes. Satisfactory completion of our starter and completer science practical courses may ensure that you meet all the requirements to obtain the A level science practical endorsement – continuous assessment, assessed skills & techniques and completion of at least 12 required practicals. Our courses meet the requirements of the Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Geology A level specifications for all the JCQ examination boards that include the practical endorsement (AQA, Edexcel, and OCR).

Yes. Completion of our science practical courses will help you prepare for the CIE A level science practical examination – Unit 3. There are additional Biology and Chemistry A level courses which we can prepare to meet specific CIE requirements in these subjects – such as microscopy for Biology.

Apart from CIE, the starter and completer courses are the examination. In contrast to the written units, there is not an examination in the usual sense for the A level science practical component. Instead, the assessment for the practical endorsement requires satisfactory completion of at least 12 practicals. In addition, there are questions based on practical skills and knowledge which occur in the written units for all the examination boards – including CIE. For both the AS and A level qualifications examined by AQA, Edexcel and OCR practical skills questions in the written papers will account for a minimum of 15% of your marks.

No. The examination boards are very clear that to obtain the A level practical endorsement all candidates must undertake practical work supervised by an examination centre, such as Greene’s. A university course that you may be applying for may also require the A level practical endorsement as part of its entry criteria.

The advice from UCAS is as follows: Practical work in the new science A levels will be assessed in two ways. First, 15% of the marks in the written exams will assess learners’ understanding of practical work. Learners’ performance here will contribute to their subject grade. Second, learners will have their practical skills assessed separately. They will receive an additional pass or fail result for this which will be recorded on their qualification certificate. Each learner will carry out a minimum of 12 practical activities over their two-year course of study…UCAS will ask the school or college of an applicant entering science A levels in Apply to indicate whether they are predicted to pass the science practical assessment in the same way as the main A level exams. Individual universities and colleges will have their own policies in relation to the science practical result and the requirement for it is likely to vary. However, it is likely that they will ask for a pass in the science practical for courses that involve laboratory and practical work from the outset, such as STEM courses. Where this is the case, they will make it clear in their entry requirements.

The examination boards falling under JCQ in England (AQA, Edexcel and OCR) have harmonised their assessment criteria – common practical assessment criteria (CPOC) and these can be found in the examination board specifications for each subject. Broadly, the practical assessment for A level science can be divided into four main areas:

• you must have demonstrated the appropriate skills and techniques;
• you must have met the assessment criteria;
• you must have completed a minimum of twelve practical activities; and
• you must complete and retain an appropriate written record of your practical work.

Our tutors and demonstrators all have extensive knowledge of the different requirements for each board and subject and will ensure that your practical course is both rewarding and enjoyable as well as meeting all the examination board requirements.

We offer practicals in Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Geology.

We can cover all examination boards, including AQA, CIE, Edexcel, and OCR.

Yes. The courses are timetabled so that you can attend practical courses covering all of the different science disciplines should you wish.

Yes. The year 1 and year 2 courses can be taken consecutively if you wish to complete the practical endorsement in one year. However, we would suggest that you pace your academic study for the written papers alongside your practicals. This helps you use the practicals to consolidate your learning. Please also bear in mind that in addition to the practical endorsement 15% of the marks from the written papers will be based on a knowledge of practical science.

We offer A level science practical courses in Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Geology covering all the examination boards (AQA, CIE, Edexcel, and OCR). The course covers everything you need to know to successfully complete the A level science practical endorsement and to prepare for the practical based questions of the written papers.

Yes. To obtain a “pass” grade for the practical endorsement you need to have met the assessment criteria of the Common Practical Assessment Criteria (CPAC).

The arrangements for the assessment of practical skills are common to all examination boards in England (AQA, Edexcel and OCR). These are called the Common Practical Assessment Criteria (CPAC). The CPAC define the minimum standard required for the achievement of a pass. You will need to complete a minimum of 12 specified practical activities; provide evidence of independent application of investigative approaches and methods to practical work; and keep an appropriate record of your practical work, including your assessed practical activities. If you demonstrate the required standard across all the requirements of the CPAC you will receive a “pass” grade. This will be assessed by Greene’s and the quality of the assessments made by Greene’s will be externally inspected.

Information of our course fees can be found here.

Once your application has been accepted, you will be enrolled on your course and sent an invoice for your course fees. You can pay by direct bank transfer, by cheque, or you can call us to make a card payment.

