Students sitting the English component of 11+, 13+ entrance exams and equivalent often need a little help and encouragement. I support students at both level Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 3 for independent, grammar, fee-paying secondary and boarding schools. I help to prepare students on a one-to-one basis for these increasingly competitive places by giving them strategies to strengthen their skills for comprehension exercises, writing tasks and creative writing exercises.  As well as strengthening these aspects, I stimulate the student’s independent and creative thinking, which helps to boost their self-belief and self-awareness. Working routinely using a combination of advance emailing and Skype, I come to my online lessons well informed of my student’s strengths and weaknesses. Reading and marking their work beforehand allows me to fine-tune lesson planning. This means I can tackle problem areas quickly and chart progress effectively. I have a 99% success rate using these methods, with many of my students being offered multiple school places as well as (sometimes multiple) full and part time scholarships. Schools where my students have been offered places have included: Bancroft’s School, Chigwell School, Forest School, City of London Boys and Girls Schools, Haberdashers’ Aske’s Boys and Girls School,  Colfe’s School, Reigate Grammar School, Caterham School, Blackheath High School, Henrietta Barnett School, Francis Holland School, Tonbridge School, St Olave’s Grammar School, Ilford Grammar School, Christ’s Hospital and New Hall School.

Students studying for their GCSE’s and IGCSE’s have all benefited from my additional support and mentoring. After tutoring for a short while (sometimes a matter of weeks), I have helped students improve levels and attain higher grades. I have had many students achieve an A*, A or B when they were predicted to receive much lower grades. Students often feel more confident at tackling what they expected to be daunting English Language and English Literature examination papers after working with me. I help to prepare for exams during regular online sessions by using a selection of exam papers in order to pinpoint areas of weakness and by developing the students skills at understanding and preparing for exam questions. This includes helping students to prepare succinct and clear essay plans, making sure they stick to exam questions and structure essays clearly and methodically and by providing advice on other exam techniques such as working in timed conditions. I can also support students with effective revision plans. I give thorough feedback on all approaches and progress, aiming to improve confidence. That helps provide the skills needed for both tackling tests, exams and controlled assessments as well classroom discussion.

My approach with primary school (from Year 5 onwards) and early secondary school students is friendly, patient, flexible and committed. I have a good track record of improving exam and level results, helping students who have fallen behind in their English studies, as well as those who simply need a confidence boost. I encourage children to rethink their strategies for comprehension, expand their writing techniques, expand their vocabulary and improve their reading. This leads to them generally feeling more comfortable taking part in a wide range of literacy activities and increase their enjoyment of studying English. My regular one-to-one online sessions, using Skype and tasks provide help and direction in all aspects of writing and reading, particularly in the key areas: grammar, planning, essay structuring, editing and spelling.

Students studying A-level literature and the International Baccalaureate Diploma (both Language A: language and literature and Language B: literature) have requested my support in order to help with essay writing techniques, including planning and structuring. They may require  help to approach the texts on their courses in an analytical and critical way. My A-level students may seek help with textual and literary analysis poetry, modern texts and other set texts. International Baccalaureate students may, for example, need support in considering the importance of genre, periods and place, as well as help developing their explorative ideas about the texts they have to study in translation or the literary analysis of unseen texts.

Studying at home during Key Stage 3 and for GCSE, IGCSE and A-level exams can be a more informal way to work. Students who work in their own environments are free to create study schedules that suit their lives and needs. They often use my lessons to ensure their methods of study are focused and efficient. As well as supporting students with the nuts and bolts of their English Language and English Literature courses, I can assist in the structure of timetables, revision plans and give sound advice on exam technique. I am familiar with an extensive selection of exam boards and their syllabuses, and the relevant texts and course books. I can recommend other resources for unsupervised reading. The students I have helped range from motivated self-starters to those who feel apprehensive about managing their own studies. All my GCSE and IGCSE students have attained A*, A or B’s in their English Language and English Literature exams and have gone on to Sixth Form Colleges with grades higher than necessary for their entry requirements. I initially meet with home-learners, either via Skype or for a one-off home visit (if they are in the East or Central London area), and would immediately get to work on a plan of study that incorporates key areas for development (such as specific kinds of writing or the study of particular texts) and would aim to also include aspects of study that particularly interest and motivate the students. Then we meet routinely online and students would email homework tasks in advance of lessons and I ensure that consequent lesson plans are carefully tailored.