Dukinfield English Tutors and Dukinfield English Tuition

Personal Description:
I am a fully qualified teacher committed to first class service.

I am flexible and adaptable. I have good communication skills.

Reliable and trustworthy. I am enthusiastic and motivated in teaching children.

I have taught children for over 40 years. I was a head teacher for 28 years and loved every moment of it. I have been a self employed private tutor for over 5 years and my work is so rewarding.

I travel to the pupil and tutor on a one to one basis . I also do on line tutoring .in particular entrance exam preparation and 11 plus.

I am an animal lover and enjoy walking my westie dog in my spare time.

Teaching Experience:
I owned and ran my own private school, namely Woodlands School in Preston , for over 28 years.

I was responsible for over 110 pupils aged from 3 to 11 years of age.

I had a highly professional team of staff. Woodlands school gained excellent comments from ofsted.

I have a great deal of experience tutoring children. I make the lesson fun, exciting and bring along many resources to assist the child in learning.
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Tutoring Approach:
Praise and encouragement. I am patient and understanding. I make my lessons fun and interesting for the child in order to keep their attention.
I enjoy one to one tuition and enjoy teaching children of all ages.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I have a passion for creative writing and literature, and have taught ESL, Business, and General English along with English for Academic Purposes, IELTS and Cambridge exam preparation. I also teach focused reading, writing, listening and speaking communication skills classes, as well as pronunciation and creative writing classes. I teach GCSE and A Level English Language and English Literature and can plan focused lessons in particular areas which need closer guidance.

I teach all ages, from 3 years old to adult. Over the past 10 years, I am proud to say my students have gained excellent results in their A Levels, GCSEs, IELTS, Cambridge and Trinity examinations.

My passion for teaching and world culture has taken me around the world and so I am experienced in teaching English to children and adults from a multitude of backgrounds and faiths. I have also supported and taught English to refugees from across the globe.

Prior to teaching, I spent 7 years working as a Practice Manager for a well-known town planning consultancy. I have recently acquired a publisher and my first novel will be published in early 2026.

Teaching Experience:
I am a First Class (1:1) BA (HONS) Creative Writing graduate (Birkbeck, University of London). I graduated the MA in Creative Writing at Goldsmith's, University of London with Distinction. My portfolio was longlisted for the 2020 Pat Kavanagh Prize, awarded each year for an outstanding piece of work from the Goldsmiths MA in Creative Writing programme.

I am also a Cambridge-qualified English language teacher with a pass 'B' CELTA (on average, only 23.56% of over 10,000 candidates worldwide receive this pass 'B' every year) and have over 10 years' experience. I have taught KS3/KS4 GCSE English for seven years.

I have taught ESL and English Literature all over the world including Ecuador in south America, China, Italy and Holland. My last permanent role was as EAL Lead and Teacher of English to KS3 and KS4 at Harris Invictus, Croydon ("Outstanding" Ofsted rating), and prior to that, I was at an all-boys Catholic school (the 12th best state school in the country) in Purley. I teach all examination boards including OCR, AQA, Edexcel and Cambridge. I have worked in many schools London-wide, in East and West Sussex, and have excellent pupil management skills. I am firm and fair but also fun, and my students never seem to forget me (nor I, them!).

In terms of ESL, I have taught in many schools worldwide, and significantly, I designed and coordinated the English programme at The British School in Quito, Ecuador. I also taught Business and Academic English to the executives of multinational companies in China. Between 2012 and 2018, I taught summer classes for the UK's no1 ESL school, Wimbledon School of English.

Tutoring Approach:
It is important to get to know and understand my students' needs, strengths and weaknesses; why they need extra tuition and what their timeline or deadline or objective is, if any; I will then tailor the lessons to suit. I actively encourage my students to immerse themselves in language in all its' forms. Learning doesn't stop when the lesson stops. I set homework relative to each students' needs and set learning objectives accordingly. By working together, we can ensure that learning aims become positive and successful achievements!

My classes and lessons are interactive and I try to use realia and real life situations to model language and grammar. I use contemporary and classic fiction and a range of non-fiction texts. I also use lots of visual activities and promote literacy and good computer and handwriting skills too. I believe that whilst it is important to pass exams, learning experiences should also have a good dose of fun, at all ages!

