Our story

Bright Heart is a London-based tutoring agency and education consultancy.

We offer a more nurturing approach to tuition.

We work with families, local authorities and schools (we’re an accredited NTP provider) and help students who:

We provide in-person and online tuition and cover most subjects from primary to A-level.

We work with families, local authorities and schools (we’re an accredited NTP provider) and help students who:

We provide in-person and online tuition and cover most subjects from primary to A-level.

Bright Heart provides experienced, vetted and trained tutors that are carefully matched to students.

Tutors exemplify our heart-based ethos in all their tutoring. 

Most tutors have teaching experience in addition to tutoring experience. Tutors are provided with training from nasen (National Association of Special Educational Needs).

We introduce self-employed tutors to clients as an agent through our tutoring agency and provide tuition services to clients as a principal through our education consultancy.

Bright Heart provides experienced, vetted and trained tutors that are carefully matched to students.

Tutors exemplify our heart-based ethos in all their tutoring. 

Most tutors have teaching experience in addition to tutoring experience. Tutors are provided with training from nasen (National Association of Special Educational Needs).

We introduce self-employed tutors to clients as an agent through our tutoring agency and provide tuition services to clients as a principal through our education consultancy.

Special Educational Needs Student

Experienced team

Bright Heart has an experienced team, who are passionate about education. 

Dr Ryan Stevenson - Co-founder & Director

Dr Ryan Stevenson

Co-founder & Director

Ryan is an experienced tutor who has taught maths and science in London schools

Ryan has taught GCSE Maths and Science and A-Level Chemistry in London schools and Chemistry at university level. He has tutored in London for the last 10 years, including many students with special educational needs (SEN) such as dyslexiadyspraxiaADHD, anxietyASCdyscalculia and health and emotional issues. He has delivered curriculums to home-schooled students and enjoys the unique perspectives and perceptions that each young mind may bring.

Ryan holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering from the University of Cape Town where he was also a tutor, with research carried out at Cambridge University and the University of Manchester. Further Post-doctoral studies were conducted at Cambridge University. During a period of investment banking in Amsterdam, Ryan earned a BSc in Politics and International Relations from the London School of Economics.

Ryan draws on this broad tutoring experience to screen tutors and ensure they embody the Bright Heart Approach. He uses his expertise to ensure that clients receive well-matched tutors and that tuition is effective. He continues to pursue his passion for education through providing selective tutoring at Bright Heart. Ryan has attended training courses provided by nasen and is a member of the Tutors’ Association. He has been a volunteer therapist at the London charity, Body and Soul, for the past 10 years and has worked on a large project to connect students with nature.

Simon McQueen CA(SA), CFA - Co-founder & Director

Simon has a background in private equity and tutored finance at university

Simon has a background in private equity with significant experience providing growth capital and strategic advice to small and mid-size companies.  He has board-level experience focused on strategy, corporate development and financial oversight.  Simon has experience tutoring university under-graduate students finance. He also ran a share investment game for 2 years encouraging secondary school students from a disadvantaged background to take an interest in the financial markets. 

Simon is a CFA charterholder and chartered accountant who holds a Bachelor of Business Science in Finance (1st class) and a B Com Honours in Accounting (1st class) from the University of Cape Town. Simon was recently awarded a

Simon draws on his commercial expertise to ensure that Bright Heart operates smoothly and is able to deliver the highest standards of service to its clients, students and tutors. He has attended training courses provided by nasen. Simon has a young daughter and son.

Simon McQueen director at SEN tutoring agency
Simon McQueen director at SEN tutoring agency

Simon McQueen CA(SA), CFA

Co-founder & Director

Simon has a background in private equity and tutored finance at university

Simon has a background in private equity with significant experience providing growth capital and strategic advice to small and mid-size companies.  He has board-level experience focused on strategy, corporate development and financial oversight.  Simon has experience tutoring university under-graduate students finance. He also ran a share investment game for 2 years encouraging secondary school students from a disadvantaged background to take an interest in the financial markets. 

