Francine M - Tutors - Keystone Tutors

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“We are so grateful to Francine for her efforts helping my son prepare for his 9+ Kings College Wimbledon examination and interview. We now have an offer for next year and are overjoyed with this result!”

Parent

Primary English & Maths
7+ English & Maths
8+ English & Maths
11+ English, Maths, Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning
13+ / GCSE Humanities
Music (Practical & Academic)

I have worked in education since 2009, across classroom teaching, specialist music education and academic tutoring. My early career centred on instrumental and classroom music teaching, ensemble direction, and developing string programmes and orchestras.

In 2020, I formally trained as a primary teacher and a secondary Music and Humanities teacher through my Master of Teaching at Deakin University. I also hold a Master’s in Educational Leadership and School Improvement from the University of Cambridge, awarded with Merit, where my studies focused on transformative pedagogies and educational leadership, and a Master’s in Performance from the Royal College of Music, specialising in historical violin.

My teaching experience spans independent schools, classroom and instrumental programmes, and supply teaching across London. Previously Head of Music in the Pre-Prep at Dulwich College’s DUCKS, I am now the founding Prep Music Teacher at Harrow International School Dubai, developing its classroom and instrumental music provision.

I began academic tutoring in 2022 with group 11+ English tuition, subsequently expanding into primary subjects, entrance examination preparation and humanities. I now specialise in preparing pupils for competitive independent and grammar school entrance examinations. My approach combines targeted subject teaching with the development of precise reading, analytical thinking and effective examination strategies, helping pupils build the confidence and independence to succeed in demanding academic environments.

Australian-born, I was educated at a selective-entry grammar school in Melbourne before completing undergraduate degrees in Music (Violin Performance) and Arts (Social Theory) at the University of Melbourne.

After several years teaching in Australia, I relocated to Europe and subsequently moved to the UK in 2018. There, I completed a Master of Education at the University of Cambridge alongside a Master of Music at the Royal College of Music.

I have since built extensive experience across London’s independent school sector, working in classroom teaching, academic tutoring, and specialist music education, with teaching roles at the Cambridge Steiner School, Ravenscourt Park Prep, Falcons PrePrep, and Dulwich College. Since September 2026, I am a founding teacher at the Harrow International School in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

“Francine has worked so hard with my daughters in preparation for their grammar school exams. Their writing has improved so much and they are much more confident. Their teachers at school have commented about the change in both girls' literacy levels and we couldn't be happier.”

Parent

“Francine worked intensely with my daughter to help her gain acceptance to all the schools she applied for at year 7. Having just moved from the school system in Amsterdam, we are so pleased that Francine was able to help our daughter plug the gap in her learning. She is now happily settling into Queen's Gate school.”

Parent

“Francine has helped my son with his preparation for 11+ exams since he was in Year 4. Now in year 5 we have noticed his progress in English has skyrocketed and his teachers have commented on how much more detail he is using in his writing, as well as his improvement in spelling and grammar.”

Parent

“Francine has been teaching my daughter for 6 months now. Not only has her Maths come on in leaps and bounds, but she has absolutely loved the lessons. Francine is a wonderful tutor who makes her students feel at ease, giving them the confidence to challenge themselves. She is extremely patient and kind, and has adapted so well to my daughter's additional learning needs.”

Parent

My teaching approach combines high academic expectations with warmth, encouragement, and clear structure. I aim to create an environment in which students feel supported enough to take intellectual risks, whilst also developing the discipline and resilience needed for long-term academic success.

I believe that students make the strongest progress when they are both challenged and understood as individuals. As a result, I place significant emphasis on adapting my teaching style to suit each student’s strengths, areas for development, and preferred ways of learning.

Having worked with a broad range of pupils across classroom teaching, music education, and academic tutoring, I have developed extensive experience supporting students with varying abilities, confidence levels, and learning needs. Tutoring provides a unique opportunity to personalise learning in a way that is rarely possible in a classroom setting, and I strive to use that flexibility to help students build both strong outcomes and genuine confidence in their abilities.

Outside tutoring, I work full-time at Harrow International, Dubai and continue to maintain an active professional involvement in music as a violinist. Music has been a central part of my life since childhood, both academically and professionally, and I still enjoy performing whenever possible.

Alongside teaching and music, I enjoy fitness, travel, and ongoing professional learning. I value maintaining a balanced and active lifestyle, and I believe this contributes positively to the energy, organisation, and enthusiasm I bring to my work with students.