Parent Testimonials

"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

“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​

"Mel continually provides excellent support. Often in a classroom some points can be missed, however the one on one with Mel has ensured that everything is covered, and learnt properly."

Kieran’s mother Marian, December 2009
Year 12, Level 2 Chemistry, Mathematics & Physics

"Wow, that is really great! Jackson certainly seems to have the gift of being able to get the information across so that the pupil understands. It's all very well knowing something, but teaching it effectively to others is quite another thing.

Edie will be cross with me for telling you about the prize, but I thought that you'd both like to hear that your services were working very effectively!! For Edie physics has gone from being something of a mystery, to very interesting things which apply to all aspects of life and the world around her. She was accepted into Fine Arts at Canterbury yesterday, which she is thrilled about, as are we, as it sees her being in an environment where she will continue to grow and to learn, and to keep on loving learning! (And physics will be very useful applied to sculpture!)"

Edie’s mother Gretchen, November 2014
Year 13, Physics

"We have nothing but the highest praise for Hannah. She is an excellent teacher and Monny really likes her very much.

I have to say, I was a bit nervous signing up to have students for tutors. I just wasn't sure they would have the skills/ maturity to manage someone not much younger than them and our previous experience with tutors has been with ex-teachers. I couldn't have been more wrong!!!. We are delighted with both Hannah and John. Monny really likes the fact that they are close to her own age as she feels she can relate to them."

Monica’s mother Karen, October 2012
Year 12, Level 2 Chemistry & Mathematics

“We found AHeadStart very approachable ,quick to respond to our emails and provided an excellent tutor who made our daughter feel comfortable to ask all those questions she needed to understand the subject and pass her subject with better than expected results. Claire.”

Georgia’s mother Claire, January 2016
Year 11, Accounting

"Anyway, thanks again. And to Hannah and John, they really were excellent tutors for Monica. Perfect match in both cases. Both very fine young people.

I think one of the advantages I hadn't considered when thinking about whether to go with more traditional 'crusty old schoolteacher' tutors or young uni students was the role model aspect. and I think it’s great for Monny to see young people, only a couple of years older than she is who are doing really well at uni, studying hard, but still very cool.

Needless to say, we are very big fans of yours now and recommend you to everyone. We have our fingers crossed for NCEA, but know that without John and Hannah she was really facing a huge challenge to get through maths and chemistry."

Monica’s mother Karen, December 2012
Year 12, Level 2 Chemistry & Mathematics

“You provided fantastic tutoring for my daughters Holly, from St Andrews College, and Sorren, who was working hard to improve her SAT maths score for admission to a USA university scholarship (incidentally she is in her 3rd year now!).”

Holly’s & Sorren’s mother Erica, October 2015

“We were very pleased with Emma’s results as she gained Level 2 with Excellence. Excellence endorsement in Art design and Biology, Merit endorsement in Maths and passed Physics with 9 ex and 13 merits and Chemistry with 12 ex and 8 achieved. Jackson Roberts was an excellent tutor and Emma would be very keen to continue with him.”

Emma’s mother Catriona, January 2016
Year 12, Chemistry, Mathematics & Physics

"Holly is enjoying her maths lessons with James and has found them really helpful, she got a merit pass for her last internal which was a fantastic result. Having the extra help has helped her confidence so that she has a better attitude to maths."

Holly’s mother Bernadette, July 2013
Year 11, Mathematics

“Thank you very much for the service you provide. Mo has been a great support for Jake when he needed it.”

Jake’s mother Lisa, November 2015
Year 13, Physics

"Can I also add my thanks for all your efforts and positive reinforcement for Briar over the past two years. I am just so pleased that Briar has put in the hard yards, maintained her effort even when she thought she was not getting ahead, and enjoyed the success of her efforts. It speaks volumes for your approach to tutoring and I am so pleased that we found you on the web and decided to work with you."

Briar’s mother Cathie, December 2009
Year 13, Level 3 Biology

"[We] previously used AHeadStart 1-2 years ago, finding Melanie extremely professional and approachable. The tutor involved was just wonderful and after only one session was able to recognise a key component which our daughter wasn't understanding in physics. She went from getting "not achieved" to "excellent" within a very short time."

Paris’ mother Hilary, January 2013
Year 13, Calculus & Physics

"The tuition is making all the difference for Edie, she feels a lot more confident, and she was the only person in her class as school to pass both papers for the mock exam last week, so she is happy! Before the tuition she felt like she was going to fail the exams, but Jackson has really taken a lot of her stress away, so thanks very much!!!"

Edie’s mother Gretchen, September 2014
Year 13, Physics

“Lucie was struggling with minimal help at school, and would have got achieved at best with chem, but after tutoring got merit.
Lucie had a huge amount of extracurricular responsibility, and missed a lot of class time. Caitlin was very clear on re capping and making sure Lucie was absolutely certain in her answers."

Lucie’s mother Deb, January 2014
Year 13, Chemistry

“Sean is really remarkable, Tom’s confidence is growing in leaps and bounds and he is loving learning. I am so pleased I found your organisation :)”

Tom’s mother Jo, May 2015
Year 9, Mathematics & Science

"Thanks for the report. Ayrton struggled with all subjects at primary & intermediate school, and he has never had any confidence in his ability. Now with the help of both Ezra & Alex he is starting to realise he can do well and he is enjoying it so much more particularly the maths. Ayrton is now in a pre Cambridge Maths class and CBHS are getting them all to do some of the NCEA1 maths exam at the end of the year."

Ayrton’s mother Anna, July 2011
Year 10, Level 1 Mathematics

“Another of my children used another source of tuition and I prefer AHeadStart, more expensive but more professional and good options for locations of tutorials.”

Alex’s mother, January 2016
Year 13, Calculus

“I would just like to pass on thanks to Mo for the great Job he did with Adam in such a short time! He went from NA in mocks for Chemistry and Physics to passing both with Merit.

Will definitely be back and will recommend him to others.”

Adam’s mother Jayne, January 2015
Year 11, Chemistry & Physics

“[Alex] had his prize giving this week and got top of Calculus and Dux, so he was pretty happy!”

Alex’s tutor Don, November 2015
Year 13, Level 3 Calculus

"John was very easy for her to understand and discuss problems with. Always prompt and loved the fact he came to our house."

Hannah’s mother Irene, December 2009
Year 12, Level 2 Physics

"Just wanted to say a big thank you to Laura for all her help with Ashleigh. She has finished all her English assignments and achieved with Merit. Ashleigh is thrilled as she was convinced she would fail English this year."

Ashleigh’s mother Jacqui, September 2013
Year 12 English