Greene's Tutorial College

Greene's Tutorial College

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Motto	Non Sine Numine (Aeneid Book II, line 777:"As to naught without providence")
Established	1967
Type	Independent school
Religion	Church of England
Master	Christopher Upton
Principal	Carmen Prozzillo
Founder	Edward Greene
Location	Oxford Oxfordshire OX1 1BT United Kingdom
Staff	~15 administration members and approximately 150 tutors
Students	400
Gender	Co-educational
Ages	13–18+ (no age restriction)
Colours	Oxford Blue
Former Pupils	Old Greenites
Website	www.greenes.org.uk

File:Greene's Tutorial College - Oxford Historic.jpg

Greene's Tutorial College - Oxford

Greene's Tutorial College (informally referred to as Greene's) is an independent (i.e. private) British international day school and tutorial college (an educational institution which combines characteristics of a tuition centre and a college) and is the oldest of its type in Oxford, England which specialises in providing one-to-one tuition for students of any age, though particularly 16- to 18-year-olds. Established in 1967 by Edward Greene, an Oxford-educated tutor who had studied Classics and History at Wadham College, Oxford - University of Oxford, Greene's Tutorial College was originally named Edward Greene's Tutorial Establishment, and is the oldest tutorial college operating in Oxford. It is situated near Pembroke College and Christ Church. Many of the other tutorial colleges were in fact founded by former Greene's employees. Unlike some other Oxford tutorial colleges, however, Greene's has an "overlay of pedagogic principle or style" and has been described in publications as "the Rolls-Royce of Oxford crammers".

History

The history of Greene’s Tutorial College goes back to 1967 when Oxford graduate Edward Greene founded a small tutorial college known as Edward Greene’s Tutorial Establishment in the seventeenth-century buildings of 45, Pembroke Street in Oxford. Since then, over 15,000 students have been taught at Greene’s at various stages of their education. Most of Greene’s academic staff have learnt through individual tuition at Oxford or Cambridge University and combine substantial knowledge of education with an understanding of how a programme of tuition can best support each student’s learning.

Traditionally an Oxbridge feeder school which provided private tutoring for Oxford and Cambridge entrance, Greene's today prepares students for admission to universities in general. The college's core teaching principle is therefore traditional Oxbridge University face-to-face individual tuition. Nevertheless, to reflect the school's global and international character, Greene's increasingly also uses modern technology teaching methods based on E-learning via the Greene's Online System. Students are free to choose either face-to-face tuition or e-learning or a mixture of both. However, all exams must be completed and are invigilated at Greene's Tutorial College's Exam Halls/Testing Centre in Oxford, England; in Tianjin, China or in Lisbon, Portugal.

The college takes on a variety of students, from students doing A-level resits, those preparing for university, particularly at Oxbridge and younger students preparing for public-school entry, to intellectually gifted children unable to find appropriate education within the mainstream system, and "the oddball or dropout who finds it hard to adjust to the restrictions of ordinary schooling". After the retirement of Edward Greene, the college was taken over by Christopher Upton and Matthew Uffindell, both Oxford-educated tutors who had studied Agricultural science and English Literature respectively at the University of Oxford.

The college has educated 15,000 students since 1967 and a number of high-profile students, which most recently included the 9-year-old Math prodigy March Tian Boedihardjo. March was taught by about seven tutors during his two years of study. Jonathan Christie, at the time the Academic Registrar at Greene's, said that March was one of the youngest students the college had had. "It is not normal [to have such a young student taking A-levels]. But we don't judge students by age or ability."

The majority of the students are from Great Britain, with others from nations and continents including China, Russia, USA, Africa and Europe. Greene's has the "Highly Trusted" status rating of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for student visas.

Offices & Study Centres

Greene's Tutorial College has offices and study centres consisting of four buildings in three different countries:

Oxford, England:

Head Office: Greene's head office is based in the historical 17th century premises of 45, Pembroke Street in Oxford, England.

Study Centre and Exam Halls: Tuition and examinations for Greene's students takes place at the college's study and testing centre at 97 St Aldate's in Oxford, England.

