Mentor for Gifted & Talented Students

Tailoring tuition for the needs of talented individuals

Guiding VCE English students in their outcomes

Enabling gifted students to achieve their potential

Advancing the range of skills for students

Making the learning process enjoyable

Mentorship and Tuition for students seeking:

Testimonials

  • Mr. Angus is an awesome tutor, brilliant mentor and trustworthy friend. Mr Angus started to tutor me in July 2013 helping me prepare for the VCE exam. During that four months of learning, I had not only learnt more ideas and background knowledge of my textbooks that I had not learnt in my daily class, but also, most importantly, throughout our weekly session, I had learnt lots of valuable skills such as time management, critical thinking and much more. Mr. Angus was never just a tutor who teaches knowledge, skills and ideas. His humor and nice-crafted joke had really engaged me in learning. Outside session time, he also helped me to check my grammar mistakes in my essays (As an ESL student, I found it really helpful), and gave me lots of innovative suggestions. My aim for ESL was 35, well, at least more than 30 so I could get into Uni, however with Mr Angus’s help I got 40+. For VCE student who wants to reach their full potential and achieve the best they want in English related subject, I think the formula to success is :Mr. Angus + your unremitting hardworking = success

    AY - VCE ESL student (2013)

  • I learnt from Angus because I wanted to get better at scholarship tests, but he was such a good teacher that I decided to keep on taking lessons with him. He can teach you how to succeed in scholarships, how to improve your writing, and how to improve your English overall. Angus also has a unique way of teaching that is very successful. I now really enjoy English, and want to learn more. Angus will encourage you every step of the way with him, and he will always make time for you. One of the things I realised is that you’ll learn more from him, and do more homework for him than for any other ordinary tutor, because you feel like you want to impress him, which will make you work ten times more harder. Angus will let you choose what you want to do for your homework, which is really important for you will gain an independence to choose what you want to do. Angus is the best tutor you could ever have. He’s hardworking, he’s knowledgeable, and he will be the one to make you like learning. I definitely recommend Angus to anyone. He is unlike any tutor you will ever come across, and he will lead you to success!

    Lady BW - Scholarship student VCE (2024)

  • Gus has been my English tutor for a year and a half. During this time, I’ve learnt many different styles of writing, learnt how to make it more interesting and entertaining and how to analyse literature and use it to improve my writing style. Gus has not only helped me improve my grades, but his teaching allowed me to better appreciate stories and characters. He doesn’t just teach you how to write, he makes it enjoyable and fun. I would highly recommend Gus to anyone

    Sara - Year 6 English Student (2022)

  • Gus has been tutoring me in English for about 2 years now. In each of my tutoring sessions Gus goes above and beyond to make sure I have an in-depth understanding of everything I am studying in English. He always has an article, book, movie or document on hand to read over giving me background information on the text which really helps when writing essays. I am definitely not the same student to when I started with Gus, my writing has grown from just using the simple template provided by my teacher to knowing how to portray my perception of the essay question clearly which has greatly improved my marks! He always makes time to look at my drafts (even when I send them at the last minute) and gives advice that will not just get me a better mark but make me an overall better and more confident writer.

    Grace - VCE English Student (2020)

  • My daughter really enjoys her writing lessons with Gus and I cannot recommend him enough. He’s experienced, thoughtful and patient; always providing the right level of support and material to challenge her. His tutoring has made a big difference to her ability, confidence and understanding of writing and literature.

    Yaso - Parent of Scholarship Student (2022)

  • Angus is a great tutor. My daughter has been learning from him for three and a half years, since she was in year 5. Initially we were puzzled at his unique way of teaching but after learning from him for few months her English improved greatly and she enjoyed his lessons. He teaches my daughter how to be organised in the way she studies, to voice her opinions, not believe everything the news tells us and much much more. He has a lot of knowledge to share and tailors his lesson to the need of the students. He always considers what will benefit his students the most according to what they want to achieve. It is not easy to motivate yourself and prepare what you need before the lesson but Angus makes his students want to do it for themselves without their parents telling them to. Angus is a fantastic tutor and will support and guide you to achieve your goals.

