Middleton Tutors & Middleton Tuition

Personal Description:
Sarah trained at Arts Educational, London. As well as being an actor she has been Artistic Director at The London Drama School for 15 years. Her Theatre Company has been running since 1998 and has many stage, screen and open-air productions to it's name. She is a fully qualified Trinity Guildhall Examiner and works worldwide. Sarah was born in Brighton and attended Brighton and Hove High School & Brighton College, as well as being a student/teacher working for Carole Best at The Brighton School of Music and Drama since age 14. Sarah teaches from home in Peacehaven or in central Brighton or in central Hove.

Teaching Experience:
CURRENTLY
Teaching, Brighton
Working with students at ACT, Brighton and private students who are preparing their Trinity Guildhall Exams & Diploma's or auditions.
WORK
2018, Maid, Pelleas et Melisande, Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Stefan Herheim
2017, Quince & Cobweb, Midsummer NIght's Dream, BOAT & Lewes Castle, Mark Brailsford
2016, Stage, Lady Macbeth, Macbeth, Brighton Shakespeare Company, Mark Brailsford
2016, Stage, Sadie, He Gave Me Heroin, Lantern Theatre for Brighton Fringe Festival, Sian Webber
2015, Stage, Mistress Ford, Merry Wives of Windsor, Treason Show & BOAT, Mark Brailsford2
2013, Suzanne, Urban Adventure Pilot, Blast Theory & Film 4 Dir. Matt Adams
2012, Voice-over, Popmedia Dir. Jim Stokes
2012, Teacher/ Director, Shakespeare Workshops & performance, Fulking
2012, Teacher, Shakespeare Workshop, Dunedin, New Zealand
2011, Cleo, LYSISTRATA, Actors of Dionysus at the Rose Theatre Kingston, Dir. James Albrecht
2011, Teacher/Director, Acting without Acting, Aguascalientes, Mexico, Prod. Priscila Alba Badillo
2011, Jane, Connected, Feature film, Connected Productions, Dir. Mike Carter
2010, Nurse, Human Rights Dilemma's Corporate Video, Sunny Arts, Dir. Will Geffin
2010, Various patients, Brighton Role play @ Sussex University OSCE Doctor training
2010, Workshop Leader, Shakespeare Made Fun, Dome Education Dept, Prod. Pippa Smith
2010, Teacher/Director, Acting without Acting, Aguascalientes, Mexico, Prod. Priscila Alba Badillo
2009, Various patients, Brighton Role play @ Sussex University OSCE Doctor training
2009, Actor & Producer, The Odd Couple, Incisor-Open Air, Brighton, Dir. Natasha Langridge
2009, TV, Actor, Comedy sketch show pilot, Dir. Mark Cameron
2009, Director, Introduction to Shakespeare, The London Drama School
2008, Mrs Hardcastle, She Stoops to Conquer, Incisor-Open Air, Brighton, Dir. Michael D'Cruze
2008, Tinkerbell , Happy Ever After - Interactive Theatre for kids, Brighton Festival & Dome Education Dept
2008, Director, Shakespeare Workshop, The Seychelles
2007, Producer & Angela, ABIGAIL'S PARTY, Incisor - Open Air, Brighton, Dir. Jim Madden
2007, Director, UNCLE VANYA, The London Drama School
2007, Director, Shakespeare's Duologues, The London Drama School
2007, Producer, Corporate Role-Play Video's, Monitor Group, Dir. Ben Cole
2007, Director, The Famous Five, Brighton Festival & Dome Education Dept
2006, Producer & Actor, BLITHE SPIRIT, Incisor-Open Air, Brighton & New Theatre Royal Portsmouth
2006, Director, Shakespeare's monologues, The London Drama School
2006, TV, Actor, BASIL BRUSH SHOW, Cbeebies, Dir. Michael Kerrigan
2006, Producer & Maria. TWELFTH NIGHT, Brighton Dome, Dir. Stephen Casey
2005, Producer & Lady Bracknell, THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST, Incisor-Open Air, Brighton, Dir. Natasha Langridge
2005, VoiceOver, Dorothy Norris, VE DAY IN COLOUR, TWI for The History Channel
2005, Director, Shakespeare's monologues, The London Drama School
2005, TV, Mrs Hudson, BILLIE THE GIRL FROM THE FUTURE, 2 Hats Prods, Dir. Daniel Peacock
2004, TV, Louise Holmes, The Hutton Enquiry, SKY NEWS, Dir. Simon Bucks
2004, Mrs Kepple, A PLACE OF SAFETY, Pier Playwrights, Dir. Guy Picot
2004, Corporate Video, Mrs Davis, ADVAL KEY KNOWLEDGE
2004, Steering Group, Royal Theatrical Fund, London
2004, Director, Shakespeare's Duologues, The London Drama School
2004, Producer & Maria, TWELFTH NIGHT, Incisor - Open Air, Brighton, Dir. Stephen Casey
2004, Radio, Henrietta Hangleton & Vvanda Downway, HOTEL PALMEIRA, Dir. Jim Madden & JP Orr @ Touchwood
2003, Stage Manager, Donald Sinden's, Birthday Gala, Royal Theatrical Fund at the Arts Theatre
2003, Producer & Henrietta Hangleton, BRIGHTON SOAPBOX, Incisor & Komedia, Dir. Jim Madden
2003, Dutch, QUEEN OF THE BAR, Brighton & Hove Theatre Company, Dir. Peter Mantle
2003, Television, Louise Holmes, THE HUTTON INQUIRY, SKY NEWS, Dir. Simon Bucks
2003, Director, Shakespeare's monologues, The London Drama School
2002, Producer & Comedy Compere, COMIC IRRIGATION, Battersea Barge
2002, Production Assistant & Olivia, TWELFTH NIGHT, Contraband Productions, Dir. Rachel Lasserson
2002, Television, Harry's Mad Mother, HARRY & COSH SERIES IV THE GIFT, 2 Hats Film & TV Productions, Dir. Daniel Peacock
2001-2, Assistant Manager at The Fortune Theatre
2001, Producer & Director, NASTY BOY, Incisor & Komedia
2001, Producer & Penny, I KNOW WHAT YOU WANT, Incisor & Komedia, Dir. Jim Madden
2000, Jonquil 1999-2000, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, Komedia Productions, Dir. Mark Urquahart
1999, Producer & Director, SO BLOODY IMPORTANT, Man In The Moon, Chelsea
1999, Charlotte, ELEGIES, Co-Active Music Factory, Dir. Fenton Gray
1998, Producer & Penny, ARTIST'S MODEL, Bristol Old Vic, Dir. John Sharian
1997, Co-producer & Lauren, ASHES AND SAND, Co-Active Theatre Factory, Dir. Michael D'Cruze
1996, Co-producer and Co-Director - Take 2 at The Canal Caf Theatre, Maid Vale, London
1993 -7, Assistant producer - The CAT Factory, Brighton at Komedia

