Felicity S
"My daughter's reading and writing levels improved fast and she exceeded our expectations in the exams. She really enjoyed the lessons with Felicity, who was endlessly patient and full of great tips and encouragement - a very lovely tutor!"
11+ Preparation (English, Reasoning and Verbal Reasoning)
11+
13 +
French
Senior School Entrance
Spanish
UKiset
Academic History
2023: Completed SLT Foundation Training in SEND
Durham University (Modern European Languages BA) 2:1 French and Spanish (majoring in literature)
Bradfield College, Berkshire (A Levels): French (B), English (A), Drama (A)
St George’s Ascot, Berkshire (GCSEs): English Lit (A), English Lang (A), Maths (B), Sciences (B), History (A), French (A*), Spanish (A*), Art (A), Drama (A*)
Oxford House College, Barcelona (TESOL Trinity College) TEFL diploma
Université Blaise Pascal (Clermont-II), Clermont Ferrand, France (Erasmus Scholarship)
Diploma in Acting, Drama Studio London
Diploma de Español como Lengua Extranjera (DELE) A2, Cervantes Institute
About Me
An inspiring, friendly and dedicated trilingual tutor; I’ve been a professional tutor for 15 years and I am passionate about the subjects I teach. I teach students around the world and am very experienced in both face to face and online. I also work in expanding the emotional intelligence of a student, as well as confidence-building in individuals; helping students understand what is unique to them whilst making sure they don’t go into interviews sounding like they’ve been prepped. I have written articles and books on learning French for GCSE and have followed an online diploma course, with the University of Lancaster, on teaching children with dyslexia. I have also run confidence coaching workshops for students and as a workshop facilitator, I have trained Officers at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office in communication skills.
I believe in unlocking a student’s potential, helping them access the subject and adjusting each class to their needs. Every child learns differently, so I adapt my teaching style to the individual: creativity is paramount. I believe that confidence is the key to understanding a language, and understanding a language helps the memory for learning. My classes are energetic and good fun; this is key to engaging a student and keeping them interested.
Recent tuition
I have been tutoring French, Spanish and English (11+ to university) for 15 years.
Entrance Exam Preparation
7+, 8+, 11+, 13+ Common Entrance and Scholarship (English including VR, French and Spanish) and UKiset.
University Entrance Experience
Personal statements, USA SAT preparation in French and Spanish. Oxbridge French exams with a successful track record.
School and Homeschooling Experience
I was the Programme Manager and a Volunteer Tutor for the Tutorfair Foundation. I managed a programme of volunteers at Pimlico Academy in the French, Spanish, Art and Drama departments. I worked as a weekly volunteer Teaching Assistant in the French and Spanish departments of Pimlico Academy for year 10 and 11 students. During the pandemic, I was a volunteer French tutor for Regent High School. I have homeschooled many students in French and Spanish GCSE and A Level. I have also homeschooled a year 9 boy across all his core subjects. As a trained TEFL teacher, I have taught in summer schools and the Oxford TEFL centre in Barcelona.
Exam Boards
IB, Pre-U, SAT, Edexcel GCSE and IGCSE, AQA and CIE
SEN Experience
I have worked with children with dyslexia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia, ADHD, sensory disorder, PTSD, alienation disorder and regularly speak to Educational Psychologists and school teachers for best practice.
Schools I’ve taught students from include: Alleyns School, Ampleforth, Arnold House, ASL, Benenden, Bradfield, British School of Paris, British School of Tokyo, Broomwood Hall Upper School, Bundesgymnasium Zaunergasse, Bute House, Camerone House, Canford, Channing School, Charterhouse, City of London Girls and Boys, DAA American School of Dubai, Downe House, Dragon School, Dulwich College, Durston House, Emmanuel, Eton, Fine Art School Hampstead, Forest Hill Boys, Francis Holland Regents Park and Sloane Square, Garden House, Glendower, Godolphin & Latymer, Gordonstoun, Harrodian, Harrow, Headington, Heathfield, Highgate, Hill House, Holland Park Secondary School, Hyde Park Prep School, International School of London, JAGS, Kensington Prep, King Edward’s Birmingham, Kings College Wimbledon, Leyton Park Reading, Ludgrove, Lycée International de Londres Winston Churchill, Maida Vaile School, Malborough, Malvern St James, Marylebone School, Moat School, New Hall, Newton Prep, Norland Place School, North London Collegiate, Notting Hill Prep, Old Buckenham Hall, Oundle, Pembridge Hall, Pimlico Academy, Prendergast Hilly Fields, Princeton University, Queensgate, Queen’s College London, Radley, Regents University, Richmond Park Academy, Rodean, Salusbury Primary School, Sherborne, South Hampstead High School, St Benedict’s, St Dunstan’s, St Edward’s, St Catherine’s Bramley, St Mary’s Ascot, St Nicholas Prep, St Paul’s Girls’ & Boys’, St Thomas’ Battersea and Kensington, St James’ Senior Girls School, Stowe, The Brit School, The Hall, The Hampshire School, The King Alfred School, Tonbridge, Tudor Hall, UCS, Wellington College, West London Free School, Westminster, Weston Barts School, Wetherby Prep & Senior, Wycliffe, Wycombe Abbey and many more international students via Skype.