    Mary - Parent of Scholarship Student (2021)

  • Gus was an amazing teacher. He helped me to transform to become a 100 times better writer. Through tips, tricks and encouragement, I learnt to improve my Reading Comprehension and Writing skills. The things I like most about Gus are his amusing personality and his approach towards teaching and it kept me interested in my learning. With Gus, every week I looked forward to having my class, which mattered to me and my parents, both. The delivery of his lessons were such that no one would feel bored and fall asleep. I believe, Gus has this outstanding ability to make even the most boring topic appear interesting to the point it can become your favourite. Also love his use of hilarious nicknames (mine for example, presented below) -RS (AKA. Rocket and also Lady Doombloodblade)

    Puppies Rule - Year 8 Student (2018)

  • Gus has been a great inspiration to both our children. He does a lot of work behind the scenes and has greatly improved their grades and understanding and appreciation of English. I would highly recommend him to any parent wishing to improve their children’s education. RM & JO parents year 11 and 12 students

    RodMidd - Parent (2020)

  • He is the talented English tutor, the master of teaching, and the hero of all the students he has taught. His name is Angus, and he is the best tutor anyone could ever hope for. I’ve been taught by Angus for about one and a half years, and from our first lesson until now my English, especially writing, has improved a lot. Before I started learning from Angus I had gotten a B on writing for my report every year, but then Angus came, did his magic, and my writing results went up to A.

    Mia - Scholarship student (2024)

  • Having spent the last two years under Angus’ supervision, I can say that I have been beyond satisfied with what he has been able to offer. Every session has been very productive, expanding my ability to write, understand and analyse texts, and understanding of issues in the media. Not only have my marks, and grades improved greatly, but my confidence to complete tasks in English have grown as well. As a Year 11 student looking to succeed in my final year, Angus has ensured that I have the tools to accomplish my goals. Angus’ lessons are not only restricted to the tutor sessions. Beyond that, we exchange emails frequently to discuss any problems that I have, and what I am doing during the week in regards to English. Angus’ lessons are always insightful. I feel that I have made constant progress from our first lesson, and I still feel like I am improving with every session that we do. I am looking forward to continuing our time together, and further pursuing my English studies.

    TomP - VCE English student (2017)

  • I’ve had a few tutors throughout high school for different subjects, but without a doubt left in my mind Angus has been the best out of them all. While being smart, inquisitive and helpful during our sessions, the part I appreciate the most is the behind the scenes work, in which he will correct, add to, mark a multitude of essays/notes. Without a doubt I would not be doing as well in Year 12 without the help of Angus as my Tutor. Highly recommend tutor for all people who wish to succeed

    JamesL - Year 12 English student (2016)

  • Angus has been my English tutor for about a year. The skills that he has taught me were and are invaluable. During my time with him, I have not only learnt a lot about English, but time and task management as well. He was there to help me get organised in other subjects when I felt overwhelmed by my year 12 studies. I was also often amazed by his breadth of knowledge as he understands and knows a lot about current issues and background knowledge of the novels and texts that I was studying. These fundamental and essential knowledges are often not taught at school and spending time with Angus makes it easier to learn the difficult concepts in a text. Overall, working with Angus has been the highlight of my English studies.

    Sabrina - VCE English student (2015)

  • Before angus first came to me, i was okay at writing. I was good enough to get an A in writing but i wanted to do some scholarships. So my family hired angus for me. He was amazing. At the start we got to know each other and then he started teaching me about writing. I’m improved a lot. He was a very inspiring tutor and he taught me good life goals and he made me good at writing. Angus treats you like a good friend that teaches you a lot of really good things than a teacher. Eventually the time came for the scholarships and i was ready for it. I didn’t get any of the scholarships that i wanted but 3 out of 4 of them i was in the top 10%. Writing used to be my weakest subject for tests but now it is my strongest. In all the scholarships Writing was my best subject and this was because of Angus. Angus is an amazing tutor and i would recommend him to anyone. 10/10 for Angus.

    Fitzy - Year 6 Scholarship student (2017)

  • Angus has been a great tutor and mentor for my 17 year old son for almost 2 years now. He engages with him by tailoring lessons to his interests, by discussing current affairs and presenting differing views and opinions on topics. He is a good communicator with weekly emails and always arrives prepared for lessons. He has given my son confidence with his writing skills, public speaking, analysing text and organization skills. We have seen a big improvement in his confidence and in his achievements and cannot recommend Angus highly enough.

    adonnaru - Parent VCE student (2016)

  • Gus is a great tutor. Not only is he good in English, he is also very knowledgeable in a lot of current issues and other topics. He helps me improve my school homework, spend time with me discussing on current issues, allowing me to develop analytical and writing skills. He also helps me develop my ability to think outside of the box and look at bigger picture. If you are looking for a tutor that is both fun and can improve your skill, Gus is the man!

