Johanna
"Johanna takes the time to explain everything at my daughter's pace and is endlessly encouraging. She is able to help and advise with strategies for her SEN enabling her to get the most from her sessions."
Parent of GCSE English student
English Language
English Literature
Academic History
Canterbury Christ Church University – PGCE 11 – 18 (2014)
The Open University – Bachelor of Arts (Honours) – 2:1 (2013)
About Me
I am a dedicated and experienced educator, specialising in English and Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). For over ten years I have delivered tailored, differentiated 1:1 and small-group support for students in Key Stages 3 and 4 (Years 7–11).
I am highly familiar with both AQA and Edexcel 9–1 GCSE, as well as Edexcel IGCSE English Language and Literature exam specifications, and have over eight years of experience as an examiner for these subjects.
My tutoring approach is flexible, student-centred, and methodical. I focus on ensuring that each student fully understands what exam questions require, while also equipping them with effective revision and study strategies that can be applied across subjects. I aim to reduce stress and build confidence, maintaining open communication with parents to ensure consistent progress between lessons and help students reach their full potential.
Recent tuition
English Literature and Language IGCSE (Edexcel)
I am currently tutoring this student online (Home educated) in IGCSE for English Literature and English Language. It will be a three year course. We have two lessons per week and in the first year we covered the coursework for both courses. Now in the second year we are covering the texts required for the examination with in-built study skills (summarising, researching, how to highlight effectively, creating quotation lists), analysis and responding to exam style questions.
English Literature and Language GCSE (Edexcel)
I worked with this student (Harrodian, Barnes) in person from the age of 12 (year 8) right up to the end of her exams in year 11. She had SEN difficulties, specifically with language processing, and really struggled with finding quotes and analysing texts. We worked methodically through the texts: Macbeth, Jekyll and Hyde, An Inspector Calls and Poetry for Literature and developed her confidence in key quotations for themes and characters and relevant context. She developed her own personalised style of writing exam responses and how to obtain maximum marks both for Literature and Language. She achieved a 9 in English Literature and a 8 in English Language. She stayed on at Harrodian for Sixth Form and this year has gone to Milan Business School.
English Literature and English Language GCSE (AQA)
I worked with this student (Chessington Community School, Chessington) for a very short time (six months) before his exams, he was failing to meet his potential in English and had disengaged with his teacher. We focused on exam practice and I set weekly tasks that we would mark together at the beginning of each lesson so that he could see exactly what the examiner looked for in a response. We had a google classroom where I posted revision materials – quotes, context, same creative writing paragraphs, that he could easily access. He sat his exams in 2025 and achieved a 5 in English Language and 4 in English Literature (improved from a 3 and 2 in his January mocks). He is now studying at Kingston College.
English – Key Stage 3 – dyslexia support
I supported this student (Harrodian, Barnes) for three years from year 7 – year 9. She was challenged by dyslexia which made reading, writing and spelling incredibly hard for her. She also struggled massively with working memory; we started to voice record information that she had to learn and this was life changing for her; she used this as her primary revision tool for assessments. I modelled paragraphs to help her to develop her own PEA/PEAL paragraph structure of analysis and took vocabulary from books she was reading to make lists of worlds she could then use in her own writing. She grew in confidence and reported that: “I feel much more independent in my education than I did at 11.” The family relocated to America and she currently studies there.
English Language GCSE (AQA)
I am currently working with this year 11 student once a week online (Sir John Lawes, Harpenden) to help him pass his English GCSE exam in the summer of 2026. He has dropped Literature to focus on Language and hopes to get a Grade 4. He has SEN difficulties, has been held back a year at school and requires lots of repetition of the key skills (summarising, analysing, evaluating) needed for the exams. Our lessons incorporate vocalising exam style responses and then writing them and revising them in the following lesson to aid working memory.
English Literature and English Language GCSE (Edexcel)
I am currently working with this student (Harrodian, Barnes) online once a week. I will have supported her for a total of two years when she sits her exams in 2026. We focus on exam practice and I set weekly revision tasks such as ‘10 quotes for Lady Macbeth or 10 quotes for violence in Jekyll and Hyde’. She is dyslexic and lacks confidence with her writing so we spend lots of time modelling exam responses and constructing them together. She also had ADHD and struggles with organisation so her mother and I communicate about when school assessments are upcoming and any tasks that need to be done at home.
English Literature and Language GCSE (Edexcel)
I worked with this student (Harrodian, Barnes) in person for two years on both Literature and Language. We created revision resources for the Literature texts such as cue cards and mind maps. We did timed practices for exam style questions as she struggles with timing and confidence. She achieved Grade 7 (Language) and Grade 8 (Literature); stayed on at Harrodian for Sixth Form and currently attends AMFI (Amsterdam Fashion Institute).
Hobbies
I enjoy reading, the outdoors, exhibitions, music, travel and culture and Pilates.
Testimonials
“Johanna started working with my son just after his mock exams, where he achieved a Grade 2 in Literature and a Grade 3 in Language. N– had become so despondent with learning at school that I knew he needed some one-to-one support — a friend recommended Johanna. After just the first lesson, he was noticeably more engaged and determined. His grades quickly began to improve, but most importantly, N– regained his motivation to study and confidence that he could pass his exams. Johanna was practical in her approach, patient, and had an abundance of resources tailored specifically for GCSE preparation and exam revision. She truly transformed N–’s attitude towards his GCSEs, and we are so grateful for her support. In just eight months, he went from a Grade 2 and 3 to a Grade 5 and 6. He is now at college studying the subjects he loves.”
English – GCSE – year 11.
“Johanna is engaging, enthusiastic and flexible in her approach to teaching my daughter who has neurodiverse needs and really struggles with English. Her 1:1 lessons give her confidence at school and she is able to follow along in class better than she previously did. M– feels like she can ask Johanna questions about the topics that she has not understood in class and this is invaluable. Johanna has a wealth of knowledge about the English GCSEs and offers practical guidance about how to achieve. Thanks so much Johanna!”
English – GCSE – Year 10.
“Johanna is an excellent teacher; talented and brilliant at persuading even the most reluctant students. We are a home-schooled family. My eldest daughter adores her English lessons and is inspired by Johanna’s passion for the subject. Johanna takes the time to explain everything at my daughter’s pace and is endlessly encouraging. She is able to help and advise with strategies for her SEN enabling her to get the most from her sessions. My younger daughter is a reluctant student where English is concerned, but Johanna work’s diligently to win her over choosing topics that interest her (currently dogs and animals). My younger daughter enjoys these sessions because of Johanna’s commitment and ability to adapt to the student.”
English – GCSE and Key Stage 3.
