Cardiff English Tutors and Cardiff English Tuition

Personal Description:
I graduated from Cambridge University with a BA in English Literature, and then from the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, graduating with a BA in acting, where I was the recipient of the Noel Coward Scholarship from 2008-2011. In July 2011 I won the Michael Bryant Award at the National Theatre, for verse speaking and Shakespeare.

When I'm not acting or tutoring I can be found in the plumbing, plastering, kitchen or grappling with a cryptic crossword.

CURRENT AVAILABLE SLOTS: 9-10am + 10-11am Sundays, weekly.

Teaching Experience:
I have been a private tutor since 2008.

Currently tutoring students in: 8+, 10+ & 11+ preparation (all four subjects); GCSE Maths. Adult English and pronunciation skills.

Previously: English - KS1, KS2, 7+ (Successful entry to Highgate), 11+ (Successful entry to, Haberdashers' Askes Boys, Trinity, City of London School for Boys, Alleyn's, St Alban's), A Level (A at A Level English and Extended English). Maths - KS1, KS2, 7+, 11+, 13+ (successful entry to Oundle, Haberdashers' Askes Boys), GCSE (grade improved from D to A*). University application assistance (Successful entry to Durham and Oxford). English as a foreign language - including public speaking and native pronunciation and grammar for business professionals.

During my gap year I spent some time as a special needs classroom assistant, working closely with a child with Asperger's Syndrome. This involved facilitating the social and academic change between primary and secondary education on a one-to-one basis.

Also at this time I ran Welsh language games sessions for primary children in non-first-language schools to improve and encourage their use of the language outside of the classroom environment.

Whilst at secondary school I taught reading skills to children who had low reading-ages.

I wrote a thesis on the connections between Maths and acting whilst at Guildhall.

Tutoring Approach:
My approach to tutoring is tailored to the individual's needs; firstly finding ways of fully explaining a concept, then cementing them with useful and memorable material to build students' confidence. My main objective would be to aid the student in understanding not only the specifics of the work but also the broader aspects of it, which I believe provides a truer grounding in - and enjoyment of - a subject. By making the work useful and enjoyable, and by finding alternative and effective approaches to study, I hope that my tuition will shed new light on subjects for students.

My passion is building confidence and fostering resilient approaches to problem solving.

I specialise in tutoring Maths and particularly enjoy helping those students whose confidence in the subject has become a barrier to their learning and enjoyment of the subject.

Previous Students' Comments:

'Before I met Alex, as a dyslexic, I was academically unconfident and dreaded having tutors who had never really helped me before. Alex tutored me from Year 8 to 11 and she completely changed my attitude to studying, helped me develop my organisational skills and gave me a huge amount of confidence in my abilities. As I approached GCSEs she tutored me particularly in Maths where I was struggling with a D grade. Without her expert tuition I doubt I would have been able to achieve my A* in Maths.

I think Alex is an amazing tutor because she has an extraordinary talent for making it a thoroughly enjoyable experience to the extent I would genuinely look forward to our lessons. Alex was far more than a tutor to me, helping me through such formative teenage years. I consider her a friend.'

- Tally

'Alex is a truly outstanding and gifted tutor as well as a fantastic person. I have very much enjoyed being her student for over six months, and have not only learnt a lot due to her expertise and impressive knowledge but also grew to love English Literature because of the inspirational nature of her tutoring. Previously, I used to constantly struggle with my assignments since English is not my first language, however, after a few weeks of sessions with Alex my grades and confidence significantly improved. She has an ability to keep the lessons varied and interesting; always well prepared for lessons - she was kind enough to provide me with extremely useful books and personal notes. Her incredible dedication and hard working nature also deserves mentioning as she was willing to help me even in the evenings when I was panicking about coursework and the approaching exams. With Alex's assistance and firm confidence in my ability I have achieved a high A in my A-level English Literature and even a merit award in Extended English. I would enthusiastically recommend Alex to anyone who wants to succeed in their exams and learn heaps of interesting information.

- Natasza (Graduated with an MA from Oxford University)

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Personal Description:
My name is Ngum-Agnes, I am 18 years old. I live in Cardiff and am currently studying Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry and French at A level.
I received all As and A*s at GCSE and A Levels and all A*s in the subject I am tutoring in.
I like to think of myself as friendly, polite and patient.

Teaching Experience:
I have had tutoring experiencing in the UK for over a year now in French, English, Mathematics, and Science.

I recently volunteered at children's orphanage in Africa where, among other things, I taught the Ethiopian children English. Doing so taught me the effectiveness and importance of patience and empathy when tutoring, as well as giving the pupil time to think through things in their own way.

Tutoring Approach:
I make sure to explain things slowly yet effectively and take time to understand the pupils way of learning and adapt my teaching in that way. I ensure that I am patient and friendly when tutoring and try to create a relaxed and calm but attentive atmosphere. I like to create a bond with my student so that they feel comfortable when learning but also eager and unafraid to ask questions when they do not understand.

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Personal Description:
Hola/Bonjour/Hello!

My name is Ella and I am Head of Spanish in a leading Independent School in Cardiff.

I have taught both French and Spanish to A Level for 10 years, and have experience teaching WJEC, AQA and Edexcel specifications. I hold a BA (Hons) in French and Hispanic Studies from King's College London, for which I received a 2:1, an MA in Art History with a particular focus on Spanish Art History and socio-political artistic exchange, for which I received a Distinction, and I completed my NPQML qualification in 2021.

In my spare time, my passions are art, history, European cinema and keeping fit. I have also begun learning Arabic, Catalan and Mandarin myself!

Teaching Experience:
I received my PGCE in Spanish with Subsidiary French from King's College London, and have worked in both the independent and state sector in England and Wales. I assumed the role of Head of Department in my current school in 2024 after being the Spanish Subject Coordinator for 2 years prior, and have been Second in Department and Head of French in previous schools. Recently, I became an examiner for WJEC/Eduqas, and have marked for these exam boards. For the past two examination series, my results at both GCSE and A Level were 100% A-A*, proving my dedication to my pupils and an exceptional track record.

