"FYI - we are very pleased with Sam's progress. Considering she was planning not to continue with statistics, with tutoring she has grown in confidence and achieving. It has been good that there was some degree of flexibility and we relied on Sam to work things out with the tutor. I think this has helped her take responsibility & make sure she was getting what she needed."
Sam’s mother Kathryn, October 2013
Year 13, Statistics
"Many thanks for your help and Katy got a biology result last week and she got Excellence!"
Katy’s mother Sue, July 2014
Year 13, Biology
“Anna was brilliant and knew A LOT about physics. As she knows the NCEA system, she was able to help me plan out how I would answer a question and where to start, something I find particularly difficult in physics.
Something I find annoying at school is that in physics they don't tell you why a theory is the case, we are just expected to remember. Anna was able to explain why more than my teacher.”
Emma, January 2016
Year 13, Physics
“Thanks to you and Sean for the very comprehensive report- we are so pleased with his progress. George really likes Sean and responds well to his style of teaching.
George said to me yesterday that he now enjoys maths which is great and a big change from before beginning Sean's tutorials.”
George’s mother Justine, July 2015
Year 7, Mathematics
"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
"Alice was amazing. Vincent enjoyed studying with her.
We are looking forward to see her again."
Vincent's mother Zsuzsanna, March 2025
Year 5, English
“Hi Melanie. Thank you for your amazing tutoring. I appreciated hugely.”
Laura, November 2014
Year 13, Statistics
"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
“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
"Alexander was thrilled with his session with Bailey. Solved a lot of riddles!"
Alexander's mother Cecilia, April 2025
Year 13, Calculus
“I couldn't speak more highly of AHeadStart and my tutors, they were so friendly, so helpful and they both truly wanted me to succeed in English and Mathematics by continually giving me every opportunity to improve and prepare. Even in English when I first started tutoring in Level 1 - I went from getting 'achieved' in internals to suddenly getting 'Excellences' for the rest of the year and for Level 2 I received all Excellences for all of my internals and passed all of my exams.”
Mikayla, January 2016
Year 12, English & Mathematics
"Melanie was wonderful in her availability to cater for Danielle at short notice. Danielle was very certain that she was going to do poorly in her Physics exam prior to her lessons with Melanie. Melanie provided a method of formulas that would help Danielle answer questions. Melanie explained the subject in a way that suited Danielle. Danielle was very happy in the end."
Danielle's mother Lisa, December 2009
Year 12, Level 2 Physics
"Thank you so much for sending the report.
We’ve shared it with Sota’s parents in Japan as well.
It really gives a clear picture of how he’s been working on his tasks each time.
Sota often tells us how great Isabella is as a tutor.
We really appreciate her patience and the way she supports him.
We truly feel that Sota’s progress so far is thanks to her help.
He was also able to achieve in the recent NCEA internal exam.
As he now starts preparing for the external exams, we’d really appreciate your continued support in helping him work on his weaker areas.
Thank you."
Sota's guardian Mari, June 2025
Year 13 Biology
“Thanks so much for accommodating William this term. Daniel has been wonderful and I would recommend him to anyone. He has been professional in every way, always on time, never missed a tutorial. His manner and demeanour where encouraging and firm. I feel William has benefited immensely and look forward to his NCEA L1 result. Thanks, we will be in touch next year."
William’s father Kevin, November 2013
Year 11, Mathematics
“Tuition for my daughter helped her so much, it was the best decision we made for her in helping her achieve her goals.
Going from home-schooling to suddenly gaining credits for Level 1 and Level 2 was hard, the work load increased and gave her quite the shock. She was very determined though and with the help of her tutors she not only went from struggling in English and Maths but to succeeding in every internal and external she did.
Her tutors were just amazing, they helped her have confidence in what they taught her but most of all they supported her every step of the way giving her an understanding and skills to work through her work.
Was worth every cent especially when we saw for ourselves how much she was improving and how she would go from sitting there confused, asking us as parents for help to understand, to sitting there confidently working through her work knowing what she was doing. She went from getting 'achieved' to 'merit's and for English all 'excellences' for the past two years.
I also found tuition around exam times fantastic, helping her go over all the past exams helped her so much and I believe by doing so it helped her understand what was expected of her in her exams.”
Mikayla’s mother Leeann, January 2016
Year 12, English & Mathematics
"Millie has really enjoyed having Michelle as her tutor and is feeling well prepared, thanks to the work that Michelle has done in going over questions/exam papers with her. Thanks again for organising her tutoring this year."
Millie’s mother Susan, October 2014
Year 11, Mathematics
"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
"Wow Sophie was impressive! She was patient and engaging. She had a wealth of knowledge and fully prepared. Troy just beamed with confidence after sitting with her for only an hour. We are more than happy with continuing with Sophie, honestly I have no concerns with Troy passing English with her guidance.
She’s just lovely."
Troy's mother Leanne, February 2025
Year 10, English
"Yes, Alex came home buzzing. She really wants to do well in her exams later this year. Sadly for her, her results in the mock exams were disappointing.
So after her first English tutorial yesterday, she is already feeling a lot more confident and is a happier person. Many thanks for organising Paula."
Alex’s mother Cassandra, September 2013
Year 11, English
"Hi Melanie,
She found the time very useful, and enjoyed meeting Ciara. She seemed pretty happy about how things went. Big thanks to Ciara for making such a positive impression and for being so helpful."
Scarlett's mother Amanda, May 2025
Year 12, Chemistry & Mathematics
"Daisy's exams seem to have gone well so far. Helena has made a huge difference to her knowledge and confidence and Daisy has approached her learning and the exams with little anxiety."
Daisy’s mother Lorelei, November 2014
Year 11, Chemistry, Mathematics & Physics