Bamburgh English Tutors and Bamburgh English Tuition

Personal Description:
Friendly, simple person with a proven track record. Though heavily experienced in teaching, always experimenting about ways in which current students learn and hence posses a wide variety of ways to cater to different learning needs of different students.

Have helped Advanced Level students, university students, post grads etc

Teaching Experience:
More than 40 years experience as a university lecturer and tutor in UK, Singapore and Sri Lanka. Also have conducted private tuition classes (individual and group) for GCSE and A/L. Further, have worked as a researcher in International Research Institutes - all these experiences ensure you get a unique learning experience.

Tutoring Approach:
A novel approach which is student centered and outcome based. Includes many real world examples.

This new approach will ensure that learning become fun.

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Personal Description:
I am an MFL teacher with bags of enthusiasm and an immense passion for education and children. I currently work part-time in a secondary school in Surrey, and have previously in a Boys Grammar School in North Kent, as well as having enjoyed spells living in Quebec and Aix-en-Provence in the past. I find empathising with students easy, and have girls and boys between 6 years old and adult on my books. I currently tutor in French, Spanish, English, Maths and 11+ preparation.

In my free time, I enjoy going to the gym, reading and cycling, having recently completed the London to Brighton cycle in aid of the British Heart Foundation.

Teaching Experience:
I currently work part-time in a secondary school in Surrey, and have previously in a Boys Grammar School in North Kent. I have also done a year's supply in South Yorkshire, as well as in a primary school in France. I have held departmental and pastoral TLR positions at various schools, and have tutored for over ten years. References available.

Tutoring Approach:
I like to support students in their learning by being thorough, professional, but approachable. My effective tutoring in the past has helped students to feel more confident, happier and ultimately this shows in their results. I am often very proud of my students when they make progress in areas such as confidence, as well as ability.

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Personal Description:
I have taught around 100 non-English speakers since 2010 and enjoy seeing their progress at every level. Some of them are working in major businesses in Surrey and others are working as au pairs, or are the partners of people who are working here. I am also a journalist so have a love of English grammar and enjoy teaching people to speak, and write English. I am particularly adept at teaching for Cambridge exams and have lots of students who have passed the First Certificate and the CAE. Have recently helped an Eastern European teenager pass her English GCSE.

Teaching Experience:
General English and Business English: I have been teaching since 2010 providing general English, English for Cambridge exams and business English. I have a background in business and am a journalist. I have now worked with over 100 students from all over Europe, particularly Spain, Italy, France and Switzerland, but also Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia. I have also taught students from Japan, China, Brazil, and many more places. I am happy to teach everything - grammar in particular, writing, speaking, listening skills, pronunciation. The people I have trained for Cambridge exams have had successful results in FCE and CAE. I teach business English as well as general and provide exactly what the student needs in their daily life.

Tutoring Approach:
My approach is to get the student to do most of the work, speaking and writing English, and thinking for themselves rather than all the prompting coming from me. I tailor the work to their needs.

Business: if it is a business client we look a the situations they encounter in their work and using role play we practise English in the workplace. If presentations or speaking in meetings is relevant I get the student to stand up in front of me as if I were the client or colleagues.

General: or if you're new to the UK I can help you with cultural differences and British ways of doing things. For example, you may need to make phone calls to get a plumber, or to take your car for a service. We can role play these calls.

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Personal Description:
I graduated from the University of Cambridge in 2017 in Economics, and before that did a post graduate Mathematics masters at the University of Warwick. My academic credentials are very good, having achieved 5 As at A Level - the top marks, including 100% in various mathematics exams, when I took them in 2008.

If you are looking to apply to Oxbridge or another Russell group university, I can provide better tuition than someone who has not been to Oxbridge and does not know the system.

I have been tutoring Mathematics at all levels from GCSE to university for 3 years. I have also tutored English at GCSE level.

As my full time career I work as a consultant within Big4 consulting having worked for Parliament for 5 years prior. I am able to offer career guidance having worked both in consulting, banking and politics. My time in Cambridge means I can give guidance about Oxbridge applications.

I was also a school governor at Chingford Academy and as a result have knowledge of the current GCSE curriculum. My fees have not changed over the last 10 years I have been tutoring.

I hope you will choose me.

Teaching Experience:
I have been tutoring Mathematics at all levels from GCSE, A Level and even university for 3 years. I have also tutored English at GCSE level.

Tutoring Approach:
My approach is very student centric - focused on the needs of the student. If I believe theory is lacking, I will explain the theory in a comprehensive way. If I believe application is missing, I will go over many questions, guiding the student through them. I have a mix of my own questions and past paper questions that I use. As the exams draw nearer I will focus more on past papers.

I also give each student, if they or the parents want it, activities to do which I will mark at the next session. This is like homework except I will try to make it more engaging and fun. None of my activities are generalised - I will base each on what the student requires. For example, in the past my activities have ranged from book work, to a problem solving puzzle to solve over the course of the week, to an essay, to even a relatively light exercise of reading any magazine article and giving a presentation on it.

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Personal Description:
I am an enthusiastic, young and passionate tutor with much experience in the field of teaching. With my confidence and ability to teach at varied ages I feel that I am a competent tutor for students struggling with any facet of the education cycle in schools.

I only teach females.

Teaching Experience:
I am the Head of English at an all-through school in East London. I have a varied and wide experience with teaching students of all abilities and backgrounds.

I am a qualified teacher who enjoys a challenge and has a passion for helping others reach their fullest potential.

I have experience with students all ages and abilities.

Tutoring Approach:
I feel that teaching learners at a personal level requires a particular mindset, the pedagogical approach would be catered to my learner's needs and ability. I would first take a diagnostic test of my student and then proceed with the best course of action for this tutee, using my experience from my PGCE year and my current teaching practice, I would teach accordingly.

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Personal Description:
My name is Kieran and I am an enthusiastic English student currently studying at Loughborough University. I have worked in the theatre for around eight years and am therefore incredibly confident and easily approachable. I thoroughly enjoyed my time at school and always thought about the prospect of teaching or tutoring so that I could pass on my knowledge and love for English to those who perhaps need some extra help in reaching those top grades at GCSE and AS level. My age also allows me to empathise with current GCSE and A-Level students as it was not long ago that I sat those exams myself. I am therefore confident with current exam board syllabuses and the relevant texts being studied. Please feel free to contact me regarding the tutoring of English Literature.

