"Thanks so much for your help. I couldn’t have passed physics without your help."
Marie, December 2010
Pre-Health, Physics
“Hannah achieved NCEA Level 3 with merit and is attending Canterbury University this year - she enjoyed her tutoring with Robert and although she became disengaged towards the end of the year, that was of her doing and her results in Statistics and Biology are testament to her having received tutoring.”
Hannah’s mother Louisa, February 2015
Year 13, Biology & Statistics
"Just want to let you know Jed really enjoyed his tutorials with Max and believes they have made a real difference to his exam efforts, particularly in re-igniting belief in his science ability!
His motivation and attitude has improved and we are hopeful this will carry through into Yr 12.
Please pass our thanks onto Max and am sure we will be in touch next year."
Jed’s mother Lesley, November 2014
Year 11, Science
"Kathleen went from 'giving up' to 'give it a go'. She was amazed and relieved to find she could understand the work."
Kathleen’s father John, December 2009
Year 13, Level 3 Physics
“Thank you for all your assistance with Emma and her work in Maths. Her confidence has grown and I am sure it will show in her grades too.
I am sure Emma will be keen to continue with your support so will contact you in the New Year.”
Emma’s mother Karen, November 2015
Year 11, Mathematics & Science
"As a result of my tuition, answering different kinds of exams, 1) has improved my confidence, 2) has taught me easier ways to solve problems. And step by step I have found myself loving the subject, and test marks have improved successfully."
Donia Hend, December 2008
Year 13, Level 3 Chemistry & Calculus
"Just wanted to say how thrilled we are with Caitlin's tuition. In addition to the skills and knowledge she has helped Josh acquire she has given him a lot more confidence. We are very grateful to Caitlin and the service you provide."
Josh’s mother Lynnette, October 2013
Year 12, Biology & Chemistry
"Robyn and I have no doubt that Bevan's help was essential. I don't think Matthew ever reached "confident" but he did get back on top of the work and felt he did ok in the exams. Cambridge Maths at that level is tough obviously, Matt is smart and his class is full of smart boys, he tells us a significant number have fallen by the wayside blown away by the complexity and workload. We are grateful to Bevan for his patience, good humor and excellent tutoring."
Matt’s mother Robyn, June 2012
Year 11, Level 1 Mathematics
“The most helpful thing about tutoring is when I don't get something my tutor will explain it in another way until I understand it. It is also useful to be able to ask as many questions as you want to.
In chemistry I found it really useful to be able to have someone explain directly a concept I didn't understand in class. I enjoyed eventually feeling confident with chemistry!”
Laura, January 2014
Year 12, Level 2 Chemistry & Mathematics
"AHeadStart was an amazing find! I wish I'd found it sooner! =) It helped me so much, it gave me confidance in maths!! made science interesting!!! and above all improved my school grades, to a level at which I'm winning an award for exellence in science! I came top of my class this year, and AHeadStart helped me there. I can't believe I'm typing this, but I now enjoy maths and science = P Thank you very much!"
Year 10 Student, December 2009
Mathematics & Science
“Ben gained confidence in his ability to learn not just the required maths but some more challenging sums and instead of feeling overwhelmed doing any mathematics began to enjoy this subject, the first time in his whole life."
Ben’s mother Nikhola, January 2014
Year 11, Mathematics
"As a result of having tutoring I feel I understand every topic a lot better. Before I started tutoring I thought I understood the topic but test results said a different story. After having tuition I found I had a better understanding of the topics in general and most of the time I understood what the question was asking.
I thought that Melanie was very helpful in explaining easy ways to understand what the question meant. In Solving Probability problems during the year my report was not achieving at the end of the year it changed to Achieving well my results changed from a not achieved to a merit. Understanding the language they used in Probability was my biggest problem I feel tutoring really helped this subject improve as I grasped what they were really trying to ask.
In the subject Applying Probability Distributions my results changed from not achieving to a merit. This is because I learnt when to apply binomial or Poisson or normal distributions. I learned the difference between these three distributions and it helped improve my test results.
In the topic Using Confidence intervals my results changed from not achieved to an achieved but I feel that the practice and revision I did between the last school results and the final NCEA exam that hopefully my results are higher than that. I feel more confident with this topic now.
Finally with the topic solving equation I could only ever do the simultaneous equations and not the graph part. I use to avoid this paper and did not do it in the school practice exam. So I do not have any results to show how I have improved but I feel with the lessons I have received that I can now answer all questions in this topic and I find it the most enjoyable and the easiest topic to do out of all of them."
Kate McDonald, December 2008
Year 13, Level 3 Statistics
"I would like to thank you very much, your professional service and Jackson's tuition have been fantastic, and has really made all the difference to Edie's stress levels (rather the lack of stress) and understanding of physics, and has been a huge boost to her confidence. She actually won the Excellence in Physics cup, and although she says that this is purely because she goes to a school where there is a very small class size and very little competition in the field, I have been assured by the staff that they don't give out the prize if there is not a deserving recipient! So please pass on our thanks to Jackson, as his tuition has been behind her success. That success and confidence has also contributed very much to her overall self-esteem, which is so important at this time of life!"
Edie’s mother Gretchen, November 2014
Year 13, Physics
"I would really like to thank AHeadStart tutoring as i had been to other tuition over other years and had felt that it didn't feel I had gained anything from this but form the tutoring and help you gave to me I felt I had grasped the subject better and it gave me more confidence in my ability which prepared me better for my exams."
Emily, December 2009
Year 13, Level 3 Physics
"I repeated year 12 physics as I need it for Medical Imaging. I had already learnt the material, I just wasn't grasping ideas as well as I could have. Having tuition from Mel refreshed the topics and went into detail so that I had a clear idea of all of the concepts. I believe that getting tuition from Mel meant I could go into my exams with confidence and I am quite confident that I will get the grades I am looking for!"
Alice, December 2009
Year 13, Level 2 Physics
“George's first tutorial went great thank you very much! Joe was great. George really enjoyed it and even said it was fun!! James and I are very excited to know that George is getting such great help.”
George’s mother Gwynneth, June 2015
Year 4, Mathematics
“Thank you so much for all the help you have given me with bio and stats this year. I’ve enjoyed the funny yet shockingly bad jokes and thank you for putting up with my countless blonde moments. I look forward to seeing you next year.”
Anna, November 2015
Year 12, Level 2 Biology & Mathematics
"Sophie found it really helpful and that Aimee was great and she wants to continue.
Soph said that they talked about one question and she didn’t understand it but now she does! So that’s a win to me."
Sophie's mother Catherine, February 2025
Year 13, Physics
"Bryn found the tutoring good and valuable and liked Jonathan's style. "
Bryn's father Regan, March 2025
Year 13, Calculus, Physics & Statistics
“Just letting you know I passed both of my maths exams! So thanks for all the help – it paid off!”
Jane, January 2015
Year 13, Statistics
"Sophie I'm sure has gained a good deal from her tutorials, even if just increased confidence in her abilities. Helena was a good match for her and very flexible with times etc."
Sophie’s mother Kirstie, November 2014
Year 11, Mathematics