Tutoring Approach:
My approach is always student-centred, and I like to establish a rapport with pupils which enables me to help them in a way which best matches their personality and needs. I like to flip the learning, enabling pupils to 'have a go' at particular activities or concepts first, before addressing any difficulties or misconceptions. This ensures that my support is always specifically targeted to the needs of the student.

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Personal Description:
I am a specialised English teacher who is enthusiastic about his job and is determined in providing tailored lessons that are enjoyable and accessible to his pupils.

I have experience working with a variety of pupils from different socio-cultural and economical backgrounds. I also have experience working with pupils who have different abilities, learning needs and attitudes towards learning. This experience has given me the opportunity to not only develop my teaching skills and build positive working relationships, but has given me the knowledge to provide learning that is accessible to all types of pupils in order for them to progress.

I have experience working with Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 pupils. We will work together to:
- Prepare you for any examinations or assessments
- Build on your coursework
- Improve on any particular weaknesses in your knowledge/skills
- Build your confidence so that you are more comfortable with what you are learning

My methods of teaching include:
- Discussions about the work so that the pupil could develop their Oracy skills.
- Analysing model answers so that the pupils are aware of the success criteria required to produce high-level answers.
- Working with past papers so that the pupils are familiar with the conditions in which they would be examined in as well as the questions they would need to answer.
- Independent tasks so that the pupils could develop their thinking skills as well as build on their confidence to work independently.
- Reading and writing tasks so that the pupils could develop their reading and writing skills.
- Creative tasks in order for the pupils to develop their imagination, which in turn would expand on their ability to think outside the box.

You tell me the end goal, and I will tailor the journey to meet your specific needs.

Teaching Experience:
Graduated from Cardiff University in English Language and Literature with a 2:1 classification.

Graduated from University of Wales, Trinity St. David and successfully gained my PGCE qualification.

I have taught in several different schools, all from different socio-cultural and economical backgrounds:
The John Frost School
St. Joseph`s R.C. Comprehensive School and Sixth Form Centre
Llanishen High School
Bishop of Llandaff, Church in Wales High School
Fitzalan High School

I have experience of tutoring/teaching pupils both in-person and online.

Tutoring Approach:
I have been teaching online for several months now due to the Coronavirus lockdown. My typical online lessons include:
- Communicating via Teams or Google Classroom with my pupils.
- Uploading work on Teams or Google Classroom for my pupils.
- A recording of myself going through the work for the pupils to watch.
- A livestream where the pupils can join a meeting and have a virtual lesson.

I am comfortable with teaching both Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 pupils online, and I try my best to ensure that my pupils do not feel as if they are missing out on the classroom experience.

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Personal Description:
I am a patient, helpful and responsible individual who enjoys tutoring students and helping them build confidence in their ability to achieve.

Currently my only available slot is Friday 5.30-6.30.

Teaching Experience:
I have 20 years experience working within a school environment, dealing with both primary, secondary age range and adults. I possess a Master's Degree in English together with UK Qualified Teacher Status.

At the moment I work as a Lead Practitioner in a local secondary school in the London Borough of Bexley. I am also tutoring Functional Skills English and ESOL.

I have marked AQA and EDEXCEL GCSE Language papers for the past 5 years, therefore I have excellent understanding of how the marks are awarded for each question in both papers.

Tutoring Approach:
I believe that a key feature of effective teaching is balancing the pupils' success against the level of difficulty required to challenge them. Furthermore, I think to teach effectively you need more than good subject knowledge, something that develops with time and experience - professional knowledge and personal style. In my opinion, a teacher should give all the possible help to pupils to gain knowledge and become useful members of the society. Acquiring knowledge in a supportive, fair, friendly and not tense atmosphere is very important. A teacher should be a role model to students, who helps individual pupils to grow and deals with them in an objective way. In my opinion a good relationship between a teacher and pupils helps to overcome the difficulties that may arise during the learning process.

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Personal Description:
I have a BVA in Fine Art and a Masters in Acting. I am an approachable, creative, skilled and patient tutor able to work with special needs and gifted and talented students. Based in London and Brighton

Teaching Experience:
Extensive private tuition Ks1 - 3, GCSE, A Level and exam preparation. School curriculum delivery through more creative and artistic methods in order to re-engage excluded, marginalized and special needs young people with education. Tutoring (English, Maths, Drama, Art, History to GCSE/A Level and University level), planning and assessment, report writing and liaising with local and school authorities and social workers. 7+, 11+ and Common Entrance preparation experience. Success with entry to schools such as Dulwich, Ibstock, Kew House, Northbridge House, Rokeby, Broomwood Hall, Whitgift, City of London, Port Regis, Worth, Godolphin and Latymer, Grey Coat and Channing.

Extensive on-set academic tutoring and tutoring with the revolving cast of School of Rock: The Musical.

One to one general learning and technical support, SAT preparation and extensive work with special needs children in a special school environment - SEN Carer for Brookfield House School, drama workshops and literacy support. Success with lifting National Curriculum levels.Experience with one to one support for Autistic children. More recently I worked with 5 and 15 year olds on the spectrum, in a one to one roles which included planning a day, implementing a Visual Timetable and introducing PECS. Trained in using Visual Timetable and Stage 1 MAKATON.

DBS cleared. London and Brighton based.

Tutoring Approach:
I am very interested in using creative areas of interest for young people as a way into learning and delivering curriculum requirements. I am strongly goal focused and motivating; using realistic, mutually agreed benchmarks and reward to move forward and achieve positive results.

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Personal Description:
I am a fully-qualified professional teacher with more than 30 years of teaching and tutoring experience, both in the UK and abroad. I regard myself as a friendly and approachable tutor, as well as honest and conscientious, and I pride myself on being able to communicate with students of all ages, from pre-teen to pensioner.

I am the father of two boys, and we live in the Sutton area. My wife and I successfully tutored our sons for Sutton's grammar schools (WCGS), and they have since both graduated from top Russell Group universities. My hobbies are limited to reading these days, and I am particularly fond of English Literature. Dickens and Hardy are two of my favourites, but I am also keen on modern and less serious writers, such as Tom Sharpe and the two Rankins - Robert and Ian.