Teaching Experience:
Supervisor and staff at Rainham School for Girls summer school 2012.
Volunteer at local theatre group teaching 7 - 18 year olds music.

Tutoring Approach:
I have a very relaxed attitude towards tutoring as I believe this is the best environment to learn. Students will bring current school work with them to the session and we will work through any problems or issues that they are struggling with. As well as this, I will prepare literary examples and worksheets if students give me notice as to what they wish to study during the coming session. I am completely dedicated to helping and supporting those who need an extra push during exams or even just wish to receive extra guidance within the field of English Literature.

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Personal Description:
I decided to start tutoring after my experience in trying to get tutors for my own children. As a professional working internationally I thought it would be easy to hand over this important element of their education to someone with both experience and patience. My notion was quickly turned on its head. The Tutors I found taught textbook style with the one shoe fits all approach. My children and others didn't fit into that mould. I very quickly realised that I could do a better job and took the role in house, initially teaching my own daughters before extending out to their friends.
To date I have tutored over 50 children who have gone onto their chosen schools and streams. I believe that tutoring should be about delivering skills to children that they can carry with them throughout their young lives and provide a solid platform on which to develop.

Teaching Experience:
Have tutored key stage 2 and 3.
11 plus students and common entrance applicants.
Recently started to tutor mildly dyslexic students in English comprehension and Language.
Currently writing essays for publication in English Literature and Sociology and Business GCSE and AS level. As well as E papers for 11 plus students.

Tutoring Approach:
I love seeing peoples enthusiasm toward a subject which I also share the same excitement towards however I am also passionate about helping people who may need help or are looking for methods to improve their skills in these topics.

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Personal Description:
Dr Fouzia has been supporting students studying Bachelor's, Master's and PhD for over 14 years, across a range of UK universities (for example, Oxford, Cambridge, UCL, Imperial, Warwick) and international universities (for example, Harvard, MIT). Thus, she has extensive experience in working with UK and overseas students, including students from China, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and America. Her work covers the following areas: university pre-sessional courses, sociology, psychology, business, criminology, nursing, health and social care (both at college and university level), childcare, teaching, paramedical science, and beyond.

As an Examination Board Assessor, Fouzia has experience working with a myriad of examination boards, such as C&G, EDEXCEL, AQA, OCR, WJEC, NCC, CIE, ICAAE.

Moreover, her deep understanding of pedagogical principles helps guide her tutorship. Students can reach out to Fouzia out of lesson times via telephone, WhatsApp or email for any queries, progress conversations, target setting and more.

Teaching Experience:
Dr Fouzia offers face-to-face and online guidance for university students at all levels. Her work includes:

Professional editing and proofreading academic assessments for structure, style, logical coherence, clarity, and critical analysis
Proofreading of manuscripts for publication in high-impact journals.
Paraphrasing
Formatting
Reference management
Critical thinking
Critical appraisal of evidence and evidence-based practice
Research topic selection and identifying research gaps
Planning and structuring essays and dissertations
Shaping writing to make it crisp and concise, and reducing wording to reach desired word count
Guidance on report writing and creating PowerPoints for course work
Interpret and perform literature, systematic reviews
Research proposals across all subject
Data collection and analysis for both qualitative and quantitative methodology (manual and electronic analysis ie SPSS/ NVIVO).
Dissertation/ thesis design and methodology
Academic poster presentations
PhD Viva preparation
Time and stress management
UCAS applications
UCAS personal statements
Interview techniques and mock interviews for university/ employment applications

Tutoring Approach:
Dr Fouzia provides a personalised one-to-one service, meeting individual needs of students (incl. ASD, dyslexia, etc) which enables them to actively engage in their lesson, and boost confidence. She is punctual and offers a high standard service, and this is evident in the reviews received from previous students. Her holistic approach has resulted in excellent pass rates (Merits & Distinctions). In addition, being a lecturer, research supervisor, examiner, and interviewer, places her in an ideal position to support you or your child with medical school applications.

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Personal Description:
Cambridge-educated and the recipient of an Oxford University teaching prize, I am a qualified and highly experienced tutor with particular expertise in English Language and English Literature.

I offer tuition in:

11+ and school entrance
GCSE and IGCSE English Language
GCSE, IGCSE and A-level English Literature
GCSE and A-level History
GCSE and A-level Business Studies
University applications and personal statements
Mock interviews
English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)
Business English
Creative writing for adults

I hold QTS and an enhanced DBS. My qualifications include a degree in English, a PGCE in English and History, a Certificate in Education in Drama, an MA in Creative Writing and a postgraduate qualification in teaching creative writing from the University of Cambridge.

I am also a published author, professional editor, ghostwriter and experienced creative writing tutor.

I have taught students attending:

Independent senior schools: Rugby School, Gordonstoun, Warwick School, The Kingsley School, King's High School, Kingham Hill School, King Henry VIII School, Princethorpe College and Bablake School.

Independent junior schools: Crackley Hall and Warwick Junior School.

Selective state schools: Lawrence Sheriff School, Rugby High School, Alcester Grammar School, Ashlawn School, WMG Academy, Stratford Girls' Grammar School, King Edward's School and Newport Girls' High School.

State non-selective schools: Kenilworth School, Finham Park School, President Kennedy School, Babington Academy, English Martyrs, Bilton School, Houlton School, Harris Academy, Avon Valley School, Walsall Academy, Joseph Leckie Academy, Myton School, North Leamington School, Ernesford Grange Community Academy, Southgate School, East Barnet School, Attleborough Academy, Southfield School and Rugby Free Secondary School.

Junior schools: Potters Green School, Long Lawford Primary School, Holbrook Primary School, Park Hill Junior School, Dunchurch Boughton Junior School, Hillmorton Primary School, Cawston Grange Primary School, Abacus Academy, Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Primary School, Henry Hinde Junior School and St Anthony's Catholic Primary School.

