Tuition

Study in Hong Kong

Syllabus-based tuition is provided for students studying:

– All levels of International Baccalaureate (PYP, MYP and Diploma)
– GCSE, IGCSE and A-Levels
– Hong Kong Examinations, the HKDSE syllabus

As the majority of our students continue their education at university we assist them with their applications and with formal examinations such as the SAT/SAT II.

We have also assisted many students in their preparations for the Hong Kong Speech Festival, debating competitions, writing competitions and outstanding student awards.

Going overseas

We also prepare students for Common Entrance Examinations (CEE) and Examinations to specific private schools such as Winchester and Cheltenham Ladies in the UK and Choate-Rosemary Hall in the US. Inclusive of the tuition fees are mock examinations. We will assist and manage the registration process for CEE and we also conduct and invigilate the examinations for our students at our facility.

For students preparing for the CEE and examinations to specific private schools, we may insist that any and all tuition be conducted at FirstClass in order to ensure that a student is completely prepared for the examinations and encounters as little stress as possible.

Assistance in preparing for school and university entrance interviews is also one of our services. We will conduct mock interviews, covering potential interview topics, body language, tone of voice and demeanour.

We also provide tuition during holiday time for students returning from schools and universities overseas.

Contact Now for Booking

Free of Charge Assessment Lesson

Available to Year 5, Grade 4, Primary 4 and below only

For the younger students in this assessment, we identify the particular requirements of the student and then formulate a study programme specifically for the individual. We endeavour to provide solid foundations on which they can build their future education.

For older students and those preparing for CEE or private school examinations, we identify the particular requirements of the student in relation to the published syllabus for the courses they are studying.  All tutors follow the published syllabus and requirements for secondary school students and students preparing for private school examinations, hence an assessment lesson is considered unnecessary, however each tutor will tailor their lessons to the specific need of the individual or group of students that they are working with.

Our Team of Tutors

James

James Skelton
(Founder / Senior Tutor)

After graduating from Deacon’s school, Peterborough, I was awarded an upper second degree in Natural Sciences at Trinity College, Cambridge, in 1993. Subsequently, I left the UK and started teaching in Hong Kong in 1995.

In 1999 I co-founded First Class, focusing on one-to-one or very small group tuition, aiming to engage with and motivate our students. I have taught Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology as well as critical thinking and reasoning courses to students from primary to post-graduates (GMAT preparation).

My main focus has been on preparing students for entrance exams such as pre-screening adaptive tests, 11+, 13+ and SSAT, high school certificates such as (I)GCSE, SAT, ACT, HKDSE, A Levels and IB Diploma, as well as preparation for courses such as CTY, UKMT and BMAT.

Tuition

Lisa Kirkup
(Director / Senior Tutor)

After completing my teacher training in the United Kingdom, I relocated to Hong Kong in 2008 and have been teaching here ever since. Prior to my move, I gained significant in-workplace training experience while living in London.

I graduated from Manchester University with a degree in English Language and Literature, and have since achieved a Diploma in TESOL (DipTESOL), which is equivalent to a Master’s degree in Linguistics or a similar field in the U.K. (Band scale 7).

Since 2010, I have worked at the prestigious FirstClass Academy in Hong Kong. In this role, I have tutored students ranging from primary to GCSE level, covering a wide variety of skills and examinations, including UK school entrance exams (11+, 13+), ESL, Literature, GCSE/IGCSE, HKDSE, and IELTS. My responsibilities have encompassed creative writing, grammar, phonics, writing, reading comprehension, and more.

Beyond my work at FirstClass, I have also run various educational courses in local Hong Kong schools, such as Cambridge Starters, Movers and Flyers, HKDSE Writing, Bridging courses, and English enhancement programs. I am passionate about cultivating a love of reading in my students and make it a priority in my teaching.

On a personal note, I am married and have a young son.

Steven Maginn

Steven Maginn
(Senior Tutor)

I am from London, England. After taking a first-class degree in History at Cambridge University, I went to Japan to teach English at a secondary school. I subsequently decided to make a career in publishing and joined a British publishing company as their manager in Tokyo. Since then, I have spent 25 years in Asia working for different academic and educational publishing houses, during which time I also wrote a number of textbooks for students of English.