SKILLS
Qualified Trinity Guildhall Examiner for Speech & Drama
Artistic Director at The London Drama School & producer for all end-of-year West-End Showcases
Specialist in Shakespeare, Chekhov, Oscar Wilde, Noel Coward, Pinter & Animal Study

TRAINING
1991 - 1992 DIPLOMA IN ACTING - Grade A, Arts Educational Schools London
1988 - 1991 BA DRAMA and ENGLISH - West London University
1985 - 1987 3 A-LEVEL and 1 S-LEVEL - Brighton College
1983 - 1987 NEW ERA GOLD MEDAL - SPEECH & DRAMA
GUILDHALL GRADE 8 - SPEECH & DRAMA - Brighton School of Music & Drama

Tutoring Approach:
Encouraging all students to work to the best of their ability and to stimulate their imagination and passion for performance and interpersonal skills. All acting requires physical strength and vocal technique and her approach is very dynamic and energetic. Can teach Stanislavski, Method, Voice, Animal Study, Shakespeare, Restoration Comedy, Chekhov, Sense Memory amongst others.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am a Japanese national who has completed eight Japanese language beginners courses (10 weeks each) as a language instructor at colleges based in Liverpool and Manchester. In a formal course review exercise, I received excellent ratings from my college students with respect to the various teaching components of the course.

I am adept at recognising how best to target my teaching approach, particularly with respect to students who have little or no knowledge of the Japanese language using my fluency in verbal and written English and Japanese.

My teaching experience includes 18 months as a language instructor to college students in Japan, in one-to-one, and group teaching as an employee at a language school. In addition, I was employed in the Japan university sector as a translator of English to Japanese and vice versa, and as a business translator involving UK and Japanese companies. I therefore have language teaching experience acquired over several years in various settings.

My doctoral degree is sociology-based supporting the teacher-student interaction for making solid progress in learning.

Teaching Experience:
100 weeks in beginners Japanese at language colleges in Liverpool and Manchester
12 months providing English language instruction to college students in Japan
18 months English-Japanese language translator at a Japanese University
12 months in organising and translating and interpreting for two Japanese cultural exchange trips
Over 10 years in translating and interpreting various Japanese/UK business people
Online tutoring for 4 years both in groups and individuals. Full HD video camera/microphone and Zoom/Skype.
UK-Japanese business language interpreter and translator
Multiple students taught in private sessions from a wide background that includes, teachers, business professionals, university and college students, and other backgrounds.

Tutoring Approach:
I can provide personal tutoring and group tutoring as required in a large classroom specially set-up for teaching with an approachable and friendly style to engage students in fully comprehending an unfamiliar language. Tuition is provided in verbal and written Japanese using language props as an aid to understanding, with textbooks and specialist Hiragana teaching materials. I have excellent whiteboard writing skills and I am comfortable at teaching in both formal and less formal surroundings. Tuition can be arranged on a regular or irregular timetable according to the needs of the particular student(s).

Subjects

Personal Description:
I have over 15 years of teaching and tutoring experience in both university modules and A-levels for all major exam boards, specializing in computer science, programming, mathematics, and economics. This extensive experience includes both in-person and online teaching, encompassing one-on-one tutoring as well as small group sessions.

Throughout my career, I have maintained high success rates, and tutoring is my passion. My teaching approach is individualized, as I believe every student has a unique learning style. I adapt my methods to ensure the learning process is efficient and engaging for each student. Many of my students have secured places at Oxbridge and other top universities in the UK.

Over the years, I have accumulated and developed a substantial collection of learning materials and exercises in the aforementioned subjects. I share these resources with my students to help them master the material and excel in their exams. Many of these materials and exercises have been custom-developed by me to provide individualized support whenever the available textbooks and standard exercises are insufficient. Additionally, I regularly administer written tests to identify gaps and areas for improvement, which also help students prepare more effectively for their exams.

As a tutor, I am motivated, friendly, patient, and open-minded. My strong communication, problem-solving, and analytical skills allow me to connect with my students and help them overcome challenges. My lessons are organized in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere. Instead of simply reiterating textbook content or going over available exercises, I focus on explaining and emphasizing core concepts, identifying any gaps or misconceptions the student may have. I create an interactive environment where students can develop their critical thinking and problem-solving abilities. Furthermore, I teach my students strategies for solving problems quickly, which is crucial in time-constrained exams. I also guide them in selecting the most appropriate methods and techniques for different problems, enabling them to perform well by quickly addressing the core of each problem without wasting time on less effective approaches.

Overall, my approach to working with a student is as follows: First, I consider the specifications provided by the exam board for the specific subject or module. Next, I discuss with the students/parents to identify any special needs, requirements, and preferences that need to be taken into account. Together, we develop a suitable teaching plan and identify appropriate teaching and learning resources. This teaching plan typically includes regular homework exercises for the student to study independently between tutoring sessions, reinforcing the knowledge and skills acquired during our time together. This approach makes the tutoring sessions much more effective, allowing us to focus specifically on the student's needs rather than spending time on concepts they can understand independently through textbooks or worked examples. I always aim to provide the best value for money, ensuring that even a limited or infrequent number of sessions can significantly improve the student's understanding of the subject and their performance in exams. However, I also ensure availability for as many sessions as needed, with many students opting for several sessions per week or even daily sessions when exam dates are approaching.