Former students have progressed to leading universities, including Oxford and Durham, and have studied highly competitive subjects such as medicine and dentistry.

I have taught students based in the UK, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Russia and South Korea. I teach learners from the age of eight through to adulthood.

Teaching Experience:
I am an experienced and successful online tutor with an extensive background in secondary, further and adult education. I undertake regular professional development and keep my safeguarding, Prevent, GDPR and other required professional training up to date.

I have been a Head of English and a Senior Leader in a highly successful Birmingham school, as well as a Local Authority Adviser for English.

I have taught writing to postgraduate students at the universities of Cambridge, Warwick, Hull and York. I have also published educational research and teaching resources, edited publications and mentored writers.

My assessment experience includes working as an examiner for KS2 SATs, English Language and English Literature. I am also a qualified Arts Award assessor.

I am familiar with the requirements of AQA, Pearson Edexcel, OCR, Eduqas and IGCSE examinations. My other specialist areas include the Essex, Warwickshire and Birmingham 11+ examinations, IELTS, Trinity ESOL and British Council ESOL provision.

I have considerable experience of helping students whose schools have not enabled them to fulfil their potential. I have also provided individual tuition on behalf of schools for looked-after children. At the other end of the attainment range, I have supported highly able students at academically selective schools, helping them develop the precision and independence required for the highest grades.

Every student is taught as an individual. I assess what each learner genuinely understands, identify gaps and design lessons and resources specifically for that student. I do not rely on generic worksheets or give every pupil the same programme. My preparation is purposeful, individual and closely connected to each student's current needs, syllabus and long-term goals.

Tutoring Approach:
Every lesson is taught individually. Your child will not be placed in a group with students who have different needs, abilities or goals.

I have high expectations of my students and provide the individual teaching, encouragement and challenge they need to fulfil their potential. I also give parents honest, evidence-based feedback about progress, current attainment and areas requiring further work.

To ensure that my assessments remain accurate and consistent, I standardise my marking with a secondary-school English department every year.

RESULTS AND SUCCESSES, 2025-26

T: Grade 8 in GCSE English Language and grade 7 in English Literature. His Literature result is two marks below grade 8 and has been submitted for review.

AL: Grade 8 in GCSE English Language and grade 8 in English Literature. His Language result is one mark below grade 9 and has been submitted for review.

E: Following a significantly disrupted Year 10, she achieved grade 7 in GCSE English Language and grade 6 in English Literature.

AD: Grade 7 in GCSE English Language and grade 7 in English Literature.

V: An ESOL student who arrived in the UK less than two years before sitting her GCSEs and achieved grade 4 in both English Language and English Literature.

RESULTS AND SUCCESSES, 2024-25

All my 11+ candidates passed their examinations.

All my GCSE English Language students achieved grades 8 or 9.

All my GCSE English Literature students achieved grades 7, 8 or 9.

RECENT SUCCESSES

A student achieved grades 9 and 9 in GCSE English Language and Literature after being predicted grades 6 and 6 by school.

A student achieved grades 8 and 7 after being predicted grades 4 and 4.

A student who arrived in the UK speaking no English made three levels of progress within six months.

An adult ESOL learner from South Korea progressed from A2 to C1 British Council levels and achieved a distinction in GCSE Speaking and Listening in fewer than nine months.

My pupils have gained 11+ places at King Edward's School, Lawrence Sheriff School, Alcester Grammar School and Rugby High School.

My pupils have also gained scholarships to Rugby School and Warwick School, and bursaries to Bablake School and Princethorpe College.

Other successes include supporting a student's progress from grade 3 to grade 7 in three months, and another student's progress from grade 5 to grade 9 in six months.

TESTIMONIALS

'Thank you so much for all your support throughout the years, and for your patience and genuine care.'

'We are all so pleased and thankful for your support and help.'

'I appreciate your invaluable support.'

'We DID it! The score gets him into the best grammar school-KEGS. Thank you so much for your perseverance and amazing teaching.'

'You taught me more in one lesson than school taught me for the whole year.'

'She couldn't have done it without your coaching.'

EARLIER SUCCESSES

My earlier successes include helping GCSE and A-level students improve by several grades; supporting dyslexic and home-educated learners; preparing successful university and medical-school applications; helping postgraduate students progress from a postgraduate award to an MA course; and enabling an adult with dyslexia to progress from relying on emojis to composing written emails and messages independently.

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Personal Description:
With over 29 years of teaching experience, I am passionate about supporting learners of all ages and abilities. I have extensive experience teaching English and Turkish in a variety of educational settings, from beginner to advanced levels.
I also have experience conducting GCSE Turkish Speaking examinations, giving me valuable knowledge of the assessment process and examination requirements.

Teaching Experience:
With 25 years experience I will be happy to help you.

(BA.)American Culture and Literature Department , Filology / The Ege University,12.09. 1997

Equivalent to Level 6 certified by UK NARIC,10.05.2019

( BA) Initial Teaching Training Department, English-Turkish Language Teacher/The Ege University,12.09 1997• Certificate of attendance in Guidance/Advisory Services from Ministry of National Education / Turkey,05.11,1999