Subjects

Personal Description:
My aim is to help each student reach their potential through individually tailored lessons designed to make learning enjoyable. I have a strong belief that for people of all ages, learning can be fun, and if you relish the process, you are much more likely to learn something!

Every lesson includes the use of several workbooks, learning diagrams, reading books, learning games and rewards (for younger students) ranging from stickers to special prizes for the hardest workers!

I also believe that a hugely understated part of any teachers role is to give a student confidence, as when belief is established, the student's results tend to rapidly improve as well. Therefore my extremely enthusiastic approach to tutoring is vital in building a students confidence and skyrocketing upwards in levels.

There is nothing I enjoy more than seeing a student achieve what they set out to do, be it a particular grade they need to obtain or a skill they need to develop.

Teaching Experience:
For over thirteen years I have been teaching English, Literacy and Reading from my own home. I have an Honours Degree in English Language BA (Hons).

Tutoring Approach:
Exam Results

GCSE English

(Grade on the left is the student's grade before lesson one, grade on the right is the confirmed GCSE result)

GCSE English (2023)

1 student from a 2 (E) ----> 6 (B+/A-)
1 student from a 5 (C+/B-) ----> 9 (A**)
1 student from a 3 (D) ----> 6 (B+/A-)
1 student from a 3 (D) ----> 4 (C)

GCSE English (2022)

2 students from a 4 (C) ----> 7 (A)
2 students from a 3 (D) ----> 6 (B+/A-)
1 student from a 3 (D) ----> 5 (C+/B-)
1 student from a 2 (E) ----> 4 (C)
1 student from a 1 (F) ----> 3 (D)

GCSE English (2021)

1 student from a 4 (C) ----> 6 (B+/A-)
1 student from a 2 (E) ----> 5 (C+/B-)
2 students from a 4 (C) ----> 5 (C+/B-)
1 student from a 2 (E) ----> 4 (C)
1 student from a 1 (F) ----> 3 (D)

GCSE English (2020)
All exams were cancelled due to the pandemic

GCSE English (2019)

2 students from a 2 (E) ----> 6 (B)
1 student from a 4 (C) ----> 7 (A)
1 student from a 1 (F) ----> 5 (C+/B-)
1 student from a 5 (C+/B-) ----> 8 (A+)

GCSE English (2018)

1 student from a 3 (D) ----> 6 (B)
1 student from a 2 (E) ----> 6 (B)
1 student from a 3 (D) ----> 5 (C+/B-)
1 student from a 2 (E) ----> 4 (C)
1 student from a 3 (D) ----> 4 (C)

GCSE English (2017)

1 student from a 3 (D) -----> 6 (B+/A-)
1 student from a 4 (C) ----> 7 (A)
1 student from a 3 (D) ----> 4 (C)
1 student from a 1 (F) ----> 3 (D)

GCSE English (2016)

1 student from a U ----> B
1 student from an E -----> B
1 student from a D ----> C
1 student from a C -----> A*

GCSE English (2015)

1 student from a U ----> C
2 students from an E -----> B
1 student from an E ----> C
1 student from a D ----> A*
1 student from a D -----> B
2 students from a D ----> C
1 student from a C ----> A*
1 student from a C ----> A
1 student from a C ----> B

GCSE English (2014)

4 Students from a D ----> C
3 Students from a D ----> B
2 Students from a D ----> A
1 student from a C ----> B

Year 6 SATS

(Grade on the left is the student's grade before lesson one, grade on the right is the confirmed SATS result)

Year 6 SATS (2020 & 2021)
All exams were cancelled due to the pandemic

Year 6 SATS (2019)

2 students from below expectations ----> expected standard
1 student from expected standard ----> above expectations

Year 6 SATS (2018)

1 student from below expectations ----> above expectations
1 student from below expectations ----> expected standard
2 students from expected standard ----> above expectations
1 student from below expectations ----> below expectations

Year 6 SATS (2017)

1 student from below expectations ----> above expectations
2 students from below expectations ----> expected standard
1 student from expected standard ----> above expectations
1 student from expected standard ----> expected standard

Year 6 SATS (2016)

1 student from below expectations ----> above expectations
2 students from below expectations ----> expected standard
3 students from expected standard ----> above expectations
1 student from expected standard ----> expected standard

Heckmondwike Grammar Entrance Tests

10 students passed
3 students failed
76.9% pass rate

QTS (Qualified Teacher Status)

