Biology tutor · Hazlemere
Ellena
I am an A-Level Biology specialist that has tutored over 200 tutees - I live and breathe the OCR and AQA specifications every day.
Hourly rate
£95/hr
Biology tutor · Hazlemere
I am an A-Level Biology specialist that has tutored over 200 tutees - I live and breathe the OCR and AQA specifications every day.
About
I have decades of experience as a senior examiner and question setter - writing exam questions and mark schemes. I am a Principle Examiner too, so am best placed to coach my tutees on exam technique.
I deliver face-to-face teacher trainingin London and I visit schools for bespoke inhouse training days, for **OCR spec A and the AQA spec**, so teachers can achieve more success with their classes.
**I am now taking bookings for September 2026 for new Y12 and Y13 tutees. I'm afraid I am booked up for regular weekly sessions this academic year 2025-2026.**
I want my tutees not only to get their top grade but also to love Biology as I do!
I find it a privileged position being able to work closely with tutees to cover their specific learning needs. I divide my time between tutoring, assessment work and authoring A-Level Biology resources. These all complement each other very well. Each tutee is different and it is always a pleasure to watch them grow in knowledge, understanding and confidence.
I support every tutee in a bespoke way to support their specific needs. I often focus on exam technique, the importance of the practical skills in written exams and the use of specialist terms.
Whether on Microsoft Teams or in person, I will guide each tutee through topics to enable them to clock up marks on exam papers.
**I tutor Monday to Thursday. After school prime times are at 3.15pm, 4.30pm and 7pm. I am available to tutor during the school day as well for students with non-contact time.
I am an experienced teacher of 28 years, previously head of Biology at a local grammar school. My PGCE comes from studying at Cambridge University.
I am a Principal examiner and senior examiner for 2 exam boards. I have set exam questions for A-Level papers for many years and work with assessment material daily.
I am also an author of A-Level Biology educational resources for several publishers.
I give Webinars for students and teachers and deliver teacher training workshops for a mainstream education company. I am the Biology Lead, rolling out resources and training. I was a Hodder Education trainer for many years before they stopped this service in Nov 24.
A Level Biology is a very demanding course. There is so much content to learn – some of it is quite challenging to understand too. Many exam questions involve application of knowledge and understanding and skills are needed to be successful with these questions.
When I go over a topic I emphasise the specialist terms needed to get marks in exam questions. The mark schemes can be very specific! We look at exam questions together - I teach my tutees how to interpret the information given along with the question, and then to make a specific and concise answer.
As well as a focus on exam technique, we look closely at the importance of the practical skills. A minimum of 15% of exam questions test the practical skills, so being confident in the language of measurement, science methodology, data interpretation and analysis and evaluation is a grade changer.
I use a graphics tablet and Microsoft OneNote as my whiteboard. My tutees tell me this is really useful to refer back to all the session notes. I also send through resources ahead of each session. Using Microsoft Teams with a Webcam allows me to share my screen and we can look at resources together. These can be diagrams, past paper questions or video resources.
I have a friendly approach with my tutees and quickly build up their confidence. My patient demeanour means tutees feel able to ask questions and contribute and I always endeavour to let my enthusiasm rub off onto them. As my tutees improve in confidence, that translates into top grades. I am lucky to often see those precious lightbulb moments when a tutees’ understanding is solidified.
It is very satisfying to receive calls on results day and to hear of the wonderful successes.
Subjects & pricing
Languages
- English Native
Qualifications
Higher education
- BSc (Hons) Biology Certificate checked · University of Leicester · 2:1 (Upper second) · 1997 University of Leicester · 2:1 (Upper second) · 1997 Certificate checked
Teaching qualification
- PGCE Biology Certificate checked · University of Cambridge · Pass · 1998 University of Cambridge · Pass · 1998 Certificate checked
- QTS Biology Certificate checked · University of Cambridge · Pass · 1998 University of Cambridge · Pass · 1998 Certificate checked
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- Mar 2026 ·imported from First Tutors
Sudipto
- Feb 2026 ·imported from First Tutors
Iram
Ellena has been an amazing biology tutor for my daughter. Her balance of focusing on both exam questions and core content has really helped improve my daughter’s grade, and she has made a big difference to her exam technique by giving useful checklists and helpful tricks for approaching questions. She is very friendly and supportive, and has a great way of making difficult content feel much more manageable. She also created a structured timetable where my daughter completes one past paper each week, and Ellena then goes through any questions she struggled with, which my daughter finds extremely helpful.
- May 2025 ·imported from First Tutors
Olga
Ellena is a fantastic tutor, she managed to find the right approach to a problematic student and get amazing results out of her. The only minus is a complicated and inflexible payment system. Though it's nothing when your child starts to improve.
- May 2025 ·imported from First Tutors
Jinky
Thank you for your support and well-organised schedule in tutoring my son. We’ve noticed a significant improvement in his understanding of key concepts and his confidence in tackling exam-style questions. He finds your explanations clear and appreciates how you tailor lessons to match his pace and areas of difficulty. Jinky G.
- Mar 2025 ·imported from First Tutors
Prashanti
Ellena made a huge difference not only in my daughters grade but also her overall learning attitude. Her way of teaching is excellent and is tailor made to suit every student . We did both face to face and online and Ellena's teaching was excellent in both. As a parent I felt supported throughout the A Level journey along with my daughter. Ellena's knowledge about exams, content , questions, pattern is by far the best, I have seen .We couldn't have asked for more, we are just lucky to have Ellena as our daughters tutor .