Teaching Experience:
After obtaining my first degree in Spanish with Politics and Economics, I started teaching abroad; first in Spain, then in Turkey, and later in Central Asia and the Middle East. Since retraining as a teacher of English, I have taught for more than 15 years in the UK and almost 15 years abroad, where I was Head of Department at an Institute of Higher Education for three years.

Most recently I have taught English at an independent school in Sutton, and previous to that I taught Academic Writing for East Anglia University for several years. Nowadays my tutoring is split 50:50 between English for the 11+ and Common Entrance (13+) exams, and English, Spanish, Economics and Politics & Government for the GCSE and A-level exams (all boards).

11+ and 13+ (Common Entrance)
I am very happy to report that all but one of my twelve Eleven Plus tutees passed the SET (Selective Eligibility Test) for Sutton's grammar schools last September. Of these, 100% of them passed the second stage exam and obtained their first choice of grammar or independent school. I use a selection of published materials and those of my own creation, and insist on a high standard of weekly homework in reading, writing and language knowledge. For 11+ pupils I start tutoring in Year 4 or 5, whereas 13+ pupils begin in Year 7 or 8.

GCSE and A-level
I am equally happy to report that all of my most recent GCSE and A-level students have passed well, with top grades from B to A* (A-level) and 6-9 (GCSE). The majority of those have gone on to their first choice of further and higher education institutes, and in most cases this has been achieved by my insisting on regular homework done to a high standard. For GCSE pupils I prefer to start tutoring at some time in Year 10, whereas A-level students typically begin around Year 12.

I also provide individual tutoring in ESSAY WRITING and STUDY SKILLS, as my experience has taught me that many students at GCSE, A-level and undergraduate level face real problems in these areas. By working together on your essays, substantial improvements can be made in style, organisation, argument, presentation, and much more. This way, I can teach you how produce more effective and mature essays, and thus help you to obtain better grades and increase your confidence in producing written work.

Tutoring Approach:
With every tutee I carry out an initial assessment of his/her needs and abilities, and my teaching begins from there. Typically I work on improving their weaknesses and consolidating their strengths, and this essentially involves them producing high-quality homework on a regular basis. I use both established published materials and those that I have created myself over the years. This approach appears to be successful, and I can provide references.

Over the past twelve years I have successfully tutored students for the following schools and universities:

Schools: Sutton Grammar, Wilsons, Wallington County, Wallington High, Nonsuch, Whitgift, Trinity, Wimbledon High, Kings School, City of London, Reigate Grammar, Caterham School, St John's, Westminster, Epsom College, Ewell Castle, and many others.

Universities: Manchester, Warwick, City, East Anglia, St Martins, Lincoln, Kings, LSE, UCL, Nottingham, Reading, Birmingham, Bournemouth, and several others.

Please note that my fees are very affordable, bearing in mind that I travel to your house and offer a personalised tutoring programme.

I currently charge between £45 and £50 per hour, depending on subject and level.

NB: Any tutoring that involves more than 6 miles travel (round trip) usually incurs a small extra charge.

If you are looking for a fully-qualified, highly-experienced and versatile tutor, you need look no further. Here are a few messages from some of my most recent successful tutees:

Hello Jeff, I just got my IELTS results and I FINALLY passed it! Listening 8, Reading 7.5, Writing 7, Speaking 7.5 and it's 7.5 overall. I would like to THANK you sooooo MUCH for your help and all advice you have given me! It would not be possible otherwise. (Vanja)

Sam got into Wilsons and we are pretty sure that his English performance carried him through. Sam said we ought to say 'thanks' to you as you made a massive difference to his standard of English in a very short period of time. Not sure how, but you made something click in his brain where his school teachers had failed! (Cathy)

Hi Jeff, hope you are well. I am extremely delighted to tell you that Rick has a place at Westminster, and we are going ahead with that. He has also had offers from HABS, KCS and RGS Guildford. Thank you so much for all your support. (Animesh)

Hi Jeff, just to let you know that Dillon got a place at Sutton Grammar on Monday. He also received places at Whitgift, Trinity and Epsom. We have decided to accept Sutton Grammar, and thank you for all your help and time.
Thanks - Paulomi and Dillon.

Dear Jeff! Thanks you so much for tutoring me last year. You have helped my English greatly and without your advice and guidance I would have had a nervous breakdown when I was given the task of an essay. You taught me about causal connectives, signpost words, paragraph structure and much more vital strategies of writing an amazing essay.
Finally, I am happy that I got a place at Wilsons and know I would have failed the English language test without what you taught me. I am very grateful that you gave up your time to help me pass.
Yours Sincerely, Makar

Hi Jeff, I hope you're well. I just wanted to let you know that Andriy got offered a place at Whitgift and we have accepted it. Thank you very much for helping and recommending this great school to us. Andriy is really excited about it and cannot wait to start.
(Oksana)

Dear Jeff, sorry for the delayed reply as we are in India. Rishi has done well, has received English Language 9 and English Literature 7, and scored 8 in six other subjects. He could achieve good results only because of your support. Thanking you.
(Chandra)

Hi Jeff, I am pleased to inform you that Mahati cleared the 2nd round. Her cut-off score is 354. We hope she gets into either of the two schools. Thanks a lot for your support throughout.
(Sassi)

Hi Jeff, Tamana's results have come in for the Sutton Stage 2 test. She has passed with a relatively good score of 315, and based on last year's stats, she should get in comfortably to Nonsuch or Wallington. Thanks for all your lessons that significantly helped her in the preparations.
(Vedant)

Hi Jeff, hope you're doing good. We have got the exam outcome, and Samrudha is able to apply for Nonsuch. Her score is 309, and the highest total score is 389. Secondly she has cleared Tiffin's Stage 1 test and has been invited for Stage 2 on November 11, and we would like to take your help whenever possible.
(Kirthi)

Hi Jeff, I just wanted to let you know that Ed passed the entrance exams for all three schools. Thank you so much for all your support! (Emma)

Hello Jeff, I hope you are well. Vivaan passed the exams for Wilson's, Wallington and Sutton. He also got through Tiffins Stage 1. Thanks very much for your help and support! His English improved massively under your guidance.
Kind regards
Jyothi

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Personal Description:
I was born into a French-speaking family and have spoken French my entire life. I have a BA from the London School of Economics in French and Linguistics. I have also lived in France for several years. I have taught French privately for over 20 years and many of my students achieve very high standards. I am very dedicated to my students and try and get the best out of them and build their confidence. One mother with five children of differing ages from 6 years old to 18, where the children were attending Harrodian in Barnes said that her children told her I "was the best French teacher they ever had" - that works for me! I can turn the most hopeless student in French into a budding linguist.