8 students passed on their first attempt
1 students passed on their second attempt
0 students failed
100% pass rate

Recent Testimonials:

Ellen (10)
Year 6 SATS

Ellen was described as just below the expected level for English. We also felt her spelling was often poor and she struggled with extended writing. The main thing we have noticed is Ellen's confidence, attitude to learning and overall happiness: the improvement is immense. Ellen has now adapted a 'can do' attitude and revels in articulating what she has learnt with David. David is incredibly enthusiastic and positive, an approach that has really worked with Ellen. Speaking as a teacher, it is also clear that he understands the amendment procedures for Key Stage 2 and therefore every minute of every lesson is preparing Ellen for success. Ultimately my daughter loves to attend David's lesson and loves learning now!

Score: 10/10

Jack (16)
GCSE's

Jack's mock results were an E in English Language as well as a D in literature and he wanted to do Economics A level which required a B grade in his final GCSE. Jack had two hours of tuition per week from January to May. He enjoyed going (this surprised me as he hated English before the sessions) and had a new found likeness for literacy. He received a B in both language and literature and can now do A level economics. Jack related very well to David- this made learning easier for Jack and he obtained the grades he needed. His teachers at school noticed a marked improvement in his work when he was having tuition.

Score: 10/10

Oliver (6)
Year 2

Oliver was falling behind in Math's and English. I am very happy to say that his confidence and his ability to retain what David teaches him has improved greatly. His teachers at school have also commented on his marked improvement and he now feels a sense of achievement in everything he does- he also speaks of making David proud. David was/is exactly what I was looking for. Oliver doesn't seem to think about his lesson as lesson, he genuinely enjoys spending Saturday mornings at David's as he now really wants to improve himself! Wow!!!

Score: 10/10

Subjects

Personal Description:
Hello! I'm an enthusiastic, reliable and dedicated teacher with a passion for languages. I am a Certified Tutor as recognised by Training Qualifications UK, who are OFQUAL regulated. I am also a qualified teacher with QTS and a TESOL.

I am a bilingual foreigner: born in Italy, lived in South Africa and moved to England in 2012. I am thus a native speaker of Italian and English, with a British/South African accent. I studied French from the age of 10 onwards, so I am a fluent French speaker.
In addition to the above, I speak GCSE-level Spanish.

Available in Brighton or online!

Teaching Experience:
Teaching in state schools and tutoring since 2012
I have taught MFL (French, Italian and Spanish) from Year 7 to Year 13.
I have tutored children as young as 2, working with gifted learners and SEN such as dyslexia and autism.
In tutoring I have focused on Literacy and Numeracy and Italian for beginners.
I have also taught English at 3 summer schools.
Since October 2018 I have been teaching English as a foreign language in several independent schools.
I live in Brighton working as an Adult Ed teacher and private tutor to a range of clients.

Tutoring Approach:
My methodology is tailored to the individual's needs. The first step is always for me to ask about the student`s experience, goals, fears and requirements. From there I will tailor a program that suits that specific person, bearing in mind also their age. I can help you prepare for an exam, a retake, or even a holiday abroad!

Subjects

Personal Description:
Whilst, as an English teacher, I do enjoy a good book, my main interest lies in physical activity. I am passionate about physical fitness and everything that comes with it: flexibility, mobility and nutrition.

My main sport growing up was rugby, which has now been replaced with playing for a football team on a Saturday (much easier on the shoulders).

I am an avid traveller and love nothing more than a European city break or an adventure much further afield.

Teaching Experience:
I have worked in the education sector for twelve years, with the last seven being as a senior leader in three different schools.

As an English teacher, I have experience of teaching the full range of student ability levels, from working with students in KS3 with low literacy to leading on English Literature A Level. I have extensive experience teaching the IGCSE, AQA, Edexcel and OCR English Language and Literature exam content.

My most recent role is at a large successfully secondary in Surrey where I lead on Teaching & Learning as an Assistant Headteacher. Previously, I have ran a sixth form and led on SEN provision as a senior leader. I have worked in schools judged as Outstanding and supported others that were in Special Measures.

Additionally, I am an SLE (Specialist Leader of Education) and I have been parachuted into struggling schools to help them raise standards.

In my most recent Year 11 group, 22% of students were targeted a grade 7+. However, over 44% of my students achieved a grade 7+ in their actual GCSE exams.

