Emily

After completing my PGCE in 2011, I have taught in a wide range of settings: a large comprehensive in North London, an international school in Vietnam, an FE college, a WEA seminar group, and as Head of Department in an independent school in the Midlands. Following the pandemic, I spent several years tutoring and home-schooling online before taking up my current post in a specialist SEN setting, where I lead the Performing Arts department and teach English to students with a wide range of needs and diagnoses, including ADHD, autism, anxiety, and PDA. Alongside these roles, I have consistently continued to tutor. Beyond the classroom, I have devised, directed, and produced numerous plays, from Romeo and Juliet to DNA to The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.

In every position, I have taught both English and Drama – subjects I believe dovetail beautifully, each cultivating empathy, analysis, and creativity.

Since 2017, I have also marked the English Literature GCSE paper for AQA. This work has given me a clear understanding of what makes an effective essay and how best to guide students towards writing with clarity and confidence.

In terms of results, I have helped students achieve top grades at both GCSE and A Level – across coursework and examinations – while also supporting those on the borderline (grades 3 – 4) to make significant progress into 5s, 6s, and 7s. That said, I see grades as only part of the picture: my most rewarding successes have come from nurturing confidence and igniting a genuine passion for learning.

Alongside teaching, I have worked as a freelance ghostwriter since 2016, producing dozens of books ranging from autobiographies to works of fiction. This experience has sharpened my skills in planning, structuring, and crafting longform writing – expertise I regularly bring into my teaching. I have also published my own creative writing in a variety of zines and anthologies.