Lindsay
"Lindsay has been absolutely amazing and is the best possible tutor we could have imagined."
GCSE English Language and Literature
English Language
English Literature
GCSE
Key Stage 3
Academic History
QTS – Institute of Education, London
PGCE – University of South Africa
BA English (Majors in English and Industrial Psychology) – University of South Africa
About Me
I have been teaching English at secondary school level for nearly 20 years. I am well qualified and experienced to teach GCSE English Language and Literature and A-level English Literature; I am an AQA examiner for GCSE English and as such, GCSE level is most often my preference as a tutor. I have experience teaching most exam boards and I am able to guide students to exam success: excellent exam results and positive client feedback are testament to this. I also have extensive experience teaching KS3 English and approach KS3 much the same way as GCSE. My experience as an examiner, a teacher and a tutor have equipped me with the knowledge and skills necessary to teach exam technique in such a way that is accessible to students and that allows them to perform to their maximum potential in exam conditions. I try to interest students in what they are learning and to encourage them to become thinkers – I try to point them to resources that are not the first or second hit on Google. I am aware of and cater to the needs of all of my students, including those with SEN and students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Recent tuition
IGCSE English Language and Literature (Edexcel)
I tutored this student (Ardingly College) online in GCSE English Language (Non-Fiction Tests and Transactional Writing) and Literature (Poetry and Modern Prose). We worked on this over a three-month period. He was a high-achieving year 11 student who felt tuition would be useful as he wanted to improve his grade for his IGCSE Language Paper (the transactional writing in particular). His main problem area was structuring his writing correctly and using persuasive techniques wisely – so I showed him exemplars, worked through the mark scheme, gave him plenty of practice with detailed feedback and I look forward to seeing how he did in his exams as he showed noticeable improvement in the tuition sessions.
GCSE English Language and Literature (AQA)
I tutored this student (Portland Place School) in person in GCSE English Language and Literature. We worked on these subjects over a nine-month period. This student had left her school at the end of year 10 (Sydenham High School – GDST) and was starting year 11 at Portland Place. She had studied Edexcel at Sydenham and Portland Place was doing AQA so she needed help catching up a year’s work to be ready for her year 11 exams. We met for intensive weekly tutoring sessions over a nine-month period, and she did exceptionally well in her exams, achieving an 8 in Literature and a 7 in Language.
GCSE English Language and Literature (AQA)
I tutored this student (Forest Hill School) in person in GCSE English Language and Literature. We worked on these subjects over a six-month period. He was a high-achieving year 11 student who felt tuition would be useful as he struggled to get his best grades in his English examinations. We spent weekly sessions covering the Language and Literature papers. We looked in detail at the set literature texts. This student’s main problem was structuring his answers – and knowing what to write – in the best way to achieve the best possible marks. I showed him exemplars, worked through the mark scheme, gave him plenty of practice with detailed feedback and he achieved a 9 in Literature and a 7 in Language.
GCSE English Literature (Edexcel)
I tutored this year 11 student (James Allen’s Girls’ School) in person in GCSE English Literature. We worked on this over a few focussed tuition sessions just before her GCSE exams. She was quite desperate for some last-minute help to enable her to get a good grade as she did not feel very confident in English. I gave her a detailed and workable break down of the exams, we looked at the mark scheme in detail, we looked at exemplar essays and she had plenty of essay practice with detailed feedback from me. This student ended up achieving a 9 for GCSE English Literature and changed her A levels to include English.
GCSE English Language and Literature
I tutored this year 10 student in person for a short period as he had left a school without having another placement immediately available and his parent wanted some tuition support in the interim. I tutored him three times a week – using GCSE texts that his prospective schools were doing – to best prepare him for his new school. I set some work for him to complete after each tutorial and we went over this work in our tuition sessions. He gained a place at a local independent school.
Hobbies
Reading: I have always been a reader.
Cooking: I enjoy providing good meals.
Learning Polish: it helps me converse with my husband’s family.
Volunteering at the Salvation Army: I volunteer with the parent and toddler group.
Testimonials
“Dear Lindsay, I meant to get in touch and let you know that X got 9 in all English GCSE’s! She was very surprised and has now changed her A level to English. Thanks so much for your final push.”
“As we’ve said several times before Lindsay has been absolutely amazing and is the best possible tutor we could have imagined and has been absolutely perfect for X. He also says the same. Thanks.”
“Hi Lindsay, just to let you know that X got an 8 in literature!! And a 7 in language So proud of her! Thank you for all your help.”
