MA Oxon
NPQH
Gloucestershire CRB
ATL, Oxford Alumni, GTC
References are available upon request

Subjects

Interview

Which subject(s) do you teach?
I teach English, English Literature and related subjects and Philosophy & Ethics. I can give coaching on other Arts and Humanities subjects up to A Level or IB if the tutee provides the resources. For example: Film Studies, Classical Civilisation, Art History, History, Critical Thinking, General Studies.

Tell me about your qualifications.
MA (Oxford University)
Qualified Teacher Status
National Professional Qualification for Headship 2005-6

What kind of experience do you have?
Teaching in State and Independent Schools in the UK: English, English Literature, Philosophy & Ethics and Classical Civilisation and an International School in Uruguay teaching International Baccalaureate English, History and Art. Tuition to all levels including Oxbridge and Adult learners. I have also taught lower school Drama, General Studies A Level and Theory of Knowledge. I have assisted with the planning, redrafting and proof-reading of theses for further degrees.
I have given a great deal of in-service training to teachers on Teaching and Learning. I am a current examiner: OCR A/AS English Literature, WJEC GCSE English and International Baccalaureate Higher Level Extended Essays, World Literature. In the past I have also examined Key Stage 3 and Year 7 Progress.

How much do you charge?
£30 up to 12+, £30 for Common Entrance, £35 GCSE, £35-45 Post GCSE, depending upon how much preparation I have to do. Fees for adults negotiable according to needs: from £35.00. Taster sessions of 40 minutes can be arranged. I have a very large library so generally would not need reimbursement for texts, as I am likely to have a copy of whatever we are studying.

Where do you teach?
In my home in Stroud. Please get in touch via this website and I will give you directions by phone.

I have also visited pupils' houses nearby, if there is a very good reason, for example, illness.

When are you available?
I make a timetable with other tutees. I am available every day, including school holidays. I organise my own holidays to fit in with pupils.

Which ages and levels do you teach?
10+ to adult and beginners' English for second language learners to Oxbridge. I have experience with dyslexic students and a lot of experience with underachievers and Gifted and Talented. I mainly get GCSE and A Level English and Literature but have coached other subjects of tutees who feel more confident using me to help them organise and do homework than find a subject related tutor. For example, I have successfully tutored Philosophy and Ethics, Geography, Psychology and Classical Civilisation to A Level using mainly the tutees' resources. I do coaching and confidence boosting for Common Entrance and for Grammar School entrance both at 11+ and older.

Which qualifications do you prepare your students for?
11+, Common Entrance, GCSE English Language and English Literature, iGCSE, AS/A2 English Literature and Philosophy& Ethics, Oxbridge entrance in English, IELTS

Do you have an up-to-date CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) disclosure certificate?
Yes

Describe your arrangements for online tutoring.
I prefer email and telephone along with google documents for storage at the moment, but can use msn or skype with a webcam, however, some people encounter problems with skype slowing down their computers.

Do you belong to any professional organisations?
National College of School Leadership.
Association of Teachers and Lecturers
Oxford Alumni
General Teaching Council

Where and with whom did you train?
Oxford University degree
I received Qualified Teacher Status in 1987 and my teaching certificate acknowledges that I can teach all age groups (available for inspection)

Tell me about some of your current students.
At present I teach from aged 12 to adults, including university students needing help in organising their theses. I have both very bright students aiming for A and above and a few resit candidates with low GCSE English and Literature predictions. Last summer a boy achieved B B after being predicted E E. He achieved his ambition of getting an engineering apprenticeship with a prestigious company. Another tutee got an A and a B, well above expectations. A third achieved the 2 Cs he needed for entry into a prestigious Sixth Form when one of his predictions was G! All credit to his hard work! I also have 4 bright 11+ candidates with very differing needs who benefit from the focus that one to one tuition provides. I previously taught a pupil who had a serious medical condition and was off school for a year. She achieved A* at A2. Another success story was a very talented sportsman who had less time for study because of his sporting commitments and his dyslexia meant that he couldn't easily catch up on his own, so his confidence was being destroyed. He now has a good job in the States.
My current A2 candidates are enthusiastic and intelligent. They needed to develop confidence in their own ability and work on how to find their own critical voice and answer questions at speed.
One of my most interesting Tutees is a Year 9 pupil who is doing Philosophy for fun! I am also teaching English for Business and Engineering.

Do you have a personal message for students?
Being an experienced examiner myself, I know what your examiner will want and can help you to achieve that. I can boost your confidence by analysing your strengths and developing your weaker areas. We can work together on homework. If you are prepared to try, I will work hard to ensure that you achieve your best. We start from where you are and I'll teach you how to learn faster and retain more by tapping into your enthusiasms.
For younger tutees, I can make Verbal Reasoning fun by inventing sillier questions that practise the same skills. I can also help you to write very well indeed.

Articles

11+ Practice Paper 13 from Arden English
Subject: 11+ exam
Tags: 11+verbal, free paper, verbal reasoning
Created: 15/10/2011

A* Commentary on Betjeman
Subject: GCSE English
Tags: gcse english, recommendations (study materials)
Created: 12/08/2010

What are the Origins of Tragedy?
Subject: A-level English
Tags: a-level english, advice (advanced)
Created: 13/11/2009