Knightsbridge Entrance Exams Tutors and Knightsbridge Entrance Exams Tuition

Personal Description:
My name is Pierrette and I provide excellent French and Spanish tutoring for kids and adults based around London and Essex. I am A-Level and GCSE qualified with over 20 years of experience teaching French and Spanish. I create interesting lesson programmes and my material is based on your current skills. I

Teaching Experience:
Are you getting ready for that long deserved French vacation or Spanish holiday? Perhaps you are starting a business that requires a lot of travel and foreign language skills will make things so much smoother and easier? Or you just want to learn a new language so you can add an impressive skill to your resume but you think it might be too difficult to learn? Let me show you how easy it can be to learn French or Spanish.

Tutoring Approach:
will be more than glad to work with you to discover how beautiful French and Spanish languages are. I am very patient and friendly, and I will ensure to help you progress and become fluent in speaking French or Spanish. I can also easily help you with test preparation and essay writing, as well as, reading and homework. I enjoy teaching and I always strive to be the best teacher that I can be. Be more confident in speaking French and Spanish - give me a call now, and I'll make sure to teach you in a creative way and make your learning experience an enjoyable o

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Personal Description:
I am a qualified teacher having been awarded a PGCE from the University of Cambridge. I also have a First Class Bachelors degree. I previously taught at Queen's College Preparatory School, London and now teach online for Eton College. I am a member of the professional body for tutors.

I have four young children of my own and enjoy working with children and helping them to become interested in and succeed in school work. All of my children attend UK independent schools and I have extensive experience in this sector.

I have helped students prepare for and succeed in gaining entry to top UK selective schools at 4+, 7+, 11+ and 13+. I have also successfully helped students obtain full academic scholarships to several independent schools as well as helping those secure a place who find exams difficult. All lessons are online via Zoom.

Teaching Experience:
Qualified from the University of Cambridge with a PGCE. I taught for two years at Queen's College Preparatory School, London before starting private tuition. I have been tutoring for 15 years in English, Maths, Science, Reasoning and Interview Skills. Further private tutoring for 4+, 7+, 11+ and 13+ School Entrance Exams, Scholarship Exams, Common Entrance Exams and the ISEB pre-test. I also provide guidance on school selection and have written a guide to the top independent schools in the UK and their admissions processes. It is never too early to start preparation for competitive school entrance exams and many students prepare for several years.

Tutoring Approach:
Tailor made approach for each individual suited to help students get the best grade possible in exams. Homework is given after each lesson and feedback is provided to parents. My students have several online learning tools that they can use. One is very similar to the ISEB pre-test and another is an online reading platform where thousands of books can be read along with comprehension, spelling and vocabulary questions.

I teach online using Zoom and have helped UK and international students prepare for entrance exams to selective schools such as Eton, Harrow, Radley, Wycombe Abbey, Westminster, King's College School, Magdalen, Guildford High School, St Paul's, Downe House, Winchester, Brighton College, Sevenoaks, Tonbridge, City of London, Hampton, Concord College, North London Collegiate, The Perse, St Edward's, Charterhouse, Marlborough and Cheltenham Ladies' College. I regularly use WeChat and WhatsApp to communicate with parents that are overseas so I can be easily contacted. I have extensive experience teaching children from all over the world who do not have English as a first language. I have taught children in China, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, The USA, The UK, Malaysia, India, Indonesia, Dubai, The Seychelles and The Maldives.

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Personal Description:
I am a Qualified Engineer (D.Phil, Oxon, MSc, BSc Imperial College), Qualified University Educator (PG Dip) and Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA) with over 20 years' experience teaching university engineering, including 13 years as an Oxbridge lecturer, 7 years as a Senior Lecturer at an elite Russel Group university and a year as a Professor at a highly-ranked US university. I also have over 10 years' experience in aerospace and defence research with Rolls-Royce PLC, Qinetiq, Volvo Aeropsace in Sweden, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in Japan.

My work has given me the privilege of working with many hundreds of student-engineers across all branches of engineering. I know how difficult and challenging university engineering can be. My approach is warm, open and professional.

Teaching Experience:
In my 20 years of professional and private practice I have taught all branches of university engineering and engineering science including Aerospace, Mechanical, Civil, Electrical and Electronic, Chemical, Bioengineering, Materials, Design, Motorsport, etc. and even related subjects such as Physics, Architecture etc. Whilst most of my work is with undergraduates I regularly teach Masters/MSc students and doctoral/PhD students, as well as professional engineers.

