Paul

online only GCSE English Language and Literature specialist, regional Director of English, senior examiner, 17+ years experience, expert at coaching grade 4/5 passes or top grade 9s, especially with Eduqas & AQA boards.

I tutor via Google meet, primarily. I have a custom-built computer setup with 2 monitors, a professional grade microphone and webcam, spending well into 4 figures to ensure the quality of production. Resources are displayed on screen but also supplied via email along with notes/answers after the session.

I've been teaching for the past 17 years; I am currently a Director of English and senior GCSE examiner.

In recent years my major successes have been:

• working as a Director across several schools to improve English GCSE results (all schools improved significantly, with one adding over 30% within a single year in 2018)
• taking one Doncaster secondary school's GCSE English results from bottom in the area to the top 6 (45% pass rate to 73% pass rate)
• taking another secondary school's A/A* percentage from 12% to 25% (including getting 30 out of 31 pupils an A/A* in my own high ability class)
• taking a third secondary school's C+ figure from 55% to 83%.
• many success stories when privately tutoring (a number of which are detailed below), often around the C/D and grade 4/5 borderline, but also with high-achieving pupils aiming for grades 8 and 9 with ambitions of prestigious university places
• guiding high ability students to grade 9 every year (see comments at the bottom from the parents of students who have achieved this with me)

I am very comfortable with the requirements of all new exam specifications, including WJEC/Eduqas, AQA, Edexcel and OCR. In addition, I still regularly tutor pupils attending private schools who follow iGCSE/IB specifications. I have also been an examiner for one of the major UK exam boards, looking at both English Language and English Literature, for the past 15 years.

For English Literature, I have expert knowledge of: A Christmas Carol, An Inspector Calls, Blood Brothers, the Eduqas anthology, the AQA anthology, Romeo & Juliet and Macbeth, which are the most common GCSE texts - I have written teacher and student guides on the above which are distributed to thousands of students. I also am very familiar with Jekyll & Hyde, War of the Worlds, Animal Farm, A View from the Bridge and Of Mice and Men, which are less common but still taught in some schools.

I have students achieving grade 9s in Language and Literature every year. I've tutored pupils who have gone onto Oxbridge and have had several score full marks in different sections of various exam boards. If your child is looking to achieve the very highest marks possible, I can help. Please see the reviews below for recommendation from parents of students getting the highest marks.

Additionally, I have pupils who require help to move from a grade 3 to a strong grade 4 or 5 pass in order to access sixth form, college or an apprenticeship. I understand how vitally important this is and customise the sessions to suit - please see my reviews below for glowing testimony.

Many students have commented that I teach English not like a typical English teacher, but with a structure more like maths or science. Indeed, many of my biggest successes are with students who are achieving grade 8 or 9 in maths and science and struggling to replicate it in English. If this sounds like your child then I know exactly the approach to take!

My academic qualifications are as follows:

2.1, English Language, University of Leeds (2007)
PGC in English, Leeds Trinity, 2008
A-Levels in English Language, Maths, Media, ICT (all at grade A)

As you can see via the above, and from my reviews, I can tutor your child to achieve a vital grade 4 or 5 pass or to achieve a grade 9 in both English Language and English Literature.

By special arrangement I can also do 90 minute or 2 hour sessions. Contact me for more information.

Tutoring Experience

• 17 years teaching (active)
• currently working as a Director of English across several schools
• head of department in 2 different schools
• senior examiner for a major UK exam board at GCSE level, both for English Language and Literature (9 years)
• written 7 GCSE Literature revision/teaching books for students & teachers
• tutor for 14 years
• self-published writer

Tutoring Approach

I insist on the highest of standards for myself and I try and instill that desire and belief into those I tutor. Everything I do takes account of the individual's needs established both before and during an initial session. My approach is friendly but professional - please view the comments people have left.