Teaching Experience:
Teaching privately French for over 20 years from beginners to University students as well as adults has given me a great deal of experience across different goals and varying levels. I teach spoken French for those who only want to simply speak the language as well as grammar for those who need to take exams. I work with University students to achieve top grades in dissertations and essays or oral exams. One of my recent students was told by her lecturers she would get a 3rd in her degree ended up getting a 2:1 - not bad eh? I love French literature so if you are studying a piece of literature, I will be able to guide you through the book. I sing with some of my students as I find singing is a wonderful way of learning a language especially where vocabulary is limited. Other students need to listen to French radio in order to accustom the ear to current spoken language and we work together to understand what is being said. I will be the best French teacher you will ever have. Try me!

Tutoring Approach:
I begin by assessing the pupils strengths and weaknesses and then plan lessons to suit the individuals needs. The most important aspect is for the pupil to enjoy the lesson so learning French is a pleasure and not a chore. I also spend time teaching exam techniques as these are as important as studying the language itself. I move away from parrot fashion teaching and ensure that the individual has the rudiments of French and is able to create sentences and has the confidence to put pen to paper.

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Personal Description:
My name is Jerome and I am currently a Lead Practitioner at a school in Surrey. I live in Old Coulsdon with my wife and twin boys. I tutor from home with online via Zoom and I am willing to travel up to two miles from my home. I enjoy reading (both fiction and non-fiction) and enjoy playing chess in my spare time. I have been learning French and currently speak at intermediate level (B1).

Teaching Experience:
I am a qualified English Teacher with QTS from Goldsmith's University. I have a BA in English Language & Literature from the University of Westminster. I have been a secondary school English teacher for 12 years and I have been private tutoring for 10 years. I have also taught key stage 2 and A-Level English, as well as prepare students for the 11 Plus and verbal reasoning. I have taught children with SEN and EAL requirements.

Tutoring Approach:
The first lesson is free is you choose not to continue. Lessons are calm, focussed and engaging. Each child is unique and therefore requires unique approaches tailored to their needs. I therefore tailor my sessions to your child's needs. I provide several resources for each session and identify where the shortfalls are in the child's education. All lessons are emailed as a PDF, as well as homework after each lesson. Lessons are designed to support the tutee's topics at school. I set work for the child to complete before the next session and check on the progress when I return. During exam season, I create bespoke lessons centered around time management, revision and mock papers.

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Personal Description:
I love teaching! This is my passion and my job. It gives me great satisfaction and fulfills my professional ambitions. I am optimistic and open-minded what makes my students more eager to enrich knowledge and expand communication. I am demanding but rewarding as my goal is to provide effective training. What is more, my international experience has developed my methodology creativity. Last but not least, organisational skills are definitely my second nature.

Teaching Experience:
I have been gaining valuable international work experience as English Teacher since 2000. I have been in intensive cooperation with leading English, Australian and Polish schools of English teaching children, teenage and adult students. I have found fulfilment in providing General and Business English courses to groups and individuals on all English levels ranging from A1 to C2. I have also conducted FCE, CAE, CPE, BEC, IELTS, TOEFL, TOEIC and EAP courses and specialised English Training Workshops successfully. My TEFL experience is with students of different cultural background. I facilitate their different pronunciational, lexical or grammatical difficulties what proves my expertise and adaptability to students. Moreover, I was responsible for developing General English and TOEFL/IELTS curriculum and its further coordination. On a regular basis I work online and provide Grammar, Vocabulary, and Speaking classes to students. Moreover, I enjoy working as a translator of economic, financial, legal and technical texts, and as interpreter at business meeting and negotiations.

Tutoring Approach:
How do I conduct classes? I always set the goal of providing effective training. However, I alsways create a detailed lesson plan, based on recommended course books or my own materials and following both language and personal goals. Most of the time they refer to my individual approach to students and make lessons tailored to their specific needs. I believe that effective teaching must be a combination of work and fun. My priority is to make classes varied, engaging, and memorable. Varied as they cover all skills and types of activities. Engaging as I want my classes to be student-centered with the main focus on communication. And memorable as there use fun games and language equipment. I believe that not only planning, but also monitoring and reporting play a great role. To get the full picture of the learning process, I provide students with sufficient feedback and reports.

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Personal Description:
ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A DEDICATED, PROFESSIONAL AND EXPERIENCED PRIVATE TUTOR?

I am a highly experienced and successful private tutor in English language and literature, with over 40 years teaching experience in secondary and further education.

I have been a private tutor for the past 10 years, and find it extremely rewarding to continue to use my expertise to support students preparing for challenging English qualifications, which are so vital for success in life.

This is what the mum of one of my 2024-5 tutees has said about my support for her son, who completed his A Level English Literature in summer 2025:

"During the 2nd year of my son's A Level English course it became evident that he felt very uncertain of some areas of the English course curriculum.
He hoped that a tutor would be able to get him back on track and fill in the gaps.
My son instantly felt comfortable with Isla. He knew she would be able to help. This confidence came within one lesson as Isla asked him the right questions to ascertain his strengths, and concerns.
Isla provided the additional support that my son needed in a calm, considered way. As a parent I was also updated about the form of the lessons and my son's progress on a weekly basis.
Isla continued to support my son during the revision period and provided last minute tuition and encouragement which was invaluable.
Isla teaches passionately to the individual and has clear objectives that are communicated well. Most importantly she does this in a friendly way, in a safe and comfortable environment.
My son achieved a B for English Literature and he was delighted.
In our opinion Isla played a large part in him achieving this result."
Mrs HS, Rutland, August 2025

Here is another testimonial from the mother of one of my GCSE tutees who took his exams summer 2024:

"Isla is a wonderful, dedicated tutor and I really couldn't have wished for a better tutor for my son's GCSE English. Isla's lessons are extremely well-planned, resourced and delivered, and she has created an excellent method of teaching which helped my son to engage and focus on his preparation for the exams. Most importantly, however, was the strong teacher/pupil relationship that Isla built with my son. From the first lesson, my son had great respect for his tutor, valuing her feedback and acting upon the advice given. I realised after the first tutorial that Isla's teaching style is perfect for today's students. Thank you so much Isla for your guidance, We are grateful for all your help!"
Mrs PD, Grantham, July 2024
Footnote: this tutee who has dyslexia gained a level 6 in both English Language and Literature.