Teaching Experience:
My educational background includes undergraduate and PhD degrees in Computer Engineering from the University of Patras (Greece). I have worked as a postdoctoral researcher at prestigious universities such as Cambridge, Surrey, and Essex. Additionally, I hold a teaching qualification for Higher Education from the University of York. I have also taught undergraduate and postgraduate modules at the Universities of York, Warwick, and London in the aforementioned areas.

I have over ten years of experience working on industry- and government-funded R&D projects related to next-generation computing and Internet technologies, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence. This experience has provided me with invaluable insights into advanced computing systems and electronics, novel techniques for computer networking and communications, as well as practical skills and knowledge in protecting systems and networks from cybersecurity threats. Furthermore, I have acquired strong programming skills across a wide range of programming languages and mathematical modeling techniques.

Tutoring Approach:
Currently, in addition to tutoring A-level and university students, I also deliver specialized training programs and masterclasses to professionals in organizations worldwide. I assist university graduates in preparing for industry-required professional certificates. Additionally, I provide consultancy services to both start-ups and established companies within my areas of expertise.

Feel free to reach out to me to discuss your requirements. I am eager to help and support students in achieving their goals. Before booking any lessons via the system, please make sure to contact me first, as my availability shown on the system may not always be up to date.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I have B.Sc in Biochemistry and completed my Masters degree from Kingston University in Biomedical science with Management studies.

Teaching Experience:
Teaching Experience:

I have taught science in a secondary school as a science teacher. At present I tutor primary and secondary school students, with focus on GCSE exam preparations. I have 10 years of experience of tutoring within the UK.

Tutoring Approach:
Good communication and interaction is the key to understanding and learning. I make sure that my students understand the topic before proceeding to the next one. I provide the students with the right materials for studying which includes exam style questions.

For students preparing for their GCSEs, we work hard on learning how to answer exam questions. Techniques and skills on how to ace the questions are taught which are key to getting more marks in their GCSEs.

I am willing to travel to you but travel costs would need to be covered (£5 per trip)

If you wish to book a group session for two or more students/multiple subjects then please contact to discuss rates.

.

Subjects

Personal Description:
Maths tutor for KS3-KS4 students.
I am a qualified teacher and have experience of working in a range of schools with a variety of different pupils.

In my experience the benefits of one-to-one tuition are incomparable. When teaching a student I am able to tailor the teaching to address their specific questions and misconceptions, whilst covering topics at a far greater depth and speed than is possible in a class of 30.

By far the biggest benefit of tuition I have seen in my students is a vast increase in their confidence and to see them realise and believe that they can understand different topics and are fully capable of achieving high grades.

Teaching Experience:
Pearson - Maths tutor
Vision for Education - Tutor/mentor
Optimal Tutors - Maths and English tutor
ICT Teacher
Abraham Moss High School - Trainee IT Teacher
Walkden High School - Trainee IT Teacher
The Tutor Trust - Maths, English and Science Tutor
Crumpsall Lane Primary School - Voluntary Work

Tutoring Approach:
I am an approachable, caring and understanding individual with the keen interest of helping people to achieve. I have an excellent ability to break down difficult topics to make them easier to understand. I am an honest and hardworking person who takes great delight in seeing pupils make progress.

I have the ability to differentiate work to cater for different individuals and make learning fun. I am creative and have the experience to use every environment as a teaching tool. I can guarantee you will make progress with my support and hope to be able to offer my services.

My main interest is in creating an enjoyable and comfortable working environment that draws up from the students personality and employs a variety of different learning type activities and lateral thinking exercises to obtain not only improved subject results but a greater awareness and confidence within their subject matter.

My tuition sessions are bespoke and are structured around the needs of the student. Throughout my teaching I place an emphasis on understanding why particular methods are used and how topics link together. I also ensure students are exposed to a wide variety of questions styles from across exam boards to develop their ability to apply these skills to unfamiliar styles of question. Above all, I aim to raise the confidence and expectations of my students and to see them enjoy learning.

During the first introductory session I will make an assessment of your ability and discuss what you wish to achieve e.g. a certain grade/better understanding of a particular area, or develop exam technique. I will then use this information to create an individual learning plan and tailor my tuition accordingly as we work together to help you achieve your goal.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am an Italian tenor and pianist. I started my vocal training with renowned bass Alfredo Mariotti and later studied with Claude Thiolas. I graduated in Piano in 2008 at the Conservatorio "Frescobaldi" in Ferrara and in Singing in 2009 at the Conservatorio "Tomadini" in Udine.
I won two editions of the Concorso Cameristico C.A.Seghizzi in Gorizia: in 2005 in the Sacred Music category, and in 2007 in Chamber Singing category (in duo with Alessandro Sica, with whom I attended a masterclass with soprano Catherine Dubosc).
As an opera singer I have performed the following roles: Alfredo (Traviata, Verdi), Count Almaviva (Barbiere di Siviglia, Rossini) Ernesto (Don Pasquale, Donizetti), Nemorino (Elisir d'Amore, Donizetti), Pinkerton (Madama Butterfly, Puccini), Pong (Turandot, Puccini), Jacopo Foscari (I due Foscari, Verdi), Edgardo (Lucia di Lammermoor, Donizetti), Hoffmann (Les Contes d'Hoffmann, Offenbach). I took part in the Rai Italian Television productions of Rigoletto (2010) conducted by Zubin Mehta with Placido Domingo in the title-role and Cenerentola (2012), conducted by Gianluigi Gelmetti.
As a chamber music singer, I performed several times Schubert`s and Schumann`s most important Lieder cycles, besides works by composers like Haydn, Beethoven, Brahms, Liszt, Mahler, Strauss, Berg, Fauré, Duparc, Ravel, Poulenc, Rachmaninov, Britten, Copland… in duo with pianists Alberto Miodini, Michele Bravin, David Giovanni Leonardi, Federico Lovato and with Trio di Parma.
As a concert singer I performed the solo roles in Requiem by Mozart (with Orchestra Filarmonica della Fenice, Venice, conducted by Enrico Bronzi), Liszt (with Chorus and Orchestra of Teatro Verdi, Trieste, conducted by Armando Tasso), Dvořak and Verdi, in Haydn`s Missa in Tempore Belli (conducted by Antonio Ballista), Rossini`s Petite Messe Solennelle and in Orff`s Carmina Burana in many Italian houses and halls (such as Teatro Comunale di Bologna Teatro Civico di Castello in Cagliari), in Austria, Croatia, Czech Republic and Russia.
I recorded for Tactus records some composition for tenor and organ by Marco Enrico Bossi with organist Andrea Macinanti.