Tutoring Approach:
Through a decade of tutoring experience, I feel that it is vital to first assess the student's current ability and discover their most pressing need. Once this has been discovered, we will work towards tangible targets, whilst still focusing on priorities such as vocabulary, complex punctuation and improving a student's ability to express their ideas on paper.

My sessions are as interactive as possible, to allow the students to approach their learning in a contextual way that they can relate to real-life. I also like to promote a student's ability to articulate their ideas verbally through discussion, in order to develop their written skills.

Each tutee's progress is individually tracked against their personal targets and the overarching aim of the tuition.

I feel my extensive experience at a senior level in a range of school contexts allows me to quickly adapt to the needs of the tutee.

Subjects

Personal Description:
Thank you for looking at my profile.

I want to see young people thrive within the learning environment and achieve the best of their ability.

In my previous school I was subject leader for drama. Writing the schemes of work for key stage 3 and 4 (GCSE). Leading the department, monitoring progess, scaffolding learning and applying independent learning plans for students to ensure that they reach their full potential.

The recent class that I taught for GCSE achieved 70% 3 levels of progress and over and 30% 2 levels of progress, beyond the national average.

I believe the key to learning and retaining information is for the student to believe in themselves and their knowledge.

PGCE Secondary Drama

QTS

Teaching Experience:
I have a great amount of experience within the educational system. I have worked with a variety of students. Special needs students in both primary and secondary school settings. I have done a vast amount of work with pupils with self-esteem issues and challenging behaviour. In addition, working with gifted and talented students.

I have thoroughly enjoyed teaching key stage 3 and GCSE English. I understand the challenges of this subject and how students may need extra support to excel.

I have taught Drama to both GCSE and A-level students, I have supported students through course work and controlled assessment.

I have worked in various schools in Sheffield and Birmingham.

I am currently teaching in a Sheffield secondary school.

I have worked with primary school children, building confidence and challenging behaviour. In addition literacy ( children with dyslexia).

Tutoring Approach:
To work with the student on identifying the areas in which their are struggling to reach their full potential and why. Whether it is because they are struggling to understand or they lack in confidence in the particular subject. I would then work with the student to build the gaps in their knowledge and build confidence through interactive and individual learning. A combination of both styles of learning secures knowledge and the belief that the student has the knowledge.

The students progression will be monitored through continual assessment.

The student will also be a part of self-assessment to recognise their own needs and development.

Subjects

Personal Description:
Capable and committed to providing the right kind of support and service every step of the way through your learning experience.

Teaching Experience:
I have several years of on-line tutoring experience, and I am a wizard in English.

Tutoring Approach:
I specialize in individual, one-on-one tutoring - a customized approach based on each student's need, personality and learning style. That means with every session received my full and undivided attention will be given to guide and monitor progress and to give feedback every step of the way. With targeted, personalized attention, each student can negotiate challenges, master skills, and gain confidence. And a student's belief in their capacity to succeed is so often the key to improved results.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I have 35 years teaching experience both in the UK and overseas. I feel it's important to understand a students learning style and adjust lesson materials to suit that style whilst setting purposeful, realistic and attainable goals.

I enjoy teaching and deem it a privilege to have a share in helping others reach their aspirations.

I have a Trinity CERTTesol and an MA in English Language Teaching.

Teaching Experience:
Between 1992 & 2010 I lived and taught in Hong Kong to a variety of students from Chinese medium of instruction (CMI), English medium of instruction (EMI) and International schools. Assistance was given to help students progress towards their HKCEE (GCSE equivalent) and `A` levels, and in recent years the IB diploma, IGCSE's, and HKDSE.

Topics used in the lessons cover many of disciplines in the school curriculum, including, History, Geography, Economics, Biology, English Literature. Further guidance was given to help students prepare for exams, such as: SAT; and IELTS exams and common apps for HE.

In the past 15 years I have been tutoring students in the UK to prepare them for the 11+ entrance exams; teaching students at KS3, GCSE, A levels & IB. Additionally, I am currently guiding students with their dissertations for their chosen degrees, and proofreading BA, MA, papers prior to submission.

For the past 7 years, I have been involved in intervention teaching, which involves identifying learning styles and other factors that inhibit a student`s progress, and then devise strategies to engage the student in learning, to identify and then support their current learning needs.

