Matilda

Experience

11+ English & Maths: ISEB and public school entrance exams

13+ English: ISEB and public school entrance exams

GCSE/IGCSE English Language: AQA, Edexcel and OCR

GCSE/IGCSE English Literature: AQA, Edexcel and OCR

GCSE/IGCSE History & Philosophy: AQA, Edexcel and OCR

AS/A-level English Language: AQA, Edexcel and OCR

AS/A-level/IB English Literature: AQA, Edexcel and OCR

I have experience tutoring English as a Foreign Language, English as a Second Language, and Oxbridge applications.

Biography

I grew up spending school years in West London and summers with the American side of my family in California. I attended Godolphin and Latymer School in Hammersmith. I graduated from Oxford where I studied English Language and Literature. I achieved the university's Shakespeare Prize. After graduation, I completed a Master's Degree in Creative Writing in which I achieved a Distinction. I worked for a magazine in South America and as an English teacher in Japan. I now work as a freelance writer and tutor. I am based in Hammersmith.

Personal Approach

Often, children and teenagers think that being good at English is using a lot of fancy thesaurus words. However, at all levels, successful English work is concise, clear and focused.

Over my five years with Keystone, I have honed my teaching technique. I usually start by taking the student ‘back to basics’. We look at how to structure a sentence, then a paragraph, then the whole story or essay. Next, we think about accuracy, getting rid of unnecessary words and ideas. Once my student is confident with all this, we think about interesting vocabulary and language techniques as well as analytical 'close reading' skills. I try to show tutees that writing is like a fruit salad: you don't want too much of any particular feeling, idea or language technique. Variety is key.

I like to use lots of short, timed exercises, particularly with younger children, moving quickly from one activity to the next. I always build a rapport with my tutees, shaping activities around their interests and learning style as much as possible. When the student enjoys sessions, we achieve so much more.

I think reading is absolutely vital to improving spelling, vocabulary and grammar. I am always delighted to recommend titles to my students, at every level.

I love working with young people as they haven’t yet learned the clichés and often come up with ideas that are imperfect but delightfully ambitious and unexpected.

What I do when I am not tutoring

When not tutoring, I am a writer. I’ve written since I was 8, when I’d scrawl out long, illustrated stories with 50 characters who I would name one by one. I had a play at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2018 and my comedy drama pilot was produced for BBC3 last year. I am now writing the full series. I also have a drama series and a comedy film in development. I try to make the most of living in London by exploring different areas even though a lot of my spare time is spent binging new shows on Netflix. I swim and run as much as I can. A huge reader, I try to keep up with new titles in literary fiction. I have received specialised Keystone training in safeguarding as well as the curricula for English and Mathematics.

Testimonials

"Matilda is amazing, super kind and attentive to the children. They are really enjoying the lessons. My son said he is learning a lot and also having fun. My daughter also likes her very much. The lessons are a success!" (Mother of Year 5 and 7 students)

"It went really well. Matilda was lovely; my daughter really liked her and enjoyed the experience. Matilda put her at ease straightaway, which can be quite hard to do! And it sounded like she concentrated really well for the full hour."

"My daughter really enjoyed her sessions with Matilda. She is very kind, fun and enthusiastic. She is also very methodic and really knows what she is talking about. She seems particularly familiar with all the different exam formats which is a big plus." (Mother of 11+ student)

Our daughter immediately connected with her and happily looked forward to the sessions, independently preparing any homework that Matilda had requested. We found Matilda a very reliable, patient and a natural teacher. Even though we had fixed ideas given this was not our first experience with such entrance exams, we almost immediately backed off giving advice because Matilda’s preparation for each lesson was faultless: very well-planned and tuned to ensure that our daughter was strengthening her knowledge over time. Our daughter will be attending Godolphin and Latymer from September, which would not have been possible without the extra mile that Matilda went to get the best out of her.

Parent of I, 11+ student, 2017

My daughter C has been really enjoying the lessons with Matilda. She is well experienced in the 11+ exams and takes care to also send additional materials to help her with the preparation. My daughter will be attending St Paul's Girls' School in September.

Parent of C, 11+ student, 2017

Great news- J got a very good pass into J social at Radley! He's so relieved. Please let Matilda know she was excellent and thank her!

Parent of J, 13+ student, 2018

Matilda has been tutoring my daughter in English since April this year. My daughter’s performance in English improved after only a few weeks she started her sessions with Matilda. I could also see that her interest and motivation to improve her writing was increasing as she was also enjoying her tutorials every week. Matilda has been very professional, punctual and responsive to all our requests to also set up additional or Skype sessions during the holidays. Matilda was able to effectively engage with my daughter and is helping her with the 11+ exam preparation. She was accepted into her top choice Putney High School so we are pleased. I would recommend her to anyone looking for a competent and reliable tutor.

