Penny

I am an enthusiastic English teacher, specialising in KS3 and GCSE Language and Literature. I have been tutoring English as a school subject (to ages 7-16) for several years now and also have experience in teaching English as a foreign language.

I have a holistic teaching approach that changes with the individual; alongside a clear strategy to help them to grasp the mark scheme and understand how they can succeed. I feel confident now that I can boost a student's grades in only a few weeks.

Previously in my education, I completed a BA (Hons) in English Language and Literature along with a Cambridge Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults (CELTA).

I believe that it is important to really enjoy what you are learning about any subject. I hope I can help you in your experience with English!

Tutoring Experience

I completed a CELTA course in 2013 at York St John's University in order to train in teaching English as a foreign language; this was an amazing experience that truly prepared me for lesson planning and assisting students in their learning and development.

After the course, I set up a non-profit language class in York city centre to assist speakers of other languages in their development of English. This was targeted at working adults on a low income. The course ran for several months and was a hugely beneficial experience for both the students and teachers involved!

Five years of ESL work has also been an excellent demonstration of how to successfully teach online. Working with children on the other side of the world is both rewarding and challenging. I have used several different platforms and for my private tuition students, I find Zoom to be the most effective.

I have now tutored many students through their GCSE exams and KS3 years and really enjoy seeing the progress made when students can benefit from tailor-made tutoring.

My speciality is the AQA Exam board and I have experience in teaching the following texts:
Shakespeare:
- Romeo and Juliet
- Macbeth
The 19th Century Novel:
- The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde
- A Christmas Carol
- Frankenstein
- Great Expectations
- The Sign of Four
20th Century Texts:
- An Inspector Calls
- Blood Brothers
- Lord of the Flies
(In addition to the clusters of poems).
If your text is not included in this list don't worry! (I am a keen reader...!) I'm happy to add new texts to my collection and build new resources designed just for you.

Tutoring Approach

I believe every student is different so I aim to fit the lessons around your individual goals and personality. I value preparation before each lesson (especially on my part) because the whole experience can be so much more rewarding that way.

So many school-age students have the ability to succeed in English but lack the confidence to approach the subject. I feel that my approach is supportive and reassuring, but at the same time clearly shows each student how to attain the grades they need.

Varying learning techniques is important in each study session to really make the most of the lesson time and make it as enjoyable and memorable as possible.
I offer homework each week (usually practice exam questions for GCSE), often using the first five minutes of a session to grade the homework together with the official mark scheme. I have seen how this helps my students to fully understand how to achieve their desired marks and feel confident in their ability.

I like to use the Interactive Whiteboard as much as possible when tutoring online, in addition to PowerPoints, Padlet, Miro, online videos and other resources which can make the digital learning experience much more engaging. You will receive a full hour of tuition each lesson and I aim to make this as practical and useful as possible in your revision! If 45 minute sessions would be more suitable, this is also available at a reduced rate.

Prices displayed are for online sessions - for in-person please enquire about travel fees.