Tutoring Approach:
I am committed to providing students with assistance to achieve the grades they need by patiently tutoring each student according to their learning style. I trust that my student-centred approach is effective in this area. My one-to-one tuition produces noticeable improvements in student confidence, attainment and ambition.

Exam Boards I cover:
- AQA
- Edexcel
- Cambridge/ Edexcel IGCSE
- OCR

GCSE English Literature texts
GCSE English Language Paper 1
GCSE English language Paper 2
- Writing to persuade
- Writing to inform
- Imaginative/ Creative writing
- Essay writing / structuring

GCSE Poetry
Love & Relationships
Power & Conflict

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am a dedicated, creative and hard-working teacher/tutor. I enjoy making my lessons fun and accessible to students, and to this end I create a bank of my own resources to support and facilitate learning for any student at any level.

With the breadth of qualifications that I possess in English, I am truly a specialist in my field.

Teaching Experience:
I am a fully qualified teacher of English (secondary trained), with a degree in my subject. I have eight years experience of teaching English up to Key Stage 5. I also possess an MA in Creative Writing, as well as a CELTA qualification to teach students with English as a second/foreign language.

I possess qualifications from Russell group universities, Queen Mary University of London (BA English - 2.1) and King`s College London (PGCE English 11-18) in addition, my MA is from Birkbeck University of London.

I have worked as a marker for NFER and AQA - I therefore know what examiners are looking for at SATs and GCSE level. Exam specifications I have taught include AQA, Edexcel and OCR at GCSE level, and Edexcel at Functional Skills level. I have up to.date knowledge of the new 9-1 GCSE English specification, as I regularly mark for AQA.

My teaching experience encompasses whole class teaching, as well as small group/intervention work and one to one tuition. I have worked with primary school children in Key Stages 1 and 2 (for maths and English), as well as secondary and students in further education, including adults.

Tutoring Approach:
I tailor my tuition sessions to suit my tutees. The first thing I do is find out their learning style, as well as carry out a diagnostic assessment. That way, I am able to ascertain the tutee's strengths and weaknesses, and we can both decide on the best way forward, with targets to be reviewed every lesson.

I believe sessions should be engaging and fun; moreover, it is vital that learning takes place. I will customise my lessons to the learner and set follow-up work, however the onus is also on the learner to put in the effort, and ask for clarification/additional help, as and when necessary.

Please note, for online tuition, full payment must be made BEFORE any lessons can take place.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I left school with one A* grade, six A grades and four B's. A's being in English, Biology and Geography. I was also a prefect in school chosen for my level of drive.

During sixth form I was a student mentor where I helped GCSE students with their upcoming exams and acted as a person of support and welfare. I studied law achieving an A*, sociology achieving an A and psychology achieving a B grade.

I'm currently a third year psychology student at the University of Birmingham. During my time at university I have gained an in depth background knowledge in psychology including child and educational psychology. I hope to start a career in child psychology because I love interacting with children. During University I have learnt many academic skills such as adaptability, patience, resilience and organisation.

I'm a friendly and cheerful person and I've always had a high drive to succeed.

Teaching Experience:
I have experience in tutoring at GCSE level as well as for the 11+ in which my students have always highly achieved.
I have a younger sister who I often help with her schoolwork, so I have gained experience through them on the best methods of learning.
I'm always working with children through my part time job at the sea life centre.

Tutoring Approach:
I am passionate about helping children to succeed, often children are more than capable of achieving highly they just need a push and a confidence boost and this is what I aim to do. I am very patient with learners and determined to help them overcome the barriers that can inhibit learning.

My aim as a tutor is to build a good relationship to ensure that the child is comfortable as I find this the most rewarding for success.

Most importantly I think that tutoring should be enjoyable for children as this helps to keep focus.
My Tutoring sessions will often include practising questions and word games. I like to set a small amount of homework each week to ensure the children are gaining an understanding.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am a passionate and hard working primary school teacher. I have been tutoring children of a range of ages and abilities for seven years. Examples include Year 4 English, Year 1 Phonics and English, Year 2 Maths, Year 6 Maths and English. I often tutor children in preparation for the 11 Plus exams and I currently have a 100% pass rate. I will adapt my teaching to meet your child's needs and I always strive to build up a child's confidence. I am patient, caring and enjoy helping children to learn, develop and achieve their goals.