Yes. Examination entry fees are not included as part of the science practical course fees.

The science practical courses at Greene’s are comprehensive, taught by highly qualified tutors with the assistance of laboratory technicians, and include the use of laboratory facilities and all necessary equipment, chemicals, etc.

If you think you may not be able to pay your course fees as a lump sum, please contact us to discuss this.

Physics practicals are held at Greene’s Tutorial College in the centre of Oxford, 45 Pembroke Street, Oxford, OX1 1BP. You can find more information on how to find Greene’s on our directions page. We use excellent laboratory facilities at St. Gregory the Great Catholic School, Cricket Road, Oxford, OX4 3DR for Biology and Chemistry practicals.

The practical endorsements for A level science courses are not assessed by a one-off examination. The endorsement is obtained by ongoing assessment of practical skills, and partly by assessed practicals and write ups. The Greene’s A level science practical courses are designed to allow you time to acquire and be assessed on your practical skills in addition to completing the minimum number of assessed practicals and having recorded your practical work.

If you are unable to attend our standard weekly courses there is also the option of attending weeklong intensive courses in Biology, Chemistry and/or Physics. These intensive courses also meet the assessment criteria of the A level science practical endorsement.

Yes. Remember you cannot obtain the A level practical endorsement unless you have satisfactorily completed a minimum of 12 specified practicals.

If you are interested in enrolling on a practical course, please complete the application form. We will then contact you to discuss your enrolment. Completion of the application form does not guarantee enrolment on a course.

Biology practicals: Dr. Saif Bham.

Chemistry practicals: Dr. David Egawhary.

Physics practicals: Mr. Julian Fox.

There will be the opportunity to talk to your tutor during the practical sessions – depending on the time available, your tutor is likely to be happy to answer your questions on other areas of your syllabus as well as the practical content.

After each practical session, your tutor will write a short report for you (known as a slip because they used to be written on small slips of paper). Your reports will be available for you on Greene’s Online, our online platform, after the practical session. We do our best to make reports available to you within forty-eight working hours after your practical session.

Your reports will also provide evidence that you have completed the ongoing practical assessment for your syllabus.

You can enter for the written units of your A level science examination with Greene’s, subject to availability. Contact us here to discuss how we can arrange your written unit examinations.

To reach your target grade you can measure your progress by taking a Greene’s arranged trial exam which will provide you with an indication of your performance as well as identifying any areas of weakness. You can get extra assistance with any areas of weaknesses either through one of our short courses or by taking some supplementary tuition.

Greene’s has a professional network of 150 tutors, all of whom are subject-specialised. Over 60% of our tutors are alumni of the University of Oxford and/or the University of Cambridge. Click here to view some of our tutor profiles.

All of our tutors are subject-specialised, this means they have at the very least a degree in the subject that they are teaching. We do not accept tutors who do not meet this requirement.

Greene’s conducts safety checks before and after recruiting tutors. Before an interview with a tutor, we conduct a pre-screening – verifying a list of required documents. During the interview we thoroughly assess the candidate, further testing the accuracy of their CV and qualifications. After the interview, we ensure that all tutors attend compulsory safeguarding courses. Annual training courses ensure that we continue to only offer high-quality teaching. We also conduct regular observations of online and in-person tutorials to ensure and maintain our quality of education. Please click here to read out full recruitment policy.

During the applications process, in the interview with the College Principal, and in further discussions with the Academic Director, we will assess the educational needs and goals of the student. This will inform the choice of tutor; we want to ensure that the best tutor is matched to help the student to reach their goals.

The Independent Schools’ Inspectorate assessed Greene’s in 2021 and identified that: ‘The quality of teaching and its impact on learning are excellent.  Teachers have outstanding subject knowledge and are very well qualified in the subjects that they teach.’ To read the full report, please click here.

Only the tutor and the student, and, if necessary, a relevant member of Greene’s staff (e.g. for observation), will have access to the tutorial room on Zoom. A waiting room buffer halts anyone else from entering without the host’s approval.

Tutors will never exchange personal contact details with students. Tutors will only communicate via the regulated Greene’s Online software system or via e-mail to the student’s personalised Greene’s e-mail address (provided in your child’s induction). For over 55 years, Greene’s has ensured the privacy and safety of both its students and tutors.

Please do not contact tutors directly. If you have queries for tutors, please contact Greene’s directly.