Kidderminster English Tutors and Kidderminster English Tuition

Personal Description:
I am mum to two boys, both who have flown the nest. I miss them greatly now that they are based in London but try to visit as much as I can. I love to shop and also exercise, especially pilates. Oh and I do love to cook!

Teaching Experience:
I studied at Dundee College of Education where I gained a Diploma in Primary Education. This was a three year course. I then took another Certificate in Early Years. After leaving College, I taught in both the state and private primary sector. I left teaching to have my children and then to nurse my youngest child who was quite sick for a few years. Once his health was better, I started working as a tutor from home or going to the client's house to tutor. I now tutor seven days a week. I have experience in Maths, Language, Phonics and Grammar. I also tutor children in preparation for entrance exams in to the independent sector, which includes Verbal, Non-Verbal Reasoning, Maths, Language and Spelling. The children I have tutored have all had great success, many going forward for a scholarship.
I have an online Dyslexia touch type programme which has had tremendous success. Many children, with the school's permission , come to be tutored within school hours.

Tutoring Approach:
I always believe that the child should feel comfortable with the person they are being tutored by and build up a good relationship. Tutoring is not only about helping the child to succeed but also for them to gain confidence and self belief. I have various methods of tutoring from written work, reading and oral work. I also have a computer available where we can work from. eg online games After each lesson, I give the child homework to be completed for the next lesson.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am a fully qualified teacher with Cambridge MA, PGCE & DELTA, with 30 years' experience of teaching in a variety of contexts including general secondary school English and Drama, GCSE, A Level, IB, and tuition at university and postgraduate level, including assistance with theses and similar.
I have considerable experience of TEFL/TOEFL and a successful record in teaching Cambridge FCE, CPE, etc as well as Business English classes for non-native professionals.
I recently returned to the UK from Spain for family reasons and I am new to the York area. I'm taking time out for a while to write that elusive million-seller or sitcom! Meanwhile I am a member of SfEP and work part time as a professional proofreader and copy editor. I am very happy to help groups or individuals with their academic needs.

Teaching Experience:
15 years in all key stages of secondary school education in England.
5 years Adult Education, TEFL and private tuition in the UK.
10 years teaching a British curriculum in an international secondary school in Spain at all key stages incl. GCSE, A Level and IB.
Group and individual EFL classes for children and adults, including Business English for professionals and TOEFL in an American-affiliated college.
I have an excellent record of success in preparing students for English and Drama exams - GCSE, A Level, International Baccalaureat and beyond - as well as for Cambridge First Certificate, Advanced and Proficiency in English.
Amongst other notables, I was employed as personal tutor to the actress Rebecca Hall as a child and also to one of Tony Blair's sons!

Tutoring Approach:
I believe in a supportive approach and a friendly relationship, but without forgetting it's work: you're paying me because I can improve your (or your children's) future prospects.

Subjects

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

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

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

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

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am an experienced teacher, with subject specialisms in both Literacy & Numeracy. I have over 12 years experience of working in educational settings from Secondary to Higher Education. I have a PGCE teaching qualification with Qualified Teaching & Learning Status, a BA Hons degree in Social Science and a Master's degree in Multimedia & E-learning. I am a strong advocate of Lifelong Learning with a commitment to delivering high standards of teaching.

Teaching Experience:
I have over 12 years experience of teaching Literacy/English, Study Skills including research skills & academic writing skills for undergraduates and access students; Reading and Writing Skills for all ages and levels of ability, GCSE & Functional Maths and Sociology for both GCSE & A'Level. I have taught at a variety of educational establishments including York College & York St John University, as well as private training companies and individual tutoring.

Tutoring Approach:
I have a calm, patient and friendly approach to teaching and believe in the importance of individual learning styles and approaches. I am able to apply an adaptable approach to teaching, which enables learners to remain motivated whilst working towards success in their goals.

Subjects

Personal Description:
A qualified teacher of Russian and Art, I taught in secondary schools and professional colleges before moving to UK in 1994. Since then, I've worked in UK in various educational settings as well as engaging in private tuition.

