About me
Hi! I’m Melissa. My pronouns are she/her. I’m an expert English teacher and GCSE examiner with extensive experience teaching English Language and English Literature in Secondary schools since 2013, and tutoring since 2022.
I help students suceed, from across a wide spectrum of attainment and need. I’m here to support you in acheiving your English goals.
I’m a specialist in teaching reading and reading interventions, having completed master’s level research in reading development and successful intervention strategies.
I’m passionate about fostering creative expression in writing and speech and securing the lifelong skills of effective communication and accuracy in spelling, punctuation and grammar.
I aim to ignite my students' innate curiosity and love of learning.
I combine my extensive knowledge of different teaching methods, understanding of the ways our minds learn, and advanced subject knowledge with a close focus on individual learning needs, to tailor content and techniques to enable my students to meet their learning goals.
✓ Trained by exam board AQA in teaching their GCSE papers, with additional experience of IGSCE and English Functional Skills qualifications.
✓ Experience as an examiner for GCSE.
✓ As a Lead Practitioner in a large city school, I led on effective, research-based teaching practice and literacy across the curriculum.
✓ Outside of the traditional classroom, I am experienced in teaching online and tutoring 1:1 and small groups.
✓ Daytime availability for young people who are home educated.
✓ I cover AQA English Language, AQA English Literature, Edexcel IGCSE Language, Edexcel English Literature and KS3. I also offer academic coaching/mentoring and a creative writing group.
✓ Current enhanced DBS check - signed up to the update service. Full safeguarding policy and up to date safeguarding training. DBS and references available on request.
I offer a free fifteen-minute consultation to discuss yours and your child’s needs and to see whether we would be a good fit.