hurlinghampolo.com
If there’s one thing that polo and private tuition have in common,
it’s that they’re both assumed to be the preserve of the elite. Or so
says Nathaniel McCullagh, director of the documentary T
he Polo
Kid
and founder of tutor agency Simply Learning Tuition. ‘I think
private tuition is for everyone. It’s the oldest form of teaching –
way before school, people had tutors.’
Which, when put like that, has an appealing logic. McCullagh
himself wasn’t raised with tutors and spent most of his academic
life in state schools. He didn’t rate any of them very highly
and instead credits his achievements to a good family network.
‘If I ever needed help, someone would sit down and explain,’ says
McCullagh. Understanding that for the cash-rich and time-poor, this
often isn’t an option, McCullagh became a tutor in 2000 and founded
his agency nine years later. Now, he has built up an impressive network,
counting Saudi royalty and Hollywood actors among his clients.
McCullagh’s next goal is courting the professional polo families,
who travel the world circuit and often bring their children along
with them.
‘What’s really essential about academics is continuity,’
says McCullagh. ‘Professional polo players travel through maybe
four or five different countries a year. They might put the children
into the local school for a term, or a couple of weeks even. They
might hire a local tutor, or they might not. The problem is, that
child is growing up in a nomadic environment where life is not as
glamorous as it is for the parents.’
He points out the advantage of having one tutor, which means
the child can stick to their home curriculum. ‘You’re getting the
continuity,’ he says. ‘So they’re being taught in the right way,
and that means when they go back to, say, Argentina, the child
will slot straight back in.’
While nearly all the tutors on McCullagh’s books are British,
there are fluent Spanish speakers, if needed. Of course, one of the
advantages of hiring a British tutor is that the child’s English
would be much improved. But McCullagh is keen to stress that his
tutors provide more than just academic rigour. ‘It’s a full spectrum.
It’s not just the academics, it’s pastoral support as well. I think
“role model” is a good way to put it.’
England player Max Charlton agrees. He attended junior level
schools but by the time he reached the age of 13, he and his parents
decided that home tutoring would be the best way for him to keep up
Previous page:
Nathaniel
McCullagh playing polo.
This page:
Luke Wiles plays at
Guard’s Polo Club
Opposite, from
top:
Max Charlton at St Moritz
Snow Polo World Cup 2019;
Nathaniel McCullagh
50