Teaching Experience:
I have over 20 years of experience supervising learning, teaching and tutoring children and adults of varied abilities and backgrounds both in the UK and abroad.
Since 2020 I have been working with National Tutoring Programme providing English and Maths tuition for children in KS1 - KS2.

Tutoring Approach:
I tailor my lessons to suit the needs of each of my students. I identify learning gaps; devise study plans; prepare learning materials and deliver tuition on a one-to-one basis or in small groups both online and in person.
With learning targets in mind, I build lessons to incorporate words, phrases and terminology the student needs; and choose resources that suit each learner best.

Zoom/online option is available. It is a sure way forward for distance learners.

Note: missed lessons that were not canceled at least two hours prior to the start of the lesson will be charged at a full rate.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am an Anglia Ruskin Graduate in Communication, since graduating I have been perusing a career in Teaching Assisting. I am passionate about arts and crafts which I have been able to apply to the Brownie Club I co-run. I am experienced in working in a busy out of school club where I have gained valuable experience being responsible, entertaining and educating young people.

Teaching Experience:
I currently volunteer as a teaching assistant at a city primary school, where I have a multitude of responsibilities including small group work & offering alternative provision for students who are unable to participate in main activities.

Tutoring Approach:
I can provide a structured work time table given different needs and time frames for your child. I am patient and understanding and provide clear and well thought out examples and explanations. I am a sociable,kind, good humored person who is well loved by the children I work with.

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:
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 tutor all subjects. My specialisms are maths and the 11+ entrance exams (maths, English, verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning, interviews).

I have a First Class Masters of Engineering from Newcastle University and a PGCE (the teacher training qualification) from the University of Oxford in Mathematics.

I charge £50 an hour for one-on-one online lessons.

Teaching Experience:
I have been teaching for a year in Oxford secondary schools and taking private students online.
I have been tutoring since 2012 in London and Newcastle alongside my jobs and studies. I specialise in getting children into top private schools or to get scholarships and I teach the ages of 6-16, or adults looking to increase their maths skills for specific purposes e.g. GCSE maths.
I have experience teaching English abroad at Bukit Lawang Educational centre in Indonesia. I taught multiple classes every day, including Kindergarten, child, teenage, and adult classes.
I`ve delivered English lessons to a community in Nicaragua. I am TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) qualified.

Tutoring Approach:
Try to make it as specific as possible so that you get best value for money. With children I make the lessons as meaningfully engaging as possible. All activities I do are very thought-out to cater to each clients needs.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am currently studying a PhD at St. Andrews in English. In 2021, I became a published author, publishing a poetry collection, Poems Sketched Upon the M60.

I can teach English National 5, GCSE, A Level and University level.

I am a highly intelligent (Oxford-educated), extremely passionate, and endlessly empathetic tutor. I have been tutoring for three years and I guarantee that you will not regret working with me. I can push anyone up several grade points with my deep commitment to teaching and education.

I used to work in Wakefield as an English teacher but I left because of my desire to focus on tutoring and writing. At the school, I was a highly valued colleague who ran three after-school clubs: a BSL Club, a Playscript Club and a Debating Team.

I have a First Class Honours degree in English Literature (with a lot of French) from the University of York and a Masters' degree in Nineteenth Century Literature from St. Benet's Hall, University of Oxford. I am also a journalist writing for The Guardian, Catholic Herald and The Tablet. I also write creatively - my poems have won contests and appeared in publications such as Amethyst Review, Ink, Sweat & Tears and Ancient Paths. I have a blog, Squidditas, which showcases my writing skills, reinforcing the huge amount I have to offer as an English, French, History and R.S. tutor.

Previously I worked in care and I worked for a homeless shelter in North London, meaning I have a high level of empathy and a highly "person-centred" response to tutoring. I also worked for the University of York in the Disability Service, where I helped disabled students with their academic needs.

Teaching Experience:
I have seven years of experience of tutoring children from 11 to adults. I used to work as an English teacher in Wakefield.

