English Literature tutor & more · Leeds
Katharine B.
A Level and GCSE English Literature and Language over 35 years’ experience, 7 as a tutor.
English Literature tutor & more · Leeds
A Level and GCSE English Literature and Language over 35 years’ experience, 7 as a tutor.
About
I am a qualified secondary school English teacher with over thirty five years of experience, working in schools across West Yorkshire. During that time I have worked as an Advisory Teacher, a Head of English for ten years and as a Senior Leader in a large 13-18 comprehensive school for fourteen years.
I am now semi retired and self employed. I am available on Monday ,Wednesday and Thursday afternoons and evenings to offer 1 to 1 personalised tuition. I work predominantly in the North Leeds area. I also offer online tutoring through FaceTime and other online platforms.I will give a free preliminary face to face consultation, where I assess a potential student’s individual needs to secure the best programme of learning and tutoring. I hold a current Enhanced DBS certificate.
Since 2019 I have been working as a 1-1 tutor, predominantly working with A Level and GCSE students, I have given intensive support to secure students’ success in their examinations.I have also worked with Key Stage 3 students. Previously I spent three years working as an English teacher in Leeds and Bradford. I have taught across Key Stages Three to Five in both English Language and English Literature.
I have taught the current specifications for AQA Language and Literature for GCSE and A Level, the current specification for OCR English Literature A Level and the iGCSE. I have also tutored students who are studying the Eduqas and Edexcel specifications for A Level Literature/Language and GCSE English Language and Literature. I have designed a range of effective and stimulating learning experiences, used to prepare both my own students and those of other colleagues to face the challengingly demands of these specifications.
I have a wealth of knowledge, skills and experience to offer, so enabling me to successfully prepare students to achieve success in public examinations and life in general, including adult students at a variety of skill levels. I am articulate, empathetic, supportive and personable. I have a proven history of maximising and harnessing the potential of students, whatever their age.
Subjects & pricing
Languages
- English Native
Qualifications
Higher education
- BA (Hons) English Literature · Leeds University · 1982 Leeds University · 1982
Teaching qualification
- PGCE English · Leeds University · 1983 Leeds University · 1983
Reviews from Tutorperch
No Tutorperch reviews yet. Students can leave a verified review here after a lesson.
Reviews from First Tutors
Imported from Katharine B.'s First Tutors profile before the site went dark. Shown separately from Tutorperch reviews — today they don't feed this tutor's Tutorperch rating or ranking.
How we verify these
Each imported review went through admin review. The tutor proved ownership of the First Tutors profile via one of two paths:
- Photo match. The First Tutors avatar matched the tutor's identity-verified Tutorperch photo, confirmed by admin.
- Cryptographic email check. The tutor uploaded an original First Tutors email (.eml). We verified the DKIM signature against First Tutors' signing keys and cross-checked the embedded tutor ID against the claimed profile.
The review text is the original reviewer's own words, quoted as-is. We verified the tutor's ownership of the profile, not the truth of what each individual reviewer wrote.
- Sept 2025 ·imported from First Tutors
A First Tutors client
We are truly grateful for the outstanding support provided by Kate. Over the last three months leading up to the A-level English Language exams, her guidance made a remarkable difference in my daughter's progression. Her classes were engaging, motivating, and greatly enhanced my daughter’s ability to approach exam techniques with confidence. Achieving a final grade of A is a clear reflection of both my daughter’s hard work and the tutor’s dedication, expertise, and encouragement. It would be even better to start tutoring with Kate as early as year 12 start. Highly recommended!
Katharine B. replied
Thank you for that tremendous feedback. It was an absolute pleasure to work with your daughter and support her in realising her potential. I appreciate you making such a positive endorsement of my work as a tutor. Kate
- Sept 2025 ·imported from First Tutors
A First Tutors client
Kate did a fantastic job supporting our daughter in GCSE English literature and Language. She helped her achieve the grades she wanted and we are delighted. Kate is always prepared, organised and very thorough. She is extremely experienced and knows so much about exam technique that pupils feel prepared. She put our daughter at ease and gave her the confidence and knowledge she needed to achieve the grades we were hoping for. We also believe that the improvement in writing style helped our daughter achieve top grades in other subjects aswell. I have no hesitation in recommending Kate as a tutor.
Katharine B. replied
Thank you for your amazing feedback. So lovely to read your positive comments. It was an absolute pleasure to work with your daughter and help her realise her potential. I wish her every success for the future. Kate.
- Aug 2025 ·imported from First Tutors
A First Tutors client
I would recommend Kate to anyone. After just a short 6 months of working with her i moved from a low B to just 6 marks off an A* in my final A level English language exam. Kate worked closely with mark schemes throughout to fine tune my technique and language. She is incredibly flexible and a lovely lady and brought my confidence back within the subject.