Simon is a CFA charterholder and chartered accountant who holds a Bachelor of Business Science in Finance (1st class) and a B Com Honours in Accounting (1st class) from the University of Cape Town. Simon was recently awarded a

Simon draws on his commercial expertise to ensure that Bright Heart operates smoothly and is able to deliver the highest standards of service to its clients, students and tutors. He has attended training courses provided by nasen. Simon has a young daughter and son.

SEN agency director & education specialist

Director

John is an experienced teacher and former head teacher

John is a qualified teacher with over 15 years of teaching experience. He has taught English and Spanish from primary to university level and tutored students in numerous subjects and was an SAT and Cambridge FCE tutor for several years. John has also been a head teacher, a position he used to implement many new extra-curricular activities to empower pupils. John became a Bright Heart tutor in 2018 and had a very positive impact on his students. He was appointed as a Director in January 2020 and became a full-time employee in April 2020. John is Bright Heart’s Designated Safeguarding Lead.

John holds a Master of Arts degree in Education, Concentration in Educational Leadership, from Framingham State University, Massachusetts (1st class) and a BA in Literature and Linguistics (1st class) from Universidad Nacional, Heredia. He is also a certified translator and interpreter and has worked with the U.S. State Department, UN, OECD, Pope Francis (via video conference), Nobel laureate economist Joseph Stiglitz and the President of Costa Rica.

John has vast experience tutoring students with special educational needs (SEN).  As an administrator, he has successfully managed and evaluated several programmes for the inclusion of students with special learning needs into mainstream classrooms. He has embraced the person-centred Bright Heart philosophy to instil in his students a love of learning and continues to tutor Bright Heart’s students. John draws on his wealth of teaching, tutoring and educational leadership experience to provide continuous professional development for tutors and to ensure that tuition programmes are designed and implemented to the highest standards.  John carries out student SEN / academic assessments using a holistic approach to address both academic and emotional needs.  John is the father of a young boy.

Yasmin Orchard - Client Manager

Yasmin has a wealth of SEN experience, both personally and professionally

Yasmin draws on her wealth of experience to support her clients and their children. As a mother of three, two of whom have SEND, and a former Bright Heart client, she has a deep empathy for parents who seek additional support for their children.

Yasmin holds an MA in Modern Turkish Studies from the University of London and a BA in English Literature and Philosophy from the University of East Anglia. After an initial career in broadcast journalism, and following the challenge of navigating the educational landscape whilst advocating for her own children, she wanted to use her expertise to help other families in similar situations. She, therefore, joined a tutoring agency as a client manager, focused on helping with more complex provisions. More recently, she worked as a learning support assistant and in the office of a busy south London school.

Through lived experience, Yasmin has seen how crucial the right kind of support is for a child’s overall well-being. She believes nurturing a child’s self-esteem is the key to fulfilling their potential in all areas of their lives. Yasmin is a native South Londoner, and when she can escape her houseful of teenage children and accordion-playing husband, she loves long walks in her local common.

Yasmin Orchard - Bright Heart Client Manager
Yasmin Orchard - Bright Heart Client Manager

Yasmin Orchard

Client Manager

Yasmin has a wealth of SEN experience, both personally and professionally

Yasmin draws on her wealth of experience to support her clients and their children. As a mother of three, two of whom have SEND, and a former Bright Heart client, she has a deep empathy for parents who seek additional support for their children.

Yasmin holds an MA in Modern Turkish Studies from the University of London and a BA in English Literature and Philosophy from the University of East Anglia. After an initial career in broadcast journalism, and following the challenge of navigating the educational landscape whilst advocating for her own children, she wanted to use her expertise to help other families in similar situations. She, therefore, joined a tutoring agency as a client manager, focused on helping with more complex provisions. More recently, she worked as a learning support assistant and in the office of a busy south London school.

Through lived experience, Yasmin has seen how crucial the right kind of support is for a child’s overall well-being. She believes nurturing a child’s self-esteem is the key to fulfilling their potential in all areas of their lives. Yasmin is a native South Londoner, and when she can escape her houseful of teenage children and accordion-playing husband, she loves long walks in her local common.