Teaching Experience:
I have worked for eleven years in Italy teaching Piano, Singing, Music Theory and Music History, preparing students also for Conservatory exams, before coming to the UK in 2017.
For three years I have directed the Choir of "Associazione Culturale Insieme per la Musica".
In 2012 and 2014 he gave two cycles of lectures open to the general public: the first one about opera history and the second about vocal chamber music history.

Tutoring Approach:
I think music is an important part of our life and I like to help people to know it better and enjoy it!
No matter your age or if you want to become a professional performer or just enjoy playing or singing under the shower, my aim is to find the best way for you to achieve your purpose.

Subjects

Personal Description:
Am currently undergraduate student in the USA but since is online tutoring I can still do this to the best of my knowledge.And i believe my clients will be brush up with in depth knowledge in this core subjects.Have been tutoring privately before enrolling for my studies in the USA.

Teaching Experience:
Have been tutoring privately before enrolling for advanced studies in the USA.

Tutoring Approach:
Need to know how to approach your students or learner on individual basis.Because as individual everyone is not gifted alike,We have quick and slow learner.So this factors must be put in place as a tutor.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I teach chemistry and physics at a school in Suffolk. .
I am an engaged and understanding teacher. I build strong relationships with the students that I teach and I am excellent at allowing students to believe in their ability. I also possess a positive can-do approach and provide a relaxed atmosphere that allows students to maximise their potential.

Teaching Experience:
I have twenty-eight years teaching experience with a BSC Hons degree in Biological and Medicinal Chemistry and a Master's degree in Education leadership. I have been Head of Science for several years and have a vast amount of experience preparing students for examinations at GCSE and A level. I have taught Chemistry and Biology up to A-Level. I also teach GCSE combined and separate sciences including GCSE Physics. I am based in the Colchester area and willing to travel to students as required. As well as face to face teaching, I also have considerable experience in online teaching, which included teaching 15 students collectively online throughout the lockdown period and through individual online private tuition.

Tutoring Approach:
I take a clear, structured and confidence building approach to tutoring, designed to help learners understand how the concepts in Science and Chemistry work, not just memorise them. My sessions focus on breaking complex concepts into simple, logical steps, using real world examples and explanations so students can understand the overall picture as well as the specific finer details. I specialise in helping students who feel they "missed something" the first time around and allow them to believe in their own ability whether that is at GCSE, A level, or returning to science after a long break.
For adult learners, I offer a supportive and non-judgemental environment that moves at the right pace while still being ambitious for the individual. My goal is always the same: to help students feel capable, prepared, and genuinely confident in their scientific thinking. I want every learner to leave each session with a sense of progress and a clear idea of what to do next.

Subjects

Personal Description:
Hi there,

I am a native Turkish language teacher.

I graduated from Turkish Language Teaching Department at the Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Turkey in 2005.

I'm looking for enthusiastic students who are eager to learn Turkish in London.

Teaching Experience:
I have worked as a Turkish teacher for 17 years. I am currently based in London, I work with children and adults.

Tutoring Approach:
If you want to learn Turkish or improve your level, with specific methods and materials to suit your needs, in a fun and interactive way, I guarantee we can achieve this together. Lessons can include grammar explanation, vocabulary building and doing exercises, weekly quizzes, monthly tests and having conversations. Also I can provide lessons tailored especially for travellers who are planning to visit Turkey, looking to have a more enjoyable and fun experience communicating with the locals. These lessons will include the most important phrases and basic words and also some cultural tips.

Also if you need help for your GCSEs and A level exams we can arrange lessons specifically focused on these exams.

We can arrange individual lessons, for two students or small groups.

Contact me so we can get to know each other and discuss your future lessons.

Subjects

Personal Description:
PLEASE SEE 'TUTORING EXPERIENCE' BELOW FOR THE MOST IMPORTANT PARTS OF THIS PAGE, THE RESULTS AND FEEDBACK

I am an Oxford graduate (English language and literature, first class), as well as a qualified English teacher, and have been tutoring since 2013. My specialism is A-level English literature.

Please get in touch for online English tuition, particularly if you are or your child is

• Preparing to take A-levels in 2026/27
• Doing coursework
• Working on the basis of continuous assessment, mocks, etc.
• Or planning to do / doing an English degree

I graduated from the University of Oxford with a double first in English language and literature, winning the prize for the best performance in English finals at Mansfield College, and the college essay prize. At school, I was awarded eleven GCSEs at A-star and three A-levels at A.

As well as tutoring, I have worked as a researcher, a copywriter, and a proofreader. I have also completed a PGCE in secondary English at the UCL Institute of Education, the highest-ranking college of education in the world ('QS World University Rankings'), during which I taught all age groups at two west London secondary schools, and received A's for my master's-level assignments. I am currently pursuing a PhD in English literature at the University of Buckingham.

As well as English tuition at any level, I can help you or your child with the following:

• Oxbridge entrance (the admissions process, practice interviews, the ELAT, etc.)
• Essay surgery - how to structure and write an essay
• How to revise - note-taking, organisation, making connections, committing to memory
• Grammar, punctuation, and style (a.k.a. 'usage and abusage')
• Speech-writing and public speaking
• Proofreading and redrafting essays
• Suggested reading and resources, including access to my library of 'TES' resources
• Creative writing
• How to annotate, analyse (and enjoy) English literature - sometimes known as 'close reading' or 'practical criticism'
• If you'd specifically like written feedback on your writing - more like a correspondence course - then I can also provide that.

In my spare time I enjoy cycling, writing, and photography.

