Nicola

I am a friendly, caring teacher with outstanding subject-knowledge and fifteen years of Secondary English classroom experience. I have been a private tutor for several years, gaining excellent examination results.

To give you an idea of my approach and skill-level, one parent of a tutee has written about me: “Nicki has been helping my son who is in Year 10. My son struggles with concentration as he has ADD (first spotted by Nicki) but he really enjoys his lessons with her. She is an excellent English teacher anyway but what makes her so brilliant is that she knows how to manage tuition sessions so that he understands things and keeps focused. Lessons are never boring. Nicki has gone above and beyond with research on how she can help us and she is constantly finding new learning techniques which all her students benefit from. We feel very lucky to have found Nicki. “

Whether at GCSE, A-Level Language or Literature, Common Entrance or 11+, I can offer genuine expertise and a dynamic, innovative approach. My passion for the subject is fuelled by my skills as a writer. I am a prize-winning poet, a novelist and former academic with a PhD in Romantic period letter-writing. I have taught undergraduates and postgraduates at the universities of St Andrews and Manchester.

Tutoring Experience

As a tutor, I have helped one student gain a place at Rugby School, another to progress from a B to gaining top marks and an A* in AS English Literature, plus an A* in A2 literature. Students in my GCSE and A level Literature and Language groups tend to gain their target grade, and above their target grade.

Tutoring Approach

As a tutor I use my extensive subject knowledge and questioning skills to precisely identify student strengths and misconceptions. My approach is grounded in kindness and intellectual rigour, as well as strong understanding of difficulties faced by those who struggle with literacy. I teach relaxation techniques and mindfulness to aid those students with issues around stress or low self-esteem. I always aim to see the whole person.