I hold a PhD in Engineering Science from Oxford University (where they call it a D.Phil), an MSc in Mechanical Engineering and a BSc in Physics, both from Imperial College London, as well as a PGdip in University Learning and Teaching.

I also have over a decade of experience in experimental aerospace and defence research, as part of which I conducted ground-shaking jet engine tests at military and civilian test sites in the UK and Europe, working with companies including Rolls-Royce aero engines, Qinetiq, Volvo Aeropspace, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in Japan.

As well as having designed numerous large-scale experiments, my practical hobbies include classic car restoration and designing and building the places where I live. This hands on engineering experience means that I don't just teach the theory, I teach the reality and how the theoretical concepts you are learning in class relate to the real world around you. This is the beauty of Engineering.

Outside engineering, I enjoy freeride skiing, ice and inline hockey, and downhill mountain biking. I travel extensively with sport and have played hockey in almost every country in continental Europe and skied in virtually every country in the alps.

I am comfortable teaching in French as well as English.

Tutoring Approach:
Engineering is one of the hardest subjects you can study, and it doesn't help when module content is disorganised, learning materials are messy and hard to follow, and when lecturers are too busy to respond to your questions. If you are not getting the support you need, I know how this feels and I can help.

My overall aim is to teach you to become an independent learner, to teach you how to learn, so that you can learn regardless of the support from your university, and so you can continue learning when you leave university into whatever career path you take.

If you have a set budget for lessons then we won't go over this, even if we overrun the hour.

I offer an initial meeting free of charge to discuss your learning requirements, so you can show me what you need help with, what your learning aims and objectives are, and to plan our sessions together.

I am flexible in terms of scheduling, I'm happy to reschedule with sensible notice etc.

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Personal Description:
Recently retired. Able to work away from home and willing to travel but charge £1 per mile to cover car expenses and time travelling. You can come to me. Married with son and grandchildren.

Teaching Experience:
35 years' teaching in junior and secondary schools. Head of English, Schools' Inspector and consultant. Dip. Sp.L.D. qualification. Recently, eight years' tutoring.

Tutoring Approach:
One-to-one, perhaps in your house. friendly, individual, personalised service, according to need and based on assessment and pupil or parent wishes. Normally one hour per week. Preferably for a year, at least, to achieve best results.

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Personal Description:
I am a qualified teacher having been awarded a PGCE from the University of Cambridge. I also have a First Class Bachelors degree. I previously taught at Queen's College Preparatory School, London and now teach online for Eton College. I am a member of the professional body for tutors.

I have four young children of my own and enjoy working with children and helping them to become interested in and succeed in school work. All of my children attend UK independent schools and I have extensive experience in this sector.

I have helped students prepare for and succeed in gaining entry to top UK selective schools at 4+, 7+, 11+ and 13+. I have also successfully helped students obtain full academic scholarships to several independent schools as well as helping those secure a place who find exams difficult. All lessons are online via Zoom.

Teaching Experience:
Qualified from the University of Cambridge with a PGCE. I taught for two years at Queen's College Preparatory School, London before starting private tuition. I have been tutoring for 15 years in English, Maths, Science, Reasoning and Interview Skills. Further private tutoring for 4+, 7+, 11+ and 13+ School Entrance Exams, Scholarship Exams, Common Entrance Exams and the ISEB pre-test. I also provide guidance on school selection and have written a guide to the top independent schools in the UK and their admissions processes. It is never too early to start preparation for competitive school entrance exams and many students prepare for several years.

Tutoring Approach:
Tailor made approach for each individual suited to help students get the best grade possible in exams. Homework is given after each lesson and feedback is provided to parents. My students have several online learning tools that they can use. One is very similar to the ISEB pre-test and another is an online reading platform where thousands of books can be read along with comprehension, spelling and vocabulary questions.

I teach online using Zoom and have helped UK and international students prepare for entrance exams to selective schools such as Eton, Harrow, Radley, Wycombe Abbey, Westminster, King's College School, Magdalen, Guildford High School, St Paul's, Downe House, Winchester, Brighton College, Sevenoaks, Tonbridge, City of London, Hampton, Concord College, North London Collegiate, The Perse, St Edward's, Charterhouse, Marlborough and Cheltenham Ladies' College. I regularly use WeChat and WhatsApp to communicate with parents that are overseas so I can be easily contacted. I have extensive experience teaching children from all over the world who do not have English as a first language. I have taught children in China, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, The USA, The UK, Malaysia, India, Indonesia, Dubai, The Seychelles and The Maldives.