    StanleyT - Year 10 student (2018)

  • I have been with Angus for just under two years now and I am pleased to say that he has helped me in my studies. I am currently a year nine student who has recently, and successfully, sat for the Melbourne High Exam. My chances of this happening were largely increased with the help of Angus. He was there for me during the lead-up to the entry exams, always finding some time (I don’t know where he gets it from) to correct my essays with suggestions on how to improve them. Without him, I would probably find great difficulty in understanding the structures of various writing pieces. I can see throughout our lessons that Angus really does try his best to make them as stimulating and beneficial as possible. Unlike most of the teachers at school, he is able to adapt quite easily and this has made my studies in English so much easier. Angus is somebody I can rely on when I struggle with English, and tasks are so much easier when there is somebody to help you along the way.

    cat-in-the-bag - SEHS student (2014)

  • Angus is more than a tutor; he is a mentor. He goes beyond just teaching English. Employing a holistic approach, he has taught my daughter invaluable skills like time management, critical thinking and analysis. At the same time, he tries to cultivate creativity in her. His methods are not always conventional as he tailors her learning according to her strengths while helping her work on her weaknesses. The improvement she has made is reflected not only in her results but also in the way she thinks and expresses herself. Angus goes out of his way to communicate regularly with his students during the week so that he is in touch with their work & progress. He also finds out how their week has been while updating them on his own activities. He has earned my daughter’s trust and friendship because of his genuine interest in her learning and well-being. We truly appreciate what you have done and we can’t thank you more, Angus !

    Mrs C - Parent (2014)

  • What a pleasure it is to express my opinions and observations about my sessions with Angus! He has broadened my horizons in every possible aspect and is always well prepared to blow my mind again for our next session. He engages through meaningful discussions and weekly emails. More importantly, besides making lessons enjoyable with his high degree of humour, he also uses his profound knowledge to help you achieve your maximum potential. Angus always has innovative ideas up his sleeve and is very capable of catering to each student’s needs and abilities. He also occasionally provides me with an extensive variety of resources to further support my studies in English. I’m glad to say that my English results have improved tremendously since meeting Angus. Over the course of time, I have come to acknowledge that Angus is not only a charismatic English tutor but also someone I’m glad I can call a friend. Oh how I wish teachers at school could adopt his teaching styles! A highly recommended tutor and mentor 🙂 Thanks for your help Angus!

    alch15 - Year 10 student (2015)

  • Angus was my son’s tutor for about 7 months in 2012, focusing on improving my son’s English and writing. As we are from a non-English speaking background, my wife and I couldn’t help my son’s English very much. After Angus’ tutoring for a few months, my wife and I were really impressed by the progress my son had made on his writing and English. First, we noticed that Angus made the tutoring very interesting so my son loved to be studying with Angus. Second, Angus concentrated on Jason’s weakness and took initiatives using different methodologies or approaches on his teaching. Third, Angus kept on encouraging my son during his study which helped my son to build his confidence on the writing. Beside the tutoring time, Angus also provided additional support, for instance, whenever my son had any queries or sent his assignment to Angus, he always replied quickly with comprehensive notes and explanations.

    sshan - SEHS parent (2013)

  • Since engaging Angus 18 months ago to tutor my 12 year old son, his English has significantly improved, particularly with his reading, summarization and writing styles. Now my son is keen to explore new things and confident to take on new challenges. Angus has great patience and personality to connect well with my son to understand his strengths and weaknesses. Both are getting on extremely well and my son is very comfortable and happy to have Angus tutoring him. Angus takes initiatives to regularly communicate with my son to follow up with his study progress which provide additional support for my son, apart from the weekly tuition. Angus is not only a professional tutor but a dedicated and caring English tutor who takes pride of what he does.

    chee - Year 6 parent (2013)

  • Angus has recently started tutoring my 11yr boy. Angus had an instant rapport with him and as a consequence, this meant that my little boy actively looks forward to his tutoring sessions. This is obviously a very positive starting point. The strong relationship that Angus has built, means that my little boy has shown a keen interest in wanting to impress him, by doing his homework on time and keeping Angus in the loop on his achievements. Angus’ style is engaging and warm, he is able to connect at my son’s level without being condescending. He makes the sessions fun and enjoyable. Angus has given my boy confidence, and positivity. Angus is very passionate about what he does, it definitely shines through in his sessions. Angus spends a lot of time outside tutoring lessons preparing for his sessions and this all goes towards making the sessions go as smooth as possible. So, happy new year Angus! I’m looking forward to you spending more time with us! take care sue

    sue - SEAL student (2014)

