Nicky

I am a professional full-time tutor who has been helping students with Entrance Exams, GCSEs and A Levels since graduating from the University of St Andrews with an MA in Ancient History in the summer of 2013. I have an excellent track record with each of my students achieving their aims.

I have worked with students both on a one to one basis and in groups. This has also included online tuition via Skype and zoom alongside more traditional face to face tuition.

I assist many students from ages 6-13 with all elements of the 7 plus, 11 plus, 13 plus and CE Exams (English, Maths, Verbal and Non Verbal Reasoning). I also help students with humanities elements for scholarships and with interviews.

With secondary school students I primarily help with English Literature, History, Government and Politics and Classical Studies as well as History of Art and Ancient History at both GCSE and A Level.

I have worked with University students helping them with essays, dissertations and general polishing up of work principally related to History and English Literature.

I also assist students of all ages with interview preparation for both schools and universities including Oxbridge. I can also help with UCAS applications.

With Adult learners I am happy to help with anything related to my fields of experience.

I am located in Hampstead Garden Suburb/Golders Green and so primarily work with students in North and Central London.

I believe that my excellent communication skills and solid academic background enable me to be an effective tutor within my subject fields. I work with students at top Independent schools as well as those from Grammar and Non-Selective State schools.

I am often praised for my knowledge beyond the requirements of the various specifications which has helped to give my older students more context than they are able to receive within the classroom.

My hourly fee is based on my experience as a tutor, my formidable success rate with students and what I bring to the equation, that extra factor which can’t always be quantified.

I am very approachable, focused and passionate about my tutoring and my strong rapport with my students is attested to through the feedback viewable on this profile.

I am a firm believer in viewing things from the students perspective and so my empathetic approach has led to my students achieving grades higher than they had been predicted in virtually all cases.

I consider myself classically cultured through my various trips to both Greece and Italy where I have spent much time in Galleries and Museums as well as visiting Architectural landmarks from both the Classical and Renaissance periods. I am also an avid attendee of various Ballets and Operas.

Finally, I am CRB checked with an up to date DBS which I am happy to send you a copy of or bring along to the initial tutoring session.

Tutoring Experience

General Tutoring Experience:

Before University I worked for the Kumon Mathematics programme helping students to practice and perfect their maths.

I worked at a School of English in one of my summers whilst at University. And in my final year whilst reading for my MA, I tutored under the IRIS Project co-ordinated by the University of Oxford, where I visited Primary Schools and helped students to improve their literacy through means of learning basic Latin.

Since graduating in 2013 I have built up thousands of hours of tutoring experience both through face to face and online tuition.

7 plus, 11 plus, 13 plus and CE Entrance Exams:

I have experience of assisting students with all elements of these admissions tests (English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non Verbal Reasoning) as well as humanities for scholarships. I have successfully assisted students in gaining entrance to the following schools as of 2022:

Westminster
City of London
UCS
Highgate
Latymer
Haberdasher Aske’s
Merchant Taylor’s
Mill Hill
Aldenham
Harrow
Winchester
Haileybury
St Benedicts
Godolphin and Latimer
Bancroft
Forest
Chigwell
Brentwood
JAGs
Streatham and Clapham
Alleyns
Emanuel

Wimbledon College
Magdalen College School
Uppingham
Oakham
King Edwards

GCSE and A Level:

I have worked with students from many Independent Schools as well as both Selective and Non Selective State Schools. Each of my students has achieved top grades with none gaining lower than a B at A Level and the vast majority outperforming all predictions. This includes moving students predicted D and E grades to A* and A Grades. My students undertaking coursework have also consistently gained very high marks in this element of the course.

I have tutored my subjects for all main exam boards including WJEC and CIE at GCSE and OCR, AQA and Edexcel at A Level. I have also tutored students undertaking the International Baccalaureate.

UCAS, Interview Prep And Oxbridge Entry:

I have experience helping students work on their personalised statements as part of the UCAS process as well as successfully preparing them for University Interviews and Oxbridge Entrance Tests.

My students have gained admission to the following Universities as of 2022:

Oxford
Cambridge
St Andrews
Durham
Bristol
UCL
Kings
Edinburgh
Loughborough
Manchester
Southampton
Birmingham
Exeter
Warwick

University Students/Adult Learners:

I have assisted students at university with essay refinement and dissertation preparation in a number of fields with recent topics including Historiography of Victorian Criminality and The Legacy of the Atomic Bomb in terms of its impact on military science and women’s work rights in the Cold War Period. With Adult Learners I am happy to work through any topic area covered by my range of experience, and this can be tailored around the required intensity of academic rigour needed for the students personal interests/study.

I am experienced working with students on the Autism spectrum and with students who have dyslexia and dyspraxia.

Tutoring Approach

My approach to tutoring is adapted to suit the needs and requirements of the individual.

Many of the older students I currently work with are very adept at retaining knowledge but require help with exam technique, essay writing skills, revision etc.

I tend to set my students homework between sessions.

With younger students it is often the case of focusing in on elements of the entrance exams they are weaker with as many students score inconsistently across the four disciplines.

Ideally tutoring should form part of a well-rounded curriculum which incorporates many elements such as sports/recreational activities, museum trips, reading around the subject etc.

Tutoring sessions are varied and include learning, note taking, revision, discussion, exam technique and test questions. These are tailored to the individual student.

I often get my older students to write responses and then show them ways in which the question could be answered or interpreted differently. This allows for increased dexterity therefore building confidence both for class work and examinations.

With younger students lots of practice tests and mock questions form the main basis of enhancing their performance.

I always push my students to reach the full height of their potential and it is this continual focus on improving which leads to my students outperforming their expectations and achieving consistently high top results.

Cancellation Policy:

Since 2018 I have instituted a cancellation policy due to some sessions being cancelled at very short notice. Any cancellation less than 48 hours ahead of the time and date which had been planned will be charged at the full price. This covers loss of earnings as there is not enough time to organise tuition for another student with such little notice.