• Seminar certificate in EU Youth Programme Introduction and Project Preparation Seminar from Ministry of National Education / Turkey,26.10.2007
• Training seminar of EU Action 1.2 Youth Entrepreneurship Projects,Turkey. 18.05.2011
• Assessment of Evaluation Seminar/Turkey,14.05.2010
• Seminar certificate in EU Educ. Prog. Preparing Seminar: Erasmus + Program from Ministry of National Education / Turkey, 10.01.2014
• Seminar certificate in Seminar for Children with Special Needs and Special Education (SEN) Strategies from Ministry of National Education / Turkey, 22.01.2010
• Seminar certificate in School Health Seminar from Ministry of National Education / Turkey,22.07.2008
• Course certificate in Exam Responsible Education Course from Ministry of National Education / Turkey,29.04.2007
• Seminar certificate in Speed Reading Techniques from Ministry of National Education / Turkey,19.10.2007
• Seminar certificate in Learning Leader Teacher Seminar from Ministry of National Education / Turkey,28.06.2012
• 7-11 Years Age/ 12-18 Years Age Children and Family Education from Ministry of National Education,2017
• Participation certificate of Basic Occupational Health and Safety from Izmir Provincial Directorate,25.10.2017
• 0-3 years Family Education Programme, 29.01.2011
• Basic Education Programme for Family 0-6 years, 04.03.2010
• Course completion certificate in Child Development and Education, 2016
• Certificate in Basic Computer Trainig 18.04.2008
• Certificate of Use of Competence Based Learning in The Youth Work / Antalya Turkey,07.07.2012
• Training and Networking Projects Inclusive / Istanbul Turkey,14.06.2013
• Seminar certificate in Training Seminar of EU Action 1.2 ( Erasmus +) in Netherlands,03.03.2015
• Certificate of attendance in Social Expressive Laboratory: From MY-Learning to OUR-Learning from Coop. Soc. L`Arcobaleno Servizi in Italy,05.02.2011
• Certificate in Comenius/ Grundtvig 1-week Teacher Training Course from ITC International in Praque,13.09.2013
• Certificate in Modern Languages in the Primary School: Total Immersion Course in English from LFEE Europe / Confluence Scotland,01.08.2009
• Certificate in Developing Oral Fluency in the Primary English Language Classroom from IPC Exeter/England,19.06.2010
• Level 2 Teaching Assistant Diploma 06.06.2020
• The Complete Send Diploma Level 2&3&4 06.06.2020
• 120 Hour TESOL/TEFL CERTIFICATE 11/01/2021

Tutoring Approach:
Professional, reliable and committed to high-quality teaching.
Friendly, patient and supportive, with a focus on building confidence.
Excellent communication skills with children, students and parents.
Good listener, attentive to individual learning needs.
Strong knowledge of child development and effective teaching practices.
Well-organised with excellent time management skills.
Flexible and able to adapt lessons to different ages, abilities and learning styles.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am an Oxford graduate and a qualified teacher with over ten years of experience.

Teaching Experience:
I am a very experienced, qualified teacher with more than a decade of experience in excellent schools. In this time I have taught at all levels from 11+ to A-Level, and have also tutored pupils through Oxbridge entrance exams. I have been a senior member of staff in several leading independent schools and as a result have worked with a very wide range of pupils.

Tutoring Approach:
I believe in a supportive and friendly approach to tutoring and making learning enjoyable as far as is possible. I make a bespoke plan for each of my pupils so that every pupil has their individual aims and needs met. I have worked with pupils of all levels and abilities with superb results.

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.

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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.'

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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.'

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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 hardworking, enthusiastic mother of a 3 year old boy. I am a Primary School Teacher and have worked with many children in variety of settings and roles. I am versatile and good at adapting to new situations. I am reliable and punctual and fair. I enjoy being with my family, caravan holidays, reading, watching a good film or series, swimming and going to Church. I am always keen to learn more and develop my knowledge of how children learn and develop through keeping myself updated with new initiatives and taking part in CPD training on various subjects. I also have a keen interest in History and read many books around the subject.

Teaching Experience:
I have worked with children since leaving school, it was always something I was passionate about. I became a Nursery Nurse and worked in a Nursery settings for a time and worked my way up to Base Room Manager. I worked for a long time in a Private Preparatory school as a Teaching Assistant where I completed my Degree in Early Years Education.
I then took a year out of work to undertake my PGCE to become a Qualified Primary School Teacher. I worked in a school in Ashford for my NQT year and then worked in a school in Stanwell for the next 4 years until I had my son, who is now nearly 3 years old. Since my son was born, I have worked as a nanny for families who allow a nanny with own child. My last role was for nearly 2 years but unfortunately my role was made redundant because the parents are now working from home and they no longer needed the level of support they needed before COVID. They will happily give me a reference if you would like to ask for details.
I am currently working with a family of 5 for 3 afternoons a week providing wrap around care. I also tutor their son who is 9 years old. He has made significant progress with his reading and writing.
In the last 4 years I have been tutoring primary aged children at the weekends, in school holidays, through lockdown and after school two days a week. I can provide references. I have taught both face to face and over zoom.
I am currently tutoring a child over zoom who is 5 years old. I make my lessons fun and engaging and she has made significant progress in phonics and maths. I have an extensive knowledge of Teaching Phonics.
I am interested in Tutoring internationally. I have had some experience of working with a child from China. I supported him with his learning from age 5-7 years. I also supported him with learning English.
My availability is mainly limited to daytime so my services may suit a child who is Home Educated.

Tutoring Approach:
I enjoy tutoring children because it means I can give them my undivided attention which means I can understand that particular child's knowledge and skills on a far deeper level. This is where my Early Years background really helps as I can identify different learning styles and adapt the way I teach to suit each child. This is very much a part of the Early Years Curriculum so I am used to being reflective and using different strategies to help children learn to the best of their ability. I enjoy tutoring because it allows me to see how children grow and learn and most of all gain in confidence so they are able to learn more effectively in all their subjects.
Throughout the session I will assess the child's progress and use this information to plan for the next session. As the spiral curriculum dictates I will also revisit past learning to ensure the child has a firm grasp of the concepts that have been taught previously. This is very important because often or not learning is lost in school because schools do not have time to go over lessons which results in children developing gaps in their learning.
I am confident with both face to face and on-line lessons.

Subjects

Personal Description:
Having tutored for 12 years and been in mainstream education for the past 9, I am more than ready and willing to work with young people who are in need of a variety of different approaches:

- Stretching and challenging the most able
- Going back to basics with exam content
- Handwriting
- Organisation
- Revision skills and independent learning

Teaching Experience:
Qualified teacher (secondary)

Most recent tutee Results
Student 1: GCSE Spanish - Grade 9
Student 2: SATs 101 / 102 / 102
Student 3: GCSE English Language-Grade 8
Student 4: GCSE Spanish - grade 6
Student 5: GCSE French (current)

Tutoring Approach:
There is no right answer to "what is the best approach" - my first session will always be one hour to formulate a plan based on the requirements of the parent(s) or carer(s), to meet the learner in question, and to come up with a plan of action based on a variety of factors. This will incorporate target grades in school, achievements so far, existing attitudes to learning amongst other things.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I'm 55 years old, married with two children and three grandchildren. I'm patient and personable, relaxed and professional. My hobbies currently revolve around entertaining my young grandchildren, and reading and gaming when I have time. I am also a part-time pastor of a small Christian church in Southport.