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Personal Description:
Hello. I am a fully qualified teacher with experience across the whole of the primary curriculum, including special needs and teaching for SATS tests . I continually update my teaching, mainly through the National Education Union online training sessions. I have had great results tutoring children extensively on a 1-2-1 basis for SATS and the 11+ entrance exam, plus have experience teaching adult literacy and English as a Foreign Language. I aim to motivate both children and adults who find reading and writing challenging, building both confidence and skills. Practical strategies and numeracy games are used to assist children to gain improved competence in mathematics. Assessment is used to inform my teaching in order to make efficient use of the tutoring time.
I enjoy running, Pilates, reading and volunteer for charity, including as a volunteer youth-worker with children and young people.

Teaching Experience:
Currently. I teach English to and host visiting international teenage students. Recently I volunteered as a tutor for the Catch Up Programme, Year 5 and 6 Literacy SATs, online with the charity Action Tutoring.
I am experienced in administering and marking voluntary SATs papers.
I have over twenty years of experience teaching in UK primary schools as a full time classroom teacher and as a supply teacher.
I was a special needs teacher in a public school for one year with individuals and small groups.
I have volunteered as an adult literacy tutor and taught Pilates to adults.

Tutoring Approach:
I have a patient, understanding approach to tutoring. Tasks are broken into small, achievable steps. Praise and encouragement are used to build self esteem and motivate learners. Your child will be encouraged to enjoy learning and to gain independent learning strategies.

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Personal Description:
Experienced and well qualified tutor in secondary, adult and university Maths and Physics.
With a positive attitude and engaging personality I get on well with my students.
I have also tutored students with dyslexia and autism related conditions and aware of modern educational SEN practices in this regards.

Teaching Experience:
Tutor with over 15 years adult college training and tutor experience.
Can tutor from Nationals 4/5 through to Advanced Higher, as well as GCSE/iGCSE, A-Level, IB.
Also tutor mature students and graduate level University and Colleges NC courses.
Cambridge Entrance exams STEP (paper-1 and paper-2 only).
Registered STEM Ambassador (East of Scotland).

Tutoring Approach:
I believe in putting the students interest first and ensuring that they work at
a pace with which they are comfortable.

Regular reports on progress are available to guardians.

Available daytime, evenings and weekend (presently ONLINE only)
I offer tutor online lessons via Skype/ whiteboard app- very easy at no extra cost to students.

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Personal Description:
The University of Nottingham: BA Joint Honours Spanish and Portuguese
Canterbury Christ Church University: PGCE Spanish and French
TEFL Barcelona: TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign language certificate)

I have completed my PGCE with Canterbury Christ Church University where I have had the opportunity to teach in both the Primary and Secondary School Setting. I have over 10 years experience in teaching and working with young people in a variety of settings.

I am also a qualified TEFL teacher and I have experience teaching all ages.

Teaching Experience:
Canterbury Christ Church University: PGCE Spanish and French

-Year 6 Primary School teacher
-Experience Teaching across Key Stage 2
-Key Stage 1-5 Spanish and French Teacher

TEFL Barcelona: TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign language certificate)

St Joseph's R C Primary School
KS2 teacher September 2012-July 2014

St Leonard's C E Primary School
KS2 teacher September 2014 - July 2016

Vinehall Preparatory school
Year 3 teacher September 2016- July 2018

Private tutor 2011- present day

Tutoring Approach:
-One-to-One lessons
-Group Lessons
-lessons to cater for diverse needs and abilities
-Home tutoring and lessons from my home
-Online tuition available

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Personal Description:
I am a well humoured, and easy going teacher with a keen interest in Design, Technology, Engineering and SEN, who likes to keep up to date with the latest trends in many aspects of design from Jewellery to Furniture. I have a bachelors degree in Silversmithing and Metalwork and am currently working towards a masters degree in Education.

I'm also a lived experience neurodiversity advocate.

Teaching Experience:
I have just completed my 12 full time year in teaching mainstream secondary school Design, Technology and Engineering. I've worked with pupils from KS2-KS5 in my subject specialism in a range of different schools including a specialist SEMH provision, and sixth form college but predominantly mainstream secondary schools.

I worked as an Assistant SENCo for four years and have experience of delivery specialist interventions, including toe-by-toe, IDL and IEP's as well as acting as a keyworker to support pupils with emotional and behaviour support, when they are finding it hard to communicate their needs with others.

Tutoring Approach:
I am a pupil focused tutor who believes that a variety of short, varied activities keeps students focused, productive and able to learn more effectively. My experience with SEN students has made me patient and believe that the key to successful tutoring is being well resourced. I undertake a limited amount of tutees in order to ensure increased availability for my tutees and to ensure that I am focused on the individuals I tutor and their needs. Above all I believe the students need constant positive reinforcement to increase motivation, self belief and therefore success.

