First Tutors is a service that helps you find a great tutor. Use the Search form below to find a match from thousands of quality tutors. For any support needed or questions, please refer to our Contact Us Page, we are happy to help. If you prefer to speak with an education advisor about a personalised tutor match, please call Varsity Tutors UK at 0203 962 1468, to connect with an education advisor.
If you prefer to speak with an education advisor about a personalised tutor match, please call Varsity Tutors UK at 0203 962 1468, to connect with an education advisor.

Nicola

Online English Tutor

PLEASE NOTE: I have only 1 space left which is at 2pm on Fridays. For current Years 10 and 12, more spaces will become available at the end of May.
I am an experienced private tutor and 'A' Level examiner, with a degree in English Literature from the University of Cambridge and a Doctorate in English Literature and History from the University of Oxford. As an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, I am dedicated to enhancing and supporting the student learning experience. On a personal level, I am married with three grown-up children, and I am a friendly and approachable person. I understand that all students have different strengths and weaknesses and my aim is to nurture and encourage my students while helping them to turn any weaknesses into strengths.

Tutoring Experience

I have over 10 years of experience teaching 'A' Level and GCSE students. I have also taught first and second year undergraduates at the University of Oxford, and I continue to teach first, second, and third year university students privately. I have examined ELAT papers for Oxbridge for six years (Cambridge has now withdrawn from ELAT, so Oxford only from 2022) and I am an 'A' Level examiner, senior team leader, and coursework moderator for one of the leading exam boards with nine years of examining experience. This means I have a very good understanding of how mark schemes are applied and how to achieve the highest marks in English Literature examinations and NEA assessments. Over the last ten years of teaching, I have helped students to improve by as much as four grades between AS and A Level.
At 'A' Level I teach English Literature, and English Language and Literature for the following specifications: AQA Literature A, AQA Literature B, OCR, Edexcel, and Eduqas.
For GCSE I teach both the English Language and English Literature papers for AQA, Cambridge iGCSE, Edexcel, Eduqas, and OCR.

Tutoring Approach

I am highly sensitive to the differing needs of each individual, and I tailor lessons to the pace and ability of each student. I am very passionate about my subject - hence my examining experience - and I aim to pass on my enthusiasm to my students. Academically, my focus is on nurturing each student's strengths to enable them to develop the ability to write confidently without losing their individuality. I encourage students to ask questions and offer opinions. This, I believe, helps to build their confidence whilst at the same time developing their analytical and essay writing skills. These are skills which serve students well in all subjects and are essential to academic success.

LanguagesEnglish (British)
AvailabilityWeekdays (daytime)
References Available On File

Qualifications

University of Cambridge2009BachelorsBA Honours Degree: English Literature
Royal Holloway, University of London2010MastersMasters Degree: English Literature and History
Higher Education Academy2014ProfessionalAFHEA: Teaching English Literature and History (degree level)
University of Oxford2015DoctoratePhD: English Literature and History

Nicola's Feedback

Feedback
29
Published feedback
29
Unpublished feedback (Usually negative)0
Rating from 2 references
Reliability

Trustworthiness

Professionalism
Subjects taught
Click here for more English tutors