I attended Liverpool John Moores University as a mature student and was awarded a first class degree in English Literature and American Studies. I subsequently completed a PGCE course at the University of Liverpool and qualified as a secondary school teacher in 2000.

Teaching Experience:
For 23 years, I was a member of the English Department at Sacred Heart Catholic College (now Academy) in Crosby, Liverpool. In that time, I taught students from 11-18 and gained experience in whole class teaching and individual and small group tuition. I helped develop schemes of work and lesson plans, and was also a head of year for three years. For many years, I ran after school clubs including a role playing group and a school fiction magazine.

Since 2023, I have been working as a supply teacher at a range of schools in the area, including a year-long stint at Meols Cop High School in Southport from September 2024-July 2025.

Tutoring Approach:
I have had limited experience of private tutoring, but my approach is to assess tutees' strengths and weaknesses through fairly straightforward baselining and focused questioning. Once areas for improvement have been identified, more specific activities will be designed depending on the needs of the tutee. These will invariably involve practice of some kind - whether of writing or reading skills - followed by a discussion of how to improve.

English is a more skills-based than knowledge-based subject. In my experience, most students are well aware of the areas in which they need more help, but struggle with how to develop those areas - precisely because they are not something which can be addressed simply by acquiring or reinforcing knowledge. Having a tutor to talk to helps - to identify and improve those skills which students need to succeed. My aim is to provide practical, easily understood advice, tailored to the tutee's unique circumstances and structured to give them confidence in the subject.

Subjects

Personal Description:
Hello! I'm Alexis, your approachable, results-focused tutor for English and Drama. I'm friendly and easy to talk to, with a quick, light-hearted sense of humour that remains respectful. I'm goal-oriented and know what needs to be done to reach your targets. I'm happy to work with all ages. I have my own twin boys in S3 starting their National Fives so I understand the pressures for pupils and families. I want you to feel confident going into class and into exams. In particular, I want you to enjoy the process!
I teach one to one or small groups of up to four from my home in the west end of Glasgow or online. Groups are based on level and on texts. Please just reach out to discuss your needs.

Teaching Experience:
I've been teaching English since 1999. I also ran a drama school. In 2017, I added drama to my General Teaching Council qualifications and began teaching drama in schools. I'm currently a visiting examiner for N5 and Advanced Higher drama, and I am also a marker for Advanced Higher assignments for the Scottish Qualifications Authority. Over the years, I've taught in many schools, starting in East Dunbartonshire and Glasgow councils during my early career. More recently, I spent nine years teaching English and drama at The High School of Glasgow. I left in the summer to take up an international teaching post, but I missed Scotland (and its weather too much!) and have returned to build up tutoring. I am experienced and have an excellent understanding of the exam standards.

Tutoring Approach:
Your goals, strengths, and challenges will guide our sessions. We'll engage with concepts through discussion, practice, and reflection.
I'll break down complex ideas into manageable steps and we'll use targeted exercises that reinforce key techniques and concepts. I'll give constructive, actionable feedback, with follow-ups to track progress. For Drama, we can work on practical as well as written. I'll follow your lead - what do you need to work on most?

I understand the methods and steps needed to reach proficiency in English and Drama. If something isn't clicking, I'll tailor a different path. We can explore multiple angles to find what suits you best and we'll adapt to your pace - slower and deeper where needed, faster when you're ready.

We'll work together by clarifying your objectives and current level in English and/or Drama. We'll create a clear roadmap with milestones and practice targets. I will use varied resources: Short explanations, worked examples, practice problems, and quick quizzes. You will gain confidence!

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am an experienced English, History and Government & Politics tutor with over 18 years of teaching experience across secondary and post-16 education. Throughout my career, I have supported students from GCSE to A Level, helping them develop confidence, improve their academic skills and achieve their personal goals.
I specialise in English Language, English Literature, History and Government & Politics, with a particular focus on examination preparation, essay writing, critical analysis and developing the skills needed to achieve strong grades. I understand that every student learns differently, so I take time to identify individual strengths, areas for development and the most effective ways to support progress.

Teaching Experience:
My teaching experience has involved working with a wide range of learners, including students who require additional support with confidence, organisation, concentration and exam anxiety. I am passionate about creating a positive and encouraging learning environment where students feel comfortable asking questions, exploring ideas and challenging themselves.

Tutoring Approach:
My approach to tutoring is personalised, structured and focused on achieving measurable progress. I combine subject knowledge with effective exam techniques, clear explanations and constructive feedback to help students become more independent and confident learners.
Whether a student is aiming to improve their grades, prepare for important examinations or develop a deeper understanding of their subject, I provide tailored lessons that are engaging, supportive and focused on helping them reach their full potential.
I offer face-to-face tuition across South London and Surrey, including Coulsdon, Croydon, Caterham, Sutton, Wallington, Oxted, Warlingham and Sanderstead, as well as online sessions.

Subjects

Personal Description:
99% Grades 7-9 | 100% Admission Success 2021-2026 | 5+ Years' Tutoring Experience | 20,000+ hrs of Academic Research, Learning Design & Teaching

✓ The Tutors' Association & Qualified Tutor member | Myelin Academia Certified Tutor | Live Progress Tracker to Monitor Student's Progress | Enhanced DBS incl. Children's Workforce & Barred List with Daily Update Service

✓ Neuroscience-Informed Specialist Tutor | First-Class BSc (Hons) Biomedical Science, IBMS-Accredited | MSc Neuroscience, King's College London | IBMS President's Prize for Academic Excellence | SEND & EAL Experience | Mocks, SATs, 11+ Entrance + Interview Coaching | Proud to support thousands of learners on social media!