Teaching Experience:
I have been tutoring since 2013, teaching English at all levels (including degree level), as well as A-level religious studies and classical civilisation. I have taught AQA, Edexcel, OCR, WJEC/Eduqas, and CAIE (Cambridge International), and am constantly familiarising myself with the new texts that my students are studying. I have experience helping students who have autism and ADHD. And I am interested in the role of generative AI and large language models in education, not to write students' essays for them, but as research assistants for students and teachers alike. It is of course important that students do not get the likes of ChatGPT to write their essays for them, among other reasons because they will not be able to do so in the exams. Tutoring is well placed to discourage this, since it has always been my practice to ask my students many questions about every essay they write.

*

A student, June 2025: 'thank you very much for all the sessions! It has not only boosted my confidence in English literature but they really reminded me of how much I love the subject. It's always a pleasure to discuss nuance readings of the texts, and it has been a great help leading up to my exams.'

Charlotte, a parent, June 2025: 'Thank you so much for all your help and support for [L.]. We are so grateful for everything you have done with him and wish you all the best.'

Ann, a parent, June 2025: '[Z.] has thoroughly enjoyed her lessons with you and has gained so much from your guidance. We're very grateful for all the support you've given her.'

A parent, May 2025: 'Thank you so much again for everything you've done to help [G.] prepare for these exams - he has really enjoyed his sessions with you and he and we really appreciate your support'.

A parent, May 2025: '[N.] just received the below. It's an A* if the grade boundaries is same as last year. She couldn't have done it without your help. We really appreciate it.'

A parent, February 2025: '[S.] is really enjoying studying with you and has gained a lot of confidence in English. I truly appreciate the effort and dedication you put into teaching.'

A student, January 2025: 'thank you ever so much for your kindness and creative encouragement the past months. What is very special about you as a tutor is that you have never told me "what to write". Instead, you have asked me questions about my work that have led me to discover what I truly wish to write'.

Kate, a parent, December 2024: 'We're so pleased [G.] is enjoying his sessions and seems to be really motivated to read widely in between sessions, is making useful structured notes (which he didn't do before) and his confidence and awareness of what he needs to do when essay writing is really building. Thank you!!!'

Eleni, a parent, December 2024: 'I just wanted to let you know that [D.] received an offer […] today! She is super happy! […] I wanted to thank you again as [D.] found your sessions incredibly helpful and inceased her confidence during the exams process.'

*

A-level results, August 2024:

'I wanted to write to say a huge thank you to you for all the help, support and inspiration you have given [E.] over the past year. You have not only given her the technical advice and support to help her make the most of her essays and exams, but more importantly you have helped her keep the love of the subject alive. I know a big part of the reason she is so excited to study English at university is because of how much she has enjoyed your conversations, and how you have helped her to consider texts in a way that the rather narrower scope of teaching at school does not allow. I am so very grateful to you and I really appreciate all the time and effort you put into her sessions - thank you so very much. […] You've been so great, and any other student/parent would be lucky to have access to your teaching.'

'I have just opened my results and am happy to confirm that I am off to Bristol this September with an A* in English! I just want to thank you again for making this possible.'

'I got an A in English, and will be going to Exeter, so mission accomplished. I wanted to thank you for all your help, not only for helping me to get what I needed, but for giving me back my confidence and enjoyment of the subject in the process.'

'Just to let you know [I.] got her results this morning and achieved an 'A' in English. We are over the moon […] Thank you again for all your help with the English, it's much appreciated.'

'thanks for your help this past academic year! Got two A*s in English and Philosophy'.

'I got a B and I was accepted into my firm university (Durham) which I am very happy! Thank you for all your help and support.'

'I was really happy to receive […] A in English Literature […] I secured a placed at my firm university. I will be studying English Literature at Durham University this September and I am very excited! Thank you so much for all of your support, I really appreciate it!'

'i got into Warwick with […] an A* in English!!!!! I am very happy :) Thank you for all your hard work, wisdom and wit over the last year or two'.

'Thank you so much for all your coaching and advice that you shared with [L.], it made such a difference to his confidence leading up to his exams. He is (as are we) delighted with his English result.'

'an A awarded in English […] so she is off to her first choice of Edinburgh University to study History of Art and English Literature.'

'Results day went well and I'm going to the university of Kent. Thank you so much again for all the time spent helping me to prepare for my exams it means a lot I'm very excited to continue my English literature journey.'

*

A student, June 2024: 'Thank you so much for being the most amazing English teacher! It has been an immensely rewarding and interesting journey exploring so many books […] I have learnt so much from GCSEs to continuing with more amazing literatures in A-levels'

A student, June 2024: 'I […] wanted to say thank you for the tremendous help you have provided with the English content throughout the A level period. The resources that you provided for me were quite helpful in refining my knowledge in many areas of the syllabus so thank you very much.'

A student, May 2024: 'I've just received the results for my english coursework and wanted to thank you for all the help and feedback!!'

A parent, February 2024: 'your help has kept her love of the subject and her enthusiasm alive and I can't thank you enough for that.'

A parent, February 2024: 'You were such a huge help to [S.], we will always be very grateful to you.'

Kath, a parent, February 2024: 'We would both like to thank you for all your invaluable help, especially all the helpful feedback on the coursework essay. [S.] has definitely learnt a lot and grown in confidence, especially in her knowledge of Twelfth Night.'

A student, January 2024: 'I just wanted to let you know that I got an offer from Oxford! Thank you so much for checking over my personal statement and all the help that you have given me since GCSEs. I really enjoy our sessions every week, the discussions keep me constantly creative and thinking.'

A parent, January 2024: 'Thank you as always for all your continued help and support for [E.]. I know she gets a tremendous amount from your sessions and I'm very grateful.'

A student, January 2024: 'Just emailing to let you know I did get an offer from […] Cambridge yesterday so thank you so much for all your help! It is really appreciated and I'm really looking forward to starting my degree in October!'

A student, December 2023: 'So thank you so much again for all your help; your insights have been very useful and I have really enjoyed talking about literature with you.'

Tara, a parent, November 2023: 'you are really helping [R.], he is becoming much more confident. Thank you so much'.