Teaching Experience:
I have eight years teaching experience in primary schools and I have taught across the year groups from Reception to Year 6. I plan my lessons using objectives from the National Curriculum. I use visuals and hooks to engage children in the lesson. I then adapt the learning activity according to children's ability and needs. I ensure children have the opportunity to use their new knowledge and skills through challenge activities, where they will need to find a solution or answer to a challenging question independently. This builds children's confidence and problem-solving skills.

Tutoring Approach:
I will assess your child's needs and abilities in the first tutoring session. Going forward, I will use a range of teaching styles to support your child, including interactive lessons, focus activities, questioning and visual resources.

When I am tutoring a child for the 11 Plus, I will also use past test papers, which I will bring with me. I will also focus on areas that your child finds difficult and support him/her to complete activities in these areas.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am John, an English graduate who has several years experience in one-to-one and small group tuition. I enable my students to make the connections they need to find in order to achieve successful exam results. Many of my students have achieved results that they required in order to secure places at university or attain successful grades both at GCSE and A/L standard. Other students have achieved the results they needed for making successful job applications and professional placements.

Teaching Experience:
I have been teaching and tutoring since the mid 2000s. I enjoy working with students to enable them to achieve the grades they require, both for exam results and for securing the careers they have set their sights on. I have worked both one-to-one as well as with small groups, including those for whom English is not their first language.

Tutoring Approach:
My approach to tutoring is that of an enabler. I believe that every student has it in them to unlock the results they are aiming for, however unconfident they may feel about a particular subject or aspect of it. By working closely with examples from previous exam papers, I am able to show pupils how to take control and gain ownership of English texts and language. Pupils find out how to unlock their own innate abilities to analyse and comprehend the way language and literature works. Armed with these approaches my students gain mastery over their subject matter and gear their knowledge towards the exam targets they wish to achieve.

Subjects

Personal Description:
A hugely enthusiastic and thoroughly hard-working teacher with 18 years of professional experience and a specialism in modern languages (German, French and Spanish), currently having a Master Degree and already holding a Postgraduate Diploma in Education. Demonstrating an ability to secure positive outcomes for students through creating solid rapport with students and fostering a spirit of mutual respect. Genuinely passionate about teaching German to the very highest standard, I am now seeking new appointment and am certain to quickly become recognised as an asset within a teaching team.

Teaching Experience:
I have 18 years of teaching experience and have also an approach that is based on each individual's needs.

Tutoring Approach:
I am a teacher that has a constructivist approach and structure my lesson according to my pupils needs. I am promoting independent learning and have had excellent results so far.

Subjects

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

*

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

*

A-level results, August 2024:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

*

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

*

A-level results, August/September 2022:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

*

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

*

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

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

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

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

Speaking

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

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

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

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

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

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

Reading

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

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

Writing

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

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

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

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

Why study English?

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

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am a friendly, creative and dedicated tutor, whose key area of focus is English Literature A-level (Edexcel; AQA), English GCSE (AQA; Edexcel; OCR; Eduqas) and English IGCSE (Edexcel) tuition. I have a strong track record in helping students achieve their hoped-for grades (up to 9/ A*).

I aim to support students in their exam preparation and technique, understanding and analysis of texts, essay writing (A-level) and coursework (A-level).

Teaching Experience:
I have worked in education, in both mainstream and SEN settings, for six years; I have a BA HONS. 2.1 in English and European Literature (University of Warwick).

Recently taught A-level drama, prose and poetry texts include: Othello, A Midsummer Night`s Dream, Twelfth Night, A Streetcar Named Desire, Doctor Faustus, A Doll`s House, Frankenstein, Wuthering Heights, Mrs Dalloway, Hard Times, The Handmaid`s Tale, Never Let Me Go, Atonement, The Great Gatsby, Skirrid Hill, The World`s Wife, the poetry of John Donne, John Keats and Chaucer, as well as Romantic Poetry, the Edexcel Poems of the Decade anthology and the AQA pre-1900 anthology. I am able to support students in their analysis of unseen prose and poetry.

I have experience teaching GCSE Language reading and writing across the main exam boards. GCSE Literature texts have included (but have not been limited to): Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, The Merchant of Venice, An Inspector Calls, Blood Brothers, Lord of the Flies, A Christmas Carol, Jekyll and Hyde and Jane Eyre, as well as board-specific poetry anthologies.