I have mentored disabled students in the University of York and have tutored many people privately before, as well as worked in schools on projects discussing homelessness.

Tutoring Approach:
I do not believe in tutoring people mechanically or with a 'one-size-fits-all' approach. I believe in a truly mutual approach where we work together to understand each topic. I am firm and will do everything I can to ensure I can pass on my knowledge.

I am able to offer a concession of £20. This is only for first-generation migrants, who I have a strong commitment to supporting. If you are not a first-generation migrant, please do not try to barter with me as I am already charging a very low rate for my services given my experience and education. I can absolutely guarantee you will not find such good value for money in terms of commitment, passion and the level I am able to teach at (as well as the range of topics I am able to teach.)

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am a fully qualified teacher of languages Turkish and English over 25 years and offer tuition in Turkish and English to primary and secondary pupils as well as adults. I have taught Turkish and English to many people in many different environments from beginner to advanced levels.I can help you learn the basics of the Turkish language as well as higher levels for any purpose including exam such as GCSE and A-LEVEL. I am a TEFL/TESOL qualified teacher. I love teaching languages and always make the lessons fun and interactive. Tuition can be tailored to individual needs whether it is for exam preparation or just for fun. I will be very happy to help you with learning languages.

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

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

Equivalent to Level 6 certified by UK NARIC,10.05.2019

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

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

Tutoring Approach:
• Demonstrated sound work ethics.
• Self motivation, initiative with a high level of energy.
• Able to inspire, comfort, build self-esteem.
• Excellent communication skills. (children and parent oriented)
• Ability to listen to children and parents.
• Knowledge of developmental theory and corresponding practice of education.
• Stress and time management ability.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am a well-qualified and experienced private tutor working online, providing preparation and support for GCSE and IGCSE in English Language, English Literature and French (AQA / Edexcel / Cambridge etc) and for 11+ entrance exams in English and Verbal Reasoning (including CEM/GL style 11+).

I also teach English as a foreign language at all levels, including preparation for PET, FCE, CAE & CPE exams and IELTS and 'Life in the UK' for UK Citizenship, covering all aspects of English from Speaking, Listening, Reading and Writing to Grammar and Pronunciation.

Teaching Experience:
On leaving Oxford University, I started out as a lecturer in French and English at Fareham College, Hampshire, where I taught Higher Education courses to both young and mature adults and was commended by the Principals for my students' achievements.
I used this initial experience to launch a successful career of private tutoring in England and France, with many students coming to me through personal recommendation.

Now, with over 20 years of teaching experience, I privately tutor a range of school-aged pupils from 6 to 16, both native English speakers and those for whom English is a second language. At 11+, 13+, GCSE and IGCSE, most of my pupils have successfully obtained places at top private secondary schools and 6th form colleges.

I also have a portfolio of private Chinese, Ukrainian, Russian, French and English adult students learning English as a foreign language, many of whom return year after year to pursue their learning to ever-higher levels and for the considerable pleasure that brings.

Tutoring Approach:
In my opinion the huge advantage of private one-to-one tuition, for both student and tutor, is that each lesson can be tailor-made to suit the student's particular needs perfectly, targeting and strengthening weaker areas while continuing to develop all-round confidence and ability. Lesson content can adapt flexibly from session to session and skills needing more attention can be frequently revisited.

My approach is caring and friendly, and I possess both endless patience and a sense of humour! I am enthusiastic about the subjects I teach and time and again I have seen that enthusiasm transfer itself to students as lessons progress. Encouragement is a great aid to achievement and it is very rewarding to see how this, in turn, leads to excellent results.