Paula, a parent, November 2023: '[M.] is always delighted with your teaching. You are asking questions no one else does. My husband and I see her grow academically after every session with you.'

Liz, a parent, October 2023: 'Thank you so much for all the work you have done with, and the kindness you have shown, [E.] to date. She really enjoys her sessions with you, and you've helped keep her enthusiasm for English very much alive. I'm so grateful.'

Kim, a parent, August 2023: 'I cannot tell you how happy we all were and your help was clearly instrumental in that. Not sure if he told you but he got 12 points above an A* and it was his best A level result!'

A student, August 2023: 'I really enjoyed our lessons and think it has really helped prepare me for the Oxford style tutorials.'

A student, August 2023: 'wanted to let you know I ended up getting an A* in English, thanks so much for all the help!'

Mark, a parent, June 2023: 'Many thanks josh for your help this year. [E.] has said to me it has really helped, you started assisting her at a time when she felt behind her class mates for the whole of the first year, having switched to English half way through term one.'

Melanie, a parent, June 2023: 'Thank you so much for all your time and effort with [T.]'s English literature. She really enjoyed your sessions together and it really boosted her confidence and inspired her to think more deeply and critically about the texts. It also confirmed that she is happy and excited to study a literature based course at degree level.'

*

A-level results, August/September 2022:

'[L.] came home from university yesterday to attend her school prize giving ceremony, and this morning as she was leaving she asked me to let you know that she won a special prize in English […] Until last night, she wasn't aware of any of her awards, apart from her scholarship, so it was all a lovely surprise. Furthermore, the essays she wrote in her A level English exams have somehow found their way into her teachers' hands; they told her, with beams of pride , that the three marks dropped overall were actually in her *non exam* assessment, so 30/30 in all questions across all papers under exam conditions, something she had never achieved before. She had admitted to me in the aftermath of the exams that when she was writing her English papers she had really enjoyed the process, her thoughts flowing pretty effortlessly on to the paper. But she had also worried this stream of ideas might not be fit with the mark schemes. […] she […] wanted you to know about her prize, as she thought you'd be pleased, and she also wanted to say thanks one last time for your inspirational teaching that led to it.'

'I got AAA* for my results much higher than my predicted! particularly for english'.

'[G.] got an A star in English. And is off to Oxford. […] Thanks so much for everything - you were honestly amazing and really helped her get there'.

'[L.] got 3 a stars and an A star as well in her EPQ. Her highest marks were in English Literature ( 197/200)'.

'I achieved 4A*s in my Alevels - one being in English Literature. My teachers also let me know that I got full marks in both the exam papers'.

'[T.] smashed English Literature, A* […] she is absolutely over the moon . Thank you so much for all the work you put in with her !'

'I got a D[distinction]2!!! […] I got full marks on my PI!'

'I got an A* in English!!! Thank you so much for all of your help I wouldn't have been able to do it without you!'

*

A student, January 2023: 'Just wanted to let you know I got an offer from Cambridge, thank you so so much for all your help.' And Kathryn: 'You were such a great help to [E.] in her preparation for the Cambridge application and interview and we were all delighted when she was offered a place this week. Thank you for all the support you gave her.'

Shaun, a parent, January 2023: '[E.] has found the sessions really very helpful (and has enjoyed them!)'

Guifang, a parent, December 2022: 'From what I hear from [S.], she really enjoys her discussions with you, it's really one of the highlights of her week.'

A student, November 2022: 'I'm extremely happy to tell you that I received an 8.3 for the literary review […] Thank you for explaining to me what a literary review is […] I remember whilst working on it I was so worried about my grade, but it appears I've survived.'

Deborah, a parent, September 2022: 'a huge thanks again to you for all your work with [S.]. I know he has been in touch to let you know that he got 9s in both English Language and Literature. He was over the moon - well beyond his best hopes, so thank you again for being instrumental in helping him attain those grades.'

Karen, a parent, August 2022: 'Both my girls really like your way of teaching and talking to them, they feel really listened to and respected for their opinions (as well as respecting yours obviously), so thank you :)'

Helen, a parent, July 2022: 'Thanks so much for all the help you gave [J.], he really benefitted from the sessions he had with you.'

Tara, a parent, June 2022: 'Thank you so much for all your help and patience - I think you have been brilliant for her confidence. She found English exams really very difficult before she started talking to you and it's amazing to see how much calmer (relatively speaking!) she has been going in to her A level English papers. Whatever the result, her sessions with you have definitely helped her to enjoy English again and I'm really grateful.'

A student, June 2022: 'This is incredibly insightful and thought provoking feedback. Thank you so much.'

Mei, a parent, June 2022: 'She found your lessons very helpful and always remarked to me how much you went the extra mile for her ; looking up and sending on links to whatever you'd been discussing. Much appreciated!'

Marguerite, a parent, June 2022: 'Thank you so much for all you've done for [T.] in the past year . […] you are a very talented teacher.'

Monica, a parent, June 2022: 'You have been an absolutely wonderful tutor to [L.], and how time has flown since she first met you! […] Many a time she has needed someone to talk to, not so much about AO1-5, but rather about the beauty and burden of literature and life. You have always been willing to do that, and she is richer for it.'

A student, June 2022: 'Thank you for teaching me for the last year; I have enjoyed our lessons and I feel I have grown as an English student, with thanks to your teaching.'

A student, April 2022: 'I received an 8 for my essay!! I want to thank you for your tutoring on Keats and Wordsworth- I wouldn't have gotten such a grade without it!! […] I learned tons because of you.'

Ngozi, a parent, March 2022: 'Thanks for everything that you're doing for [G.] - it has been very helpful.'

A student, February 2022: 'Really, thanks so much. Was such a good and efficient service. Your feedback looks really good and I'm going to implement it today. […] Thanks again for doing this on such short notice'.

Deborah, a parent, October 2021: '[S.] said you make it really fun - he said at school his energy goes down in English lessons and with you it goes up! So that is praise indeed from a teenage boy!'

A student, August 2021: 'I got the A grade ! I'm so pleased, thank you for all the help and the essays really paid off :).'