✓ Creator of the Thinking That Transfers Framework | Evidence-Led Progress System | Exam Board-Specific Mastery Cycles | Adaptive & Inclusive Teaching | Exclusive Resources & Predicted Papers Not Available Publicly


Testimonial Highlights

"Since Ume has been tutoring my daughter for Year 11 GCSE Maths, her grade improved from U to B in her Year 11 mocks and grade A in her final GCSE exam."

"My daughter is a Year 10 GCSE student whose grades have improved significantly since working with Ume. She is currently achieving grades 7 to 9."

"She has already exceeded expectations and is working at A* targets."

"Our daughter had been home educated since Year 8 and had received tuition in several subjects, yet English and Maths remained confusing as she approached her GCSEs. Ume's diagnostic assessment identified the missing foundations and why previous support had not worked. She then taught the complete GCSE English and Maths curricula in a structured sequence, building our daughter's independence and confidence under exam conditions.

Within a year, her final GCSE results were Grade 9s in Maths and English Language and Grade 8s in English Literature and Further Maths. She received offers from every college she applied to, including MPW London, and secured her first choice, Ashbourne College London.

Ume now tutors her in A-level Biology and Chemistry and she is consistently achieving A* grades in class tests. These results gave us complete confidence to ask Ume to prepare our son for the 13+ admissions assessments and interviews for St Paul's School and Eton College."


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Memorised content fades. Usable understanding transfers beyond the classroom.

My teaching is inclusive by design and evidence-led. I train cross-disciplinary STEM thinking informed by Cognitive Neuroscience and Educational Psychology to build synoptic fluency, so students meet top-band descriptors and develop lasting academic confidence.

Over 5 years and thousands of 1:1 lessons, I have supported learners from KS2 SATs and KS3 through to GCSE combined and triple Science, Maths, English, and onwards to A-level Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Psychology.

My experience includes supporting boarding, school-based, and home-educated learners, as well as international students from India, the UAE, Canada, and Russia studying the British curriculum, alongside families relocating to the UK. This has sharpened my highly structured approach that secures smooth academic transition and clear alignment with exam expectations.

Across multiple cohorts, my students have achieved consistently strong outcomes, including a 100% pass rate and 99% grades at 7 to 9. Documented grade gains include U to 7 and 4 to 9, alongside moving into higher sets and sustaining top-set placement.

My academic training also shapes how I teach top-band writing and support advanced STEM research projects, dissertations and theses. Across my BSc (Hons) and MSc, I achieved First-Class grades in 100% of submitted coursework, spanning lab reports, Biomedical Science and Neuroscience dissertations, research posters, graded assignments, presentations and critical appraisal. This now informs my teaching of high-level academic writing for EPQ, NEA, Science, History, Geography, English Literature and Language.

Alongside a safeguarding-first professional standard, my teaching is grounded in specialist academic expertise from an MSc in Neuroscience at King's College London, a First-Class IBMS-accredited BSc (Hons) in Biomedical Science, and the IBMS President's Prize for academic excellence.

I also hold an Enhanced DBS certificate on the Update Service, alongside certified Myelin Academia tutoring qualification, The Tutors' Association (TTA) and Qualified Tutor member. My tutoring qualification is underpinned by research in Psychology, Educational Theory, and effective Pedagogical Practice and tailored support for different learner needs.

Copyright 2021-2026 UME - All Rights Reserved.

Teaching Experience:
Beyond 1:1 Tutoring: Leadership, Safeguarding and Structured Delivery


My teaching is shaped by a disciplined ability to abstract complexity, turning demanding concepts and methods into clear, usable thinking. That expertise has been refined through extensive private tutoring, alongside broader experience in academic leadership, safeguarding-aligned education, group teaching, and scholarly communication. Together, these layers strengthen the high-structure practice I bring to learners across ages, settings, and levels of need, informed by Neuroscience and shaped by my teaching experience.

• Educational Leadership: Selected as a Biomedical Science Cohort Representative, I contributed to programme board discussions by presenting student insight clearly and helping shape quality-focused improvements to the learning experience.

• Academic Communication & Pedagogy: At King's College London, I supported year-round access to MSc Neuroscience lecture materials and co-delivered a postgraduate Statistics and data analysis workshop, turning complex theory into clear, usable steps.

• Cross-Age Teaching Expertise: From 5+ years in primary literacy support for ages 3-12, to 4+ years in GCSE-level programme tutoring through the Access Project and the National Tutoring Programme, and 3+ years in community education for adult learners. I have refined my teaching expertise across diverse settings, delivering 1:1 and group teaching through clear differentiation, embedded routines, and a safeguarding-first standard.

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From Curriculum to Capability: I Build Thinking That Transfers

I tutor full-time and use a teaching approach grounded in Cognitive Neuroscience to strengthen how students learn, retain knowledge, and adapt their thinking. My fascination with how the body works and how the brain responds to structured support shapes the way I teach students to think, question, and connect ideas across topics, subjects, and real-world contexts. With the right structure, anxiety reduces, competence strengthens, and confidence follows.

The difference is simple: memorised content fades, but usable understanding lasts. Through structured practice, precise feedback, and mastery cycles, I help students turn curriculum knowledge into strong reasoning, resilient problem-solving, and high-level performance beyond exams.

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Specialist Expertise Across the Full Attainment Range

Drawing on over 5 years of programme-led and community education alongside private tutoring, I have supported hundreds of students across a wide range of needs and attainment levels, including high attainers, EAL learners, and students with SEMH and SEND such as dyslexia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia, autism, ADHD, anxiety.

Many of my students begin with the same frustration: "I keep losing marks even when I know the topic." Whether they are preparing for 11+, GCSE or A-level, I use an exam-board-aligned framework with examiner insight to convert complex understanding into clear, high-scoring responses under timed conditions.

To turn subject knowledge into confident exam execution, I created the Thinking That Transfers Framework, my evidence-shaped system of weekly mastery cycles, precise gap analysis, and targeted re-testing. It pinpoints the gap between what a student understands and what they can execute under exam conditions, then closes it through focused weekly priorities. I teach the "how" as well as the "what", so students develop transferable study habits and perform with confidence beyond our sessions.