Katharine B. replied
Thank you for your lovely feedback, Sienna. It was an absolute joy to work with you and I’m so proud that all of your determination and studious efforts have paid dividends. Good luck for the future!
- Jun 2025 ·imported from First Tutors
A First Tutors client
Kate quickly established rapport with pupil Ixxxxx and reassured parents with her extensive knowledge of the tutoring subject English. Ball rolling from first lesson and Kate followed up all undertakings including sending through course materials. Ixxxxx satisfied Well Done Kate great start H and S (parents)
Katharine B. replied
Thank you for your positive feedback. I’m looking forward to working with your son in the future and am already impressed with his level of enthusiasm and commitment. Kate.
- Mar 2025 ·imported from First Tutors
A First Tutors client
Our daughter is enjoying her GCSE tuition with Kate. Kate is friendly in her approach and immediately put our daughter at ease. In a short space of time her confidence and grades have significantly improved and she even said she enjoys English now. We fully recommend Kate if you are looking for an English tutor.
Katharine B. replied
Thank you for your positive feedback regarding my tutoring sessions with your daughter. I really enjoy working with her and it has been a pleasure to watch her flourish in every respect. Kate.
- Oct 2024 ·imported from First Tutors
A First Tutors client
Katharine was very helpful and flexible in her support with my son’s English Lit A Level for which he had to study many unresourced texts (e.g. Coriolanus and Sense and Sensibility). Katharine used her own time to read the texts as well as plan for her sessions which he found useful. He achieved his A grade. Thank you Katharine!
Katharine B. replied
Thank you for your positive feedback. It was a pleasure to work with your son and I was delighted when he achieved his excellent A Level result, enabling him to study English Literature at U.C.L It was extremely rewarding to support and guide him as he went from strength to strength on his academic journey. I wish every success in his next chapter. Best wishes, Katharine.
- Jan 2023 ·imported from First Tutors
A First Tutors client
Katherine is a fantastic English Tutor. She always keeps us,as parents in the loop about the sessions and the progress. She is always happy to accommodate and additional sessions if needed. Our son has improved so much with her help. She has helped improve his grade in his mocks and we can’t wait too see his continued improvement in his GCSEs. Don’t look anywhere else for a English tutor.
Katharine B. replied
Many thanks for your positive feedback. I’m so pleased with the progress your son is making and enjoy working with such a polite and hard working young man. I look forward to seeing him continue to improve.
- Jan 2023 ·imported from First Tutors
A First Tutors client
Kate has been tutoring my son for a few months now and it has already made a huge difference. He is feeling a lot more confident in how to approach GCSE questions, and gets a lot out of the 121 lessons. Sessions are engaging, well planned and clear direction given. We are both delighted with how it is going so far.
Katharine B. replied
Thank you Sarah for your positive feedback. It is a pleasure to work with your son, always keen, polite and totally engaged. I’m thrilled with his progress to date and I’m looking forward to him receiving some very pleasing results this summer! Many thanks for also making me feel so welcome in your home, particularly on these dark and cold winter nights! Kate
- Dec 2022 ·imported from First Tutors
A First Tutors client
Katherine has been a fantastic teacher, she is fully qualified and highly experienced. Katherine will always send the PowerPoint presentation before the lessons, my son who is in Y11, tells me: "Katherine has been teaching me how to structure my answers, extend my answers and how to break down the question" She is patient and flexible and has helped my son prepare for his mock exams. I will recommend her services.
- Aug 2022 ·imported from First Tutors
A First Tutors client
After receiving a B in his A Level OCR English Literature January mock exam during year 13, I put my son into online sessions with Kate all the way up to his final exams. Today on his results day, I can proudly announce that he received an A*, and I can’t thank Kate enough for her tremendous help. Kate is a lovely, sociable tutor who goes above and beyond in all aspects of her tutoring, particularly when it comes to finding the suitable resources for her students and tailoring sessions down to the finest detail in order to help her students as much as possible. She also makes sure to read up on any relevant books and complete thorough research in order to communicate different ideas and concepts with an informed knowledge, and I would wholeheartedly recommend Kate to anyone considering picking up tuition from her.
Katharine B. replied
Thank you so much for this detailed and fabulous feedback on my tutoring skills. It is so rewarding to receive this level of appreciation and recognition. It was a pleasure to work with your son. A mature and hardworking young man. I’m so proud of his achievements and wish him every success for the future. Kate
- May 2022 ·imported from First Tutors
A First Tutors client
I am an adult learner who decided to take my GCSE English language. Since I hadn’t done this subject for 15yrs I chose Katharine for support. Katharine had been great at rebuilding my confidence in my own abilities. Her feedback is always constructive along with resources to from. Katharine emails any resources that are relevant to learning so you can refer to them during independent study. Without Katharine’s help I would’ve been lost in the exam. I regained my confidence in my learning abilities and knowledge.
