Helen

I am a fully qualified, highly successful Drama teacher with over 19 years’ experience in education and previously trained as a professional actor, graduating from LAMDA (London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art). I worked in television and theatre before teaching Drama and Literacy to Year 5 and 6, and then re-trained as a Teacher of Secondary Drama, gaining a Distinction in my Masters level PGCE. I am professional, friendly and dedicated to guiding and supporting individuals to achieve and reach their personal goals. I have consistently delivered outstanding lessons to KS2, KS3, GCSE, A-level and IB students, having worked in; Secondary Schools teaching across the 11-18 age range, a Sixth Form College, an International Independent School, a Grammar School, a UK Independent School and many Primary Schools. My students have achieved 100% Distinctions and Merits in their LAMDA exams. I have directed many full scale theatre productions and have tutored individuals on monologue technique, characterisation, LAMDA exam preparation, application to drama schools, essay writing and coursework.

Tutoring Experience

I have taught Drama full-time for over 11 years and have been consistently graded as outstanding and complimented on my support of students and ability to develop their confidence whilst enabling students to strive for excellence. I am a registered LAMDA teacher and currently coach students and prepare them for LAMDA exams (students are ages 6-19) in Acting, Verse and Prose and Speaking in Public and I also teach Speech and Drama lessons and festival preparation, as well as teaching Acting Classes focusing on script work, devising, characterisation and acting for camera. I work for various companies including Stagecoach and Spotlight Drama, as well as running my own tutoring business, Helen Sherwood Drama Tuition. I am also a visiting examiner for A-level Drama and Theatre Studies. I have tutored individuals for the past 7 years, leading to students gaining places at drama schools (including CSSD, The Royal Scottish Conservatoire, Guildford School of Acting, Italia Conti and ALRA) and universities to further their study of Drama and Theatre. I have taught various exam board specifications and several courses including KS3 Drama, Drama GCSE and IGCSE, Drama and Theatre Studies A-level, BTEC Performing Arts and IB Literature and Performance. I have successfully taught: practical performance work and technique, exam revision and note taking, essay writing, coursework and actor’s logs, evaluation of live theatre, audition technique and play text analysis, poetry and literature analysis, speech and drama sessions, LAMDA performance exam preparation and LCM performance exam preparation.

Tutoring Approach

I will begin by establishing a rapport, assessing individual ability, needs and goals, giving students a choice of material in order for them to take ownership of their work, identifying learning preferences and ensuring a safe, supportive environment is created to encourage confidence. I will give regular feedback, using several pedagogical strategies and continually adapt to ensure progress is made. My approach will provide challenge and encouragement as I aim for tutees to enjoy and value the learning experience, whilst gaining a greater knowledge and understanding of the material. I aim to inspire creativity, ambition, excellence and success through a positive attitude and work ethic.