Tutoring Approach:
I take a pupil-centred approach to tutoring, consistently tailoring my teaching to the requirements of each, individual student.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am an engineering graduate from the class of 2019 and completed my master's in Material Engineering in 2021. During my postgraduate studies, I had the enriching opportunity to participate in a one-year exchange program in Turkey, where I conducted significant research.

Teaching Experience:
With a solid five years of teaching experience, I have dedicated three of those years to home tutoring students from 5th to 12th standard. I have taught a diverse range of subjects, including Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Science, Computer Science, and IT. My teaching journey has allowed me to work with a wide range of students, each with unique learning needs and goals. This hands-on experience has honed my ability to tailor my teaching strategies to effectively support and inspire students across different age groups and academic levels.

Tutoring Approach:
My tutoring approach is centred around fostering a supportive and engaging learning environment. I believe in the importance of understanding each student's individual learning style and pace, and I am committed to developing personalized lesson plans that cater to these needs. My approach integrates interactive and practical methods, aiming to not only improve academic performance but also to instil a genuine interest in the subject matter.

Subjects

Personal Description:
Hi! My name is Jessica, and I hold a BSc (Hons) degree in Psychology from the University of Kent. Over the years, I have gained extensive experience working within the education and healthcare sectors, primarily focusing on supporting young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). My professional journey has been dedicated to enhancing the educational experiences and overall wellbeing of children and adolescents, and I hope to continue doing this through my work tutoring children and young people here.

Teaching Experience:
As a former Paediatric Speech and Language Therapy Assistant, I supported therapists in running language groups and worked directly with children 1-1 to improve their communication, comprehension, verbal and written skills.

I have also helped to support a number of family members with their Maths skills, working 1-1 to tutor their children and give dedicated space and time to work on their understanding and to help them achieve improvements.

Tutoring Approach:
My tutoring approach is deeply rooted in empathy, patience, and a personalised understanding of each student's unique needs. Here are the core principles that guide my tutoring methodology:

1. Individualised Learning Plans: Recognising that every student learns differently, I create tailored learning plans that cater to their specific strengths and areas for improvement. This personalised approach ensures that each student receives the support they need to thrive academically.

2. Building Strong Relationships: My background in relationship management and communication with key stakeholders, including parents, teachers, and educational institutions, has equipped me with the skills to build strong, trusting relationships with my students and their families. I believe that a supportive and collaborative environment is essential for effective learning.

3. Interactive and Engaging Lessons: I strive to make my lessons as engaging and interactive as possible. Using a variety of teaching tools and techniques, I aim to keep students motivated and excited about learning. Whether it's through hands-on activities, visual aids, or real-world examples, I ensure that my lessons are both educational and enjoyable.

4. Focus on Wellbeing: Understanding the importance of mental health and wellbeing, I incorporate strategies that promote a positive mindset and emotional resilience. My experience working with Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) allows me to support students not just academically, but holistically.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am an enthusiastic, calm and kind teacher of English who is passionate about every child achieving their full potential. I live in Burgess Hill and have three children of my own. We also have a dog and enjoy going for walks in the countryside. Reading and the theatre are also my greatest passions. I thoroughly enjoy teaching children the love of reading and will focus on exam skills and strategies by breaking down the content into manageable chunks so that my students achieve their very best.

Teaching Experience:
I am a qualified teacher of Secondary English from KS3 up to GCSE and A Level and have been teaching in West Sussex schools for over 20 years. I have a degree in English, PGCE, and MA in Education.
I am currently teaching at a comprehensive Secondary school in West Sussex and cover the AQA syllabus. Although this is my specialism I also have experience in Edexcel and OCR exam boards. I have also been an examiner for AQA for many years and use this experience to help my students understand how to break down the questions and understand the marking criteria.
I have tutored privately for over 5 years now and have many families willing to give current references. My recent success stories are in my reviews please take a look!

Tutoring Approach:
I am able to break down the current GCSE requirements from all exam boards and coach young people in a way that they can understand.
I work at the pace set by the student and help them in such a way that they feel a sense of achievement after every lesson.
In negotiation with the student I can set weekly homework tasks as part of the tutoring session if required and also include the marking of these in my fee. I am very flexible and can offer short term help on GCSE English Language or long term support to cover both Language and Literature. Online tutoring and booster sessions in school holidays are also available.

Subjects