WHO WE ARE
At Aquinas we seek to help your child achieve their personal learning objectives. We provide bespoke tuition that offers specialist guidance from professional teachers and tutors. Fostering academic progress through prioritising genuine understanding of subject knowledge alongside providing expert exam support, our private tuition is focused on helping our pupils cultivate independent minds that use critical thinking to question, analyse and approach challenges with confidence.
At the heart of Aquinas is a belief that education should do more than prepare pupils for examinations. We want pupils to develop a passion for knowledge, intellectual curiosity and the confidence to think independently — qualities that remain valuable long after an examination has finished.
We work with pupils across England and Scotland, from 11+ and independent school entrance through to GCSE, A Level and Scottish National Qualifications, but our approach can also complement education outside the traditional school system, including home education and hybrid learning, adapting to each pupil’s individual educational context, strengths and goals.
BENEFITS
During her time as a teacher working in Scotland’s top independent schools, our founder, Alice Saldanha, recognised how powerful 1-2-1 support was in helping pupils to progress rapidly and achieve their goals. Whilst the classroom is a dynamic space for learning, many pupils can feel overwhelmed, distracted and are in desperate need of individual support.
The idea for Aquinas developed as a result of Alice’s growing awareness of the power of personalised learning and her belief that fostering genuine understanding is the key to educational achievement. Inspired by the 13th-century Catholic philosopher and patron saint of education, Thomas Aquinas, part of our pedagogical mission is to help pupils truly understand what they are being taught, while developing the intellectual curiosity and independent thinking that allow them to engage deeply with their education. Aquinas once said: “I have understood every page I ever read.” Our bespoke learning model is centred on this philosophy, and it is our belief that, with tailored support and true comprehension of subject knowledge, pupils thrive, often exceeding their own expectations.
Alongside employing tutors who are experts in their subject specialisms, curricula and examination boards, we design Personalised Learning Plans (PLP) for every pupil. These plans begin with a free consultation call and are followed by an introductory lesson which includes a diagnostic assessment, ensuring that we meet pupils where they are in their learning. Once we have an understanding of each pupil’s individual learning requirements, we build a customised learning plan that includes resource materials, embedded assessments and a regular reporting schedule to ensure parents are kept up to date with their child’s progress.
Our approach is designed to complement each pupil’s wider education, whether they attend a mainstream or independent school, learn through a hybrid model or are educated at home. The intention of this comprehensive package is to ensure that our pupils are truly educated and that nothing is left to chance.
Professionalism, dedication and a passion for sharing knowledge and wisdom are at the heart of Aquinas. It is our mission to provide our pupils with a bespoke learning experience that gives them the confidence to succeed, develop a true love for learning and become increasingly independent in their thinking.
Sol was my maths tutor throughout the IB, and he was absolutely brilliant. He explains complicated concepts simply, gives you ample practice, and adapts the sessions to your learning style. In my experience, Sol was nothing but helpful, friendly, and dedicated to helping me achieve my goals. I fully recommend him to anyone who needs help with their maths.
Solomon is an absolutely brilliant tutor and overall wonderful human being. After two years of being tutored by him, I have never been more prepared to do my IB Maths exam this May. Although this year has been absolutely awful in terms of exams for maths (May 2025), I have been awarded a very strong 7 in maths — something I struggled with for a while, since I was always on the verge of a 6 and a 7. We have covered the entire syllabus months in advance, giving me so much more time and opportunity for revision. Sol has also been super helpful with checking over my maths, allowing me to finish the coursework much earlier and giving me more time to make any changes. I’m so grateful for all of his help and I will always remember our lessons. Thank you, Sol.
Our tutor supported my son before his English exam, and I only wish we had found Aquinas sooner. The improvement in both confidence and results was remarkable.
In exams my daughter was struggling with confidence more than anything. Physics felt overwhelming to her. Sam was very patient and calm, and didn’t make her feel silly for asking questions. She ended up doing better than she expected in her Physics exams.
With Aquinas, we knew our son was in expert hands. Having a tutor with classroom experience at a top independent school made all the difference.
My daughter now feels confident in English lessons again. She told me she finally understands what her teacher is explaining in class — that’s real progress.
Alice was the most lovely tutor to my daughter for higher English. Alice taught her the complete higher English course as my daughter was homeschooling. She individualised the course to suit her learning style and to help with her dyslexia. As a result my daughter received an A Band One.
My son and I were both really pleased with the tuition he got from Jonny. As well as giving my son advice on how to answer questions he gave my son confidence that he was on the right track and my son found that very reassuring. My son said the exam went well and he felt that the tuition made a big difference. I would definitely recommend using Aquinas Tuition.
Thank you for being such a dedicated and inspiring English teacher. Your lessons are always clear, well-structured, and engaging, which makes learning much easier and more enjoyable. My daughter really appreciate your patience in explaining difficult concepts and your constant encouragement, which has helped her build confidence in higher exam. Your passion for teaching truly makes a difference. I’m very grateful for your guidance.
At Aquinas, every child receives the focused attention they need to reach their full potential. Our tutors combine professional teaching with genuine care to build confidence, consistency, and lasting results.