You can see more reviews in my testimonial section below.

MORE ABOUT MY TEACHING EXPERIENCE:

After I retired from full-time teaching , I decided to continue teaching by becoming a private tutor, because I love teaching.

Formerly, I taught 11 to 18 year olds : Key Stages 3, GCSE and A Level, and in my work I had an excellent track record for enabling my students to achieve their academic potential; my school pupils achieved consistently good or excellent GCSE and A Level grades and this has continued to be the case with my private tutees.

I love my subject and I am a thorough and kind teacher dedicated to raising standards of literacy through my teaching of English language and literature, and to the educational and personal development of young people more widely. Reading and writing skills are vital to success, and I want to empower my tutees by helping them to acquire those essential skills.

As well as teaching my academic subject, I was a sixth form personal tutor ( Years 12 and 13) in my school for 18 years, monitoring my students' academic progress, and guiding and mentoring those applying to university, assisting with UCAS applications and personal statements, or helping tutees plan for a gap year or for employment - a role which I found particularly fulfilling. I am available to support UCAS application personal statements. I get on very well with all my students and oerhaos especially those aged 16 - 18.

I also have experience of teaching in further education and have taught mature students from different cultural backgrounds.

I have also supervised sixth form students taking the AQA Extended Project Qualification. I greatly enjoy one - to-one tuition.

TUTORING EXPERTISE

In my long teaching career, I have built up extensive subject knowledge and teaching expertise, which I can adapt to students ranging from 11 years to adult, and taking exams with various examining boards, with my main focus as a private tutor being on GCSE and A Level.


A selection of TESTIMONIALS

I love working as a private tutor, helping my tutees to gain confidence in essential reading and writing skills and to achieve exam success.

In addition to the two above, here is a selection of testimonials from former tutees and their parents:

GCSE:

"When my daughter was about 14 it became apparent that she was really struggling with English. She had other difficulties going on that had made the subject very difficult for her. Her main problem was she didn't know how to approach answering questions and didn't understand how to structure an answer. We realised the importance of getting our daughter extra support, not only for her English Language and English Literature GCSE but as a foundation to other subjects and her future in life. We were very lucky to find Isla, who had experience of the exam board that we were using and many years teaching experience. She worked with my daughter on a weekly basis, through Year 10 and Year 11; Isla always planned our sessions and she covered all areas of the curriculum across both English GCSE subjects. By the time my daughter came to take her exams she was really prepared and had a new found confidence. I know that whatever her results are they will be better than they would have been. Do not hesitate to get support from Isla, she will work flexibly with you and listen to your needs."
Mrs LC, Stamford, July 2022
Update following exam results August 25 2022: this tutee is very pleased to have achieved a level 5 ( strong pass) in GCSE English Language and a 4 ( standard pass) in English Literature.

"My son was really struggling to get any motivation to study either English literature or language in both the first and second year of his GCSE course and so I made the decision to get him some support and contacted Isla to help him. Over a period of about 12 months Isla steadily helped Josh to work through the syllabus and both supported him and stretched him in order to help him maximise his potential. In his finals Josh received a solid B in both subjects and has gone on to study A level literature. I have no doubt he would not have achieved this without Isla's ongoing help and support."
Mrs M.M. Rutland , 2018


" Our son needed help to raise his GCSE English grade from a C to a B. We are so pleased that we found Isla to help him. He thoroughly enjoyed the sessions with Isla, which were paced at just the right level for him. He produced homework each week which was marked before his next session. He responded well to Isla's teaching methods and worked a lot harder than he had at school. Results day was brilliant - he gained an A grade. Fantastic! We would recommend Isla wholeheartedly."
Mrs J R, Rutland, 2017

Isla has helped both of our boys this year - one with his Personal Statement for his University application and one with his Dissertation for his degree. Both boys found Isla very easy to work with, approachable, friendly and very knowledgeable. Both boys have now moved on to University and work - both having benefitted from Isla's fantastic help.
Mrs J R Rutland, 2019


"Knowing her for roughly around two years, I found Isla to be a very professional, sincere, caring and accommodating teacher who has a passion to deliver the best she can offer. With no love for literature at all, my daughter struggled with GCSE English specially the literature where she would get C/low B compared to her other subjects. We were really concerned and wanted to push up her grade in English. That's when Isla came in as a great help. She quickly picked up and addressed the areas of concern and gave enough advice and support on revision techniques preparing her for the exam.. My daughter got a 9(A*)in Eng language and a 7(A) in literature in GCSE. In my daughter's own words: "Isla has been absolutely instrumental in boosting confidence within me without which I couldn't have asked for this result. No doubt - we highly recommend her."
Mrs P, Peterborough, 2017

"Isla provided excellent support during Year 10 and 11 to our daughter in relation to her GCSE studies in both English Literature and Language. This complemented her learning at school and enabled focus on those areas where extra support or explanation was needed. Isla was very flexible in her approach, tailoring her lessons to our daughter's needs and providing additional support on the run up to the exams themselves. Although our daughter isn't continuing her English studies at A Level, Isla is going continue to provide support in relation to essay structure and comprehension in the subjects she has chosen to study. We would highly recommend her."
Mrs R M, Leicestershire, parent of GCSE pupil, 2015

A LEVEL:

Isla is a very dedicated English Literature teacher. I saw the benefit of her lessons from the outset! Isla is reliable and meticulously organised as she always had the session planned which allowed us to make the most of every lesson. I am very grateful to have found Isla as I not only gained a clearer understanding of the books taught, but also my confidence in exam technique improved immensely due to Isla's support. I highly recommend Isla, she is a very kind person as well as an incredibly devoted teacher. Thank you Isla for your guidance and support.
DD, Grantham, September 2023
Footnote: my tutee DD gained a grade B in English at A Level and A grades in Mathemarics and Economics . She decided to take a gap year and is now studying for a degree in Economics at LSE.