  • Angus is an insightful, consistent and dedicated professional with a refreshingly holistic approach to education. He develops good rapport with his students, helps them to develop good study habits and genuinely cares for their well-being. He encourages the students’ to work to their strengths whilst helping to work on their weaknesses. He is a positive role model for my child, with his focus, patience, persistence and work ethic. If I could clone him, I would put an Angus in every school!

    sharkfinsMum - Parent (2016)

  • Angus is a terrific English tutor who works at his maximum potential to reach the goals and desires to maximum efficacy of the student. He always comes well prepared and always with a smile, engaging in conversation and enjoyment whilst maintaining the task at hand. Through determination and profound knowledge Angus was able to give me the ideas and knowledge to prepare well for my year 12 English exam. I am pleased to announce a positive reflection with my time at GBD Education. A strong and dedicated tutor with high aspirations with each student. Very approachable,fun but strict and challenging which I found pushed my expansion on learning to the top of my ability. Very recommendable and a very fun tutor who will guarantee you the top results you are capable of 🙂 A+++ High regards, James

    JamesWhite - Year 12 English student (2012)

  • Out of all the tutors i had, Angus is certainly the most dedicated and responsible one. Not only that he would share his profound knowledge and use his experience to help you to achieve the most in every session, but he would also make the effort to prepare study material and notes between sessions to better prepare you for the oncoming outcomes. Although Angus might look like a pretty boring person, his classes are anything but boring. His way of teaching is very unique and innovative. Instead of just teaching you how to handle English SACs and Exams like most of tutors do, the knowledge and techniques Angus teaches can be applied to a larger scale. It’s the systematic studing habbit and way of learning that he teaches that will benifit you for the rest of your life and certinly lead you to success in VCE learning. Jerry Year 12

    Jerry - Year 12 (2014)

  • He is an inspiring teacher, there is dramatic change of attitude in our child, she becomes enthusiastic in learning and more responsible for her own study. He works for /with the student, we notice he is always well prepared before each session. Our child didn’t go to any coaching school before , we met Angus just few weeks before the selective school exam. We were poorly prepared then, we were ready to fail the exam and planned to treat it as a learning experience. Angus changed it all for us ! Yes , she got in ! Now she goes to a new school and we have a new daugher. Thanks Angus.

    y.wang - Parent SEHS student (2012)

  • Angus is a great English tutor. Every time my son had his lessons, he always brought interesting topics to discuss and to think about, and he also gave him assignments after lesson to strengthen his understanding and motivate him to read more and think more. My son really enjoyed what he was doing at the time and made a very good progress ever since, plus he was successfully chosen to be in ALP (Accelerated Learning Program) in Balwyn High. We are still seeing the invaluable prize he had from Angus. Apart from the English tuition, I believed that every kid needs to have an adult friend other than their own parents to be some sort of mental tutor when they grow up, so they can easily go through some topics which might of not be picked by parents and to guide them if there is any incorrect information which might affect their future life. This is one of the reasons we went to see Angus at the very beginning. Apparently we made a good decision. Thanks Angus!

    Lucy - Parent SEAL student (2012)

  • A few months earlier as I remember I had my first lesson with Mr. Davison in preparation for the Balwyn High examination. The uniqueness of his teaching struck me at first. He was very humorous, and we often had long discussions. I think the most obvious improvement was my comprehension, because of him, not only I did get a spot in the school, I also developed the good habit of reading as well! If future occasions like this occur, I’ll know who to choose for first choice.

    Warring (2012)

What do students do?

The most immediate difference between GBD Education and other forms of study is that the sessions are an opportunity for students to discuss their thoughts, their ideas and their efforts in great depth with a professional consultant. Students learn: to examine their efforts and achievements; to identify their skills, their strengths, their weaknesses; to be confident and determined; to pursue stronger methods and advanced results. Mentorship is thus not a program of extra lessons and exercises, but a vehicle for active listening in order to engage students to develop high-order thinking skills and abilities.

Tuition is provided either at the home of the client or at a public library (Zoom is also an option). Documents, directions, assistance and feedback are provided during the week to the student through e-mail. The regular weekly individual meeting sessions run for 60 minutes each at a cost of $120 per hour at times scheduled to suit the student after school hours or on the weekend. Further, a great deal of work is completed between sessions at no extra cost both for the students by me and by the students themselves. Time in the sessions is relatively short, but I aim to be generous, flexible and forthright.

Contact Me

  1. Complete the form below, or email me directly: gusgbded@gmail.com

  2. Aim to organize a preliminary consultation at your home (or a public place) in which individual student abilities, aims and opportunities will be assessed.

  3. Ask if you have any queries to resolve, and communicate your position to me. I’ll listen!