Tutor Profile

Nick

Private English and Entrance Exams Tutor in Surbiton

I have worked for fifteen years as a teacher at one of the country’s most successful selective state schools for boys and at an independent school for girls. I have extensive experience in assisting young people both as an English teacher, a tutor and a mentor. I have been a full-time English tutor for the last six years.

Teaching Experience

As a full-time teacher and Subject Leader for English at Tiffin School, I was privileged to work with a cohort of students from a wide spectrum of backgrounds, many of whom did not speak English as their first language. My students’ results, as with those of my colleagues, were outstanding, and GCSE results for my final academic year at Tiffin were excellent (96.45% achieved Levels 9-5 in English Language, and 97.16% achieved Levels 9-5 in English Literature). Only 3.2% of Literature papers were awarded the top Level 9 nationally, and just 2.2% for Language, so I am particularly proud of how several of my students achieved this remarkably rare and prestigious result.

I have taught A Level throughout the course of my academic career, and most of my students have gone on to top Russell Group universities including Oxford and Cambridge. I have a high degree of expertise in teaching literary theory, and I thoroughly enjoy teaching my students how to apply critical perspectives to texts in a scholarly and inventive manner.

I really like teaching students at Key Stage 3, and I have always found that pupils aged 11 to 14 are brimming with imagination and creativity – and these are some of the special qualities that I will always try and harness and refine whilst tutoring your child. In my role as Subject Leader of English at Tiffin School, I monitored student attainment, and strove to ensure that every KS3 student had the help they needed to flourish – and this is reflected in the ‘outstanding’ rating that my last school achieved via the government’s new Progress 8 measures.

I have extensive knowledge of teaching students with Special Educational Needs, and I have worked fruitfully with many young people with autism and dyslexia. In addition to this, I am very effective in helping students who speak English as an additional language, and I have always endeavoured to make them excellent and technically robust communicators.

I was also a sixth form tutor for ten years, so I have a detailed knowledge of the UCAS procedure, and I am very happy to help your child form, revise and perfect their personal statement so that it gives them the best possible chance for success when it is submitted to the admissions tutors.

The core of my approach to tutoring is about giving the student the skills and confidence to analyse texts thoughtfully and independently whilst enjoying the challenge for its own sake. I am a friendly and good-humoured tutor who will always be working on your child’s ability to speak and write with clarity, decisiveness and academic rigour.

Tutoring Approach

With over twenty years of teaching English at secondary and A level, I am a highly experienced teacher and a friendly, good-humoured tutor who will always be working on your child’s ability to speak and write with clarity, decisiveness and academic rigour. I've achieved outstanding results for students in the English departments I've worked in, and my successes as a personal tutor have been manifold. As Subject Leader at Tiffin School, I was responsible for consistently achieving outstanding results for students at KS3, GCSE and A level. I have extensive knowledge of teaching students with SEN, and I have worked fruitfully with many young people with autism and dyslexia and pupils from an EAL background. The core of my approach to tutoring is about giving the student the skills and confidence to analyse texts thoughtfully and independently whilst enjoying the challenge for its own sake.

Qualifications

Chartered London Teacher

Professional · Department for Education · 2011

Teacher of English

PGCE · Institute of Education / University of London · 2004

English

QTS · Institute of Education / University of London · 2004

BA (Hons) English

Bachelors · University of Sussex · 2002

Reviews

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TessieFirst Tutors

One lesson in, and I am incredibly impressed. Excellent communication, relevant preparation in advance of the session, detailed feedback following the first session and most importantly my daughter enjoyed the session, and came out smiling. I would strongly recommend Nick for anyone looking for support for their child.

Tutor response

Thank you for your kind and complimentary comments, Tessie! I thoroughly enjoyed tutoring your daughter and I look forward to many more sessions to come. Thanks again for being such a wonderfully supportive and helpful parent. With my best wishes, Nick.

RICHARDFirst Tutors

Nick did a great job tutoring our daughter for GCSE Eng Lang and Eng Lit. In her mocks in December she obtained grade 5 in both subjects. For the real exams in May she obtained a Grade 9 in GCSE English Literature and also a Grade 9 in GCSE English Language. We were all shocked and delighted. Nick has all the right experience. He knows the subject matter, what the examiners want, and how to teach effectively. The results are way beyond what we expected so I’ve no hesitation in highly recommending Nick for GCSE students who need extra help.

Tutor response

Thank you so much, Richard. It was a pleasure to tutor your daughter and I’m so happy that she achieved such excellent results! I’m sure she’ll flourish in her A-level subjects.

CristinaFirst Tutors

We have had an exceptional experience with Nick. His analytical approach to teaching is of great help in improving my son’s understanding and ability in English. Nick provides feedback in a very methodical and organised manner and writes detailed notes that are extremely helpful for reviewing after each lesson. Always punctual and ready to start the session, Nick has a keen eye for picking up even the smallest details to greatly enhance the quality of writing. His feedback is very detailed and precise, making it extremely helpful in addressing specific areas for improvement effectively. Nick takes the lessons very seriously and is highly knowledgeable. He is concise and focused, making each session productive and impactful. Additionally, his prompt responses, even on weekends when we initially contacted him, were greatly appreciated and demonstrated his dedication and professionalism. Overall, Nick has been an outstanding tutor, and we highly recommend his services to anyone looking for thorough, engaging and effective tutoring.

Tutor response

Thank you, Cristina! I’m absolutely delighted that your son has had such a positive experience with me. I look forward to tutoring him and thank you once again for your lovely words.

DorotaFirst Tutors

Excellent tutor! We are very happy with the style of tuition and the feedback after completing the tasks.

SanchezFirst Tutors

Nick is an excellent tutor who has enabled our son to be more confident in not only English, but in learning altogether!

Tutor response

Thank you so much, Sanchez! It was a pleasure to help your son and be welcomed by your lovely family.

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