Subjects

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

*

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 have an excellent ability to analyse pupil's needs in a preliminary session as well as in the ensuing teaching which enables me to create a teaching plan to support any weaknesses or extension that may be required. I can do this quickly and capably.
I have a range of teaching styles and skills that I can use to differentiate between the needs of the different key stages and to engage with pupils according to their personality. Where appropriate, I like to use practical materials to reinforce concepts if necessary.
I can extend pupils beyond the average expectation to higher, or I can support through concepts that need understanding in order to attain average expectation.
I am extremely organised and efficient. On the other hand, I can be flexible and fluid, depending what style might be needed for the individual pupil.
I have a huge bank of tried and tested resources both in my head, on computer and on paper. I am always keen to find new ways of supporting pupils, tailored to their favourite topics and hobbies where possible.
I am a good listener so that I can understand the concerns and important issues of parents/carers and the pupil themselves.
At the same time, I am confident in being able to talk to families about their needs and issues.
I am studying on an extended creative writing course with the National Centre for Writing affiliated to the UEA.
I have two adult children and 7 grandchildren whose ages range from aged 3 to aged 12. I am often called on to help their understanding of English and maths concepts or to help them with their humanities projects.
I have a comfortable, spacious home where teaching can take place. Parents are always welcome to sit in on any sessions providing it doesn't affect pupil behaviour.
I have travelled within all seven continents (yes, including Antarctica!).
I love reading and all different kinds of music and dance. I love nature, particularly birds.
Most of all, I love working with children and I love teaching.

Teaching Experience:
I have been teaching for 40 years in a variety of settings ranging from areas of poverty and social deprivation to academic private schools. I have worked in large city schools with over 300 pupils and village schools with 40 pupils.
I have worked with all year groups from Reception to year 6.
I have been responsible for maths throughout the whole school and acted as deputy and head of school when needed.
I ran a British Council Comenius project where I worked with schools in Poland and Northern Spain. This involved visits, taking year 6 pupils to Warsaw and Oviedo.
Over the last 15 years, I have been working on a one-to-one scheme where I work with individuals or groups within the school setting in supporting and extending pupils' abilities. I have been successful in helping schools to attain above average scores in KS2 SATS and in building confidence for the future as well as supporting children with anger management needs.
Prior to that I worked in the Junior Department of Norwich High School for 17 years.
I have a current DBS and can provide references where needed.

Tutoring Approach:
I have covered a lot of my approach in the paragraph above "About Yourself" as I feel that my teaching and my personality and interests are pretty much entwined!

I would like to add that my approach is one of flexibility and understanding based on huge banks of experience.
I can coach to a higher than average level or support where the building blocks have been missed.
I have no problem in supporting pupils with challenging personalities and adapting my teaching style to meet their needs.
Apart from providing the necessary teaching concepts, I offer a sense of humour, dedication, acute awareness of needs and hope to provide confidence and instil a sense of exciting, extension and pleasure in learning.

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:
Lessons will take place in Twickenham in a bright and airy room with a café area for parents to wait comfortably, right in the heart of Twickenham with parking nearby.

I am a dedicated primary maths and English tutor who believes every child can succeed. I create a calm, supportive, and joyful learning environment, making lessons fun, creative, and engaging while building strong foundations, boosting confidence, and inspiring a lifelong love of learning.

Teaching Experience:
My journey in education began overseas, teaching English to children and young adults in Thailand and New Zealand. That experience inspired me to train as a primary teacher, combining my love of working with children with my passion for helping them grow into confident, capable learners. Since then, I've taught in both state and independent primary schools across New Zealand and London, led the maths department at a leading London prep school, and taken on leadership roles that have deepened my understanding of how children learn best.

For me, great teaching is about more than just covering the curriculum. It's about knowing each child, recognising their strengths, and giving them the tools to overcome challenges. I believe that when children feel safe to take risks, proud of their progress, and inspired to explore, they can discover abilities and potential they never knew they had. That's why my sessions focus on building strong foundations, boosting confidence, and developing independent learning skills, while fostering a joy of learning that will carry children through life.

Every session is an opportunity for children to explore, grow, and be challenged in a way that feels exciting and achievable. Seeing the children embrace new concepts, solve problems with creativity, and leave with a sense of accomplishment is what makes learning so inspiring.

Tutoring Approach:
Our approach is built around three guiding pillars:

*Curiosity* - sparking wonder and a love of discovery.
*Confidence* - building self-belief and the courage to take responsible risks and tackle challenges.
*Joy* - celebrating progress and making learning fun.