"Isla has been a wonderful tutor for my son, and was able to support him enormously in all aspects of his AQA A level English Literature. Isla is very knowledgeable and thorough in her approach and assisted with his research and planning for his coursework, and with close study and revision of the challenging texts my son studied over the course of the 2 years, until he took his final exams in June 2019 . She also supported him in developing and writing his personal statement for UCAS, which resulted in excellent offers of university places. My son found Isla to be very approachable and very easy to work with as her teaching style is friendly, patient and clear, and she was also open to scheduling extra sessions when needed to fit around his studies. Isla"s support has been invaluable and has enabled my son to achieve a good set of A Level grades, including a creditable grade English Literature, and he is now settled into his first term at one of the top universities in the country, studying Economics. We would have no hesitation in recommending Isla as a private tutor.."
Mrs J.M., Leicester. October 2019

We turned to a private tutor because our daughter received a disappointing result in her first year of A Level English, but she knew she could do better and wanted to go to a first class University to study English. Her coursework had been excellent and most of her homework was good, too, but her exam technique was less secure. Isla definitely made a difference. She is a nurturing teacher who interacts with the student really well. Isla gave good advice about preparing for the exam paper and gave support in revision of the various texts, which boosted our daughter's confidence. Having achieved the necessary entry grades, our daughter is now at Newcastle University starting her degree course and wants to keep in touch with Isla."
Sally S, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, parent of A Level student, 2016

"As someone who wanted to pursue English at university, my grade C at AS Level was not good enough, so during Year 13 we found a private tutor to help me with my A Level English Language and Literature course. Isla put lots of time into helping me come out with an overall high grade B. She gave me wonderful advice with my creative coursework and really enhanced my knowledge of the two plays I was studying for my written exam. I am so grateful and will continue to keep in touch with Isla as I enter my degree course at Newcastle University for English Literature and Creative Writing."
Emily S, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, A Level tutee, 2016

Update from Emily S, Peterborough (above) received June 27 2019:

"I wanted to send you a quick email to let you know that I have received a First Class Honours from Newcastle University in English Literature and Creative Writing!
I am really thrilled as I wasn't expecting it!
You were a real help to me and my time with you was the beginning of me finding my feet with poetry; I went on to write a creative portfolio of poetry instead of a dissertation and received a mark of 75 for it.
So this is just to say, thank you very much!! "


"Isla has helped both of our sons this year - one with his Personal Statement for his University application and one with his Dissertation for his degree. Both boys found Isla very easy to work with, approachable, friendly and very knowledgeable. They have now moved on to University and work - both having benefitted from Isla's fantastic help."
Mrs J R, Rutland, 2018

I assisted a former GCSE resit tutee in his final year at university . This email arrived from his mother to tell me about her son's graduation:

Just to let you know that XXX got a 2.1 in his Sports Psychology degree!
We are very proud of him.
Thank you so much again for all your help and support.
June 2021

Teaching Experience:
I have been a private tutor for 9 years. Private tutoring enables me to stay in touch with young adults and to continue to use the teaching skills I have developed over a long and successful teaching career.

I greatly enjoy one to one tutoring and my students feel supported and more confident about facing their exams.

My tutees tend to be students who are struggling with the subject and have been predicted lower grades than they need.

Sometimes there is a specific issue such as spelling, or a student might struggle with a particular aspect, such as reading, or with a particular set text, or with how to write essays and exam answers that will earn high marks.

Without exception, my tutees grow in confidence amd improve their standard; they often go in to achieve very creditable grades that enable them to move to the next stage of their school career, or gain the university place they want.


At GCSE and AS/A Level my pupils have obtained consistently excellent results. I have taught a very wide range of set texts for literature and have taught courses by different exam boards, such as Edexcel, OCR, AQA, and the CIE IGCSE.

My school teaching often involved one-to-one sessions with pupils who needed extra support and I have taught those whose attainment in the subject is modest, as well as higher achievers in English.

Other teaching experience includes teaching for a total of 7 years full and part-time in further education colleges, and I have also taught English as a foreign language for the British Council in a Middle Eastern country.

Because I love teaching and supporting young people in their intellectual development, I have continued tutoring privately since retiring from full time school teaching, and I currently tutor students ranging from 14 to 18, assisting with preparation for GCSE and A Level exams.

I am able to offer both one- to- one in person teaching or teaching online.

My tutoring role includes assisting my tutees with English Language papers and with close study and revision of a wide range of set texts for Literature exams , demonstrating my adaptability in quickly grasping what different exam techniques are required. I have also given advice and support to students in higher education, pursuing English degrees.

My support for GCSE pupils enables them to achieve a creditable grade so they can proceed to the next stage of school/college. My shooort for A Lebel students often enables them to obtain the grade they need for University entrance.

Tutoring Approach:
PASSION FOR AND KNOWLEDGE OF MY SUBJECT
I prepare lessons thoroughly and imaginatively, striking a balance between getting through the necessary work - but making it varied, interesting and fun.

I begin by getting to know my pupil, their background, and specific needs.

Often, pupils needing extra tuition lack confidence and self-esteem and I care about addressing that sensitively.

In addition, I plan what needs to be covered: making sure I am fully in the picture with regard to the specific course being followed and the exam criteria, and I use the exam boards' websites to source relevant materials such as past papers and teaching resources.

In my tutoring, I aim to give my pupils more confidence in the classroom and in their written work.

BUILDING A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH MY TUTEES

I always have a clear plan for the session and an aim of what I wish to achieve in the time available.

Equally, I am flexible and nearly always end up adapting my plan to what comes up that day, in terms of what the pupil needs.