Katharine B. replied
Thank you Fiona for your wonderful feedback. It has been a pleasure to work with you and witness your confidence blossom. I wish you every success in the exams.
- Apr 2022 ·imported from First Tutors
A First Tutors client
Kate is working with my daughter on A-level English and is really enjoying the lessons and finding them to be of valuable help.
Katharine B. replied
Thank you for your positive feedback, much appreciated. I enjoy working with your daughter too and I’m glad she finds our lessons to be valuable. I’m looking forward to seeing her continue to make progress with her A Level studies. Kate
- Mar 2022 ·imported from First Tutors
A First Tutors client
Katharine is an experienced and professional tutor. She gets on very well with my teenage son, and within a few lessons his English results have improved. Communication with Katharine is also very good and I feel I am getting value for money. I will use Katharine again to support my other children's English lessons.
Katharine B. replied
Thank you for your positive feedback. It is a pleasure to work with your son and I hope he continues to make progress.
- Dec 2021 ·imported from First Tutors
A First Tutors client
Kate has been tutoring my daughter in A level English language for a couple of months. Evie’s confidence has grown over the last few weeks. Kate has a vast knowledge of English a level and has built a rapport with Evie and puts her at ease though out her lessons.
Katharine B. replied
Thank you for your positive feedback. It is a pleasure to work with Evie as she is so keen and motivated to improve her skills and understanding of the course.
- Nov 2021 ·imported from First Tutors
A First Tutors client
Excellent tutor my daughter is learning and enjoying
Katharine B. replied
Thank you for your positive feedback. I am enjoying working with her.
- Oct 2021 ·imported from First Tutors
A First Tutors client
Highly recommend! Absolutely lovely tutor from day one. Clearly has a lot of experience and is really helping my daughter. She understands the negative impact on learning due to Covid-19 and the lockdowns and is really helping to get her back on track.
Katharine B. replied
Thank you so much for your very positive recommendation! It is an absolute pleasure to work with your daughter and to see her making progress. She is receptive, mature and determined to learn. I look forward to continuing to work with her and I’m confident she will continue to flourish. Thank you also for always making me feel welcome in your home. Best wishes, Kate.
- Oct 2021 ·imported from First Tutors
A First Tutors client
Kate is an excellent teacher who understood the syllabus perfectly and has a wide knowledge of the texts and marking schemes. Gives great feedback to work. Would highly recommend. Cathy
Katharine B. replied
Thank you for your positive feedback! I really appreciate your recommendation. Working with your daughter is an absolute joy and I enjoy our tutorials so much! I look forward to her continuing to flourish academically over the coming months. Many thanks Kate
- Oct 2021 ·imported from First Tutors
A First Tutors client
Kate has been a superb English tutor for my son. He has many learning difficulties including ASD, dyslexia and dysgraphia. Kate took time to understand the structure of lesson that would work for him and adapted her teaching to suit his needs. She was very experienced and knowledgeable. I would happily recommend her to anyone looking for an English tutor.
Katharine B. replied
Thank you very much for your lovely feedback! Your positive recommendation is much appreciated! I enjoy working with your son. Many thanks! Kate
- May 2021 ·imported from First Tutors
A First Tutors client
Kate has been tutoring my daughter in her final year - A Level English language, This was a subject she was struggling with and lacked confidence, Kate has helped improve her grade from a predicted D to now be working at a B grade so we are very pleased with the progress she has made, through what has been a very challenging year with little f2f lesson in school. She was very good at explaining and very thorough to make sure my daughter had a clear understanding of what was required, always in a calm and reassuring manner so she felt at ease to ask questions. We are very pleased we found Kate as with the Pandemic also affecting things, I think my daughter would have just gone downhill further in this subject without her help. We would definitely recommend her
Katharine B. replied
Thank you for your extremely positive feedback. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with your daughter as she was always so keen and receptive to my advice and guidance. It has made me feel very proud to see her level of understanding flourish and to witness her gains in confidence. I wish her all the best for the future.
- Nov 2020 ·imported from First Tutors
A First Tutors client
Kate is a very experienced teacher who has transformed my son's approach to English in a few short weeks. She is very enthusiastic and knowledgeable and has easily formed a good rapport on line with my son. Kate obviously puts a lot of time and effort into developing the resources she uses and in planning lessons. She covers poems in much more depth which has increased his confidence in approaching poetry. She has also started honing his skills for the more advanced parts of the English language papers, which he has found challenging but he now has the confidence to develop these skills. With Kate's on going support supplementing his school work, I'm confident that my son will achieve his potential in English language and literature.
Katharine B. replied
Thank you for your positive feedback. I am so pleased that you value my work so highly and have noted the positive impact on your son’s attitude to the study of Literature and Language. He is a pleasure to work with and I’m also confident that he will continue to develop his higher order analytical skills.