Parent of V, 11+ student, 2017

Matilda's tutoring was invaluable and it provided me with a foundation to take my University application and essay writing to the next level. She goes the extra mile and gave me tips and advice that were extremely helpful and gave me assurance in a daunting application process.

M, 17, Oxford English Applicant

Matilda really helped me boost my confidence and positivity for my Oxford ELAT exam. She is intelligent, caring and very enthusiastic about English Literature.

A, 18, Oxford English Applicant

Matilda was a very understanding and useful tutor. She helped me go from a grade C in my mock to a grade A* in my actual GCSE! I would definitely recommend her as an English tutor. Thank you for helping me achieve more than I was expecting in both English exams!

C, GCSE English student 2017

It gives me a great pleasure to recommend Matilda, who has been tutoring my sons for a couple of months for the last two years. I would like to emphasise the fact that Matilda was able to get the best from my sons in just a couple of months. Her kindness and professionalism have impressed both myself and my sons. I have asked also my boys for an opinion on how Matilda was and their answer was: ''simply the best''.

Parent of S and A, two 11+ students, London, 2017

Matilda did a few holiday sessions with our 8 year old daughter and she was reliable and professional. She had a great rapport with our daughter who really enjoyed the sessions and we'll miss her.

Parent of M, year 4 student, 2019

We all find Matilda exceptional!

Parent of Leo, Year 5 10+ student, 2019

Matilda is amazing, super kind and attentive to the children. They are really enjoying the lessons. JV said he is learning a lot and also having fun. Luisa also likes her very much. As you wrote, the lessons are a success!

Parent of JV, year 4 and L, year 6, 2019

Matilda is a good tutor, 10/10!

Parent of Tom, English A Level student, 2019

Anna and I wanted to thank you very much for the advice and support you have given her. Your lessons have helped her tremendously for the tests but also given her very valuable advice that she will be able to rely on anywhere.

The best indication that the lessons were helpful has been that Anna was always looking forward to them. This has been really reassuring for me.

Parent of A, 11+ student, 2019

With the tests behind Anna and the results in, I wanted to personally thank you for your support and advice in the past few months. Anna has genuinely enjoyed the lessons you gave and learned a lot from you, well beyond the tests. She got Surbiton High and is delighted. Much of this is thanks to you.

Parent of A, 11+ student, 2020

Matilda worked with our daughter for around 6 months to prepare her for the 11+ exams in January 2020. She spent a week with us in France during the summer vacation and then saw our daughter at least once a week from September to January, with extra time before Christmas 2019. Matilda was diligent, thoughtful and bespoke in her approach, and formed a close professional relationship with our daughter. She was clear and honest with us about strengths and blindspots, and how to allocate tutorial focus. She made sure her work aligned with the requirements of our target schools. As a result of Matilda's work, Sofia was offered places at a number of her target schools, and will join Godolphin & Latymer (Matilda’s own alma mater) in September 2020. We would be happy to recommend her to any parent whose daughter has comparable 11+ preparation or general tutoring requirements.

Parent of S, 11+ student 2020

Matilda was brilliant. To keep T engaged and happy is a win. He is actually excited for the next session.

Parent of T, 11+ student 2020

Thank you so much for all of your teaching. E seems to have made a lot progress and his confidence and interest in English have come back. The level of the work you were setting was perfect, challenging and engaging him. Thank you too for all your positive feedback and encouragement. E has been moved to the top stream in English at school and is thriving.

Parent of E, Year 9 Student 2020

Matilda tutored our son for the English 13+ Common Entrance exams, guiding him through the various requirements and supporting him to get his offer at Eton confirmed. Matilda is a fantastic teacher, motivated and our son thoroughly enjoyed the classes. A big thank you for all the hard work over the last 2 years!

Parent of F, 13+ student 2021

I am writing to let you know D's results: She got offers from all the schools to which she applied (St Paul’s, City, South Hampstead, Godolphin) and 2 academic scholarships (from JAGS and FHS). Thank you again so very much for all your wonderful work and support. You did such a great job with her and I thank you.

Parent of D, 11+ student 2021

We just had our first classes with Matilda. Thank you for sending her over. M really enjoyed having a tutor and one-on-one time, his enthusiasm was through the roof.

Parent of M, year 5 student 2022