I like people and I am a friendly, outgoing person who communicates warmly with a tutee; I greatly enjoy the company of young people and am experienced in putting my tutees at their ease, reducing their anxiety and building their self-confidence, which is vital.

I form friendly, personal relationships with those I teach and am good at listening to them and assessing their needs, and adjusting my strategy accordingly.

A RIGOROUS APPROACH AND DETAILED FEEDBACK
As well as preparing thoroughly, I mark work meticulously and give very detailed and helpful feedback, both in writing and orally. I set relevant work to be completed for the next tutorial, and monitor progress closely; I stay in regular contact with my students and/or their parents via email and phone.

MY COMMITMENT TO YOU
You will find me a hardworking, and sympathetic tutor committed to the interests of my tutees; my aim is to help you to achieve your full academic potential in the subject and gain exam success. I see your progress in English in the context of the whole school or college picture and as part of your personal development. I often stay in touch with my pupils as they move on in life and take a keen interest in how they are getting on. I always treat my tutees with respect, kindness and understanding.

WHERE AND WHEN TUTORIALS TAKE PLACE
I tutor in my own home where I am set up to receive my tutees in a quiet and relaxed environment with my extensive resources and teaching materials readily to hand. During the pandemic I continued to tutor online and since then have continued to tutor online because my tutees often find it saves then travelling time and fits in with their lives better. I will consider face to face tutoring if this is required, or online only, or a combination of the two methods.

Normally I tutor on weekdays, and aim to complete my tutoring sessions by 7.30 p m but my times are flexible. I prefer not to tutor at weekends because of family commitments, though I can do so by by arrangement, with Sunday morning being a possibility.

I am usually able to tutor in school holidays, when I can offer longer, more intensive revision sessions.

I am always willing to try to fit in with a pupil's/parents' needs.


FEES

My professional fee for an hour is £45 for GCSE and £50 for A Level English and for support with UCAS personal statements.

Fees for other tutoring categories on request.

My fee include include preparation for the lesson, marking of set written homework, the actual intensive contact time with me, and follow-up emails and phone calls.

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Personal Description:
I am a fully qualified and very experienced primary school teacher who can provide high quality Maths and English tuition in your home for primary aged and early Key Stage 3 pupils. I love being able to work one to one with pupils on exactly what they need to help them gain confidence, understanding and make progress to achieve the best they possibly can. I treat each child as an individual and aim to make every tuition session enjoyable and successful, connecting the learning with your child's interests where possible, and always giving plenty of encouragement and praise.

Tutoring is available for children being home-schooled as well as for children requiring a little extra help out of school hours.

Teaching Experience:
I am a fully qualified teacher who taught locally in primary education for 21 years before starting to home tutor children in 2015. I have successfully taught children with a wide range of abilities, including children learning English as an additional language and pupils with special educational needs.

Tutoring Approach:
Building good relationships is very important to me as a basis of effective teaching. Parents and pupils consistently testify to my professional, patient and friendly approach. Every lesson is specifically tailored to each pupil's needs, with pupils enjoying their lessons and quickly seeing the difference that their time with me makes. As far as possible, I channel lessons through the pupil's interests as well as using games, practical resources and visual aids, amongst other resources. Plenty of praise and encouragement is given in recognition of their efforts and to help motivate pupils further. Feedback is provided to parents/ carers at the end of each lesson to keep you fully informed.

If you have any questions or would like more information, I would be pleased to hear from you.

45 minutes and one hour sessions are available - rates vary accordingly.

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Personal Description:
All classes start next week online. New for this year I have small group classes in my premises in Benfleet, Essex. These are aimed at Year 10 - catching up on Literature and also Year 11 Exam Practice, essay writing and creative writing, an important skill for gaining a really good English Language Grade.

References available of guaranteed results for English. This year 2025, all pupils passed with great grades and went onto their chosen colleges and universities.

I am a fully qualified teacher of English of 20 years in both Academy and Grammar Schools in the UK with a Full DRB Check.

My background is in the media where I worked for News International Newspapers and in the Film Industry working on screenwriting and film scripts. I entered teaching in 2004 and since then I have taught in a variety of educational settings, Grammar Schools, Independent Schools, Secondary Education, Sixth Form and University degree level Journalism.

I have a passion for English literature, particularly 19th Century English Literature, American Contemporary Literature, Poetry and children's novels.

Teaching Experience:
My positions have included Teacher of English, Head of Faculty, Head of Department English & Media Studies.

I am a qualified examiner for AQA and I am currently teaching for all the main examination boards.

I have a BA (hons) Humanities, Dip HE Commmunications PGCE ITT Masters Level and an MA Education

Tutoring Approach:
With time, patience and care pupils have mastered the skills to succeed! Last years pupils had excellent results with pupils on Level 4 predictions moving to Level 6 and Level 7 in GCSE. 2 pupils gaining Level 9* in both GCSE Lit and Lang.
A Level pupils gaining outstanding results from predictions by 2 grades higher!

Thank you for taking the time to read my details and good luck with your studying! References available and testimony from happy parents and pupils in GCSE and A Levels.

If you are a family with a child that you require help for and are on a low income please come forward and I will do what I can to accommodate you.

Thank you for reading this and I look forward to working with you.

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Personal Description:
I have been involved in Education for over twenty years and I am especially passionate about the English Language, which is where my expertise lies. I graduated with a B.Ed (Hons) Degree in Education; English and Drama being my specialist subjects. I have worked as a Primary School Teacher both on contact and as a supply teacher where I gained extensive experience in all primary age groups. I also have experience in tutoring for GCSE English.

I have also worked aso a Private Tutor both in English and Primary Mathematics. (As well as other subjects in the curriculum) I am currently working for several teaching agencies on a supply basis so I am keeping up to date with any curriculum changes.

I have recently completed TEFL Course and have experience in teaching English as a foreign/second language; both with adults and children.

I believe in creating a positive and stimulating environment for learning and feel tailor made programmes are vital for the learner.

I see myself as friendly and approachable and I love nothing more than to see people achieve at their own pace.

My hobbies are Cooking, photography, walking and swimming. I love spending time with family and friends. I am also passionate about animals and their welfare.