With extensive experience teaching across the UK curriculum in both state and independent schools, I have led the maths department at a top London prep school and held various leadership roles that have shaped my approach to education. I am experienced in preparing children for 7+, 8+, and 11+ examinations, ensuring they not only master the required content but also develop the confidence and mindset to succeed.

Maths:
My maths programme blends Singapore Maths mastery with White Rose Maths resources, fully aligned with the UK National Curriculum. Children develop number fluency, reasoning skills, and a love of problem-solving.

Each 1-hour lesson follows the CPA approach (Concrete → Pictorial → Abstract), helping children understand concepts through hands-on manipulatives, visual representations, and written methods.

Times Tables: Dedicated practice with a clear progression from basic doubles to all tables 1-12, including fun games and short tests to track progress and celebrate achievements.

English:
My English programme helps children become confident, creative communicators.

Reading: We use the VIPERS framework to strengthen comprehension through Vocabulary, Inference, Prediction, Explanation, Retrieval, and Summarising.

Writing: We guide children through creative and descriptive writing, helping them plan, draft, and refine their work, with supportive tools such as word banks, sentence starters, and prompts to spark ideas and build confidence.

Handwriting & Spelling: Ten minutes of cursive practice plus spelling tailored to year groups (Years 1-2 phonics-based; Years 3-6 statutory lists).

Grammar: Engaging, nature-inspired activities from The Natural Curriculum, linking learning to wildlife and the environment.

My teaching philosophy is rooted in the belief that every child deserves a calm, supportive environment where learning is a joy. I combine strong subject knowledge with creative, engaging lessons that make even the most challenging topics feel approachable and enjoyable. My aim is always to build solid foundations in maths and English while nurturing essential lifelong skills such as problem-solving, resilience, and curiosity.

Over the years, I've seen children flourish when they feel believed in, inspired, and challenged in the right way.

Each child follows their own bespoke learning plan as part of a small group and works at a level and pace that is appropriate for them. The student to tutor ratio is a maximum of 5:1.

We're excited to offer free trials so you can experience how we can support your child.

Subjects

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

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

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

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

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

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

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am a fully qualified Secondary English Teacher with over 25 years of experience tutoring within the Scottish Education System. I specialise exclusively in one-to-one tuition, providing personalised, focused support tailored to each learner's individual strengths, challenges, and learning style.

I believe that effective learning happens within a supportive and encouraging environment where students feel understood, challenged, and empowered to succeed. My long-standing experience enables me to quickly identify gaps, build confidence, and provide proven strategies that lead to measurable academic progress.

Teaching Experience:
My expertise spans National 4, National 5, Higher, and Advanced Higher English, with particular focus on targeted exam preparation. I specialise in RUAE (Reading for Understanding, Analysis and Evaluation), Critical Essays, and Textual Analysis, concentrating on technique, timing, structure, and sustained grade improvement. Through strategic preparation and clear, practical methodologies, I help students approach exams with confidence and clarity.

With a strong track record of raising attainment, I work carefully with students to refine analytical skills, strengthen written expression, and master the demands of SQA marking criteria. Lessons are structured, purposeful, and responsive - always designed to maximise both understanding and performance under exam conditions.

My background in creative writing and theatre brings energy, depth, and imagination to my teaching. This creative foundation enhances students' engagement with literature while supporting the development of compelling, precise, and technically secure writing.

Tutoring Approach:
My approach is patient, encouraging, and tailored to the individual. One-to-one tutoring allows me to adapt to each student's pace, strengths, and needs in a way that classroom teaching cannot. I provide clear structure and strategy behind the scenes, while ensuring sessions feel supportive, focused, and confidence-building.

I've worked with a wide range of learners: high-achieving students who want precision and analytical rigour; able literature students eager to delve deeper than the classroom allows; and those who see English as simply something to "get through." Whether providing exam-focused frameworks, stretching sophisticated thinkers, or helping reluctant learners find clarity and confidence, my aim is always the same - to meet students where they are and guide them towards independence, competence, and a stronger belief in their own ability.

Subjects