Ellena replied
Thank you so much for your kind words. It has been a pleasure working with your daughter and a joy to see her confidence grow as she prepares for the exams this summer.
- Mar 2025 ·imported from First Tutors
Jasbir
Ellena is an exceptionally thorough tutor who dedicates a significant amount of time to understanding and catering to her students’ individual needs. She is highly adaptable and makes necessary adjustments to ensure that each student receives the best possible support.
- Jan 2025 ·imported from First Tutors
Dhara
Highly recommended Very friendly and professional Keeps us up to date with information.
- Aug 2024 ·imported from First Tutors
Monica
An Excellent tutor . Really did help my sons to stay motivated and knew the content well that they were studying . Would recommend her highly . M Khera
- Aug 2024 ·imported from First Tutors
Ajmal
The short version - absolutely top class. If you are looking for a biology tutor for your child, you can stop your search now. The longer version - Ellena is the very best. We approached Ellena at a time of uncertainty about our son's Biology grade. There were gaps in his knowledge and greater concerns with his exam technique. We opted for Ellena given her extensive expertise in the subject and role as an examiner. Best decision we made. Her extensive knowledge and practical experience of the subject helped him immeasurably. Lessons were well planned (concentrating on both the syllabus and identified areas of weakness) and practically delivered in a way that he could understand and apply. Needless to say her expert knowledge of the content and syllabus made this possible. As a parent, her communication and updates with us were first class - extremely responsive, accommodating and nothing was ever too much trouble. There was always extra support and most importantly additional resources provided to our son which he found extremely beneficial. Ellena was kind enough to offer to continue to mark mock exam papers, without charge, even after his sessions finished just before his exams. That was tremendously generous of her and showed the extra mile she is prepared to go for you. Above all and most importantly, Ellena's inter-personal skills are first class and helped get the best out of our son. She is warm, kind and caring and those qualities are essential at a time when children are stressed by exams and all the pressures of applying for university and predicted grades. You need a safe haven of being taught without fear, to ask any questions and of wanting to go back every week. Our son didn't get that with his biology teacher at school but did with Ellena. He got an A and that was down to Ellena and we will always be grateful.
Ellena replied
Thank you so much for such lovely feedback. I have really enjoyed working with your son this past year and see him grow from strength to strength in his confidence. It's a wonderful feeling on results day to watch them get their deserved grades that they have worked so hard for and then set off in the next direction that life takes them.
- Jul 2024 ·imported from First Tutors
Oksana
- Sept 2023 ·imported from First Tutors
Mohsen
Ellena's dedication and expertise for A level have been instrumental and great help. Her ability to make complex concepts engaging and her unwavering support have transformed biology into a subject of genuine fascination for me. I am profoundly grateful for her outstanding teaching and guidance.
- Jul 2023 ·imported from First Tutors
Matt
Ellena has thoroughly covered all the course content and is excellent at explaining the more complex aspects of the course in an easy to understand manner.
- Jul 2023 ·imported from First Tutors
Jill
Ellena was extremely reliable and helped my son with knowledge and confidence
- Jun 2023 ·imported from First Tutors
Jiayi
Ellena is an excellent tutor, with a phenomenal knowledge of the exam technique in A level Biology. She has really increased my daughter’s confidence in Biology. I highly recommend her.
- Apr 2023 ·imported from First Tutors
Adrian
- Sept 2022 ·imported from First Tutors
Christine
Ellena is quite simply one of the most extraordinary teachers I have ever come across. Her knowledge of the subject and exam techniques are second to none, and as if that were not enough, she is also one of the kindest and most sympathetic of tutors, nurturing and encouraging my daughter through much more than just her biology A level. We owe you a debt, Ellena!
- Aug 2022 ·imported from First Tutors
Michelle
Ellena has been amazing with our daughter last year. She went out of her way to support her during her studies taking her on part way through her biology course after covid disruption. She is a first class tutor who is extremely knowledgeable, focussed and has a great way of connecting and motivating her students. As a result, our daughter did very well on her exams and is looking forward to continuing her studies in biology next year.
Ellena replied
Well done Mia on a fantastic result. I am delighted to be able to continue working with you through A Level Biology.
- Jul 2022 ·imported from First Tutors
Fotini
Ellena was very helpful and understanding with my daughter K, I believe she went beyond her duty as tutor. K had mild depression and lost her confidence during covid 19 and believed she couldn't study, it was too much for her. Ellena organised K's studies, encouraged, pushed her to study, threatened to stop tutoring if K didn't take her studies seriously. K started studying all her subjects because of Ellena although Ellena tutored her only on Biology. Thank you very much Ellena, I don’t believe I could have found a better tutor. Fotini D
Ellena replied
Thank you so much for your touching comments Fotini. It has been a privilege to work with K and to see her regain her confidence. Fingers crossed for results day.
- Feb 2022 ·imported from First Tutors
Tracey
Ellena is an excellent tutor. She is very organised and incredibly knowledgeable about the syllabus. She is also very passionate about teaching and helping her students perform to the best of their ability. She has made a revision timetable to help my daughter with her organisation skills which demonstrates her commitment to help her students maximise their potential.
- Jan 2022 ·imported from First Tutors
Siobhan
Ellena has been tutoring me biology for a few weeks now and is amazing at explaining really difficult concepts in simple ways that are easy to understand. She’s also willing to find questions related to exactly what I find tricky and need to work on. She has lots of great resources that I’m able to use to help me when I want to do independent work outside of the lessons. She’s super friendly and I would highly recommend her as a tutor!