First I will ascertain the areas/topics/skills that a pupil is finding difficult/problematic, then build their confidence with a ācan-doā approach to problem solving.Ā Working from what a student does understand establishes a firm base and then we move forwards to those areas where their understanding is less secure. I am non-judgmental and encouraging in approach, understanding that what is obvious to some may not always be so to others. I will praise achievement and seek to eradicate negative thinking or apathy where it occurs. Above all, I offer a passionate love of my subject and this helps me to share some of that enthusiasm with the student, who may at first be feeling less well-disposed towards English. A good tutor should help his/her pupils to achieve their potential and dreams ā that is the prize we keep in mind at each session, even if the work is challenging at times for the student (and perhaps for me!).
Teaching English since 1991 from Year 7 āGCSE - A-Level.
Experience in several top flight private schools including Repton and Mill Hill - I have been the Head of Department at the latter school for 15 years.
Tutoring individual pupils occasionally over a 20 year period
Former A-Level examiner in English Literature for OCR and EdExcel
Familiarity with the English specifications of all of the major examination boards (AQA, EdExcel and OCR) at A-Level and GCSE
Teaching on several āEaster Revisionā courses over twenty years
Freelance journalism: I have had articles published by the Daily Telegraphā, āSunday Timesā as well as in the local press. I contribute occasionally to āThe Readerā (published by the English Department, University of Liverpool)
B.A. Honours in English Literature, University of Exeter
A-Levels in English Literature (A), History (A) and Economics and Politics (B)
S-Levels in English Literature and History (awarded merits)
āThank you so much for your wonderful teaching this year.Ā Your enthusiasm has been truly inspiring and Iām going to really miss your lessons.āĀ
āI know I have been extremely lucky to learn from a teacher as skilled and as passionate about their subject as yourself.ā
āYou did everything you could to show me the way and I achieved an A grade in my A-Level (English Literature student, Hampstead Easter School)
In amateur theatre Iāve always enjoyed playing minor roles in farce ā Ian Ogilvy (who played Simon Templar in TVās 1980s series āThe Return of the Saintā) judged my performance as Polly in Derek Benfieldās āOff the Hookā as āone of the finest cockney performances I have ever seenā!Ā More recently I āstarredā in my schoolās staff production of āAladdinā!