Here is a snapshot of my recent tutoring experience:
Spanish GCSE
When I met the student, he was en route for a fail in his Spanish GCSE and within two months we got him up to a C grade, which enabled him to stay on in his current school. The student was one of my most difficult cases, as he had no real understanding of grammar and we had very little time to ensure a pass. I soon understood that he learnt best through play and the repetition that brings and we used pure oral learning. He would only take in very few words if they were written down so we created memory cards to trigger all the vocabulary he had learnt and heard. He has not taken Spanish for A Level but requested that we continue conversation classes as they’re so enjoyable!
French GCSE
The student is a star pupil and I asked her parents if she really needed additional classes but it transpired that she was my highest achieving student, getting 99% in her French GCSE. With this student we looked at complex sentence structure, translation and argumentation which is the study of logic in discursive essays. The student would get bored quickly at school as she is so bright so we whipped through literature, films and advanced grammar to keep her on her toes. She is now at one of London’s most academic schools and excelling brilliantly.
Transition to UK school & GCSE and A Level Revision Planning
This student moved from abroad to a UK boarding school and I worked with him through this transition, also joining him abroad with his family for Easter holiday revision planning for his GCSEs and A Levels. His development has been astounding and he is now studying French and Spanish at Princeton in the USA. The student and I worked a lot on global environmental issues affecting South East Asia which he is now studying in depth in Spanish at University.
Testimonials
“Felicity was able to capture my daughter’s attention and bring the best out in her. Felicity was always punctual and dedicated to my daughter, and she honestly cared for her development. My daughter was able to use that positive energy towards her concentration and commitment to learning. Felicity’s cheerful personality and teaching manner is truly invaluable, and I would recommend her to any family looking to improve their child’s skills in reading comprehension, grammar, and writing.”
Parent of English 11+ student
“Felicity has had a remarkable influence on my daughter and has won her trust and friendship. She is an outstanding teacher who feels children’s problems and teaches them to deal with issues as best as they can. She is a true asset for the children in any household that are going through changes and uncertainty!”
Parent of English and French student
“Felicity hugely helped my son with his French Common Entrance in 4 months. She hugely improved his written and spoken French and his comprehension. His accent which had been fine became impeccable. Felicity was able to pin point his weaknesses and improve them hugely, giving him confidence and excellent study techniques. He achieved an A- in CE, and French became one of his strengths as opposed to one of his weaknesses. My son also really enjoyed his sessions with Felicity’s who managed to make them fun. They had a good time together. She is a fantastic teacher, who manages to make studying French enjoyable!”
Parent of French Common Entrance student
“Felicity breezed into our lives and totally transformed my daughters fear and trepidation of her forthcoming French GCSE into one of calm confidence. From day one, through her infectious humour, warmth and energy, she brought the language alive. She began by going back to the basics with M– and little by little through reinforcement and encouragement, began to build her understanding and with it her confidence. Felicity was totally conversant with the requirements of the GCSE and prepared M– thoroughly for each stage of her coursework as well as her final exam. The A grade M– achieved was a testament to this. Whilst the GCSE result was fantastic, what we really valued was Felicity’s ability to bring a sense of calm and order during a very stressful academic year. She helped M– with general study skills and many of her methods M– was able to employ in other areas of her studies. I cannot recommend her highly enough. She is a very special lady.”
Parent of GCSE French student
