Sarah

Experience

2022

7+, Year 3 Long-term twice-weekly support in English

Year 3 Long-term twice weekly support in English (via Skype, student is in Nigeria)

Year 5 Long-term twice-weekly support in English (via Skype, student is in Nigeria)

(Plus several of the below roles have continued into 2022)

2021

13+ English, Successful entry to Eton College Intensive half-term exam prep role.

13+ English, Successful entry to Radley Long term prep throughout the year leading up to the exam.

11+ Long term preparation for the 11+ with a focus on English.

GCSE History Long term Year 10 support. Edexcel topics: Russia 1905 to 1924; Dictatorships & Conflict 1924 to 1953 (Stalin); Germany 1919 to 1945: Weimar and rise of Nazis; China 1900 to 1989.

ISEB Pre-tests Maths, English, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning.

Year 4 Long term support in Maths Student has been bullied and needs encouragement and confidence-boosting.

Year 4 Long term support in Maths and English working towards the 11+.

Year 4 Long term 11+ preparation: Maths, English, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning

2020

Year 4 Creative Writing Working to infuse a student with enthusiasm for creative writing through fun exercises.

11+ Intensive Christmas break tuition preparing student for the 11+ to St Paul’s Girls’ School. Daily 90 minute sessions in English. The brief was to boost the student’s confidence.

13+ Intensive three-day residential preparing student for the 13+ entry to St Mary’s, Ascot. Focus on English and Geography.

ISEB Pre-tests and 11+ Maths, English, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning. Student has lost confidence after some recent drops in her scores, the brief is to restore her self-belief through practice and encouragement.

ISEB Pre-tests Focus on English and Verbal Reasoning, with a brief to push and inspire. Student aiming for: Eton, Winchester, Westminster, Charterhouse and Brighton College.

ISEB Pre-tests Focus on English and Verbal Reasoning. Working with student to prepare him for the online format. Student will be applying to: St Paul’s; Kings; City; Highgate; Alleyn’s and Latymer Upper.

11+ English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning. Preparing student for entry tests to boarding schools. Preferred school is Brighton College.

GCSE Geography Homeschooling role. Preparing student for the Edexcel International GCSE.

Year Seven English and Maths End of summer residential role preparing a pupil for the new academic year. Focus on English, with some Maths.

Year 5 Maths Support Long-term role with a brief to boost the pupil’s confidence and success in the 11+ pre-tests. Teachers have noted a significant improvement in student’s confidence levels and ability since my tuition began.

7+ Long term role, preparation for entry tests to Alleyn’s and JAGS

Year 10 Easter holiday intensive tuition in English Literature, English Language, History, Geography and RS. Pupil is at Cheltenham Ladies’ College. Continued work with the family during term-time supporting the pupil with her prep.

Maths, Year 3 and Year 5 Twice weekly support for two sisters, help with homework etc

Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning support for a pupil in Year 5

Year 4 support in English Pupil is French with English as her second language and needs extra support in English comprehension and composition.

11+ Focus on English comprehension. Target school is Winchester.

7+ tutoring with the long-term goal of the 11+. Focus on Maths, with some English.

Year 9 Homeschooling Geography and History

16+ entry History, English and Interview Technique; Harris Westminster Sixth Form

2019

ISEB pre-test English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning. Successful entry to Charterhouse.

16+ entry English, personal statement and interview prep. China-based pupil. Successful entry to Oundle.

Preparation for Year 9: Seven-week full-time Summer placement (5 days per week) preparing a Russian student for entry to Year 9 at St Edwards, Oxford. Predominant focus on English (Grammar; Spelling; Comprehension; Composition; Reasoning; Reading; Shakespeare) and Maths, with extra tuition in Biology; Physics; Chemistry; History; Geography. Cultural immersion via field trips around London (The Tower of London; The V&A, etc). Mentoring role: preparing student for the experience of boarding school and life in the UK generally.

GCSE History exam preparation for History, exam board Edexcel IGCSE, topics: Superpower Relations; Germany 1918-1945; Russia and the Soviet Union, 1905-24 and China: Conflict, Crisis and Change, 1900-89

11+preparation (Maths) for Godolphin and Latymer, Queen's College, Wimbledon High and Putney High

GCSE preparation in English and Geography, with a student who has been removed from school due to issues with anxiety. Focus on past papers and exam technique.

