Gabrielle Marshall
Qualified Teacher and Home educating Parent
I have 4 children ages 8,12,16,18. They have all been home educated with brief spells of Waldorf and state education. My journey with home education led me to understand that home education better supported our children in their need to be, to learn and to connect with their family.
Ten years on and I've found that, at 14, the majority of my son's friends went into school. Now my third son is twelve and I'm keen to build a group for the long term that can study together under the care of parents and teachers bought together by a common purpose.
This initiative has the advantage of making home education less onerous on us parents trying to organise group learning, more cost effective ( one to one tuition is anything from £25-45/hr) more attractive to children wanting to learn in a group and better for being small class sizes with actual teacher attention. It also gives us parents more space to work or take time for ourselves.
I am a qualified secondary school English teacher and have experience teaching English, Maths, drama, Art, pottery and science to both groups and individuals. I have set up and run Active Minds (2011) for 36 children including a teenage group. I've worked as a journalist, reporter, presenter and producer/director in radio and television before transferring to teaching. I've published short stories for BBC radio and currently home educate, teach pottery and sell jewelry I've designed and made. My family recently took a gap year in India but returned due to the pandemic. We live in West Hoathly, in the Hoathly Hill Community.
Like many home educating parents, I've learnt a lot over the years so I understand how to encourage a child, help them to find the information they need to move forward and how to persevere in becoming independent learners. I am there to supervise, hold a safe space and to offer limited guidance when required. The students need to be able to self motivate and be willing to do the extra work at home ( with parental support). This provision offers tuition that in conjunction with home study and other activities gives your child a rich and varied education.
I am confident that your child will find each one of our teachers inspiring. They come recommended by parents and most importantly the children themselves. We are fortunate as home educators to be able to pick the best of the bunch !