China:

The office and study centre of Greene's Tutorial College - China is located in Tianjin, in the Nan Ma Lu, Heping District.

Portugal:

The office and study centre of Greene's Tutorial College - Portugal is situated in the city of Lisbon.

Curriculum

In the Greene's system, tutors set homework after every tutorial, go through it at the next tutorial, and write reports about performance, effort in class, and homework after every class. Greene's Tutorial College teaches primarily on a one-to-one basis, the same teaching method used at the University of Oxford. However, there are also group seminars for holiday revision courses and exam prep classes. The school offers preparation for British and International pre-university school-leaving qualifications and US-American SAT and ACT tests.

In addition, Greene's offers tuition and courses for a large variety of subjects which include core subjects such as English, Maths, Sciences & Foreign Languages.

Greene's Tutorial College offers 93 different subjects in total taught via approximately 130 tutors, 65% of those who apply. Tutors need to pass a 10 stage application process. The college has strong links to Oxbridge and almost 90% of the tutors are Oxford and Cambridge graduates: approximately half of Greene's tutors (45%) have a Bachelor's degree from either the University of Oxford or from the University of Cambridge and another 40% of the tutors either have a Master's degree or a doctorate PhD from Oxford.

To measure current as well as potential academic performance of students, Greene's has developed what it calls the "Greene's Index of Independence" (IOI) based on an individual student's independent learning as well as tuition reports.

The school follows the structure of a traditional academic year with the conventional British trimester terms (i.e. Michaelmas, Hilary & Trinity) but also provides students the possibility of enrolling at any point in the year due to the flexibility of their courses.

Academic achievement

According to the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) in England, "the college exceeds expectations". Academic results are above national average with 60% of examination grades being A* to B.

Academic achievement at Greene's is particularly high in sciences (Biology, Chemistry and Physics), Economics, Geography, History and Modern Languages. However, the college's strongest subject is Mathematics, with 70% of exam grades being A* to B.

Almost 90% (87%) of Greene's students are accepted at their first choice university. The school remains to have a strong bond to the University of Cambridge and, in particular, to the University of Oxford. Greene's students are eligible for membership at the Oxford Union.

Admission

Although the college declares "Greene’s is non-selective and accepts students of all ages and abilities"; admission remains competitive as the college also states "Admission to our sixth form is based on an assessment of each student’s aptitude". The school does not publish any statistics on admission rates.

Criticism

The college has been repeatedly criticized that the focus on high academic achievement and, in particular, the school's tutorial method of one-to-one tuition may happen at the cost of students' social activities and relationships; supposedly causing pressure and loneliness among students. As a consequence, Greene's announced that it would increase its commitment in encouraging extra-curricular activities: "We try to do all we can to help students meet new people and to encourage participation in a range of activities both in and around Oxford. There are monthly socials and an active student committee whose purpose it is to assist the scheduling, planning, and advertising of a variety of social events for the college community to enjoy. Directors of Studies are very approachable and have an open door policy so that help is always at hand.".

Student life

The school has a Student Committee which organizes social events for Greene's students all year round. Extra-curricular activities include cultural events such as theatre and museum visits; sports events such as rowing as well as movie nights, Christmas Balls and Summer Parties.

Notable alumni

Greene's follows a principle of discretion about the school's alumni via a privacy policy and thus does not confirm or deny names of current or former students - with the exception of Math prodigy March Tian Boedihardjo. The school merely states: "Some, like the tutors who taught them, have gone on to distinguished and prominent careers.".

Tuition

Annual tuition fees for students who come from the European Union and who wish to study at Greene's Tutorial College in Oxford, England, vary between £19,155 and £21'768. For international students who come from outside the European mainland (e.g. US, Russia, China), annual tuition fees are £28,693. For students who wish to study via Greene's Online System, annual tuition costs are £17,473.

Miscellaneous

A considerable number of Greene's students and tutors have engaged in the past or still engage at present in significant sports contests and tournaments such as the Olympics where they have won prizes and medals in various disciplines. One example includes a Greene's tutor and Harvard graduate who is a member of the Oxford rowing team in the world-famous Oxford versus Cambridge boat race.

External links

• Greene's Tutorial College