11+preparation Twins based in Barcelona who are working towards the 11+ this November; proposed schools Harrow and Charterhouse

9+ working towards the 11+ with a special focus on Maths

Year 8 support in English and Creative Writing

10+ working towards 11+ English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning

16+ Independent School Entry, English online preparation with a Chinese student for entry exams to Heathfield. Preparation includes working with past GCSE papers. Focus on writing, text analysis, grammar, spelling, syntax, interview technique

IB Middle Years Programme prep continued from 2018

2018

UKiset Preparation online lessons with a student based in Nigeria

IB Middle Years Programme support Student has relocated to London from Saudi Arabia

Homeschooling, Key Stage 2 Maths

Preparation for Year 9 entry, St Edward’s Summer placement, 6 hours a day, 5 days a week. Preparing a Russian student in all subjects across the ISEB curriculum.

Pre- GCSE Preparation 2 week residential helping a pupil at Cheltenham College prepare for his pre-GCSEs. Subjects I covered: Maths, English Literature and Language, History, Geography, Chemistry and Biology.

7+ English Helping a Russian pupil with ESL, Maths and Science. 3 hours per week; I started in September 2017 and the job is ongoing (with breaks for residential jobs)

2017

11+ Pre Tests for Wycombe Abbey preparation. Maths, Non-Verbal Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, English.

11+ Pre Tests for Benenden School preparation. Maths, Non-Verbal Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, English. Family lives in Hamburg; I tutor via Skype as well as working residentially one weekend each month and during school holidays.

2016

13+ All Subjects 3 month residential with a high profile Russian family, living with them and joining them on their travels around the world. Homeschooling their 13 year old daughter and preparing her for entry into the British public school system in September. Tutoring her in English, Maths, Biology, Chemistry, Physics and History. Acting as a general mentor, instilling in her a heightened interest in learning and in reading, introducing her to British culture and history. I also helped her older sister with her applications for a Masters in Contemporary Art at Sotheby’s, and accompanied the two girls on various trips to museums and galleries, where I gave lectures.

11+ Pre-Test for Downe House Preparing a Chinese student for entry to Downe House at 11+

A-Level Preparing a Russian student for entry to British public school system (via Skype)

11+ Pre-test for Harrow preparation

11+ Pre-test for Charterhouse preparation

13+ Common Entrance for Harrow and Charterhouse preparation

AS Level Classical Civilization (via Skype)

English as a foreign language weekly lessons (the pupil is 17 years old, a German speaker, and attends the French Lycee in Vienna)

2015

13+ Common Entrance to Harrow Residential live-in placement for 5 weeks in Beijing, China. Tutoring a 13 year old. Writing, Comprehension, Grammar, Spelling, Interview technique, Verbal Reasoning, History and interpreting historical sources.

11+ Pre-test for Eton, Skype

Coursework support, GCSE English

2015- Kindergarten Teacher, Vienna - Teaching English as a Secondary Language at two kindergartens. One-hour lessons with classes of up to twenty children aged between two and six. Each session introduced pupils to six new key words through songs, games, writing, repetition and phonics.

Teaching English as a Foreign Language to Adults at Dolphin Language School and Translation Agency, Vienna - Grammar and conversation; Group Training Sessions and One to Ones.

2011-2015

A-Level History and Classical Civilisation, and previous to that, GCSE English and History Supported the student throughout the four years, both remotely via Skype and through staying with the family in London for 1,2 and 3 week placements. Daily learning support as well as intensive exam preparation and help with coursework. Extra mentoring support – encouraging and supporting the student in his wider interests, with a view to eventual UCAS preparation and University entrance. Student achieved A*/A grades.

Biography

I have worked as a private tutor since 2011. I have taught across all age groups: early years; 11+; 13+; GCSE; A-Level and everything in between. I have had six live-in roles during this time and can provide excellent references from all the families. I've also done regular, long-term non-residential jobs and Skype jobs. I have successfully prepared students for entry to Eton, Harrow, Down House, Charterhouse and St Paul's, among others. I have extensive experience in preparing overseas students for entry into the British private school system.

When not tutoring I am a writer: my debut novel will be published by Profile Books in 2024.

My interests are: literature, film, theatre, visual arts. I love walking and being outdoors, animals, games of all sorts, swimming and travel.

Personal Approach

My lessons are fun but focused at the same time. I like to keep things lively and mix things up. I look to engage the pupil and sustain their interest so that it seems to them that the hour (or however long it may be) flies by. Long experience and confidence means that I'm also able to strike the right balance of authority: I ensure my pupils concentrate and focus and get the work done.

What I do when I am not tutoring

When I am not tutoring I read and write literary fiction (my debut novel will be published by Profile Books in 2024); go to museums and art exhibitions; meet up with friends; go for walks both in London and in the countryside; swim.

Testimonials

Please see my referees. Further references available on request.