Teaching Experience:
Oldbury Park Primary School 1993 to 1999 both contract and supply working full-time. I covered every year from reception to year 6.

1999 to 2004 I raised my family but continued to work as a supply teacher in a variety of schools as well as working as a private tutor.

2004 to present. I have been working as a supply teacher/tutor, teaching classes and groups of children and adults English and Mathematics. I have also concentrated on studying for my TEFL Qualification and have been teaching English as a foreign/second language. I have experience of tutoring in groups and on a one to one basis. I have also taught on a corporate level within a company teaching Spanish staff English.

Tutoring Approach:
I have a very positive and friendly approach to teaching and learning. lt is vital to create lessons which are fun, varied and tailored to match individual needs. I treat everyone, whether in a group or on a one to one basis, as an individual and fully encourage students to work at their own pace.

Learning most definitely should be an enjoyable experience for the learner and a rewarding one for the tutor. I am well organised and also believe in creating lessons, which have been well planned with aims and objectives as well as offering continuity.

Lessons should also contain a variety of tasks, which should include written, verbal and computer based activities to maintain enthusiasm.

Learning and knowledge equal self confidence and success.

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Personal Description:
Friendly, patient and dynamic tutor with a wealth of experience in teaching English from age 8 - 80. I originally trained as a primary school teacher and spent 16 years teaching all primary levels in a range of schools in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, Scotland.
After moving to the USA in 1999, I began working in the ESL sector, teaching large classes of multi-level, multi-cultural classes in the Houston area. I also taught privately from my home, providing English classes during the summer vacations.
After moving to Paris, France in 2006, I studied for my International Certificate in TEFL and began teaching Business English to executives in a range of companies in the Paris/Ile de France area. I also worked for APESEB, a programme which prepared primary-aged French children for integration into bilingual schools.
After returning to the UK in 2013, I began tutoring English to both children and adults, both native and non-native. I studied for my Cert. IBET (Certificate in International Business English Teaching) and passed with Distinction in 2015.

I'm passionate about teaching, I love developing the tutor/tutee relationship and watching progress happen - could there be anything more satisfying?

Teaching Experience:
I am an experienced Business English/General English teacher of adults and children. I have an MA in English Literature/English Language, Postgraduate Certificate in Primary Teaching, Certificate in TEFL and Certificate in International Business English Teaching (Cert IBET). I have taught EFL to learners of all ages (8 - 85) and all abilities in Texas (USA) Paris (France) and now the Bristol/Bath area, UK. Since 2015, I have been employed by South Gloucestershire Council as a Community Learning Tutor, teaching ESOL classes for adult learners in Yate and Bradley Stoke.

I am a registered tutor with Lingua, Cartus Intercultural Language Solutions, Language House and Simon and Simon Language Consultants - I provide Business English training to professionals in a range of companies in the Bristol area, including Orange, Broadcom and Imperial Tobacco.
I tutor KS2 and KS3 English and provide intensive Academic English training for English examinations, including preparation towards IELTS and Trinity GESE.

Tutoring Approach:
My approach to tutoring is communicative and fun. No boring pen-pushing lessons! Lessons are engaging and diverse, goals and objectives are established and examined regularly. I rapidly identify your learning style and learning preferences in order to build confidence, ensure rapid progress and keep your motivation and interest levels high. I identify any blocks to learning and use a range of resources and techniques to overcome these. I try to build autonomy and self-reliance, giving my learners the tools for their individual success.

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Personal Description:
I am a professional actor and workshop facilitator.

Teaching Experience:
I work full time at Globe Education, Shakespeare's Globe, where I teach regularly in house and on outreach projects, from KS2 to A Level students, including international and SEN. I am also one of the leaders of the Southwark Youth Theatre at the Globe.

I have worked freelance for Iris Theatre, Hoopla, Pzazz and for The Company Sussex and Sasbah. I also teach LAMDA exam preparation at a school in Sussex.

Tutoring Approach:
First and foremost I take care to adapt what I'm doing for the needs of the student.

I am very passionate about how we use words, about storytelling and about performance. I think it's important to find a route in that interests the student, making the work so much enjoyable and easier as a result.

I am always happy to work with dyslexics as I too have dyslexia and think it's very important to understand that this is a gift in creativity and not a hindrance.

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Personal Description:
I am a Common Entrance tutor specialising in the 7/8/11/13+ exams in all subjects.

Teaching Experience:
I have over 20 years tutoring experience.

Tutoring Approach:
Patient, firm and thorough.

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Personal Description:
I am a Cambridge and Royal College of Art graduate with five years of freelance tutoring experience. This is primarily at BTEC, A Level, University and for independent adult learners.

I have been in co-ordination with art and cultural institutes and regeneration programs both in Kent and London to teach film in public workshops including working with the Royal College of Art institute, Stories and Suppers, Dartford Arts Network and Medway Film Festival. I have worked for NGO`s in India teaching art and media, and I have four years of experience working freelance on film productions both pre and post.

Alongside teaching I work as an actor, improvisor and creative theatre practitioner. My hobbies are medieval history, cinema, art, horror and hiking.

Teaching Experience:
Devised curated film studies programs practical, theoretical and historical. Assigned study, development and critical engagement with the following:

- History of French Cinema
- History of German Cinema
- Hollywood Golden Era
- New Hollywood
- The Avante Garde and Experimental Cinema
- Foundation to Film Studies
- Genre
- Documentary
- Production
- Silent Film
- Cult Cinema Classics
- Contemporary British Cinema


Alongside tutoring I currently offer essay and dissertation guidance, proofreading and editing services.

Tutoring Approach:
I tailor the classes to fit the needs of the student, and I work a direct goal oriented approach. Whether this is for an exam, essay or specific aspect of information, I will strive to help you develop and understand what is required to reach the desired learning outcomes.

The classes are built upon a teaching foundation developed through my years of study, research, practise, and mentoring, all of which takes place in a well structured and fun environment. For me lessons are most memorable when they are engaging dealing with relatable content, robust context and a decent dosage of humour! I strive to make the teaching environment a space for nurturing creative and critical thinking around the desired subject.

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