Madeleine

Experience

• 11+ English and Maths: ISEB and public school exams, including pre-tests. My students have gained places at Dulwich College, Eton, Shrewsbury, Tonbridge, Godolphin & Latymer, Notting Hill & Ealing, Putney High, Wimbledon High, Westminster, Caterham, Latymer Upper and Francis Holland.

• 13+ English: My students have received offers from City of London Girls, Wallingford and North London Collegiate.

• 16+ English: my students have been offered places at Ardingly, Bromsgrove and Sevenoaks.

• GCSE/IGCSE English (AQA, Edexcel, WJEC, OCR)

• GCSE/IGCSE History (AQA, Edexcel, WJEC, OCR)

• A Level English (AQA, Edexcel, WJEC, OCR)

• A Level Classical Civilisation (OCR)

As a private tutor I've worked with children of different abilities at home and online, including children taking time out of school for illness or personal reasons.

I have extensive experience tutoring students for the 11+, particularly for the ISEB Pre-Test. I believe in a thorough grounding in the whole syllabus so the student feels confident in all areas, and in sessions we study each topic with a range of question types so each topic's easy to recognise in the exam.

At GCSE I’ve prepared students for English Language, English Literature, History and other essay subjects. I specialise in making texts enjoyable and accessible, and demystifying the writing tasks so the student knows how to handle any essay title! My 2020 and 2021 students have received 8s and 9s in their final results, including one student who moved from a 5 to 9 through our lessons.

At A Level I tutor English Literature, History and Classical Civilisation, building the student’s confidence with their essay technique and the syllabus so they know what's needed in the coursework and exam. I also offer Personal Statement and EPQ support so when it comes to university applications the student’s passion and ability shines through.

At degree level I’ve advised on dissertations in subjects ranging from Russian government to gender equality in conservation, supporting students at both undergraduate and MA level.

Outside tutoring I’ve worked as a drama teacher coaching students for performance, including classical and contemporary monologues and speeches for student council applications. I also teach creative writing for all age groups, and several of my students have won competitions with their work!

Biography

After taking my A-Levels in English Literature, History, and Classical Civilisation I studied at St Hilda's College in Oxford. Here I gained a 2:1 in English Language and Literature, earning the Neilsen Scholarship for outstanding results in my first year exams. I was Secretary of the University Drama Society and tutored other students in dissertation technique and for the Old English and Medieval papers.

I now work as a full-time writer and tutor, and specialise in writing for young audiences, including writing the official stage adaptations of Philip Pullman's The Ruby in the Smoke and Lauren Child's Ruby Redfort.

Personal Approach

I believe a tutor's role is both academic and pastoral: they unlock the subject for the student and restore their learning confidence. My approach is focused on patience, active listening, and tailoring my teaching style to the student's strengths and interests, making studying relaxed and fun! My goal is to make the student feel confident, secure and able to walk into the exam room knowing they'll do a wonderful job.

What I do when I am not tutoring

I write for older children and teenagers, and I'm currently creating a new sci-fi children's show with a television production company and working on my first novel.

With many years of enthusiastic reading under my belt I love discussing students' favourite books and can recommend stories for any interest and age group. I'm a keen student and enjoy a bit of extra studying - I'm currently halfway through a course on computer coding!

I've been part of Girl Guiding UK for fifteen years, including working in America on a camp exchange programme. I currently lead a Ranger unit where I support the girls' work on community action programmes.

Testimonials

"My son loves working with Madeline. She has been very helpful in prepping him for the pre-test, some work on math and interviewing tactics." (Mother of Year 6 student)

''My son loved working with Madeleine and we’re hoping all their hard work has paid off!'' (Mother of Year 7 pre-test student)

"My son is really enjoying working with Madeleine. We like her positive, upbeat style." (Mother of Year 7 Student)

''Madeleine has been wonderful with my son. She puts him at ease straight away and he doesn't dread the fact that he has a lesson after school! She is encouraging and helpful, and we enjoy seeing her every week'' (Mother of Year 5 11+ student)

''My son has grown so much in confidence since Madeleine started working with him. She was always gentle, whilst encouraging, enthusiastic and hard working. He was quite nervous of his own ability when he first met Madeleine and she has given him so much confidence in his own ability and his English work has improved so much. He could not have been any better prepared for his Year 6 pre-tests. Always professional, Madeleine was very special and so kind to us both. We miss her!'' (Mother of Year 6 11+ student)

''Thank you so much for the session last week. My daughter really enjoyed it and thought you got along really well. She is thrilled to have you on her team!'' (Mother of Year 5 11+ student)

''My son hugely enjoys his lessons with Madeleine, and thanks to her warm, cheerful and encouraging teaching style, his confidence in Maths has soared!'' (Mother of KS2 SATs student)

''The sessions Madeleine had with my daughter were hugely helpful on the verbal reasoning and English subjects. My daughter's really enjoyed the sessions and it has clearly been a big help for her'' (Father of Year 6 11+ student)

''My son was offered a place at Harrow today! Thank you so much for all your hard work, it is greatly appreciated'' (Mother of Harrow entrance student)

''She loves History and wishes she could do it all day every day!'' (Homeschooled History student)

''My daughter loves your lessons and has really enjoyed Macbeth'' (Mother of Year 9 English student)

''Madeleine's fantastic at making Shakespeare clear, understandable and fun, and after one term my predicted grade's gone from a 5/6 to a 7/8!'' (Year 10 GCSE English student)

''Madeleine was able to guide my daughter through topics which she needed help with and it was a very positive experience'' (Mother of Year 11 GCSE English student)

''My daughter has dyslexia and always struggled with English, but Madeleine's supportive and enthusiastic teaching style has made her feel much more confident. Now she's revising in her own time and she always has a book in her hand!'' (Mother of Year 11 GCSE English student)

''Maddie has been absolutely amazing – she has helped my daughter enormously – she has elevated my daughter's English tests/mocks from 5 to 9 in English Literature. Maddie has really got her engaged and enthused about English may it be language or literature. Maddie is a wonderful charismatic caring and dedicated tutor. We were tremendously lucky to have found her.'' (Mother of Year 11 GCSE English student)

''My daughter really liked Madeleine, she made the sessions fun and I believe the mission was accomplished!'' (Mother of Year 11 GCSE English student)

''My daughter thought you were amazing and it's very rare for her to be that excited about meeting someone!'' (Mother of Year 11 GCSE English student)

''We both thought Maddie was great and will definitely be using her a lot over the holidays for my son's English and history'' (Mother of Year 11 GCSE English and History student)

''You're a great role model for my daughter who finds you very inspiring'' (Mother of Year 11 GCSE English student)

''Thanks so much, my daughter said you were nice and brilliant and the session was super helpful! We will definitely book you again'' (Mother of Year 11 GCSE English student)

''Madeleine was incredibly sweet and encouraging throughout lessons and truly inspired my daughter to pursue English as one of her A-Level subjects. My daughter is now feeling very confident with the subject of English not only for her entry exams but also for her GCSEs which she will be taking this year. The lessons were really fun but also extremely helpful from what I've been told and if my daughter ever needs any further help with English we will be sure to contact Madeleine'' (Mother of Year 11 16+ student)

''Madeleine is great and my son's found her lessons very helpful in building his confidence for each exam'' (Mother of Year 13 Classical Civilisation student)

''You are really great with my daughter and she is really enjoying your tutoring'' (Mother of Year 13 A Level Classical Civilisation student)