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Personal Description:
I am a masters degree holder with experience in tutoring up to graduate level in mathematics .

I have real flair for teaching mathematics and I get a great satisfaction from making my students learn the logic and develop an approach to solving problems.

I am also very interested in students from physics looking to learn modern mathematical techniques and actuarial students as well.

Teaching Experience:
I have 7 years of experience in teaching. Have taught several hundred graduate students to prepare for high-school and university level Maths and Statistics


Great detailed knowledge in all branches of mathematics up to graduate level.

Tutoring Approach:
Individual approach

Understand my students approach to analysis and problem solving. Challenge and channel their thought process to reach the result so that they always be successful in getting the problems solved.

Also upon request can intensely focus on achieving great exam results in short span of time.

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Personal Description:
I am a Cambridge University educated, fully-qualified teacher. I am available to tutor in English, French, Spanish, Italian and EFL. I tutor all levels from KS2 upwards and I am also an experienced 11 plus and Entrance Exams tutor. I also tutor at KS3, KS4 and KS5 and for all the main exam boards at G.C.S.E, I.G.C.S.E and A'Level. In addition, I currently deliver online tuition to students, many of whom I prepare for the academically selective school admission process. I also deliver EAL and exam tuition to Chinese students who are preparing for Entrance Examinations and support those already at independent schools in the UK.

Teaching Experience:
I have many years of teaching experience, having started out as an EFL teacher before gaining my P.G.C.E. After graduating, I also spent time tutoring in London and often received requests to travel with international clients to continue tuition. I hold UK Qualified Teacher Status [QTS] and have taught Modern Foreign Languages at Secondary School. In addition, I have taught Adult Education Language Courses for East Riding Council.
I also run regular group courses in French, Spanish and Italian for Adult Learners. In addition, I run small Literacy support groups to help students improve their reading, grammar, spelling and punctuation. I also tutor student teachers for the QTS Literacy Skills Test and have achieved passes for students who had failed the test on previous attempts.I also continue to teach English as a Foreign Language and have taught students from all over the world from Russia to Japan and India. For example, I have successfully prepared UK and Chinese students for interviews and examinations at the following schools: Cheltenham Ladies' College; Badminton School; Queen Anne's School; Roedean School; Bruton School; Bromsgrove School; The King's School Canterbury; Woldingham; Godolphin; Queen Ethelburga's; Ashdown House Prep; Queen Elizabeth's, Barnet; Dame Alice Owen's; Sevenoaks; Latymer.

Tutoring Approach:
As a tutor my approach is patient and flexible. The learner is at the heart of what I do and my aim is for all students to make rapid progress but also to enjoy their learning. As a result I enjoy planning varied and engaging lessons which are tailor-made for my students. I strongly believe that one-to-one and small group tuition can deliver real results for all types of learners due to the focus on individual learning needs and styles.

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Personal Description:
I am a qualified teaching assisstant have experience working in schools like Wybourne primary
And montbelle primary school.
I have up to date DBS

Teaching Experience:
I have a 5years experience working with children from all age groups
In primary schools .

Tutoring Approach:
I normally teach children in my house .I work with children starting from age group
5 onwards and teach them to pass the enterence exams.
I normally access the level the child needs to work and make individual action
Plan for each child .

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Personal Description:
I am a qualified teacher, examiner, and assessment researcher. I have taught in state and independent schools for thirteen years and have offered tutoring for slightly longer. I have helped students secure entrance to many leading independent schools in the UK and abroad, and I also specialise in Oxbridge entrance processes as a former Oxbridge graduate myself.

My tutoring centres around science and business as I am qualified to teach these subjects, but I also develop students' wider study habits and introduce them to the most effective and evidence-based methods of studying. This can benefit all their studies in all of their subjects. I enjoy being able to identify the challenges students have with their studies and then working with them to help solve these problems. Many students lack confidence due to gaps in their teaching or lack of support. Every student is a unique individual with different needs, so I usually like to meet initially to review an exam paper and discuss strengths and areas for improvement.
From there, we build an individual learning plan with short achievable targets to gradually build a measurable path of success and improve confidence through the study sessions.

