Joe

What distinguishes me is I'm not just an ex English teacher and tutor, but also a professional author. I have worked as Lead Writer for over a dozen major international businesses or organisations, and still do. This means I am able to teach my students much more than just to an exam syllabus, and internationally I am in demand as a tutor for this reason. I write for a wide range of literary magazines, including 'The Spectator,' 'The Critic,' 'Areo' and 'Quillette' and was a columnist for the Times Educational Supplement for 5 years. I’ve written 5 books on English literature, three commissioned by one of the world's leading academic publishers, Palgrave. They are used by some of the leading independent schools in the UK. I'm an expert on poetry, having written books on Donne, Shakespeare and the definitive Guidebook to Milton's 'Paradise Lost.' I have also worked extensively as an educational consultant, advising at every level from individual schools up to ministerial level abroad, and I have trained teachers in many of the leading schools in the UK. My most recent book 'Teaching English for the Real World' is all about teaching English, and was itself written to advise English teachers. It was published in May 2020.

Tutoring Experience

I taught English at GCSE and A level for 20 years, including 10 at one of the UK's few, genuinely selective private schools, The City of London School, and was also a housemaster in a co-educational boarding school for 9 years. I worked as a 6th form Oxbridge tutor in both those schools and have guided numerous pupils into places at both institutions and at other leading universities. I have worked as a private tutor since 2015 frequently with A level or GCSE students whose parents are concerned may not get the high grades they should do, and can happily supply references if desired. Most of my current tutoring is for international clients seeking to get their children into leading UK independent schools, or university, but I am keen to work with local tutees because face-to-face work is always much more enjoyable and effective. I also have 20 years experience in educational consultancy working for some of the leading education businesses in the UK, which has included training teachers in many leading private schools and I'm frequently invited to speak at major educational conferences about significant educational issues.

Tutoring Approach

I take care to understand exactly where my students are and where they want to get to; before tailoring individual sessions that will get them there.