Rosie Ingold - Bright Heart Education Consultant

Dr Rosie Ingold - Senior Education Consultant

Dr Rosie Ingold

Senior Education Consultant

Rosie is a qualified teacher with pastoral and mentoring experience

Rosie has a background in education. She has worked in teaching and pastoral roles in schools across the UK. Rosie is passionate about ensuring all young people are holistically supported to fulfil their potential.

Rosie holds a PhD in Geography, a MA in Landscape and Culture (with Distinction), and a BA (Hons) in Geography (1st class) from the University of Nottingham. She trained as a secondary school Geography teacher at UCL Institute of Education in 2014/15 and obtained Qualified Teacher Status in 2015. She has also worked as a mentor to teachers working towards Qualified Teacher Status at international schools.

Rosie joined Bright Heart after almost a year in India, where she supported her husband in a diplomatic role. While in India, she completed a Personality Development and Communication Skills course through the University of Madras. Rosie draws on her wealth of educational experience to ensure that students receive high-quality tuition from well-matched tutors. In addition, she is committed to providing friendly, empathetic, professional support to clients and tutors. Rosie lives in South West London with her husband.

Geraldine Arnott – Tutor Manager

Geraldine is a former teaching assistant with tutoring sector experience

Geraldine graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from the Open University, studying English Literature and Child Psychology.

Before having her children, she worked as a teaching assistant at an all-boys secondary school in South West London. Working closely with children with special educational needs and providing nurturing support was a role that she immensely enjoyed.

In addition to her in-school experience, Geraldine has worked in the tutoring sector. Before joining Bright Heart, she supported the Director at another tutoring agency based in London.

Geraldine strives to provide an efficient and warm service to Bright Heart’s tutors and clients. She aims to deliver all tasks with a friendly, professional, positive approach. Geraldine has three school-aged children.

Geraldine Arnott - Tutor Manager & Client Support at Bright Heart
Geraldine Arnott - Tutor Manager & Client Support at Bright Heart

Geraldine Arnott

Tutor Manager

Geraldine is a former teaching assistant with tutoring sector experience

Geraldine graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from the Open University, studying English Literature and Child Psychology.

Before having her children, she worked as a teaching assistant at an all-boys secondary school in South West London. Working closely with children with special educational needs and providing nurturing support was a role that she immensely enjoyed.

In addition to her in-school experience, Geraldine has worked in the tutoring sector. Before joining Bright Heart, she supported the Director at another tutoring agency based in London.

Geraldine strives to provide an efficient and warm service to Bright Heart’s tutors and clients. She aims to deliver all tasks with a friendly, professional, positive approach. Geraldine has three school-aged children.

Victoria Hopkins - Education Consultant at Bright Heart Education SEN agency

Victoria Hopkins - Education Consultant

Victoria Hopkins

Education Consultant

Victoria is a qualified teacher with teaching and tutoring experience

Victoria graduated from Oxford Brookes University with a BSc honours degree in Psychology and Marketing. She then studied for a PGCE at the University of Hertfordshire, qualifying with distinction and gaining Qualified Teacher Status in 2013. Victoria worked as a primary school teacher for over 11 years. She was previously a head of year, subject lead, and mentored trainee teachers.

Victoria has worked in state and private schools and has a wealth of experience teaching children with special educational needs. Victoria ran her own tuition business for six years, working one to one with children from reception to year 7. Before teaching, Victoria worked in events and client relations for five years.

Victoria’s philosophy and understanding of how children learn best is based on valuing every child as an individual and creating a learning environment where all can flourish and reach their true potential. Victoria draws on her wealth of educational experience to ensure students receive high-quality tuition from well-matched tutors. She is dedicated to offering friendly, empathetic, professional support to clients and tutors. Victoria has a dog called Biscuit, with whom she enjoys long walks.

Harris Iqbal - Tutor Support

Harris is an experienced tutor who has taught maths in London schools

Harris has a passion for teaching, having tutored since the age of 16 when he mentored fellow GCSE students at his school. This experience led Harris to volunteer to teach disadvantaged students in South Africa, which built a good foundation for his tutoring and further developed his love of teaching. Harris became a Bright Heart maths tutor in 2018 and has had a very positive impact on his students. He has also taught as a maths intern at Queen Elizabeth Grammar school, providing one-to-one support, planning lessons, and organising events at the school.

