Samara M - Tutors - Keystone Tutors

“My daughter is very keen to see you again, she tells me, very often, that she learns more with you than at school!”

Parent

I have been working as a tutor for the past twelve years and have had numerous students, encompassing a wide range of needs and ages. The exams I am particularly experienced in are as follows;

11+ English
11+ Maths
13+ maths
13+ English
GCSE English (Edexcel, AQA)
IGCSE English (Edexcel, Cambridge)

Children I have tutored for the 11+ have gone on to schools such as Latymer Upper, St Pauls, City of London, Francis Holland and Dulwich College. For the 13+ Common Entrance exam, the schools my students have gained entrance to include Westminster and Eton. All students I have tutored for either GCSE or IGCSE English have achieved A, A*, 8 or 9.

I also have a large amount of experience working with younger children - I worked for a year as a teaching assistant at Smithy Street Primary School in Tower Hamlets, specialising in supporting children aged 7-11 who were struggling in maths and English and working with children with special educational needs (SEN). I have since tutored many children in this age group - particularly working with those who need their confidence boosting.

I have experience working with neurodivergent children and those with a range of additional needs. I have specifically tutored children with ADHD, dyslexia and dyspraxia (my own son is dyspraxic). I have found that when working with students with additional needs, the more information I can get from the parents, the more I can mould my approach and structure the sessions to best meet the child's needs.

I am from Edinburgh and am now living and working as a writer and actor in Perthshire where, after many years in London, I moved with my partner Joe and our son, Angus. We welcomed our daughter, Hester, in September 2023.

I went to St Andrews' University, and while I was there I acted and directed in numerous performances as well as working for the University's listening service; Nightline. While a student, I also travelled extensively in Brazil, Ghana, Canada, China and Mongolia where I taught English as a foreign language.

After graduating from university I worked for the Edinburgh International Science Festival, travelling around Scotland and performing in science education shows for 5-12 year olds.

I moved to London in 2006, to commence my training as an actress at LAMDA. I loved drama school and find my chosen career to be challenging, inspiring and thoroughly rewarding. As an actor, I have worked in radio, television and theatre. I am now also a writer and in 2018 I was selected from over 3000 applicants to join the BBC’s television script writing mentorship program; The Drama Room. I have written a ten part detective series for BBC Learning, and I have had scripts optioned by Potboiler Productions and Mam Tor Productions. I am currently developing a thriller series for World Productions.

“Samara was lovely and professional, they seemed to get on well, had fun, and got things done. The work is useful and challenging in the right way.”

Parent

“A huge success. My daughter went from discouragement (after one practice paper) to a sense of elation to have discovered so much that another trial exam feels possible. She was suddenly walking tall, feeling both equipped and inspired. We could not be more grateful to Samara”

Parent

“My daughter has enjoyed Samara's tutoring and her confidence has grown tremendously since she began. She is now much happier reading and writing, her imagination has soared and we are very pleased with her services”

Parent

“Samara has been a brilliant teacher and actually made me interested in Sociology and politics! I have learnt loads and will really miss having her has my tutor, I will always remember her. Plus I got the grades I need to study law!!”

Parent

I think that in education the most important thing is to be interested and enthused by whatever you are studying. So, depending on age and level of study I always try to find something within the subject to spark the pupil's imagination and fire their enthusiasm for the topic.

I most commonly teach and prepare students for their 11+ and 13+ entrance exams. These exams can be very tough for children and I try to make the experience as positive and enjoyable as possible. I try to maintain a calm, supportive environment in our lessons and for the student to feel confident and well prepared when they come to sit their exams.

When I am working with older students in English, I believe exam and essay writing technique is essential. I think often children are not taught the basic technique of logically and intelligently conveying and concluding an argument and this is the key to exam success! My study of Philosophy has given me an excellent grounding in founding logical, clear arguments.

I am a writer and an actress and I work on stage, television and radio. I have also written and produced work for the stage. I am a member of innovative theatre company The Factory and regularly appear in plays on Radio 4. I love voice work and have narrated over 50 audiobooks.
As a writer, I have had two scripts under option with television production companies and I am currently developing script treatments with Mam Tor Productions and World Productions.