This highly structured approach has proved especially effective for GCSE students balancing demanding commitments in film, television, the West End, elite dance, football, and international tennis. Working across locations and time zones has refined my high-impact system that secures curriculum coverage, strengthens exam mastery, and aligns homework and practice with intensive training demands and travel commitments.

The same approach has also shaped my work through the Access Project and the National Tutoring Programme, where I have specialised in accelerating the progress of high-potential students from diverse backgrounds. Alongside stronger grades, parents report positive feedback from class teachers, improved participation in class, stronger behaviour for learning, and consistent focus and effort. Students also develop the confidence to aim for competitive academic pathways, including Russell Group and Oxbridge routes.

That longer-term impact is reflected in progression choices. My students go on to study Biology, Chemistry or Physics at A-levels at sixth form, progressing into Biosciences, Biomedical Engineering, Medicine or Dentistry at their first-choice universities, including University College London, Imperial College London and the University of Oxford.

My specialist preparation for UK Maths Trust (UKMT), including JMC, IMC and SMC, has led to Bronze, Silver and 'Top Gold' awards, including 2026 IMC Silver and the Andrew Jobbings Senior Kangaroo award. A Year 11 physics enthusiast also achieved Silver in the British Physics Olympiad (BPhO) Challenge. A Bronze CREST Award for a GCSE STEM project at a top 10 London academy, alongside successful participation in the UK Linguistic Olympiad (UKLO) at Advanced Level in 2026. Beyond competition distinctions, my guidance also supported completion of the Duke of Edinburgh Skills section, including the book reading challenge. If you are aiming for that level of achievement, please send me a message.

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Curriculum Mastery Across Leading Exam Boards

I teach across the full secondary to pre-university range: from KS3 and pre-GCSE through (I)GCSE, National 5 and O level, and on to AL, IAL, IB SL/HL, Higher, Advanced Higher, AP and Pre-U.

I've worked with students across UK state, highly selective grammar, independent and leading international schools, as well as post-16 provision, including Godolphin and Latymer, North London Collegiate, Wilson's, Loughborough Amherst, St Gerard's, Sherborne, Chesham Grammar, Sutton Grammar, and Clapham and Streatham High School. My teaching approach is adaptable, best-practice-led, and refined through extensive tutoring experience, supported by in-depth knowledge across the OCR A, Eduqas, AQA, Edexcel, SQA, WJEC and CIE exam boards.

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Selective Entry & Scholarship Preparation

I prepare students for competitive 7+ to 11+ and 13+ entry, including scholarship pathways and the ISEB Common Pre-Tests. Bringing together personal experience within the Russell Group academic system, alongside expertise in selective entry and scholarship preparation, I provide strategic support across the full process. This includes tailored reading lists, personal statement guidance, mock interviews, and interview coaching, helping students present themselves with confidence and intellectual depth.

For English (incl. creative writing), Maths, Verbal Reasoning, and Non-Verbal Reasoning, my strategically structured support is designed with the end goal in mind: to build accuracy, develop efficient speed, and strengthen exam performance. I work across Sutton, GL, CSSE, CEM, Kingston, SET, and school-specific assessment formats for both day and boarding school entry.

I have supported families through competitive admissions to leading schools including King's College School Wimbledon, Whitgift, Newstead Wood, Tiffin, Graveney, Latymer, and other highly selective independent and grammar schools.

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From Knowledge to Marks: Transferable Exam Thinking Across Subjects

Recognised for academic excellence and backed by over five years of experience supporting hundreds of students, I have trained them to develop the cross-disciplinary thinking that turns knowledge into repeatable exam success. Students often know more than their scripts show. The real challenge is training them to apply, analyse, and communicate that understanding, while refining the writing skills that convert it into marks.

In Psychology and other essay-based subjects (incl. History), I strengthen the transition from knowledge to application and evaluation, enabling students to critique evidence with examiner-level depth. Most marks are lost in Geography and data-rich subjects, when students can't execute on graphs and figures, so I teach consistent structures for describing trends, analysing processes, interpreting implications, and evaluating reliability, so graphs and figures become scoring opportunities rather than weak points.

The transfer-based strategies extend into Science and Maths. In Science, I specialise in practical, investigative, and data-response questions, teaching students to interpret experimental design and construct answers that boost grades. The cross-topic approach translates directly into Maths, connecting algebra, number, and geometry in a clear show / prove sequence, securing method marks through reasoning rather than guesswork.

That same discipline carries into English Language and Literature, which cannot be mastered through rote instruction alone, but through targeted practice and feedback. Strong reading comes before strong writing, so I guide students through detailed, line-by-line analysis of set poems, plays, and novels to deepen understanding, refine interpretation, and strengthen written response. In Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, for example, I take students through the most important moments in the text, then show them how to trace the deeper patterns, themes, and writer's methods that shape the novel.

I then coach each student by turning their written drafts into repeatable top-band blueprints aligned to their thinking style. We target strengths, close next-step gaps, and train students to produce argument-led responses with a clear thesis, embedded evidence, and precise analysis of method and effect. The goal is not just stronger writing in one essay, but independent control of high-quality responses under time pressure to maximise marks.

Copyright 2021-2026 UME - All Rights Reserved.

Tutoring Approach:
Across 20,000+ hours of learning design, academic research and teaching in diverse educational settings, I have refined a specialist teaching framework that is ambitious, achievable, and built to secure sustained progress towards the highest grades. Having helped GCSE students progress from below a D to an A* and A-level students in securing A grades, I bring examiner-focused understanding of what top performance demands.

My students benefit from tailored and expertly refined resources not publicly available, including specialist study packs and predicted papers designed to raise performance in both mocks and final exams. Developed through extensive teaching practice, my resources give students a distinct academic advantage and form part of the specialist teaching framework that has helped students improve by up to 8 or 9 grades. Just as importantly, my teaching instils self-motivation and intellectual discipline, equipping students to think independently and succeed far beyond their exams.