Monica, a parent, July 2021: 'As would be expected from his first class qualifications, Josh is extremely intelligent. However, in my opinion, he has a a very particular advantage over others of a similar academic background, namely his ability to exhibit an authentic interest in the ideas his students express. He is always kind and encouraging, but without sacrificing rigour; this approach has had a hugely positive impact on my daughter when speaking, writing and reading. Furthermore, Josh has introduced her to a range of authors, poets , films and philosophical thought, thus enriching her far beyond the school curriculum. In the future, my daughter will undoubtedly look back on her time with Josh with both fondness and gratitude. I have no hesitation in recommending Josh as a tutor'.

Guifang, a parent, July 2021: 'I have know Joshua for 2 months and He has been supporting my daughter excellently through her GCSE courses, helping her to achieve a 9 in predicted grades. From this, Joshua has always been very serious with the work, needless to say, always punctual and gives detailed homework feedback. I know him to be a wonderful tutor to my daughter.'

Susan, a parent, May 2021: '[T]hank you so much for all your help with [N.] […] [N.] found your lessons extremely helpful which enabled her to enjoy and understand English in a greater depth […] it was excellent tuition . Thank you'.

Jamal, a parent, May 2021: 'Thank you Josh for all your efforts, you have greatly assisted [S.] in better understanding English Literature as whole.'

Zahed, a parent, May 2021: 'We are grateful for all your help and support. We are in no doubt that [A.] has improved a lot in English Literature under your guidance.'

A student, May 2021: 'I just got my coursework back and got an A in it. Just thought i should let you know thanks you!'

Margaret, a parent, March 2021: 'Thanks for helping [M.] to improve her English understanding. She really enjoys her lessons and chats!'

Chris, a parent, March 2021: '[R.] is benefiting immensely from your lessons and is definitely getting more confident in expressing his thoughts in writing! Thank you.'

Amanda, a parent, December 2020: 'Josh has really helped join the dots, encouraged a depth of questioning and ways to interpret and compare ideas, extracting and bringing fresh meaning to narrative styles and creative use of language. Josh has been a great support and steered [R.]'s confidence to look more thoroughly and develop a greater understanding all round. Josh has a kind, approachable style and encouraged [R.] with debating aloud and suggestions for further reading which all continue to be an invaluable help and inspire greater confidence in approaching exams and further reading in future!'

A student, December 2020: 'He helps focus my understanding and makes sure i understand the topic we are learning before moving on. Josh will make sure to ask you questions throughout the process and is always ready for your ideas even if you think it's wrong. He will set homework but makes sure to switch it up each week to make it more interesting and gives his feedback to help me understand what i need to do to improve.'

Diana, a parent, September 2020: 'Josh worked with my daughter for her A Level in English Literature. He was outstanding with his ideas and expanding her critical thinking. He went above and beyond to develop her analytical skills and as a result helped her obtain an A*. He is an absolutely lovely, gentle but dynamic and reliable tutor who has a rare ability combine his academic achievement with a natural talent for teaching. A real gem and we cannot thank him enough.'

A parent, September 2020: 'Joshua is an excellent tutor with great communication skills . He is very patient , helpful , approachable and takes time to explain everything clearly to my daughter . Joshua has been able to breakdown and explain in full detail all aspects of the A Level content.'

A student, June 2020: 'it's been great being taught by you, I've learned so many critical thinking skills in such a short space of time.'

A parent, March 2020: 'I can't thank you enough for everything that you've done for her - you've been the best English teacher she's ever had and she has loved her time with you.'

*

During my teacher training, I taught all age groups at two west London secondary schools.

While at Oxford, I was part of an 'e-mentoring' scheme to help candidates from schools without a history of Oxbridge applications.

At Christ College, Brecon, I ran two series of seminars, for sixth-formers studying RS and English literature. In English we covered 'The Tempest', Gothic literature, Pat Barker's 'Regeneration', 'Jane Eyre', Wilfred Owen, and 'The Canterbury Tales'.

Tutoring Approach:
I try to combine three things that I want my students to do, which are three forms of thinking: speak about complex ideas, read high-quality material, and write essays for which they will receive detailed feedback. For obvious reasons, lessons are weighted to speaking, and homework to reading and writing.

Speaking

Pedagogy's holy grail is measuring progress, which is difficult in a classroom and impossible in a lecture. Happily, the tutorial system allows this to occur continuously and efficiently via dialogue. Can a student re-express an idea they have heard or read in their own words? If the answer is yes, they have probably understood the idea. Hence the constant questions!

As well as understanding the ideas of others, speaking is essential for students to develop their own. I love the quotation from the novelist E. M. Forster, 'How can I tell what I think till I see what I say?' We improve the quality of our ideas through the process of articulating them.

For my part, quite a lot of what I say is explaining what texts mean. This might sound obvious, but great works of literature are complex, so, to understand their meaning, one's own interpretation probably needs the support of others' prior interpretations.

I sometimes like to break the question of a text's meaning into two: What's it about? And what's it really about? Answering the first question is comprehension, a necessary first step. To answer the second question is to understand. In 'A Streetcar Named Desire', for example, Blanche goes to live with her sister in New Orleans. She expresses a strong dislike of her surroundings and is frequently associated with images of water. She declines mentally and is eventually taken away. So what's the play really about? Blanche is a Romantic idealist who is disappointed with her life but still tends to imagine things in their perfect form. The play is about the human soul conceiving of things being as good as they could be (as if cleansed by water), reaching for the conception, and failing to grasp it - shuttling back and forth, in other words, on the streetcar named desire.

One thing I frequently encourage is making the link between those oft-cited elements of a good essay, themes and quotations. These are not unrelated ingredients, they are the text itself viewed from different distances. A theme (the desire to be cleansed) is a wide shot, and a quotation ('the land of the sky blue water') is a close-up. So the student of English has to practise their ability to zoom in and out.

Another way I try to support my students' studies is by making connections between the texts they are reading, which in my experience doesn't happen that much at school. Particularly at A-level, there are often many fruitful connections between the half-dozen or so texts being studied: the Romantics were devoted to Shakespeare and Milton, the Gothic is an aspect of the Romantic, the Aesthetic Movement drew on particular strains of Romanticism, etc. When these connections get made with reference to particular writers, they are no longer just isms. They make the material deeper and easier to understand at the same time. Towards the end of their school careers, students of the humanities should be able to get the sense of taking part in 'the Great Conversation that began in the dawn of history and that continues to the present day' (Robert M. Hutchins).

