Dr Will G.

University of London Fellow Specialising in Literature, History, and Drama.

Offering personalised 1-to-1 coaching in advanced essay writing, critical reading techniques, and understanding context and theory.

I help A-Level students move beyond the classroom syllabus, and master the advanced essay mechanics, critical frameworks, and university-style techniques that transform ambitious students into A and A* scholars.

Hi! I’m Will. I am an active historian, university researcher, and experienced student mentor, with over eight years' experience teaching and supporting students at leading Russell Group universities. From October 2026, I am a visiting fellow at the Institute for English Studies in the School of Advanced Study, University of London. I am also an Associate Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, and hold the Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA) teaching qualification.

I now have availability to take on a limited number of private students for 1:1 online mentoring starting this academic year.

Whether you are a Sixth Form student seeking to master subject knowledge and study skills for A-Level/IB, working through the challenges of an EPQ and looking for ongoing mentorship, or seeking advice on university admissions, I bring the exact same student support methodologies and grading insights used at top universities directly to our sessions, acting as your personal expert mentor to move beyond the more rigid formula of GCSEs to help you increase your chances of securing the high-band grades.

With past experience of university teaching, schools outreach, and public history events, I am deeply enthusiastic about literature and history. I strive to build positive, engaging, and encouraging professional relationships with all students, fostering a long-lasting love of learning.

Logistics & Bespoke Packages

• Tailored Guidance from a Subject Expert, Online and Offline: My hourly rate is billed per contact hour, but promises ongoing support for each student. This includes answering student email enquiries between tutoring sessions, and reading essay plans/drafts to give detailed feedback in our next scheduled meeting, at no additional charge.

• Free 15- to 30-Minute Consultation: Offered for prospective students considering ongoing tuition or project support to discuss personal requirements and goals.

• Platform: Online via Microsoft Teams or Google Meet.

Academic Background & Credentials

I received my scholarship-funded PhD from the University of Birmingham's Shakespeare Institute in 2021, and have previously held teaching and research positions at the universities of Birmingham, Warwick, and Nottingham. From October 2026, I am a research fellow at the Institute for English Studies, School of Advanced Study, University of London.

• One-on-One Mentorship: Aside from my experience in teaching, marking, and providing effective feedback in higher education, I also have extensive experience as a named personal mentor for students going back to 2018, providing encouraging and constructive one-on-one academic support. I specialise in building positive and friendly mentor-student relationships that focus on understanding those I mentor as individual learners, rather than names on a client list.

• Subject Expert: I have published two academic books with Routledge (as lead editor in 2024 and as sole author in 2026) focusing on the early modern dramatist Thomas Middleton, and have had my work on early modern drama, political history, and literature published in numerous academic journals.

• Writer and Researcher: I am currently the academic partner of Shakespeare's Schoolroom & Guildhall, an independent museum in Stratford-upon-Avon, where I have worked on public events and exhibition curation. I regularly contribute to the popular magazine History Today, and have appeared on podcasts and at ticketed theatre history and museum events. This has allowed me to foster an approachable and accessible style for translating complex academic subjects for a variety of audiences.

Teaching, Marking & Subject Expertise

Having marked and provided detailed feedback on numerous university essays, as well as having supported individuals' academic skills development, I have insider knowledge of how marking criteria are applied in practice. I know the importance markers place upon rigorous historical and theoretical analysis, clearly structured writing, and original argumentation. I help students apply these skills to their own work, helping them go beyond the syllabus to develop a deeper understanding of the subject matter, and learn advanced techniques in research and writing that really stand out to markers.

I provide specialist mentoring across:

• Understanding Assessment Objectives: My experience of university admissions has ensured I have a detailed knowledge of the standardised assessment objectives set out by Ofqual, and how the different exam boards evaluate student success in these.

• Study Skills: Essay structure, prose clarity, literature reviews, secondary reading and referencing, and development of strong and original academic arguments.

• English Literature and History: From the medieval, Renaissance, and early modern periods and beyond, I help students explore deeper historical context, theory, and primary source analysis. I help place events and writers (Chaucer, Shakespeare, and more) within their wider context.

• Theatre Studies: Historical staging conditions (from the medieval mystery plays to Shakespeare's playhouses and Restoration drama), analysis of playtexts, and historical contexts of performance.

• EPQ Supervision and University Prep: Personal statement refinement, ongoing feedback on drafts for submitted work, and independent research project guidance.

My Mentoring Approach

I do not offer rigid, off-the-shelf tutoring with set lesson plans. I find such an approach often fails to inspire in a one-to-one setting. Instead, I provide outcomes-focused academic mentoring designed to demystify the unwritten rules of further and higher education.

1. The Socratic Method: I prioritise conversational approaches to learning, asking targeted, probing questions that challenge you to sharpen your thesis, deepen critical analysis, and move away from purely descriptive writing.

2. Rigorous Feedback: As an experienced writer and editor, I can offer detailed line-by-line feedback on essay structure, primary source handling, referencing, and prose style, equipping you to build skills that last.

3. Enriched Context: I do not simply regurgitate a broad curriculum; I offer tailored guidance on your specific module(s), set text(s), and research topic(s) to push your understanding far beyond standard lecture slides or textbooks, understanding texts in their fuller context.

Now accepting new students to start in the 2026-7 academic year. Send me a message and/or request a free 15- to 30-minute consultation to discuss your goals!