Step Ahead was established in early 1997 by George Hawkins M.Ed (Hons), the Director, who brought a wealth of teaching experience, including headship in both the state and independent sectors, and over 30 years of working with children and young people in a variety of settings.
Now half-way through his third decade with Step Ahead and after nearly 60 years of working with children – as well as involvement with parents, teachers and other professionals – from a variety of locations and social demographics, George has developed his belief in the power of motivational, inspiring and tailored individual teaching that rarely fails to recognise the potential of all students.
In 2016, George was awarded the MBE in Her Majesty’s Honours List – for his services to education and young people.
Since the inception of Step Ahead, George has led his tutors from the front, tutoring a wide range of pupils himself, while being available to prospective students, introducing systems for assessments and academic counselling sessions, developing close working relations with families, and especially taking great care to match the best tutor for each student’s individual academic needs and personality.
This passion for learning and personal level of care offered to all clients is fundamental to the sustained success levels of Step Ahead.
George is married to Jennifer, has adult children and is a grandfather. His wife is heavily involved with Step Ahead, as have been two of his sons. Having lived much of his life in cities, he and his wife live in the countryside in Fife, not far from the Forth Bridge.
All parents, professionals and prospective students – irrespective of location – are invited to contact George to discuss initial enquiries – with no obligation – on mobile 07967024726.
About Step Ahead
Step Ahead offers expert tuition in a wide variety of academic subjects, catering for school pupils, university students and adults.
Since the company launched in early 1997, over 760 tutors have registered with Step Ahead, the vast majority being teachers registered with the General Teaching Council, and many being very experienced teachers who hold or have held school senior posts. Each tutor applicant has to satisfy the Director as to their suitability in terms of such as knowledge, experience, aptitude and desire.
Only when it has been established that the tutor shares our ethos of passion for education, nurturing confidence in students through encouragement and praise, and working in partnership with parents and pupils, will they be registered with Step Ahead. Equally they are required to have undergone all the necessary checks for working with children and young people.
This process ensures Step Ahead clients can always be assured of the high quality and excellent care standards of our tutors.
Furthermore, the ever expanding selection of tutors ensures we can almost certainly offer the right tutor for your requirements.
While the majority of clients request tuition from our excellent maths and English tutors, we can also offer experts throughout the entire primary age-range and in a wide range of academic subjects, from all the Sciences, Latin to Physics, History to Philosophy.
Working together as a team, we ensure the Step Ahead motto is always upheld – that our clients are not merely keeping up, but getting a step ahead.
This approach has proven consistently successful over the years. We have an enviable track record of helping students boost their grades. We have also prepared successfully over five hundred pupils, from Scotland, the UK and abroad, for entry to independent schools.