Thinking That Transfers Framework

My adaptive and inclusive teaching approach uses targeted scaffolding to remove barriers for schooled, homeschooled, EAL, and SEMH or SEND learners without lowering expectations. The goal is to develop independent, synoptic and exam-ready thinking. Each student's plan is tailored to their learning profile and guided by ongoing assessment aligned to the exam board specification. To keep the Thinking That Transfers Framework aligned with current educational evidence, I continually draw on research in Cognitive Neuroscience, Educational Psychology, and Behavioural Science, particularly in memory, metacognition, and effective teacher-student interaction.

• Question-Level Diagnosis: A precise diagnostic that identifies exactly why marks are being lost, from knowledge and application gaps to exam technique weaknesses, misconceptions, and reasoning breakdowns, so we can target the highest-impact improvements first.

• Weekly Progress: Turns those findings into specification-aligned weekly mastery checkpoints, so progress stays trackable and consistent.

• Concept Mastery: Strengthens long-term recall and understanding using evidence-led routines and explicit modelling of concepts. In Science, this includes lab practical thinking: variables, method, data handling, and evaluation.

• Written Consolidation: Students write notes in their own words during and between lessons, so learning is actively processed. This strengthens understanding, sharpens critical thinking, and reveals uncertainty early, before misconceptions become embedded. It also integrates exam technique from an early stage, acclimatising students to harder questions through meticulously sequenced practice, so they build confidence without the overwhelm of revising an entire textbook at once.

• Verbal Recall: Students explain previously taught material aloud, often several weeks after initial teaching, so learning is actively reconstructed. This strengthens retrieval, deepens conceptual understanding, reveals gaps in knowledge, and consolidates learning into long-term memory and sharpens communication. Over time, it develops the disciplined thinking, intellectual independence, and articulate reasoning that support high-level success both in exam and outside the classroom.

• Exam Techniques: Understanding is translated into marks through structured exam practice, worked examples, assignment completion, module assessment prep, quizzes, actionable feedback, and guided re-attempts until responses reach mark scheme standard. This develops the speed, accuracy, and exam judgement needed to secure marks consistently, particularly on high-level and end-of-exam questions where many students fall short.

• Independent Study: Students follow a concise weekly plan and a simple self-check routine, so independent work stays efficient and outcome driven.

The framework remains consistent, while pacing, sequencing, and practice design are continually refined through diagnostic judgement as each student progresses. This strengthens performance and prepares students more effectively for the final phase of exam preparation.

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The Learning Experience

By combining expert teaching with advanced technology, I deliver every lesson through a professional setup, including an HD webcam, noise-cancelling microphone, and full Fibre Gigafast broadband, ensuring a focused, efficient learning environment throughout. From first enquiry to first lesson, I provide a smooth, efficient onboarding process, with simple payment and scheduling.

Lessons take place face-to-face via Zoom using a shared digital whiteboard. With a professional graphics tablet, I turn complex ideas into clear, accessible explanations, whether breaking down scientific processes, modelling mathematical working step by step, or constructing diagrams in real time. This allows students to follow the logic of each concept.

My online classroom is highly interactive and visually structured. Through PowerPoint presentations, annotated examples, and detailed explanations, students see abstract content unfold in real time, making it easier to connect ideas across topics, retain key knowledge, and apply it with confidence.

The digital setting allows for immediate, personalised feedback. We can edit written responses together, correct mistakes, and analyse work line by line to maximise progress in every lesson, delivering a level of targeted feedback that is difficult to achieve in a traditional classroom.

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Strategic Academic Pathways & Specialist Support

Whether you need sustained curriculum support, focused exam intervention, or a bespoke route beyond the standard school model, I offer strategically designed tuition tailored to your goals, timeline, and exam board. My support includes intensive holiday sessions, targeted plans for mocks and re-testing, last-minute exam-readiness prep, and high-impact resources selected with precision for the subject and specification.

I also support privately entered and niche subjects (incl. Statistics and Urdu Language and Literature), resits, gap year students, accelerated pre-GCSE learners, home-school programmes built around great books, weekly classes, and group tuition with access where needed to a trusted network of exceptional educators whose standards match my own.

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Tuition Options & Pricing

The following direct-booking prices apply when tuition fees are paid directly to me in advance, subject to availability.

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1:1 PRIVATE TUITION
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PAYG 1:1 tuition from £258/ 2x50-min sessions | 1:1 tuition monthly block from £55/ 50-min session or £68/ 1-hr session

My students receive targeted homework, alongside end-of-unit and termly in-class mocks tailored to their learning profiles.

Personalised block-booking packages are available on request.

Fees depend on the student's year group, subject, exam board, level of support required, and lesson frequency.

Home visits are subject to location, travel time and availability. Any travel costs will be confirmed before booking.

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Booking, Payment & Lesson Terms
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Please read the key booking terms before starting tuition.

• A complimentary first lesson is available exclusively for Year 3 students starting 11+ entrance exam preparation.

• Lessons are confirmed only once payment has been received. For all tuition bookings, payment must be received in advance by the date stated on the invoice. If payment is not received, the lesson slot may be released to another student on the waiting list.

• Resources created by the tutor remain the intellectual property of the tutor. Third-party or licensed resources remain the property of their respective owners. Copying, recording lessons, taking screenshots, sharing, reproducing, or distributing lesson materials is not permitted. Students are encouraged to make their own notes for personal study only.

• To support lesson quality, focus, and student engagement, students are expected to keep their camera on during online lessons, unless otherwise agreed in writing.

• All online sessions are recorded for safeguarding and quality assurance purposes.

• Clients will be notified in writing of any updates to these terms and conditions.

By booking a lesson, making payment, or continuing with tuition, clients confirm that they accept these booking terms and conditions.

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Copyright 2021-2026 UME - All Rights Reserved. Thinking That Transfers Framework is the name of my teaching framework. The written content of my profile, including its wording, framework descriptions, presentation, structure, distinctive positioning, and associated teaching materials, is protected intellectual property. Copying, reproduction, adaptation, or repurposing of this content, in whole or in part, by tutors or any other individual or organisation, is strictly prohibited. Any identified infringement may result in formal legal notice and enforcement action, independent of platform intervention.

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