PHILOSOPHY
The Orange Tree
At the Orange Tree Private Tutoring Academy, we have a range of highly qualified and experienced tutors and subject specialists available to engage and support students in their learning. We have a studio in Santa Maria which allows us to offer classes in both academic and creative subjects. In our beautiful outside spaces nearby, we also tutor in small groups of no more than 10, where we can also enjoy gardening and exploring our rural world.
Due to the small class sizes, children who have missed time in their schooling or who have any learning needs, receive personalised, educational support. Our practical and pragmatic approach to this project is our shared belief that all young people have the right to a transformational educational experience that will enable them, no matter what their starting point, to fulfill their potential and realise their ambitions.
Academic subjects & support: Literacy & Numeracy, Languages, Humanities and Sciences. Our tutors can support students upto IGCSE level with Cambridge or Edexcel examination boards, as well as preparing students for other international exam systems such as the SATs. In addition we offer TEFL languages as foreign languages examinations.
Students who are taking examinations also receive support with revision skills and techniques and we can enable them to fully understand their learning styles.
Creative subjects & support: Art & Design, Drama, Music, Audiovisual and sports. Within Music we also offer support for the Royal College of Music qualifications.
We ensure there are opportunities for performances to audiences, to share their creative progress at regularly.
Your Orange Tree team.
I believe that school should be and can be an enjoyable experience if children are given control and are happy.
Eugenie Woodward
Eugenie Woodward
Founder/HEad of English/Theatrical Director
I am a teacher of English language and literature as well as a Drama teacher.
Having taught in several international schools around the world after leaving the UK in 2000, I have experienced types of education in some institutions that were extremely progressive but also some that were extremely oppressive and depressing.
As I grew up I hated school but found my escape in reading. I became a teacher 25 years ago because I believe that school should be and can be an enjoyable experience if children are given control and are happy. When children are not judged or classed as 'good' or 'bad' they will learn not only content, but how to: investigate, discover, and discuss; if they are allowed to make, do and create they are in charge of their learning and will love it. This journey has brought me to The Orange Tree.
David McNeil
Founder/Director of education
I have over twenty years teaching experience, eleven of them in international schools.
I was the head of primary for three years in an international school on Mallorca before starting the Orange Tree with a group of colleagues.
My philosophy is that students learn better when they are happy, relaxed and safe.
Academic success, confidence and self-esteem are nurtured through a mixture of a high level of pastoral care, creative learning and small groups.
At the Orange Tree, the general wellbeing/happiness of the students is our top priority, and this is already benefiting our students both academically and emotionally.
Norman van Geerke
Founder/Musical Director
All teachers have been students at some point in their lives and this informs our practice as teachers. From my own experience and my love of music I realised early on that every child can learn and enjoy to play an instrument, which is a skill that will stay with them for the rest of their lives. Because of music they learn to make friends, they learn to socialise, they learn to communicate.
One of my favourite sayings is from the movie Field of Dreams; ¨If you build it, they will come.¨ It transfers directly into my teaching philosophy and into The Orange Tree. Give children the opportunity and they will grab it with both hands. Moreover, they learn the fundamental joy of being in a team; it really is ¨Ego sum qui sum,¨ the whole is greater than the sum of its parts - Aristotle.
One of my greatest joys is watching my students experience the wonder of making music.
Iratxe Cabrera
Kindergarten/Spanish/Sports
“Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” Confucio
I came into teaching by chance, just exploring my interests, and I found my passion quickly. Children inspire me to keep developing, moving, improving and investigating just because one of their smiles makes all our efforts worthwhile.
Alfonsina Ramirez Cortes
ArTS & Crafts
I was born in Chile, surrounded by a very rich cultural atmosphere in which I learnt to draw before I learnt to write. So art has always been a part of my life.
Firstly I studied Latin and classical Greek; but when I moved to Spain at just 22 years old, I realised that art was my passion and I wanted to explore it further, which lead me to studying sculpture in Madrid.
Teaching and children are my second passion because I believe children are the future, and they will play a substantial role in the development of a better world.
In my opinion the learning process takes place through living and experimenting on all levels with mulptiple materials. I feel that my role is to walk with them on their creative path. For me art is a tool which allows us to express our feelings and inner emotions and portray them outside; these are often feelings we cannot explain with words.
Finally, children learn best when they are happy.
“We are here to protect children’s spontaneity.”
Arnold Stern
Pablo Debaecker
Spanish/Music
I've been teaching music and Spanish for the last four years, trying to guide my students towards an environment where they can feel safe and free to share their ideas and personality with their classmates. I like to work as much as possible with hands-on activities and practical situations, so that the students are able to use what they learn outside of school.
We would love to hear from you.
If you have any further questions or would like to visit us, do not hesitate to contact us by using the form or give us a call:
+34 672 23 91 46