Reading

I regularly give my students PDFs of high-quality secondary material pitched at their level or just above it. Explanatory notes, commentaries, and essays can help with understanding, particularly when it comes to context. (And all exam boards have assessment objectives relating to historical context.) To know that a text was written during a particular period and what characterised that period is to have a mental scaffold that does not limit movement but frees it. In studying the humanities we are studying human culture, and no one can do that without a bit of structure. It also helps when thinking about texts in relation to each other - when writing a comparative essay, for example. I like to think of honing in from context to text, e.g. Romanticism (late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries) > William Blake (1757-1827) > 'Songs of Innocence and of Experience' (1794) > 'The Tyger'. (What's 'The Tyger' about? There's a question!)

In my experience, knowledge acquisition operates according to the Matthew principle, named after a verse in the Gospel of Matthew: 'unto every one that hath shall be given'. In other words, the more you've got, the more you'll get. Every time you learn something about Romanticism, the greater will be your understanding of the poetry of William Blake. Your internal bookshelves expand - more connections, greater understanding. Reading secondary material is obviously 'extra', but it works to enhance students' understanding of set texts rather than crowd them out. Homer Simpson said, 'every time I learn something new, it pushes some old stuff out of my brain', and we laugh because it's not true. You can't fill up a brain, so the cliché about people's (particularly young people's) limitless potential is true. Every time you learn something new, you enrich your contextual understanding of everything else you have ever learnt. '[E]very moment is a new and shocking / Valuation of all we have been', as T. S. Eliot put it in 'East Coker'.

Writing

Speaking and reading are in a concrete way preparation for writing. If you think and make notes while speaking and reading, by the time it comes to writing an essay, the question should not be about what to say, but how to arrange the things you want to say. So annotation is an important skill. It's a bit like getting 'in the zone' for a sportsperson - students must practise getting there and staying there. I model the annotation process something like this:

Read with a pencil in your hand. What makes you underline? Something fires in your brain, so that you have a response - you spot a developing theme, you're reminded of another book, you agree or disagree, there's a word you don't know and need to look up, you like the way a sentence sounds. It could be anything. Read until you've underlined twenty words or sentences. Work out the three or four connections between the things you have to say, and you've got a paragraph plan. Work out the main thing you have to say, and you have a thesis for your essay, which, as you aim your paragraphs at it, will accumulate force.

A lot of learning (and life) is about noticing connections, so getting into the habit of doing so is something like learning how to learn. If a student has developed this habit, they shouldn't really have to think 'What shall I write?' in front of a blank sheet of paper or screen. The content of the essay will be a sort of emanation of prior thinking.

When it comes to giving students feedback, I keep in mind one of the best incites I heard early in my PGCE: attend to your students' writing as you would a piece of literature. This way, the marking progress becomes analogous to the writing process. What are all the things that could make this essay better? And is there a connection between them, i.e. what's the main thing this student needs to focus on? (I usually give feedback using comments and 'track changes' in Microsoft Word.)

Why study English?

It has been said that 'If you can think, and speak, and write, you are absolutely deadly', and I think that's right. Learning how to construct and articulate good arguments is learning how to impose ideas on the world. To the extent that English is about feelings, it is about their articulation, and there is a great deal to learn about how feelings have been and can be articulated. Moreover, because English is the medium of instruction in all other subjects, command of it confers a freedom to range through the history of ideas and discriminate between reliable and unreliable, including online. Language is a prerequisite for thought - doing English properly is learning how to think better.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am a goal oriented mature family man focused on results.
I am conversant with the educational curriculum.
I do have good communication skills, strong interpersonal skills and have the ability to motivate children to achieve their highest potential.
I always seek to organise lessons around the student's areas of interest.
I have a Bachelor of Engineering honours degree in Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering.
I can offer both online and physical lessons to students close by.
I am also willing to travel distances not more than 6 miles at an agreed cost.

Teaching Experience:
I started teaching in 2018 specialising in Maths and Physics from gcse up-to A level. I taught full time at two different schools in South Africa before i relocated to the UK 2 months ago and during that time i also had an opportunity to offer private tutoring sessions both physical and online to some students across the globe.
4 years at Taal-net St Johns High school South Africa : age range 11 -18
1 year at Sagan academy International South Africa : age range 11 - 18

Tutoring Approach:
I provide tuition to students using a friendly and relaxed approach to tutoring. My tutoring sessions are customised to meet the specific requirement of each student. Generally, I find pleasure in teaching and I use a combination of computer and 'white board' based approach, for creating informal interactive / discussion type sessions, with some form of regular tests and re-cap sessions.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am a 25 year old who has completed Masters in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning from the University of Birmingham. I also have a year of experience working as a Sofware Developer at Mercedes Benz. I have an excellent academic background in Computer Science and Maths .

Teaching Experience:
I have extensive experience teaching Mathematics and Computer Science to students aged 8 to 15, tailoring my approach to suit different learning styles and abilities. My teaching has focused on building strong foundational skills, encouraging problem-solving, and fostering a genuine interest in these subjects. In addition to working with younger students, I have also conducted doubt-clearing sessions for my juniors at university, helping them to overcome academic challenges and deepen their understanding of complex topics. This combination of experience has equipped me with the patience, communication skills, and subject expertise necessary to support students in achieving their academic goals.

Tutoring Approach:
My teaching style is student-centered and adaptive, focusing on understanding each learner's unique strengths and areas for improvement. I strive to create a supportive and engaging environment where students feel comfortable asking questions and expressing their thoughts. I use a variety of teaching methods, including interactive problem-solving, real-life examples, and visual aids, to make complex concepts more accessible and relatable. I believe in encouraging curiosity and critical thinking, and I regularly assess progress to ensure that my students are building both confidence and competence in the subject. My goal is to inspire a love of learning and to empower students to become independent thinkers.

Subjects