In addition to his tutoring, Harris works with Bright Heart on a part-time basis to help support its tutors. He draws on his wealth of tutoring experience to provide an excellent service to his fellow tutors and also helps with tutor recruitment. Harris holds a BSc in Mathematics (2:1) from Brunel University London.

Harris understands the competitiveness of a classroom can be daunting to an individual and has always encompassed Bright Heart’s person-centred approach. Harris has worked with many students with special educational needs, including dyslexiadyspraxiaADHD, anxietyASCdyscalculia and health and emotional challenges.

SEN Agency Tutor Support - Harris
SEN Agency Tutor Support - Harris

Jacqui Mackway-Wilson - Social Media Manager

Harris Iqbal

Tutor Support

Harris is an experienced tutor who has taught maths in London schools

Harris has a passion for teaching, having tutored since the age of 16 when he mentored fellow GCSE students at his school. This experience led Harris to volunteer to teach disadvantaged students in South Africa, which built a good foundation for his tutoring and further developed his love of teaching. Harris became a Bright Heart maths tutor in 2018 and has had a very positive impact on his students. He has also taught as a maths intern at Queen Elizabeth Grammar school, providing one-to-one support, planning lessons, and organising events at the school.

In addition to his tutoring, Harris works with Bright Heart on a part-time basis to help support its tutors. He draws on his wealth of tutoring experience to provide an excellent service to his fellow tutors and also helps with tutor recruitment. Harris holds a BSc in Mathematics (2:1) from Brunel University London.

Harris understands the competitiveness of a classroom can be daunting to an individual and has always encompassed Bright Heart’s person-centred approach. Harris has worked with many students with special educational needs, including dyslexiadyspraxiaADHD, anxietyASCdyscalculia and health and emotional challenges.

SEN agency profile - Jacqui

Jacqui Mackway-Wilson - Social Media Manager

Jacqui Mackway-Wilson

Social Media Manager

Jacqui is a former early years teacher now focused on digital media

Jacqui qualified as an early years teacher. She later completed a course in teaching children with special educational needs (SEN). Jacqui’s teaching career spanned almost a decade before she launched South Africa’s first glossy monthly magazine for teachers. This was later published in Australia and New Zealand and marked the beginning of her transition into full-time digital marketing. Jacqui has two sons and is no stranger to the unique pressures that having a child with special educational needs places on families, as her younger sister Candice was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy and Autism. 

Jacqui draws on her unique teaching, SEN and digital media experience to create social media content for Bright Heart that aims to provide helpful advice and inspiration to families. She is passionate about social activism, delivering talks to schools, teachers and parents on digital safety, cyber bullying and good citizenship.

How it started

Ryan witnessed first-hand – both teaching and tutoring for some of London’s top agencies – the lack of individual care and attention provided to students. 

Simply put, there was too much focus on the mind and short-term academic goals. This failed to acknowledge the needs of the heart to realise long-term potential. The former, imbalanced approach was especially problematic for students with special needs and those lacking in confidence or motivation.”

Ryan found that by acknowledging the whole person first and any challenges they may have, the mind would naturally follow. The benefits of this approach were demonstrated by the exam results his students achieved and their improved motivation for learning. Read more about Ryan’s tutoring ethos in this article published in the nasen Connect magazine.

Bright Heart was established to replicate Ryan’s successful approach to private tuition.

Our Philosophy

We call our tutoring methodology the Bright Heart Approach. It is a more nurturing approach, which puts into practice what we have observed across many students. It is based on our experience that effective tutoring connects on a deeper level than focusing purely on intellectual abilities. This leads to longer term stability and success.

We ensure our tutors are suitably prepared to meet student’s unique learning needs. Our training relationship with nasen helps to achieve this.

We believe that establishing good rapport with students is essential for successful tuition. Students therefore receive a trial lesson to ensure their tutor is a great match.

Our Mission

Our Ethos

Private tutor