Sian

I am an experienced English teacher and Assistant Faculty Leader in a large, successful secondary school in the North East. I have been an examiner for the AQA exam board for the last eight years and therefore have an excellent up-to-date knowledge of the current exam series for GCSE English Language, GCSE English Literature* and A Level English Language.

Education-wise, I completed my Undergraduate degree in English Language at Newcastle University, qualified as 'Outstanding' teacher at Durham University and achieved a Distinction in my Masters in Education from Durham University.
Whether your child needs help understanding key texts, structuring exam responses, or just building belief in their own ability, I tailor my sessions to suit each individual. I’ve worked with students of all abilities and always aim to make learning engaging, supportive, and effective.

*The following texts are the texts that I teach at my school for GCSE English Literature and therefore have an excellent knowledge of: Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, An Inspector Calls, A Christmas Carol, Lord of the Flies, Jekyll and Hyde and both AQA Poetry clusters.

Tutoring Experience

I have over 10 years of experience as a secondary English teacher, during which I held leadership roles within a large, successful department. Throughout my career, I’ve taught a wide range of students at KS2, KS3, GCSE, and A Level, with a strong track record of helping them achieve outstanding results.

For the past 8 years, I’ve also worked as an examiner for both GCSE English Language and A Level English Language, giving me deep insight into what examiners are really looking for—and how to help students meet and exceed those expectations.

In addition to classroom teaching, I’ve tutored students one-to-one and in small groups for over a decade, helping them build confidence, master tricky content, and feel fully prepared for their exams. My approach is encouraging, clear, and rooted in high standards—with plenty of tailored support along the way.

Tutoring Approach

My approach is a clear, strategic focus on exam-technique and timing. My view is that all students should have an understanding of the exam paper and the mark scheme that is as good as their teachers! Understanding the mark scheme for each question is imperative to exam success - afterall the mark schemes are exactly what your examiner is looking for!
I use a range of structures to ensure that students are able to retain the key information from the mark scheme and implement when sitting their final exams. I also use a range of example answers and work with students to understand why responses were awarded particular marks and how answers could then be further improved.
The mark schemes and questions for English from GCSE through to A Level remain largely the same year after year; if you understand what the examiner is looking for, you are certain to achieve the grade you want!

As a fully qualified English teacher with over a decade of classroom and leadership experience, my tutoring is built on the belief that every student can succeed with the right support and encouragement. I take a calm, patient, and personalised approach—tailoring each session to meet the unique needs of the individual.

** Please note that prices quoted are for online, small-group sessions. Small groups will never be over six students. I have found that small-group sessions have yielded even stronger progress for students that translates better into the classroom environment than one-to-one.

**I am opening a list for small group face-to-face sessions in Ponteland - if this is local to you and something you are interested in, please just let me know.