Teaching Experience:
Enhanced DBS certified
15 years teaching Science and Business Studies in state and independent schools
15 years delivering one-to-one private tuition across all ability levels
12 years as a senior examiner for AQA and Edexcel (current insider knowledge of marking schemes)
Qualified teacher status with continuous professional development
Former Oxbridge graduate with specialist knowledge of entrance processes

Tutoring Approach:
Personalised learning for all students. I like to find out what the student feels is a barrier to their progress and use previous assessment data to develop their ability and confidence. I always find that pupils who begin to improve their knowledge with me inevitably increase their enjoyment of the subject substantially. Furthermore, individual feedback can help address and improve weaker areas in other subjects by improving literacy and numeracy skills.

Please note, that there are unqualified or retired teachers who are not updated with the various changes in demands and marking criteria for the GCSE exams. As an in-practice teacher, I attend various CPD and examiner training events for the most up-to-date examinations and skills required.

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Personal Description:
I am a fully qualified teacher with 30+ years of teaching experience, having graduated from the University of Reading with a B.Ed (Hons) in 1992.

Teaching Experience:
For the last 30+ years I have taught in a range of Norfolk schools and also an American school here in the U.K. I have been a Key Stage 2 leader and have worked as a maths advisor, in addition to some private tuition work.

Tutoring Approach:
I have a flexible tutoring approach as I tailor make the sessions for each individual. Students have a wide range of abilities and needs, so each session will meet the requirements of YOUR child. I can help students gain confidence in their mathematical ability, prepare them for SATs, entrance exams and GCSEs as well as functional skills qualifications and the QTS numeracy test. I am equally happy to work with home educated children.

I offer both face-to-face tuition and online tuition.

For those wanting group tuition, or for a less expensive alternative, I also run groups (maximum size 3 students) for:-

* KS2 SATS
* 11+ and entrance exams
* Foundation GCSE (Y10)
* Foundation GCSE (Y11)

Please contact me for more details.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am a native Chinese speaking fluent standard Chinese Mandarin and English, and have taught Chinese Mandarin for over 18 years in Birmingham, and currently work part time for a local mainstream school in UK.

I am also an experienced English and Maths tutor and a certified 11+ teacher and have a very good success rate with all of my pupils for passing 11+ tests, successfully grabbed places in local grammar schools and private schools, and achieving higher GCSE grades.

Teaching Experience:
I have taught Chinese Mandarin for over 20 years to students from different countries with diverse linguistic backgrounds in UK. I have experience in teaching Chinese at various levels including GCSE, A level and HSK. I currently work part time for a local mainstream school in UK.

I am also an experienced English and Maths tutor and a certified 11+ teacher and have a very good success rate with all of my pupils for passing 11+ tests, successfully grabbed places in local grammar schools and private schools, and achieving higher GCSE grades.

Tutoring Approach:
I am a patient, passionate and dedicated female teacher and have a track record of helping students achieve top grades and dramatically improve their attainment. My lessons are tailored to meet each student's need, interesting and motivating.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am an enthusiastic and responsible tutor with several years' experience in privately teaching English/creative writing/maths/reasoning for the 11+ entrance examinations. I am a conscientious, methodical teacher with a desire to help mentor and tutor children through the early academic years of their education. With confident personal, inter-personal and pupil-focused skills at all levels, I am keen to ensure my tutees receive the highest standard of teaching across every area of their curriculum. The 11+ student base is an area in which I am looking to further my experience and impart my knowledge.

Teaching Experience:
- Over thirteen years' experience in private tutoring, including 11+ Entrance exams and KS2/3
- Working as a teacher with The Southover Partnership school across various age groups: 7 to 17 for over 8 years.
- Subject range includes: maths, English, creative writing and verbal reasoning

Tutoring Approach:
- Tailored 1:1 teaching to promote the best results from each individual
- To cover and consolidate each topic thoroughly through a balance of teaching, examination and homework
- To teach with a reassuring and supportive approach

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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.'

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A-level results, August 2024:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

*

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 knew early on, that I wanted to teach.

I have committed the last twenty years of my life to education working as a private teacher in a variety of schools and colleges - teaching an eclectic range of pupils; from special needs students to scholars to adults. I am particularly committed to building confidence and skills in pupils whom may not feel they fit the typical mould.
I am humbled and honoured to be listed as a "distinguished former pupil" of Carlos Bonell, Senior at The Royal College Of Music

Teaching Experience:
I'm current a Licensed teacher with Bexley Music Service and have taught at a variety of schools over a period of twenty years including; Eltham College, Bexley Grammar School and a variety of secondary and primary schools.

Tutoring Approach:
Lessons are relaxed, good humoured, but also highly informative with attention to detail, with each pupil's specific needs catered for.

Subjects