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.

Stephen

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.

Gail

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.

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

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Wesley

Wesley Tucker
(Senior Tutor)

Dear prospective students and parents, let me give you an overview of my background and skills.

As a native to the Boston Area, USA, I first completed my bachelors degree at the University of Massachusetts (Boston campus, Biochemistry, GPA 3.53). I then migrated to Hong Kong for a PhD fellowship in the Biochemistry Department at Hong Kong University.

After graduating from the doctorate program, and some time in industry, I became a teacher of IGCSE, A-levels, and IB Biology and Chemistry, teaching students of all ages from Hong Kong international schools. I very much enjoy the experience of teaching students one-on-one and in small groups. I look forward to continuing the mission of increasing knowledge in the sciences for the generations to come.

In terms of my teaching style; I emphasize using real world examples to make concepts accessible, focus on making sure the underlying concepts are understood, and diagnose with exam style questions. My intent is to find the appropriate rhythm and wavelength for each individual student, because after all, that is the custom service you are seeking in this type of format!

I look forward to working with you in the future.

Tuition

Maitreyi Karanth
(Senior Tutor)

Maitreyi holds a Bachelor’s in Mathematics, a Master’s in Business, and a post-grad in Education.

With 15 years tutoring maths, her expertise in exam strategies (IGCSE, SATs, IB, A levels) makes her a favorite among students facing exams. Her diverse skills and life experiences help her connect deeply with young learners.

She’s also a multi-talented stand-up comedian, actor, and philanthropist based in Hong Kong. As the city’s only female comedian doing one-woman shows, she regularly sells out and keeps audiences laughing.

Beyond stage and classroom, Maitreyi is Founder and CEO of KOMA KARANTH FOUNDATION, building homes and improving lives for the underprivileged in the Philippines.

Her TEDx talk “Age is Not Just a Number, It’s a Journey” has inspired over 300,000 viewers. She was named a Top 20 individual of 2023 by Moodie Davitt and won the Global Women of Influence award (2024) and AmCham Women of Influence award (2025).

Maitreyi’s journey is one of passion and talent, inspiring others through education, comedy, and philanthropy.