I left the publishing field in 2013 and have since worked as a full-time tutor at First Class Academy, teaching various humanities subjects, including English language and English literature, geography, history, politics, philosophy and religious studies and have taught children from as young as five as well as teenagers and adults.  I have prepared students for a wide range of examinations, including 11+, 13+ Common Entrance, GCSE and IGCSE, A-level, IB Diploma, HKDSE, IELTS, TOEFL, SSAT, SAT and ACT. I have also successfully guided students through the applications processes for various UK, US, Canadian and Australian universities. I enjoy working intensively with students, challenging them to achieve their potential and pushing them to attain their goals. I am married with a son who graduated from Hong Kong University and is now teaching in China and a daughter who obtained a Master degree in English Literature at Oxford University and is now working in the UK.

Ada

Ada Tse
(Senior Tutor)

After earning my Bachelor’s degree in Food and Nutritional Sciences in Hong Kong and subsequently achieving a Class A Master’s degree in Experimental and Clinical Neurosciences in Germany, I have dedicated over two decades to biomedical science research. During this time, I have gained significant expertise in scientific writing and statistical analysis, resulting in the publication of 15 scientific reports in reputable peer-reviewed journals. Presently, I am in the final stages of completing my PhD in immunology in Germany.

I have a rich history of providing tutorial classes to high school students, a commitment that has spanned since 1995. Furthermore, I have a wealth of experience teaching at First Class Academy for several years.

My primary areas of instruction encompass Biology at various levels, including GCSE, iGCSE, HKDSE, IB Diploma, and A-Level. Additionally, I offer instruction in English as a Second Language (ESL), focusing on grammar and writing skills, as well as Mandarin, Statistics, General Science, and Mathematics. I am also equipped to provide classes to prepare students for the IELTS examination.

Gail Mackey

Gail Mackey
(Senior Tutor)

I graduated with both a Bachelor’s Degree (1986) and a Postgraduate Certificate of Education (PGCE) (1987) in English Literature and Spanish from University College Cork, Ireland. I also earned a Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) Certificate and a Masters Degree in English Studies (English Literature and Linguistics) from Hong Kong University (1999). After teaching in the prestigious La Salle College, Hong Kong, from 1990-2000, I taught English Literature and Language (GCSE) and A-levels for seven years at St. Paul’s Comprehensive Secondary School, Leicester, UK, from 2002-2009. In 2009, I returned to Hong Kong to teach in La Salle College once again as one of their Native English Teachers (NETs) from 2009-2024. Over the course of my teaching career, I have served as exam marker such as Alevel, GCSE, HKDSE etc., both internationally and locally.

Having been an exam marker, I have also prepared students for a wide range of examinations, including A-level, GCSE, IB Diploma, IELTS, IGCSE, HKDSE and TOFEL. Over more than two decades, I have successfully guided students through the application process for various universities and effectively prepared them for their UCAS and JUPAS personal statements, as well as preparing students for the Form 1 secondary intake interviews. However, I believe my unique talents as an English teacher is teaching students how to become critical readers of prescribed texts so they can effectively analyse, evaluate and answer English Literature and Language exam questions to ensure exam success.

Besides teaching, I have fulfilled a number of other teacher-related roles over the course of my teaching career, such as creating and developing Literary Schemes of Work for SATs, GCSE and A-level curricula, as well as for the creative writing descriptive/narrative and persuasive/argumentative dichotomies. I was appointed the teacher trainer at St. Paul’s Comprehensive Secondary School by Leicester University from 2004-2009 for the English PGCE trainee teachers and have served as a teacher mentor in La Salle College from 2009-2024.

Tuition

Jack Mills
(Senior Tutor)

I am an economics and design specialist based in the South China Sea region.

I have been teaching economics since 2017, helping international students from Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Panama, Brazil, the United Kingdom, and across the United States achieve mastery in foundational high school economics.

My students have been accepted to top-tier universities including Stanford University, Tsing Hua University, the University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen University, and Rensselaer Polytechnic, along with summer programs at Harvard and Yale. Given the diverse academic needs of my students, I have spent years honing my expertise in A-Level, IGCSE, IB, and AP economics curriculum to fully prepare students for exceptional performance in their global examinations.

Through focusing on the mastery of foundational concepts in economics first, and through clear identification of knowledge gaps followed up with essential drilling, students who struggle initially are able to attain full marks on their exams.

Further, I foster critical thinking, independent study and preparation for university and working life by providing abundant free resources, expert academic advice and a professional but fun work atmosphere in every online session.

I hold a BA in economics from the University of Calgary, a certificate in graphic design from the Alberta College of Art + Design as well as attending the Harvard University Extension School and was awarded a full scholarship to the Taipei School of Economics.

I am proudly a Canadian citizen and spends my free time traveling across Asia.

Schedule Lessons!

Please complete the Lesson Booking Form and return it to us.